Tag Archives: Grand Canyon

Sen. McCain assures sportsmen, AZGFD he’ll fight proposed Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument

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GRAND CANYON — Overlooking the Grand Canyon on Wednesday, multiple sportsmen’s groups met with Sen. John McCain to discuss their opposition to designating the Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument, which would greatly impact access to hunting and fishing, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s ability to properly manage wildlife.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is opposed to a proposal that would needlessly create a national monument north of the Grand Canyon. Such a designation would limit the public’s access to more than 1.7 million acres of the Kaibab Plateau and will greatly impact local residents, sportsmen and sportswomen, and AZGFD’s mission to properly manage the state’s wildlife.

“The land is here for the people,” Mule Deer Foundation Regional Director Terry Herndon told McCain during a meeting at Grand Canyon National Park with sportsmen’s groups, community leaders and business owners. “It is absolutely critical to maintain our access for hunting and fishing, and for the Arizona Game and Fish Department to be able to continue to do their job to manage our wildlife.”

Those gathered also expressed concern the designation could impact access to water resources and could block further access to public lands, which will lead to degradation of wildlife populations and habitat on one of the most important hunting areas in the U.S.

Sen. McCain pledged to fight any designation of a Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument and vowed to ask Congress to overturn any such action, if created by President Barack Obama.

“If the president issues this executive order, I promise to make it my highest priority to have it overturned in January,” McCain said. “We must weigh the full impact and what we’re losing with this designation. This will eliminate a way of life and that isn’t fair to our residents or visitors. This will also greatly affect the heritage of our state and those who depend on multi-use areas such as this.”

Creation of the Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument could well transfer jurisdiction of the area watershed to the National Park Service, which already has an $11.6 billion maintenance backlog, and will hamper forest thinning projects designed to prevent catastrophic wildfires.

Public workshop to be held in Flagstaff for Grand Canyon National Park Airport Master Plan

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FLAGSTAFF — The master plan study process for the Grand Canyon National Park Airport, owned and operated by the Arizona Department of Transportation, continues with a public information workshop July 20 in Flagstaff.

The public will be able to review data collected by the study team regarding aviation forecasts and how it relates to current airport facility capabilities. Members of the community will also be able to provide comments and input on the study.

The open house forum will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. at Flagstaff City Hall, 211 W. Aspen Ave.

Airport master plans are required by the Federal Aviation Administration. The update for Grand Canyon National Park Airport will evaluate the facility’s capabilities and role, forecast future aviation demand and plan facility improvements to meet that demand over the next 20 years.

In addition to public meetings, comments and questions can be provided to the study team online at azdot.gov/gcnairportmasterplan, by phone at 800.574.6334 or by mail to Grand Canyon Airport Master Plan Study, c/o Coffman Associates, 4835 E. Cactus Road, Ste. 235, Scottsdale, AZ 85254.

For more information on the Grand Canyon Airport and the master plan study, please visit azdot.gov/gcnairportmasterplan.

 

AZGFD supportive of Grand Canyon report listing bison as native wildlife

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Buffalo/BisonThe Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) supports the findings of a National Park Service report that considers a herd of 600 bison on the Grand Canyon National Park as native wildlife.

The report involved a collaborative review of National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service and AZGFD laws and policies to help guide Grand Canyon park officials in future bison management planning. A key finding of the scientifically reviewed report is that the bison living in northern Arizona are native wildlife within the long-term continental home range of the American bison.

“The Department is pleased with the conclusions in the report,” said Craig McMullen, supervisor for the department’s regional office in Flagstaff. “The bison are a valuable native component of the experience for visitors to the Kaibab Plateau, but there are too many right now. The ultimate goal is to manage this important bison population at appropriate levels for the enjoyment, appreciation and use by the public.”

The report also concluded that:

(1) Existing law and policies allow Grand Canyon National Park officials to include the presence of bison in long term management plans.
(2) Public lands on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim and the Kaibab National Forest are suitable for cooperative bison management with agencies such as AZGFD.
(3) The bison population must be reduced by several hundred animals to mitigate the ongoing damage to habitat, as well as to cultural and archaeological sites within the Grand Canyon.

The report comes as Congressional lawmakers consider a pair of bi-partisan bills that direct the U.S. Department of Interior and the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to coordinate on a plan that allows the state’s sportsmen with valid, state-issued hunting licenses to assist in managing the bison population.

(SEE S.782, John McCain & H.R. 1443, Paul Gosar. The National Bison Legacy Act, H.R. 2908 became law on May 9 making the Bison the nation mammal of the United States.)

The bills are supported by the Commission and were introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake; and in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Paul Gosar. The House bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick, Kyrsten Sinema, Matt Salmon, David Schweikert and Trent Franks.

Download a copy of the full report

Surface treatment to begin on SR 64 south of Valle

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VALLE — Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) crews will be applying surface treatment on an 8-mile segment of State Route 64 just south of Valle (milepost 205 to 213) during daylight hours on Wednesday (June 15) through Friday (June 17). During construction the roadway will be reduced to one lane of traffic with a pilot car escort to allow for alternating travel through the work zone.

Delays to the Grand Canyon can be anticipated during construction. ADOT advises travelers to allow for extra time for travel in the area, and to watch for crews and equipment in the work zone.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned roadway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule.

MYSTERIES OF THE GRAND CANYON: Vintage Harveycar located in Williams, AZ

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Margaret Hodgkins Mason
© Imagine

Magnificent Maggie is partner in the Marvelous Marv’s Private Grand Canyon Tour team in Williams, Arizona. (Facebook)

Harvey Car 3I’ve always been interested in old cars and old men. Williams, AZ and the Grand Canyon National Park are the perfect places to pursue my passions. In attending public lectures concerning heritage tourism, I became aware of a local mystery. This mystery is tied to the Indian Detours program that operated nearly one hundred years ago. Sometime after 1987, a vintage 1929 Cadillac 341-B six passenger touring car was purchased by Amfac, now Xanterra, successor corporations to the Fred Harvey Company at Grand Canyon. This piqued my interest in finding the old vehicle, and maybe some old man to tell tall tales about the vehicle

Fred Harvey’s Indian Detours, operated between May 15, 1926 and 1931. The Indian Detours excursion began as the guest disembarked the ATSF’s westbound California Limited at Las Vegas, New Mexico for a three day excursion in Indian country. The cost of the tour with meals and lodging was 45 dollars. The tour left the Castaneda Hotel and stopped at historic and prehistoric sights in the area. The itinerary included an overnight La Fonda in Santa Fe for the first night. The second day included Tesuque, Santa Clara and San Juan Pueblos and then Puye cliff dwellings. Returning to Santa Fe for the second overnight, the third day’s events included descending La Bajada Hill to Santo Domingo Pueblo before traveling to the Alvarado Hotel in Albuquerque to re board the westbound California Limited. (Eastbound guests had similar itineraries.) Longer detours could be arranged to include, Mesa Verde in Colorado, Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico or the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
Harvey Car Upload
This vehicle is presently located in Williams in the GCR Locomotive Shop in Williams, AZ. Harold Stacy’s grandfather, Jack Stacy, and grandmother, Lucille (Ridout) Stacy, Indian Detour driver and Courier, respectively, bought the car and kept it in the family for many years. It was last registered in 1989. What a beautiful relic of a bygone era.

What was it like to ride in the open touring car on the dirt roads of Desert View Drive and Hermit Road in the late 20s? Betty Kent Meyer reveals a personal glimpse in Pioneer Footprints “Memories of Life at the Grand Canyon in the 1920s and 1930s”. (1) What if the weather was adverse, hot or windy? What if the vehicle breaks down? At one time the Fred Harvey Company at Grand Canyon used homing pigeons to send word back that a vehicle had trouble (2). Just imagine.
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State Route 67 to Grand Canyon’s North Rim reopens Sunday

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PHOENIX — State Route 67, the winding 40-mile highway from Jacob Lake to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, will reopen for the summer this Sunday, May 15.

The road, which connects with US 89A, has been closed since Dec. 1. The Arizona Department of Transportation doesn’t clear snow from SR 67 during the winter because visitor accommodations at the North Rim are closed.

The lodge and visitor center at the North Rim also reopen for the summer on Sunday.

To reach the North Rim from Flagstaff, take US 89 north about 110 miles to Bitter Springs, head west on US 89A for about 60 miles to Jacob Lake and then go south on SR 67.

Grand Canyon open free through the 24th

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Sunday Grand Canyon 2016-04-17 008GRAND CANYON — The Grand Canyon Park is open through Sunday the 24th for National Park Week. The next free days will be from Thursday August 25th through Sunday August 28th.

From Williams take highway 64 through Valle. From Flagstaff, take scenic highway 180 to Valle, then north on 64 to the Canyon. You are required to turn your headlights on while traveling highway 64.

We advise extreme caution when traveling to the Canyon on highway 64 because this event normally brings out the idiots who speed and pass with no regard for human life. The Canyon has been around a long time and will likely be there when you arrive, so observe the 65 mile per hour speed limit. It is a good idea to start out early in the day because parking fills up fast.

You should consider a private tour through Marvelous Marv’s Grand Canyon Tours. He gets you to the Grand Canyon safely, takes care of parking and tells you about the sights. He can arrange the tour to fit your schedule. His tour is available throughout the year.

The park operates an excellent bus service that takes you just about everywhere in the park. When you find a parking space, we recommend using the bus service.Sunday Grand Canyon 2016-04-17 012

Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest free on Monday

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Grand_CanyonGRAND CANYON — Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. day and marks the first free entrance day to all of the National Parks. This includes the Grand Canyon and the Petrified Forest.

The Amateur Radio Relay League is conducting a year-long event in honor of the 100th anniversary of the National Park System. While you are there, you can get a demonstration of the capability of amateur, or ham, radio today.

Other free entrance days in 2016 include

  • January 18 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)
  • April 16-24 (National Park Week)
  • August 25 through 28 (National Park Service Birthday)
  • September 24 (National Public Lands Day)
  • November 11 (Veterans Day)

Other fees such as reservation, camping, lodging, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

State Route 67 to Grand Canyon’s North Rim closed for winter season

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation has closed State Route 67 between Jacob Lake (US 89A) and the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park for the winter season effective Tuesday, Dec. 1.

ADOT doesn’t clear snow from SR 67 during the winter since North Rim visitor accommodations are closed. The highway reopens each spring, usually around mid-May. US 89A remains open during the winter.

In addition, State Route 473, a 10-mile-long highway that provides direct access to the Hawley Lake recreational area in the White Mountains region, is closed for the winter.

ADOT reminds motorists heading into snow country to drive with caution and follow this advice:

• Slow down. Drive defensively. Be patient and allow additional time for your trip. Never pass a snowplow.
• Pack an emergency kit, a fully charged cellphone, extra clothing, water and snacks.
• Leave sufficient space between your vehicle and those ahead of you. Give yourself plenty of room and time to stop or to avoid hazards.
• If stopped on the roadway, leave room for emergency vehicles to get around you.
• Make sure your vehicle has plenty of fuel.
• If you slide off the roadway, stay with your vehicle. The Department of Public Safety or ADOT will respond.
• Check weather and road conditions before you travel. Let someone know your route.
• Bring a small bag of sand (or cat litter) for wheel traction.

Additional information on winter driving is available at azdot.gov/KnowSnow.

Before heading out on the roads, drivers are encouraged to call 511 or visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Center at az511.gov for the latest highway conditions around the state. The website features camera images along state highways that give drivers a glimpse of weather conditions in various regions.

Grand Canyon open Free for Veterans Day

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640-grand-canyon-veterans-1GRAND CANYON – On Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, the Grand Canyon will be open on a free-entry basis.

Grand Canyon’s South Rim sits at approximately 7,000 feet. As a result, visitors should be prepared for winter weather and driving conditions, and should be aware that road closures and temporary suspension of shuttle service may occur with little or no notice if winter weather passes through the area.

Dogs must be on a leash at all times.