Tag Archives: Phoenix

AZGFD to stock rainbow trout into Lees Ferry

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) plans to stock rainbow trout this week into the lower 3 mile walk-in section of Lees Ferry, Arizona’s premier blue-ribbon trout fishery below Glen Canyon Dam.

This will be the first trout stocking at Lees Ferry since 1998.

“Lees Ferry has long been considered a world-class trout fishery,” AZGFD Commissioner Kurt Davis said. “As a managing agency for this invaluable resource, we’re thrilled to begin providing anglers with even more opportunity to make memories at this breathtaking destination.”

After AZGFD creel survey results had been showing a dramatic decrease in angler catch rates, rainbow trout fishing during the past couple years seems to have recovered somewhat in the upper portion of the river with reports of large rainbow trout being captured.

Regardless of the improvement, trout fishing in the walk-in area has not recovered as quickly as AZGFD had hoped. This stocking is intended to boost sport-fishing opportunities for rainbow trout at this walk-in portion.

AZGFD plans to stock more trout as necessary, beginning again in April, to further address low catch rates and angler satisfaction.

“Lees Ferry is regarded as one of the top tailwater rainbow trout fisheries in the nation,” AZGFD Aquatic Wildlife Branch Chief Chris Cantrell said. “Even more impressive is that the fishing at this massive, clear-running river has an enormous impact on the economy near Marble Canyon.”

On the heels of last week’s high flow event, fishing could be excellent because these flows make aquatic invertebrates (fish food) available to trout. Normal flows should offer great wading and fishing this fall.

See more information on fishing in Arizona.

State Employees Charitable Campaign raises money for charities

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PHOENIX — The State Employees Charitable Campaign (SECC) annually provides Arizona state employees with an opportunity to voluntarily contribute monetary donations that support more than 400 nonprofit agencies.

Now there’s an opportunity for the public to participate as well.

The campaign recently announced that proceeds from the raffle of a 2018 Polaris Ranger Crew XP 1000 EPS will equally benefit Wildlife for Tomorrow and the Arizona Elk Society, both independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit charities that work closely with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Together, the organizations provide additional support for habitat projects, water for wildlife, education and mentored activities where traditional resources aren’t adequate.

In addition, Special Olympics Arizona, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has been named one of the three designated charities to benefit from the proceeds to help assist more than 22,000 Arizona athletes who participate in the program.

RideNow Powersports has generously donated a custom camouflage 2018 Polaris Ranger Crew XP 1000 EPS ($16,999 MSRP) to be raffled as the grand prize. The Arizona Elk Society is hosting the fundraiser on behalf of the three charities and has donated six additional prizes to increase the number of winners.

The raffle ends at 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) Dec. 1, with a live drawing scheduled for Dec. 8 at RideNow Powersports in Phoenix at 17202 N. Cave Creek Road. For more information, and to participate, visit https://aesraffles.org/.

Record number of bald eagles take first flight in 2018

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PHOENIX — Arizona’s bald eagle population continues to soar as the number of breeding areas expanded statewide and a record 87 young hatched during the 2018 breeding season, according the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s annual survey.

The number of hatchlings rose from the previous high of 82 in 2017, as did the number of young that actually fledged, rising to 70 birds that made the important milestone of their first flight. In Arizona, at least 102 eggs were laid, which topped the 97 laid in 2017, and a record 87 breeding areas were identified, including three new areas.

“Arizona’s bald eagle population continues to be strong,” said Kenneth Jacobson, AZGFD bald eagle management coordinator. “The fact that we continue to see an increase in breeding areas and hatchlings speaks to the resiliency of these magnificent animals. Our ongoing efforts to help conserve and protect Arizona’s bald eagles appear to be working.”

Arizona’s bald eagle populations have flourished since 1978, when 11 pairs were counted within the state and the species was listed as endangered. Today there are an estimated 69 adult breeding pairs.

Bald eagles nationwide were removed as a protected species under the federal Endangered Species Act in 2007, but protections under the act were reinstated in 2008 in Arizona and remained until 2011. The department’s conservation efforts contributed to the species recovery. Nationally, the birds remain protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

The impressive growth of the population is attributed to the continued efforts of the Southwestern Bald Eagle Management Committee – a coalition of AZGFD and 25 other government agencies, private organizations and Native American tribes – and its years of cooperative conservation efforts, including extensive monitoring by the nationally-awarded Bald Eagle Nestwatch Program.The breeding season for bald eagles in Arizona runs from December through June, although eagle pairs at higher elevations nest later than those in the rest of the state.

Continued support from the committee, State Wildlife Grants, the Heritage Fund (Arizona Lottery ticket sales) and funding through the Pittman-Robertson Act, will help ensure that Arizona’s bald eagles continue to thrive.

For more information on bald eagles in Arizona, visit www.azgfd.gov or www.swbemc.org.

MVD gets award for improved customer service and innovation

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Getting Arizona out of line and safely on the road is getting widespread attention.

The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division has received the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) “Improvement through Efficiencies Service Award” for the MVD online insurance update and reinstatement functions introduced last year. Those transactions previously required a visit to an MVD or Authorized Third Party office.

“In Arizona, the Motor Vehicle Division has been leading the way in making sure government serves its customers more efficiently and effectively,” said Governor Doug Ducey. “The dedicated employees of MVD have embraced the principles of the Arizona Management System to eliminate waste and maximize productivity. The results are stunning. Customers are spending half the time in MVD offices waiting than they did just a few years ago. That success belongs to the employees of MVD, and Arizonans are seeing the benefit.”

MVD Director Eric Jorgensen said, “It’s an honor to be recognized for our successes, but the real winners here are the MVD customers who continue to have more options for doing business more conveniently online. We have a terrific team of MVD employees who have embraced the culture of everyday improvement through the Arizona Management System and I’m proud that they’re getting this recognition.”

The Insurance Update is free and allows customers to electronically provide information regarding their insurance coverage directly to MVD. Insurance companies are given seven days by law to update policy information when changes such as cancellations or renewals occur. On those occasions when there may be a lag in that reporting time from an insurance provider, this online option will help customers with valid insurance to immediately update their MVD record and avoid a suspension.

The update tool is easy to use and asks for information that is found directly on an insurance card.

In addition to the Insurance Update, the Reinstatement Function allows customers to reinstate vehicle insurance that had been previously canceled or lapsed. The function determines eligibility for reinstatement, makes real-time updates to the MVD customer database upon completion, allows the customer to pay the $50 fee for each vehicle reinstatement, and provides a receipt confirmation that indicates the registration has been reinstated.

AAMVA was founded in 1933 and supports motor vehicle and law enforcement agencies in North America through programs and services focusing on safe drivers and vehicles, identity security, motor carrier services and technology solutions.

For more information: www.azdot.gov/mvd and www.aamva.org

High flow event at Lees Ferry November 5-10

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PHOENIX — An experimental release of 38,100 cfs from Glen Canyon Dam will take place November 5-10 at the world-renowned Lees Ferry trout fishery just downstream in picturesque Marble Canyon.

The flows are short term, yet significant enough to preclude any fishing from occurring during the peak high releases. The fishing is usually excellent the week following these high flows because these flows make aquatic invertebrates (fish food) available to trout. Normal flows before and after the high flows should offer great wading and fishing this fall.

The Department of Interior will begin the release from Glen Canyon Dam Nov. 5. The flows will reach full capacity (approximately 38,100 cfs) by 2 p.m. on November 5. Releases will be maintained at peak releases about 2.5 days (60 hours) before ramping down. Normal operations of 6,500-9,000 cfs will return on Nov. 8.

The goal for the Department of the Interior is to move sand stored in the river channel and redeposit it to rebuild eroded sandbars and beaches downstream of the Paria River in Grand Canyon National Park.

See more information from the National Parks Service.

View the AZGFD presentation on public awareness/education funding source

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PHOENIX — Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) constituents are reminded that a presentation on recently submitted ideas for establishing and maintaining a discretionary, dedicated funding source for public awareness and education has been posted on the AZGFD Customer Portal at https://www.azgfd.com/agency/dedicated-funding-source/. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission directed the department to analyze ideas submitted by the public: the addition of a big game bonus point option, and the potential to expand revenue sources from non-traditional customers.

The posting of the presentation kicked off a second 30-day comment period that ends November 18. Please submit comments (specific only to the proposals covered in the presentation) via email to (ideas@azgfd.gov).

AZGFD is also seeking feedback to specific questions at Answer Questions HERE regarding a big game bonus point option. This feedback will provide the department with a preliminary glimpse of public opinion on the topic. Additional analyses and public vetting will be needed to fully assess the potential for this option.

The presentation and online questions also are posted at https://www.azgfd.com/agency/dedicated-funding-source/.

AZGFD will present feedback on the potential options for the funding source to the Game and Fish Commission at its public meeting December 7 in Phoenix.

Commission Appointment Recommendation Board to interview 3 candidates

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Arizona Game and Fish commission building. – AZGF Photo

PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Commission Appointment Recommendation Board will meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, November 13, to interview three candidates for the governor’s appointment to fill a 2019 vacancy on the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. The meeting will be held at the Game and Fish Department headquarters, 5000 W. Carefree Highway in Phoenix. An agenda has been posted at www.azgfd.gov/board, and the public is invited to attend.

The following candidates will be interviewed: William N. Collins, James E. Goughnour, and Patrick W. Headington. They were chosen from a list of eight applicants considered by the board at its October 23 public meeting. After the interviews on November 13, the board will select at least two or possibly all three candidates to forward to Gov. Doug Ducey for consideration for the appointment.

Per Arizona Revised Statute 17-202, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission Appointment Recommendation Board shall assist the governor by interviewing, evaluating and recommending candidates for appointment to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. The board shall recommend at least two, but no more than five, candidates to the governor. The governor must select and appoint a commissioner from the list submitted by the board.

For additional information about the Commission Appointment Recommendation Board, contact the Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions at (602) 542-2449 or toll free at 1-800-253-0883 or on the web at www.azgovernor.gov.

For more information on the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission.

ADOT busy with freeway projects leading up to holiday season

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Phoenix-area freeway drivers may have noticed more construction and maintenance closures along interstates 10 and 17 last weekend. There’s some good news behind those restrictions.

A scheduled increase in freeway work and closures in October and November allows the Arizona Department of Transportation to make progress on important improvements before a decrease in restrictions sets in during the holiday travel season.

Crews have been busy in recent weeks on ADOT projects ranging from bridge construction at the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway interchange at I-10 and 59th Avenue to I-17 pavement improvements south of downtown Phoenix.

ADOT is getting that work done now in order to limit weekend restrictions, including full freeway closures, during the holiday travel and shopping season between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.

Scheduling weekend or overnight freeway restrictions in recent weeks in order to lighten the load during the holidays hasn’t been easy, especially with record-setting rainfall in the Phoenix area in October.

Project teams made substantial progress at the I-10/South Mountain Freeway interchange last weekend, including pouring the concrete deck for the elevated ramp that will provide a connection between northbound Loop 202 and westbound I-10 by late 2019.

Over the next few weeks and weekends, drivers in the Phoenix area can expect additional closures or lane restrictions along I-10 near 59th Avenue for work on the Loop 202 interchange. Bridge inspections also are planned at the I-10/I-17 “Stack” interchange near downtown. An ongoing I-10 project near Loop 303 in Goodyear is installing traffic-flow sensors in the pavement as well as electronic message signs above the interstate.

In addition to the holiday travel season, ADOT also will pull back from major freeway restrictions Nov. 8-11, during the NASCAR race weekend at ISM Raceway in the West Valley.

Schnebly Hill Road off-ramp from southbound Interstate 17 scheduled to close temporarily November 5

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The Arizona Department of Transportation advises northern Arizona drivers that the southbound I-17 Schnebly Hill Road off-ramp (exit 320) is scheduled to close Monday, November 5, from 8 a.m. to noon while crews repair guardrail.

During the closure, motorists should continue southbound on I-17 for 3 miles to Woods Canyon/Fox Ranch Road (exit 317) to exit and re-enter northbound I-17 to Schnebly Hill Road.

Please proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.

2019 spring hunt draw results now available

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AZGF Photo

PHOENIX — The wait is over for hopeful hunters who applied for a 2019 spring hunt permit-tag.

To view the draw results for the spring turkey, javelina, bison and bear hunting seasons, online applicants should log in to their Arizona Game and Fish Department portal account. Don’t have a free account? Simply click on the “My Account” button in the upper right-hand corner of the www.azgfd.gov home page, then select the “Register” option and fill in the required fields.

Draw results also can be accessed by calling the department’s automated telephone system at (602) 942-3000 and pressing “2.” All hunt permit-tags will be mailed by Nov. 30. Refunds will be mailed by Nov. 16.

A total of 43,318 applicants – of which 42,784 applied online (98.8 percent) — vied for 34,030 total hunt permit-tags issued through the random draw. For those who were unsuccessful, a list of more than 8,200 leftover hunt permit-tags is expected to be posted online next week at https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Draw/.

The department will begin accepting applications for leftover hunt permit-tags Monday, Nov. 19 – by mail only – at 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086, Attn.: Draw/First Come. Leftover hunt permit-tags will be available for purchase on a “first come, first served” basis beginning Monday, Nov. 26, at all department offices.

For those who qualify, military hunts may be available at Camp Navajo. Visit https://dema.az.gov/army-national-guard/camp-navajo/garrison-operations/camp-navajo-hunting-information.