Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: April 25-29, 2022

We continue to register Low at the community level, and we have been at this level for the past month and a half. The CDC Community Level tracks a county’s ability to provide health care to COVID patients.

Total cases in Arizona for the week of April 14-20 is 2,377, which is an average of 340 cases per day for the seven-day rolling average. There were no new cases reported this week in our 86023 zip code. We are now at 424 reported cases since the beginning of the pandemic.

Fire updates & Coconino County Emergency Notification System

This year’s fire season is off and running in the Southwest with four Type 1 Incident Teams already deployed for fires in the region. Earlier this week our wildland fire seasonal staff arrived and began fire training and annual pack tests continued through this week (see photo above).

In the coming weeks, park managers will be coordinating with the Kaibab and Coconino National Forests to assess fire restrictions and determine if the park will need to transition to fire restrictions in the near future. As of Thursday, 4/28, the Tunnel Fire north of Flagstaff, was at approximately 19.075 acres with 43% containment. More information on the Tunnel Fire can be found by visiting the Tunnel Fire Inciweb site here.

If you are a resident within Coconino County and haven’t done so already, please register for the Coconino County Emergency Notification System.This system uses alerts powered by Rave Mobile Safety’s Smart911 to send official, real-time alerts to the public with information about potentially life-saving actions you may need to take to keep you and your family safe. This service allows you to receive voice, text, and email emergency notifications generated by Grand Canyon Dispatch, the Public Affairs Office, and public safety officials.

April 22-30—International Dark Skies Week

International Dark Sky Week is taking place now through April 30. The goals of the week are to raise awareness about the adverse effects of light pollution and the solutions that exist, and to celebrate the night. This Saturday the moon is in new phase –so the remainder of this week will have outstanding night sky viewing.

Grand Canyon National Park was certified as an International Dark Sky Park in 2019. Nearly 3,500 outdoor light fixtures were replaced to make this one of the most highly visited night-sky sanctuaries on the planet. We’ve worked to reduce our light pollution so people and animals can enjoy the night sky.

The Grand Canyon Star Party 2022 is being held onsite at the South Rim and the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park from June 18-25, 2022. More information on the 2022 Star Party can be found on the park website here. Stay tuned for a full schedule of events in the coming months.

Delaware North receives DOI Environmental Award for work at Grand Canyon

The Department of Interior announced this week that the Delaware North Corporation (DNC) was awarded a Climate Champion award for their efforts in creating a Food Waste Prevention Program at Grand Canyon National Park.

According to DOI, “Their actions to protect the climate by preventing food waste from entering landfills, have resulted in the successful diversion of over 1,800 pounds of food waste through partnerships with the Grand Canyon community food pantry which assists local families and employees. Implementing these diversions and efficient prevention methods were critical to eliminating more than 977 pounds of CO2 from affecting our planet.”

A big thank you and congratulations to DNC in their efforts to not only help minimize their carbon footprint here in the park, but also to ensure food security for our many residents and employees in the village! More information and other winners for the Department of the Interior Environmental Achievement Awards can be found at this site.

Proposed Indian Garden name change—current status

There is some confusion surrounding the renaming of Indian Garden and what to call this space, whether we should be calling it “Havasupai Gardens” or using the current name of Indian Garden.

As background, on October 4, 2021, park management submitted a formal name change request to the United States Board of Geographic Names for consideration to the new name “Havasupai Gardens.” The Havasupai actively occupied this area before the land’s designation as a National Park and the renaming from Indian Garden to “Havasupai Gardens” is out of respect for the undue hardship imposed by the park on the Havasupai people. The name change, once approved, will begin to be reflected in signage, literature, and educational offerings as tribal members and park staff work on the renaming process. Part of the process requires the name change request to be evaluated by the Arizona Board of Geographic Names prior to bein submitted for approval to the US Board. The state board of geographic names has only recently begun meeting again, and we are still anticipating the formal name change process could still take several months.

To reduce confusion amongst the public and staff, please continue to refer to “Indian Garden” as Indian Garden when in a professional capacity. If you choose to use the proposed name of “Havasupai Gardens,” please also refer to this space as Indian Garden as none of the park’s publications, maps, or signage have this new name in print. As we await this name change, we have already begun to work closely with the Havasupai Tribe to re-interpret this important place in the canyon honestly.

South Rim District Report Available

• South Rim District Report for period ending 4/23/2022

Domestic Violence Awareness Class begins May 4

The NPS Victim/Witness Program invite you to join a class series over the period of eight weeks focused on domestic violence awareness and how to recognize susceptibility in ourselves and others, how to protect ourselves and others without giving up who we are and what we value, and where and when to get help.

For more information, including the full schedule of the class, a full flyer is attached here.

SNAP/EBT benefits now available for Grand Canyon community through Amazon

Coconino County Health and Human Services and North Country Healthcare are pleased to announce that for the 86023 zipcode, SNAP assistance is now available through Amazon. Please note, perishable foods are not currently available for delivery in the 86023 zipcode. SNAP benefits can also be used to purchase food-producing plants and seeds.

Wondering if you qualify for assistance? Call North Country Healthcare at 928-522-1104 for more information or check out this flyer here.

South Rim

Xanterra

• Maswik Lodge Cafeteria, 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Bright Angel Coffee Shop, 7 a.m.-11 a.m.
• Bright Angel Fountain grab and go, 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.
• Fred Harvey Burger, breakfast 8:00-10:30 a.m., lunch 11 a.m.- 3 p.m., dinner 4-9 p.m.
• The Arizona Steakhouse, Tuesday-Saturday from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Fred Harvey Tavern, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Kennel-daily from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Rec Center, daily from 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Delaware North

• Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 12-10 p.m.
• Yavapai Lodge Coffee Shop, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Canyon Village Market, 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Deli-7 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Camper Services: Laundry and shower hours, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Other

• Bright Angel Bikes
• Rental: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Cafe-7 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Visitor Center Information Desk: This week through May 7 the GCVC Information Desk will be closed due to staffing levels and annual training for the Interpretation Division. Rangers will be roving the GCVC Plaza intermittently, however, no formal visitor programs, including the 11 a.m. program at Yavapai Museum Amphitheater, will be held. Beginning May 8, the information desk will be staffed daily.
• Grand Canyon Conservancy stores (Verkamps Visitor Center, Visitor Center Plaza, and Yavapai Geology Museum), 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.
• Grand Canyon Community Library, limited services Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m-4 p.m. on the south side of the building
• Grand Canyon Food Pantry, beginning May 18 the pantry will have a shift of hours on Wednesdays. The pantry’s new schedule will be as follows:
• Mondays: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Tuesdays: 6-8 p.m.
• Wednesdays: 6-8 p.m. (currently 12-2 p.m. until May 18)
• Saturdays: 2-4 p.m.

Desert View

• Desert View Trading Post Coffee and Ice Cream and Market, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
• Desert View Watchtower, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily

The following closures are in place:

• Yavapai Lodge Restaurant
• Maswik South Lodging (tentative opening Summer 2022)
• Maswik Pizza Pub (tentative reopening June 3, 2022)
• Kolb Studio
• North Rim services (tentative reopen-May 15, 2022)

Please visit the Grand Canyon National Park website for a complete list of closures and available amenities.

• A burst of fushia in the inner canyon this week (NPS Photo/D. Yurcik)
• Rescue vessel training photos from Crystal Rapids last week (NPS Photos)
• A group of Xanterra and wildland firefighters partcipate in the annual packtest around Park Circle (Photo courtesy of Matt Nordin)
• Star trails over Grand Canyon as seen from the South Rim (NPS Photo/D. Pawlak)
• Photo of Brian Healy holding a humpack chub (NPS Photo)
• Row of Cottonwood trees at Indian Garden (NPS Photo)