All City of Flagstaff administrative offices and non-essential facilities will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23 due to inclement weather and continued snowfall. This includes City recreation centers, libraries, and the Flagstaff Visitor Center.
The National Weather Service (NWS) is predicting three to four Winter storm systems to affect much of Coconino County from Tuesday night through Sunday. These systems are predicted be more impactful than recent storms in Northern Arizona.
All City of Flagstaff administrative offices and non-essential facilities will be closed Wednesday, Feb. 22 due to predicted severe inclement weather.
The City’s Public Works division has deployed all available equipment and operators during this winter snow event, with operations running 24 hours a day.
On September 21, 2022, Coconino County announced that updated digital flood hazard maps for the portion of Oak Creek Canyon in Coconino County would become effective March 21, 2023.
The flood maps are known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). They show the extent to which areas recently re-mapped in Coconino County’s portion of Oak Creek Canyon are at risk for flooding. These flood maps are used to help determine flood insurance and building requirements. They replace maps that were based on studies more than 30 years old. Note that the flood maps for the portion of Oak Creek Canyon in Yavapai County are still being finalized.
COCONINO COUNTY — A Coconino County delegation this week presented long-term plans for flood mitigation and forest restoration to several of Arizona’s representatives in Congress and their staff.
“Our delegation to Washington D.C. had a very productive day of meetings. Supervisors Begay and Vasquez and County Flood Control District management presented Coconino County’s immediate and long-term plans for flood mitigation and forest restoration to several of Arizona’s representatives in Congress and their staff,” county officials reported.
Winter safety tips!
South Entrance Station
We have received multiple reports of park employees and/or residents driving through the south entrance station without stopping. As a reminder, when the bypass lane is closed or inaccessible due to snow, all vehicles are required to come to a full and complete stop when driving through any of the lanes of the entrance station. A failure to stop is not only hazardous but could result in a serious accident to employees who routinely move between booths.
Parking – Safety Concern
Please do not park vehicles on roadways.
Vehicles parked inappropriately compound already hazardous conditions and they impede the plowing of roadways.
Please use designated parking areas.
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the establishment of a new Flood Control District (District) Grant Match Fund at its meeting on January 24, 2023.
In late 2022, Congress approved $50 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to engineer and construct flood mitigation measures in the neighborhoods impacted by post-wildfire flooding from the Pipeline Fire.
The Flagstaff Ranger District (FRD) of the Coconino National Forest is considering fire restriction changes that would limit camping, campfires, and motorized vehicle use in strategic areas during certain times of the year when catastrophic wildfire risk is high to help prevent unwanted, human-caused fires.
Proposed changes to fire restrictions would increase the boundaries of the existing year-round camping and campfire ban located adjacent to the City of Flagstaff. They would also forbid the use of motorized vehicles in areas around the San Francisco Peaks, Walnut Canyon, and Pumphouse Wash during Stage 2 fire restrictions. These areas have rough terrain and topography that increase wind speeds, which can limit firefighter ability to suppress wildfire starts. The areas under consideration would still be open for hiking, mountain biking and equestrian use during Stage 2 fire restrictions.
At the Jan. 10, 2023 special session of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors, the Board unanimously approved a proclamation to designate January as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month in Coconino County.
According to the US State Department, Arizona is a hub for illicit activity and a transit point for labor and sex trafficking due to our state’s geographic location and network of Interstate freeways. Locally, in the past five years various law enforcement and victim service agencies have encountered over 600 confirmed victims of human trafficking. Furthermore, numerous sting operations during that time have identified almost 500 individuals suspected of attempting to purchase sex with an underage victim.
“The exploitation of human beings for sex trafficking is a terrible crime and we must raise awareness and educate ourselves on this matter so that we can take action to end this travesty. This is an issue that affects all of our communities,” commented Chair of the Board Patrice Horstman.
All City of Flagstaff non-essential facilities will operate on a two-hour delayed start on Wednesday, Jan. 18 due to inclement weather and poor road conditions. The City urges all residents to delay travel if possible. For an overview of the opening times of various City facilities, please visit flagstaff.az.gov/4801/Delayed-Start.
The City of Flagstaff invites residents impacted by post-wildfire flooding in the Spruce Wash/ Museum Flood Area to a community meeting on Thursday, Feb. 2 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Flagstaff City Hall (211 W Aspen Ave). During the meeting, City staff will discuss planned long-term mitigations in the area and take questions from residents.
This community meeting is specifically targeted towards residents who live in the Paradise, Grandview and Sunnyside neighborhoods. This meeting will not provide information on flooding impacts in west Flagstaff, Doney Park, or Timberline.
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors is considering a new ordinance that would regulate short-term rental properties in Coconino County.
There will be a virtual public hearing about the ordinance on February 28 at 6 p.m. via Zoom followed by discussion among the County Board of Supervisors and a vote on the ordinance.
Any interested person may observe the hearing and comment during the public comment period.
The City of Flagstaff and its contractor, Eagle Mountain Construction, invite you to attend a community open house meeting for the Beulah/University Realignment Project. The meeting will be held on Thursday, March 2, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Flagstaff City Hall Lobby and Council Chambers located at 211 West Aspen Avenue. The open house meeting will provide an opportunity for community members and business owners to view design plans, ask questions and learn more about the upcoming improvements project. Please note that there will be no formal presentation; residents are welcome to drop by at any time during the meeting.
The City of Flagstaff is hosting an open house event to gather feedback from the public on a draft short-term rental (STR) ordiance and license. The open house will be held on Monday, March 27, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall (211 W. Aspen Ave) or online. Members of the public are welcome to attend in person or virtually for an informational presentation and an opportunity to provide feedback to City staff. To participate virtually, visit flagstaff.az.gov/STRL to access the Teams meeting link.
The City of Flagstaff is hosting a flooding community meeting in May to discuss preparations for monsoon season and answer questions from residents.
FLAGSTAFF —The City of Flagstaff is hosting an informational meeting for the Switzer Canyon Waterline – Phase IV project on Wednesday, June 28 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at the Elks Lodge (2101 N San Francisco St). Members of the public are invited to learn about the project, its expected impacts and to ask questions.
FLAGSTAFF — City of Flagstaff invites residents impacted by post-wildfire flooding in the Spruce Wash/ Museum Flood Area to a community meeting on Thursday, Aug. 31 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at Flagstaff City Hall (211 W Aspen Ave). During the meeting, City staff will discuss the Grandview Drive Reconstruction Project scheduled to start in the fall, as well as review 30% design plans for the Spruce Wash Improvements flood migration projects funded by Prop 441.
At the final Board of Supervisors (Board) meeting of 2022, the Board completed the weeks long process of appointing a candidate to fill the vacant office of Justice of the Peace for the Page precinct, selecting Maia Rodriguez to serve through 2024.
Ms. Rodriguez comes to the office with over 24 years of experience working for both the Flagstaff and Page Justice Courts in Court Clerk and supervisory roles, holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice, and has successfully completed the Coconino County Supervisors Development Academy and Executive Leadership Academy, as well as Court Management, Court Executive, and Court Fellows Programs with the National Center for State Courts Institute for Court Management.
The $1.7 trillion Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations Bill was passed by Congress today, expected to be signed by President Biden tomorrow.
Congress acted today to approve the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which includes funding for federal programs that support post-wildfire watershed restoration and flood mitigation. The legislation includes an overall $925 million for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP). The Coconino County Flood Control District (District) has two approved projects on the EWPP Project Waitlist totaling $50 million. The projects will provide flood mitigation in six neighborhoods within the Schultz/Pipeline Flood Area. The District will be considering in the near future the acceptance of these grants including ways to allocate the $12.5 million in required local matching funds.
The City of Flagstaff will begin the process of dredging Frances Short Pond to remove sediment from post-wildfire flooding. First, the pond will be drained and dried so that the sediment at the bottom of the pond can be more easily accessed and removed. Once the sediment has been removed, the pond will be refilled with reclaimed water and spring runoff. The draining process will begin today, Dec. 22, 2023, and the entire project is expected to take three to six months, with the pond scheduled to be reopened in the late spring or early summer. The public should avoid the pond while the dredging process is taking place.
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors will begin accepting applications from interested parties to fill the vacant office of Justice of the Peace in Page, Ariz.
The sudden passing of Page Justice of the Peace Donald G. Roberts before the November 8 election caused a vacancy of his judicial position. Although there were official write-in candidates in the election, a majority of voters in Page precincts re-elected Roberts posthumously to recognize his many years of service and dedication to the Page community. Per the laws of the State of Arizona, when a deceased candidate receives the highest number of votes the election is deemed not valid.
As of November 17, Coconino County is now in Medium CDC Community Level. This change is not unexpected. We have seen COVID spikes in the fall for the last two years, and unfortunately, this year this has happened a little earlier than in past years. As a reminder, the CDC and World Health Organization still considers us to be in a pandemic, and that it does not look to be ending anytime soon.
The DOI has set specific guidelines for us to follow based on the CDC Community Level. The primary change for Medium Community Level is to communicate the concerns of spreading COVID and areas where people gather. Therefore, we will post new signs on all building entrances that state that we are in Medium CDC Community Level, and we encourage individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to practice physical distancing from others in indoor common areas. Additionally, all building entrances should have signs stating that masks are optional and to practice physical distancing.
Finally, the best way to protect yourselves and your loved ones is to be vaccinated and boosted. If you have not received the newly developed and distributed COVID bivalent vaccine, we encourage you to do so. These vaccines have been scientifically proven to be safe and to help prevent COVID illness—and, for those that do become sick, the bivalent vaccine helps protect from serious or long-term COVID illness.
In this edition…
• Message from Jeronimo
• Short-Term Flood Mitigation Projects
• District 2 Highlights
• Service Positions Open in District 2
ª Services and Programs
ª And more!
Message from Jeronimo
Photo: Jeronimo Vasquez and father Dr. Miguel Vasquez.
Hello Everyone! Happy November! I wanted to give a special
thank you to everyone who came to the community barbeque
and all those who supported the event. I am glad we were able
to come together and spend time as a community. We have
gone through many obstacles this year and it is important to
unite and recognize all we have been through. We have been
able to overcome and remain resilient. We are a community
and together we are stronger. I am here for you all, so please
remember to email me with any concerns you may have that
we can get working on!
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved amendments to the County’s annual Winter Parking Ordinance at their regular meeting on Tuesday, November 15, 2022; amendments that will enable the Sheriff’s Office to enhance enforcement during the winter recreation season with the goal of increasing public safety on County roads and rights of way.
Each year during the Winter season, Coconino County becomes a recreation destination for many visitors from across Arizona, nationwide, and internationally. With numerous natural areas suited for snow play located close to County-maintained roads, rights of way, and private property, Coconino County Sheriff Jim Driscoll believes the added enforcement is necessary to ensure the public’s safety.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff invites you to stay and play responsibility this winter. Please view our winter recreation map here or below for more information.
The Coconino County Recorder’s Office will have three emergency early voting locations open on Monday, November 7. Voters that have an unforeseen emergency that will keep them from going to their polling place or a vote center on Election Day, November 8, qualify to vote at one of the county’s four emergency early voting locations.
Voters taking advantage of emergency early voting do not need to disclose the specifics of their emergency but will be required to sign an emergency early voting affidavit.
The City of Flagstaff is happy to announce that the Schultz Creek Sediment and Flood Mitigation Detention Basins are complete and functional. The basins were completed incredibly quickly, with the project being designed, planned, bid and constructed in less than three months, including significant rain delays.
The dedication and hard work of the City’s Stormwater and Public Works divisions, as well as the expertise of Shephard Wesnitzner, Inc, and the commitment of Fann Contracting made such a swift delivery possible. The project was delivered with $2.4M in funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Protection Program and a match of over $700,000 from the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
With snow forecast for northern Arizona in the coming days, the City of Flagstaff would like to provide information regarding snow operations. The City’s Public Works Division will deploy all available equipment and operators during winter snow events, with operations running 24 hours a day during significant events.
Coconino County Public Works crews are prepared to keep County roads open and passable during the first snowstorm of the 2022-2023 winter season, which is forecast to hit Northern Arizona this week.
According to the National Weather Service, rain and snow showers are expected across northern Arizona starting Wednesday night and lasting into Friday, with the heaviest expected Thursday morning/afternoon. Minor accumulations are expected down to about 5000 feet with around 4 to 6 inches expected above 6500 feet.
FLAGSTAFF — On October 25, the Coconino County Flood Control District (District) Directors approved investing up to $11.5 million in a set of smaller scale flood mitigation projects in the Schultz/Pipeline Flood area. These projects will restore the capacity of some of the existing flood mitigation measures in the area and reduce flood impacts to the Doney Park area through construction of a series of berms near Landfill Road.
The District Directors received an in-depth presentation regarding the District’s short-term on-forest and neighborhood mitigation projects and staff requested a budget adjustment in the amount of $10.5 million to cover the costs. The funding will come through a loan from the County’s General Fund. After the presentation and clarifying questions from Board members, the budget adjustment was approved unanimously by those present.
Alicia Voytek named Homecoming dedicatee!
Voytek was presenting to a group of campus living staff when the team’s meeting was interrupted by a crowd of people who marched in the room, waving pompoms and cheering loudly. “Um, what’s happening?” she asked. The intruders circled around her, and Voytek’s eyes began to well as she realized the cause for the unannounced parade: she was this year’s Homecoming dedicatee.
In a new, first-of-its-kind partnership, Northern Arizona University will partner with all ten community college districts across the state and the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) to launch the Arizona Attainment Alliance (A++). This collaboration aims to harness the collective impact of distinct institutions based on a shared desire to dramatically boost Arizona’s postsecondary attainment rate. A++ represents a new kind of student-centered postsecondary ecosystem, one based on collaboration across shared interests and priorities and the optimization of complementary assets in service to Arizonans.
They will undergo drills and inspections. They will take classes and be put under extreme stress.
The purpose: To achieve a level of professionalism in policing that meets the needs of the communities of northern Arizona. Beginning Oct. 3, 13 recruits will undergo 21 weeks of training at the newly established High Country Training Academy at Coconino Community College.
“CCC’s goal is to partner with the local community to train people who live in Coconino County for jobs in Coconino County,” said Dr. Nate Southerland, Provost for CCC. “We are so grateful to our local law enforcement agencies for being the driving force behind this new program and providing the personnel needed to make it successful.”
Southerland also said that with CCC and local agencies working together, they can generate new interest in law enforcement careers and keep the community’s talent in the community.
At the September 13, 2022, meeting of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors, the board took unanimous action to approve funding for an intergovernmental agreement to train and certify recruits as peace officers through the Arizona Peace Officers Standards Training (POST) at the newly-created High Country Training Academy in Flagstaff.
Historically Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Flagstaff Police Department, and other regional jurisdictions have had to send peace officer recruits to training academies in Yuma, Tucson, and others across the state. Along with limited availability for new recruits and associated travel costs, training schedules at statewide academies do not always conform to the hiring needs of our local agencies.
“It’s a very important endeavor for us to have a police academy in the Flagstaff area,” commented Chief Deputy Bret Axlund, “The Sheriff’s Office and CCC have partnered to operate a Detention Officer’s training academy at the school since 2005 which has accommodated hundreds of recruits, so this new training opportunity will build on an already proven partnership.”
The $1.5 million project includes replacement of approximately 1.2 miles of deteriorated pavement on Parks Road, Old Route 66, and Government Prairie Road. These improvements will extend roadway life, improve rideability, and reduce maintenance costs.
Coconino County is scheduled to break ground next week on the first phase of the Parks Roads Reconstruction Project. The $1.5 million project includes the replacement of approximately 1.2 miles of deteriorated pavement on Parks Road, Old Route 66, and Government Prairie Road. These improvements will extend roadway life, improve rideability, and reduce road maintenance costs. Funded entirely by Prop. 403, which county voters approved in 2014, the project also includes shoulder rehabilitation along these roads.
Community level LOW–masking requirement indoors OPTIONAL
On Thursday, September 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated the Coconino County Community Level to LOW. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.
Grand Canyon management has received updated information from the DOI and NPS on COVID guidance. We are reviewing this information and hoping to apply changes soon.
Additionally, the NPS Washington office has submitted new COVID guidance for concessionaires that removes mitigations that have been in place for building capacity, social distancing, and masking. We are working with the park’s concessionaires on these changes and expect most facilities to increase capacity indoors. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
The Coconino Community College District Governing Board approved agreements to begin a police academy and to start working on a partnership among community colleges in northern Arizona to share resources in order to better serve students.
During the Aug. 17 meeting, CCC Provost Dr. Nate Southerland presented an Oct. 3, 2022, start date for the first police academy at the college after possible program approval by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board. The police academy will start off as non-credit, but after curriculum approval, the program will give recruits credits to apply toward associate and higher degrees.
Southerland then shared information with the board on an agreement in the works with Northland Pioneer College, Mohave Community College and Yavapai College to share resources to better serve students in northern Arizona. Among the items discussed would be the sharing of courses and other services to extend a more robust level of service to students in the region. Talks are ongoing and intergovernmental agreements are planned for the near future.
Coconino County Flood Control District hosted Congressman Tom O’Halleran and officials from the United States Department of Agriculture, United States Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Federal Highway Administration, and the City of Flagstaff for a comprehensive briefing and tour of the Schultz/Pipeline Flood Area.
Flood Control District officials presented the District’s long-term plan for flood mitigation, briefing Congressman O’Halleran and federal officials about the new situation communities now face after nine critical watersheds were severely damaged by the recent Pipeline Fire. Flood Control District Administrator Lucinda Andreani, along with engineering partners, also presented a thorough long-term plan for flood mitigation on the east and west side of the San Francisco Peaks.
In 2017, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared a public health emergency and announced a strategy for law enforcement and health professionals across the country to combat the opioid crisis, with an emphasis on improving access to prevention, treatment, and recovery support services.
This year, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) has been awarded a grant from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office for Local and Tribal Government Opioid Abatement in the amount of $2.5 million. At the August 9 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board took swift action to authorize the addition of the grant funds to the CCSO budget. With these funds, CCSO now commence a collaborative partnership with the Jail District and Coconino County Health and Human Services to provide a new service and support-oriented diversion program focusing on assisting those recovering from opioid addiction in their recovery and re-entry into the community.
Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS), in partnership with state and federal partners, is responding to the recent increase in monkeypox illness in the United States. Although no cases have been identified in Coconino County, 102 monkeypox cases have been reported in Arizona as of August 5, 2022, and more than 7,000 cases have been identified in 49 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC).
Coconino County’s jail system is administered and operated through a Jail District (District) by the Coconino County Sheriff, who is delegated by Arizona Revised Statutes as keeper of the jail. The District is currently funded by a half-cent excise tax, which expires in 2027. The Coconino County Board of Supervisors serves as the Jail District Board of Directors.
On the upcoming General Election ballot, the District Board of Directors will ask Coconino County voters to extend the existing Jail District tax for maintaining and operating Coconino County jails for 25 years until 2052.
Native American Heritage Days take place this weekend on North Rim
The 27th Annual North Rim, Native American Heritage Days will take place on the grounds of Grand Canyon Lodge, this Friday, August 5, through Sunday, August 7.
Heritage Days provide visitors and staff with the opportunity to experience and celebrate the rich cultural diversity of the Colorado Plateau, Arizona Strip, and the Grand Canyon region. Starting around 9:30 a.m. each day, special programs will be presented by tribal members on a variety of subjects, including, astronomy, cultural connections, and Native American music and dance performances. A variety of cultural artisan demonstrations will also be taking place, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day.
Some of this year’s demonstrators will include:
Richard Graymountain from Southern Paiute – Basket Weaving
Jessica Lomatewama – Hopi – Katsina Carving and Basket Weaving
Henry Nez Dine (Navajo) – Silversmith Jewelry making
Duane Maktima – Hopi/Laguna Pueblo – Silver Jewelry/metalsmithing
Leann & Tavavee Shearer “Kaivavich” Kaibab Paiute – traditional clothing creation
Lyle Harvey Dine Navajo – Loom Construction/Weaving
A full flyer of all the Heritage Days Demonstrators is available here.
Heritage Days began in 1993 as “Paiute Days” which celebrated the Paiute, the tribe most associated with Grand Canyon’s North Rim. In 1997, the event was expanded to include all 11 of Grand Canyon’s Associated Tribes with cultural ties to the canyon.
The schedule for each day is available on the Park’s website and mobile app, by clicking on the “calendar” button. A full flyer on the event is also available here.
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the immediate transfer of $5 million from the General Fund’s emergency reserve to the County’s Flood Control District to address the ongoing costs of flood response and mitigation.
In a special session on Tuesday, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the immediate transfer of $5 million from the General Fund’s emergency reserve to the County’s Flood Control District to address the ongoing costs of flood response and mitigation in the Schultz-Pipeline and West Pipeline flood areas.
The City of Flagstaff has received notification that the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide $2.4M in assistance to the City for the Schultz Creek Sediment and Flood Mitigation Detention Basins project through the NRCS’s Emergency Watershed Protection program.
The Schultz Creek Sediment and Flood Mitigation Detention Basins project will mitigate post-wildfire flooding from the Pipeline Fire, which burned over 1,000 acres of the Schultz Creek watershed in June 2022 and resulted in an increased risk of post-wildfire flooding for neighborhoods downstream, including Coyote Springs, Coconino Estates, Downtown and the Southside. The project will detain over 40 acre-feet of water and sediment, thereby reducing life and safety threats as well as the risk of post-wildfire flooding.
We are now accepting applications for the Flagstaff Police Department’s Fall Citizen’s Police Academy Class.
Community level HIGH–masking requirement indoors remains in place
As of Thursday, July 28, Coconino County remains in High Community Level and masking requirements will remain in place at least until Thursday, August 4.
The CDC Community Level tracks a county’s ability to provide health care to COVID patients. In Arizona, 10 counties are in High. Across the United States, 42% of counties are in High, 38% of counties are in Medium, and 20% are in Low. Due to the High Community level, masks are required indoors within all government facilities, vehicles and shuttle busses, as well as commercial facilities operating within the park.
lagstaff’s Mayor Paul Deasy declared a State of Emergency on behalf of the City of Flagstaff due to the impacts of monsoonal flooding in areas impacted by post-Pipeline Fire flooding that started on July 16, 2022.
Over the last several days, the Dragon Fire has been holding at approximately 1,309 acres in size. The 135-personnel assigned fire has had minimal spread due to monsoonal precipitation over the Kaibab Plateau.
Naturally ignited wildland fires play an important role in fire-adapted ecosystems by reducing dead wood accumulations to ash and releasing nutrients that stimulate new plant growth, and helping to regulate insect and disease levels. These fires also create a mosaic of burned and unburned vegetation, which increases habitat diversity and breaks up continuous fuels on the forest floor (branches, fallen trees, etc.) which can help limit or slow the intensity and spread of large wildfires in the future.
Message from Jeronimo
Flood and Fire Resources
District 2 Highlights
Service Positions Open in District 2
Services and Programs
And more!
In this edition:
Community level HIGH–masking requirement indoors remains in place
Arizona and Grand Canyon Community Statistics
Vaccine Clinics in Grand Canyon and Tusayan on August 2
Reporting COVID symptoms is critical to limiting exposure and keeping our staff and community safe
Water conservation begins for South Rim Friday, July 22
Dragon Fire grows to 200 acres on North Rim
Tuweep day use pilot reservation program takes effect Thursday, July 21
Transcanyon Waterline Project Contract Solicitation
Closure of southwest boundary/Rowe Well Road beginning August 2
Desert View Construction update
Tusayan Pueblo Stabilization-2022
More …
Why is there smoke? Dragon Fire on the North Rim
This lightning cause wildfire is being managed for resource benefits including improved wildlife habitat and forest health.
Fire personnel are containing the wildfire in areas where it may pose threats to park resources or visitor safety
The Arizona Supreme Court has announced a vacancy for a public member representing Coconino County on the Arizona Commission on Judicial Performance Review. Coconino County invites all interested applicants to review the requirements and submit an application before the July 29 deadline.
The Arizona Commission on Judicial Performance Review meets four to six times a year in Phoenix. Members are volunteers and are reimbursed for travel expenses. Service on this Commission involves active participation with a commitment to attend most, if not all, of the meetings.
In less than two months this spring, three major wildfires dominated our news as they charred land, displaced residents, and destroyed structures in their path.
One of the few silver linings during those eight weeks was how well individuals, nonprofit organizations and local governments came together to deal with the crises.
“What I find in Coconino County is that everyone works together like a family,” said Joel Bunis, who joined Coconino County Health and Human Services in January as its Outbreak Response Division Manager. “It’s all about connecting people with what they need.”
We are currently seeking a Disaster Services Supervisor (Flagstaff, AZ) to work in our Flagstaff, AZ chapter. This position will work 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday, and some weekends and evenings will be required during times of business need. Travel will also be involved up to 35% of the time.
Some homes and businesses in Flagstaff face a heightened risk of post wildfire flooding due to the Pipeline Fire. Residents who live in the northwest area of Flagstaff, including the neighborhoods of Creighton Estates, Forest Hills, Lynwood, Cheshire, Valley Crest, Coyote Springs, Ridge Crest, Coconino Estates, and Rock Ridge Estates are encouraged to visit flagstaff.az.gov/PipelineWest to view the flood risk assessment map and determine how their residence is impacted.
Effective immediately, Stage 2 fire restrictions are rescinded for the entire Grand Canyon National Park. Increased monsoonal activity throughout northern Arizona has significantly lowered the fire danger risk within the last week.
Grand Canyon National Park will remain in Stage 1 fire restrictions which requires that a campfire always be in a designated fire ring within a maintained campground. Inner canyon users can use gas cook stoves, but campfires and other open fires are never allowed below the rim. River users should continue to follow the conditions of their permit regarding fires along the Colorado River.
The City of Flagstaff will lift current fire restrictions and return to Stage 0 fire restrictions on Tuesday, June 28 at 12 p.m. (noon).
Under Stage 0 fire restrictions,
Smoking and use of electronic cigarettes are prohibited in all public places within the City of Flagstaff, including City Parks, Open Spaces, and the Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS) at all times.
The City of Flagstaff has established two self-filling sandbag stations for those impacted by the Pipeline Fire who live on the west side of Flagstaff. The first station is in Thorpe Park, at the parking lot at the north end of N. Aztec St. between Frances Short Pond and the softball fields. The second station is located at the intersection of Schultz Pass Rd and E Mt Elden Lookout Rd. (commonly called the Schultz “Y”). Maps of these locations are attached.
Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) specialists recently completed their field data evaluation to produce the Soil Burn Severity (SBS) map for the Pipeline Fire, which delineate unburned, low, moderate, and high SBS categories.
The BAER team assessing the Pipeline Fire determined that approximately 1,310 acres (1%) of the fire is unburned, approximately 15,004 acres (56%) have low soil burn severity, approximately 9,141 acres (34%) sustained a moderate SBS and approximately 1,315 acres (5%) were identified as having high SBS.
Coconino County entered Stage 3 Fire Restrictions at 3 p.m. Friday, June 17, 2022. The restrictions apply for all of Coconino County.
Fire restrictions are enacted to help protect public health and safety by reducing the number of human-caused wildfires.
This ordinance applies to unincorporated areas, namely that part of Coconino County outside the corporate limits of any municipality, federally owned land, or any federally recognized tribe in accordance with 25 Code of Federal Regulations part 83.
Stage 3 Fire Restrictions prohibit any combustion, open fire, charcoal, propane, and campfires in unincorporated areas and residences in the County.
