Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — Feb. 21-25, 2022

COVID News

Adaptive Operations Park Management (AMPO) Update

This week, the AMPO team discussed the process the park will follow to reopen NPS buildings that are currently closed, or partially closed, due to the pandemic and the status of the park outdoor mask zone areas.

The team talked about the lifting of mask mandates at several bordering states including California, New Mexico, and Nevada. With those restrictions being lifted, park managers are considering how to make mask restriction changes in the outdoor areas of the park that are currently identified as mask zones. These masking requirements were put in place through the Superintendent’s Compendium. Most of you have seen the sandwich board signs along the rim trail near the El Tovar, at Desert View and Mather Point alerting visitors to the requirement to wear a mask in these areas.

When changes are made, we will let staff know through our weekly calls and this newsletter, Changes will officially be implemented through the Superintendent’s Compendium. These steps will also include updated information for our visitors.

Testing at the Grand Canyon Clinic

COVID-19 testing at the Clinic is now offered through curbside appointments Mondays and Fridays from 2-3 pm and Wednesdays from 11 am to 12 pm.

Patients will need to be seen by a provider for these appointments. Patients are encouraged to call ahead and get on the curbside appointment list, whenever possible. Patients can also walk in and see a provider at any other time to be evaluated for COVID.

Arizona and Grand Canyon Community Statistics

Case numbers in Arizona decreased this week to an average of 2,849 new cases per day compared to last week’s average of 4,388 per day. For the fourth week in a row, we saw numbers declining in all areas. However, the entire state of Arizona is still in high community transmission as is most of the country.

Coconino County is reporting 413 cases in the 86023 zip code since the beginning of the pandemic. We have had approximately 206 total cases in the park since March 2020.

Coconino County reports the Grand Canyon community is 72.7% fully vaccinated as of February 18.

Public Health Contacts

Ronan King, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Public Health Service

Mobile: (202) 891-8599, Email:ronan_king@nps.gov

For all email correspondence, please also cc: Chris Glime, Captain, U.S. Public Health Service

Mobile: (202) 641-3518, Email: christen_glime@nps.gov

Shuttle bus changes beginning March 1

Starting next Tuesday March 1st, all three shuttle routes will resume for the season. This includes: the Kaibab Rim Route (Orange Route) servicing the Grand Canyon Visitor Center east to Yaki Point, the Village Route (Blue Route) servicing primary visitor facilities, and the Hermits Rest Route (Red Route) providing service from the Village along the west rim to Hermits Rest. All routes will start at 4:30 a.m. The Kaibab Rim and Hermits Rest routes will run until one hour after sunset. The Village Route will run until 10 p.m.

Also beginning Tuesday, the Hikers’ Express Bus, which transports backpackers to the South Kaibab Trailhead. Buses will leave Bright Angel Lodge in the month of March beginning at 7 a.m., 8 a.m., and 9 a.m. The Hikers’ Express Bus also stops at the Backcountry Information Center and Grand Canyon Visitor Center on its way to the South Kaibab Trailhead.

The Tusayan Route, providing service from Tusayan to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, will not operate in the spring. It will resume service for Memorial Day weekend. The Tusayan route is currently scheduled to run May 28-September 9, 2022.

For more information on the shuttle bus system, including schedules, visit the park’s shuttle bus website (note: this page will be updated to reflect Spring 2022 changes on Tuesday, March 1.)

2021 Park Profile and statistics now available

Last week the NPS released its 2021 visitation statistics. Service-wide, the NPS saw 291 million visitors and a 22% increase overall in visitation from last year. Grand Canyon saw a total of 4.5 million visitors and went from the sixth most-visited national park in 2020 to the fourth most-visited national park in 2021 (#1-Great Smoky Mountains National Park, #2-Zion National Park, #3-Yellowstone National Park).

Overall, park-wide visitation increased by 55% from 2020 levels. However, the number of visitors to GRCA remains significantly lower than the pre-pandemic levels that exceeded 6 million visitors.

Although 2021’s reduced visitation lessens the stress on the park’s resources, the park is still down in revenue from all income sources compared to pre-pandemic levels. Federal Lands Recreational Enhancement Funds (aka FLREA), transportation fees, and concession franchise fees are still reduced compared to pre-pandemic years. Funds from these sources support many programs across the park and park managers continues to work on programming costs with these smaller revenue projections in mind for this fiscal year.

To view a comprehensive report of park statistics from 2021, the annual Park Profile is now available and posted on the park website and the Grand Canyon sharepoint site. It can also be viewed here as a pdf document. Any questions related to this report can be directed to the Public Affairs Office by email at: grca_public_affairs@nps.gov.

New Fisheries webpage now available on park website

The Native Fish Ecology and Conservation (NFEC) Program is excited to announce the launch of a new fisheries page, now available on Grand Canyon’s official park website!

The NFEC Program’s new web content includes an overview of the program’s ongoing science-informed management actions to conserve Grand Canyon’s unique native fishes. The web pages summarize the life history and ecology of each native fish, as well as a brief history of changes to native fish habitat.

It also includes information on invasive fish management and translocation programs that have lessened threats to native fishes and helped to establish a new spawning population of humpback chub. The web pages describe how the program’s successful projects have contributed to improved habitat conditions in the Colorado River and have led to native fish dominance throughout most of the park’s waters. The Grand Canyon continues to be a stronghold for the Colorado River’s endemic fishes.

Don’t miss the underwater video footage of humpback chub in their natural habitat in Havasu Creek!

Pile burning this week along South Entrance Road

Taking advantage of recent moisture conditions, the South Rim Wildland Fire crew has conducted pile burning along the Hwy. 64 corridor between the South Entrance Station and Desert View Drive junction (mile markers 238-240). Between February 23-24, crews successfully treated 14 acres and burned more than 200 woody debris piles along South Entrance Rd.

Prescribed fire plays a vital role in decreasing wildfire risks to life, resources and property by reducing available hazardous fuels. For more information on the role of fire within Grand Canyon, visit the park’s fire information webpage.

Tree removal begins next week near NPS Helibase

Tree removal on the South Rim to support the Transcanyon Waterline project will begin the week of February 28. The work will be conducted adjacent to the NPS helibase and the Facility Management Complex near Shuttlebus Road.

Tree removal is necessary to expand the helibase area as well as provide space for equipment and materials staging, and construction contractor office and trailer sites in support of the multi-year Transcanyon Waterline project. We will be sharing more information on this project in the near future.

Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute Hosts 20th Annual Guide Training Seminar

This year, the GCC’s Field Institute Guide Training Seminar will be hosted virtually. A series of pre-recorded presentations are free and available to watch online on this YouTube channel. Topics include a hyponatremia presentation by Dr. Tom Myers, Science and Resource Management updates by Sarah Haas and Anne Miller, Glen Canyon History by Jack Stauss of the Glen Canyon Institute, and a presentation on landscape studies and experiential education by Joel Barnes of Prescott College.

There will also be a live Q&A panel discussion on Saturday, February 26 at 9:30 a.m. Registration for this panel discussion is free and can be completed by visiting GCC’s website here. If you have any questions for the speakers, you can submit them in advance through this online form. The speakers will do their best to answer all questions as time permits.

To learn more about the event and other programs hosted by the Field Institute, visit GCC’s website here. For questions, email Chris Zielinski, Field Institute Program Coordinator, at czielinski@grandcanyon.org.

NPS Work Group of the Week—Corridor Working Group

This week we continue to highlight the many work groups throughout the park, who they are, and what they do. The goal is to share information on these work groups and provide opportunities for employees to participate in teams across the park.

This week we are highlighting the Corridor Working Group. This group was started in 2013 as a sub-group of the former Backcountry Working Group.

The purpose of the Corridor Working Group is to:

It is responsible for considering all aspects of park operations and approaching corridor stewardship in a holistic, collaborative manner. The corridor is defined as the facilities, resources, and operations located along the Bright Angel, South and North Kaibab Trails.

The Group’s vision statement states, “The Grand Canyon Corridor Zone supports a variety of appropriate visitor experiences within an environment where natural, cultural, and backcountry resources thrive and park managers are able to support and facilitate sustainable inner canyon and rim operations.”

The group consists of representatives from the divisions of Visitor and Resource Protection, Interpretation and Resource Education, Science and Resource Management, Facility Management and Engineering, Planning, Environment, and Projects, and Commercial Services. The group is led by two co-chairs, currently filled by Ellen Brennan, Cultural Resource Program Manager and Rachel Bennett, Deputy Chief of PEP.

The Group is currently focused on developing management strategies for Corridor Day Use and Rim-to-Rim Activities as well as keeping their finger on the pulse of current and future projects such as signage, housing, graffiti removal, shade structures, water and wastewater projects, and campground rehabilitation. The Group also functions as an interdisciplinary team for compliance projects in the Corridor. We would like to commend this team on the work they have done and continue to do for the canyon’s corridor!

South Rim District Report Available

See what South Rim Patrol has been up to the last few weeks by reading the latest issue of the South Rim District Report.

Community safety reminder—do not approach or touch wild rabbit carcasses

In recent weeks, wildlife staff have reported an increasing number of rabbit deaths within the park. As a reminder, the NPS continues to ask residents and the public to take caution and not to approach wildlife, especially wild rabbits.

In 2020, Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHDV2) was detected in a dead jackrabbit, making it the first detected case in the park. RHDV2 is a highly-contagious and lethal viral disease among domestic and wild rabbits. The virus does not infect humans. Residents are instructed to remain cautious and to follow the instructions below to protect themselves, pets and rabbits in the park.

If you see sick or dead rabbits in Grand Canyon National Park:

Protect Your Pets:

RHDV2 is considered a foreign animal disease, meaning the disease is not typically found in the United States and is a threat to domestic and wild animal health. This virus is not related to the coronavirus causing COVID-19 in humans.

This virus can be transmitted among rabbits through contact with an infected rabbit, with body fluids or feces from an infected rabbit, or with a contaminated environment. The virus can survive on clothing, plant material, or other items that may be accidentally moved from an infected area. Before visiting other wild areas, wash clothing and disinfect footwear.

Utah Shakespeare Festival travels to Grand Canyon March 3

On Thursday, March 3 at 7 p.m. the Utah Shakespeare Festival will once again return to the park at the Shrine of the Ages Auditorium. The performance will be a modern-day twist on Shakespeare’s beloved play, Much Ado About Nothing.

According to the festival website, “The Utah Shakespeare Festival has been taking its Shakespeare-in-the-Schools tour on the road for twenty-eight years, bringing Shakespeare to schools and rural communities across the Intermountain West. This year, for the first time, the touring production will be Shakespeare’s much-loved Much Ado About Nothing.” More information on this performance can be found in this news release or in the this flyer.

Blood Drive at Grand Canyon Rec Center-March 18

The Grand Canyon Rec Center will once again be hosting a community Blood Drive, sponsored by Vitalant. The event will occur on Friday, March 18 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Contact 1-877-25-VITAL (258-4825) (Blood Drive Code: grandcyn) or follow this link to register: Grand Canyon Community Blood Drive. Spots are limited, so sign up soon!

A full flyer for this event can be found here.

North Country Healthcare’s ‘Lunch and Learn’ slated for March 23 at Rec Center

On Wednesday, March 23, North Country Healthcare will be hosting a ‘Lunch and Learn’ at the Grand Canyon Rec Center from 12-1 p.m.

This event will feature speakers on the topics of stress, drugs, and alcohol. All community members are welcome to attended and are invited to learn about these topics as well as interact with speakers and attend programs. North Country Healthcare will also have a provider attending this event and patients are able to meet and greet as well. More information on this event is available in this flyer.

Please note, new operational changes are highlighted in red.

South Rim

Lodging occupancy in the park is expected to be at or near capacity. Our concessioners are expecting a busy season ahead!

Xanterra

Delaware North

Other

Desert View

The following park closures remain in place:

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

Photo Credits (in order of appearance)

Grand Canyon National Park, in northern Arizona, encompasses 278 miles (447 km) of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands. Located on the ancestral homeland of 11 Associated Tribes, Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world—unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers visitors on the rim. Grand Canyon National Park is a World Heritage Site. The National Park Service cares for the special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.