Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — July 18-22, 2022

Community level HIGH–masking requirement indoors remains in place

As of Thursday, July 21, Coconino County has transitioned into High Community Level and masking requirements will remain in place at least until Thursday, July 28. As a reminder Community Level is a metric of a community’s ability to medically deal with COVID and non-COVID cases. The NPS has informed park units that we must follow the CDC’s recommendations, and if we are in High Community Level, we will require masks indoors.

Coconino County continues to be in the High Community Transmission and now all 15 Arizona counties are in High. Across the United States, 93% of counties are in High.

For Community Level, in Arizona 10 counties are in High, 5 are in Medium, and none are in Low. Across the Unites States, 42% of counties are now in High and 38% are in Medium.

Vaccine Clinics in Grand Canyon and Tusayan on August 2

Tuesday, August 2, Coconino County Health and Human Services Mobile Vaccine Team will be returning to the Park and Tusayan for a vaccine clinic. The Grand Canyon event will be held at the Rec Center, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and the Tusayan event will be held at the Tusayan Fire Department, from 2-4 p.m. A flyer for both events will be distributed when it becomes available.

What to know before you go:

• The event will offer vaccines for all adults and children 6 months of age and older.
• The mobile team will offer all types of vaccines and boosters (Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson) unless otherwise indicated.
• Please bring your COVID-19 vaccination card with you if seeking a 2nd or booster dose. To find out if you are eligible for a booster please visit the county’s website here.
• Masks are recommended at both the Grand Canyon and Tusayan events (masks required indoors at the Rec Center if Community Level is High) .
• Children 6 months -17 years of age must be accompanied by a guardian.

Flyer for Grand Canyon Vaccine Clinic HERE

Flyer for Tusayan Vaccine Clinic HERE

Water conservation begins for South Rim Friday, July 22

Grand Canyon National Park will implement mandatory Level 2 water conservation measures beginning on Friday, July 22 due to a broken valve affecting pumping of water to the South Rim.

At Level 2, mandatory measures require that all concessions operations switch to disposable dishes and utensils; alter menus to use less water for food prep and dish washing; adopt low water use for hotel room cleaning; and serve drinking water at restaurants by request only.

Mandatory water conservation includes not watering lawns/plants or washing cars; filling the sink with water while washing dishes; reporting drips, leaks or other water loss to appropriate offices; turning off the water while you shave or brush your teeth; running dishwashers or washing machines with only full loads- in eco mode if available; taking shorter showers. All visitors and residents must implement water conservation measures immediately in homes, hotel rooms, and at the campgrounds.

Since Tuesday, Grand Canyon’s Water Utilities Crew has been working to fix a total of four leaks along the Transcanyon Waterline along the North Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails. In order to replace a broken valve at Pipe Creek, water delivery has been shut off to the South Rim. Water delivery to the North Rim has been halted as the crew works to fix a separate pipeline issue near Roaring Springs.

A huge ‘thank you’ to the tireless efforts of the Water Utilities crew as they work to repair these breaks in extreme temperatures and challenging terrain.

Dragon Fire grows to 200 acres on North Rim

As of July 21st, the Dragon Fire is approximately 200 acres with 0% containment. Fire behavior and weather today are favorable for allowing the fire to fulfill its natural role in a fire-dependent ecosystem. Two additional engines and an Interagency Hotshot Crew are expected to arrive on scene today with more resources and personnel arriving over the next several days. Fire information can now be found at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8266/. Recorded fire information for the Dragon Fire is now available by calling: 928-638-7688.

The lightning-caused fire began July 17 and is being allowed to fulfill its natural role in a fire-dependent ecosystem. Located 5 miles west of the Grand Canyon Lodge, the Dragon Fire is burning in continuous ponderosa pine forest. Fire managers plan to continue monitoring fire activity while buffering containment lines to the north and east of the fire. All actions are being based on firefighter and public safety as well as current and expected fire weather and environmental conditions.

The Tiyo Point Trail is closed and includes a closure area of 1.5 miles east and west of the Tiyo Point Trail and south of the W1/Point Sublime Road. Motorists driving along the W-1/Point Sublime Road should be aware of fire personnel and equipment in the vicinity. Motorists should watch out for snags across the roadway and slow down for emergency response vehicles. Southwest-west winds may move smoke east towards the Grand Canyon Lodge and smoke will be seen from the South Rim.

Wildfire is a natural process within the fire adapted ecosystem on the North Rim. By allowing the Dragon Fire to carry out this natural process, a variety of resource objectives will be met including reduction of hazardous fuels, promoting forest regeneration, improving wildlife habitat, and restoring a more open forest understory.

Tuweep day use pilot reservation program takes effect Thursday, July 21

Beginning today, Grand Canyon is implementing an advance day-use ticket reservation system pilot program for the Tuweep Visitor Use Area through recreation.gov. All information on this new system is now available on the park’s Tuweep website.

Hosting the reservation system on this platform enables visitors to easily secure reservations online and plan a safe visit to this remote location since all the local information needs to be read prior to completing the reservation process.

The intent of the reservation system is to preserve the character of Tuweep as an uncrowded, rustic, and remote experience through the established carrying capacity of 30 vehicles or 85 visitors in line with the park’s 1995 General Management Plan. Visitors with a backcountry permit for overnight camping do not need to make a day-use reservation for their permit date(s). The pilot reservation system does not change existing policy for tribal communities’ ability to use their traditional homelands within the park.

The day-use reservation system will apply to the Tuweep area of the park, including all park areas within Toroweap Valley and on the Kanab Plateau. It excludes the North and South rim developed areas and overlooks.

Transcanyon Waterline Project Contract Solicitation

We have been working for a long time to replace the transcanyon waterline. The frequent breaks and threats to water delivery both to the North and South rims have been a constant challenge for years (see above!).

We are pleased to announce that a 45-day contract solicitation for the Transcanyon Waterline project opened on July 15 with bids due on August 29. This large-scale, multi-year project includes construction of a new water intake in Bright Angel Creek near Phantom Ranch, replacement of the Transcanyon Waterline between Phantom Ranch and Havasupai Gardens, construction of new water treatment plants on the South Rim and at Phantom Ranch, expansion of the South Rim helibase, construction of contractor staging and RV sites near the NPS Facility Management Complex, upgrades to provide water to mile-and-a-half and three-mile rest houses as well as Havasupai Gardens along the Bright Angel Trail, and other needed improvements to the water and electrical systems in the inner canyon.

After the contract is awarded later this year, we will host another set of community meetings to update residents and park partners on the status of this critical infrastructure project and other key projects across the park. More information on the contract solicitation for the waterline can be viewed on the following website.

Beginning on August 2, the NPS Road Crew will be closing the 328-A spur road at the Grand Canyon National Park southwest boundary to install a new cattle guard. Rowe Well Road (or the 328-A) is the road that leads from behind the Maswik to the Kennels, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Supai Camp and eventually exits the park onto USFS lands.

Rowe Well Road will remain open, but a hard closure at the NPS boundary will prevent traffic from entering/departing the park. Access to Supai Camp and the Waldron Trailhead from the north will not be affected.

Concrete barriers and cones will be erected on either side of the worksite and any traffic attempting to access the park from the 328 road will be redirected back to Tusayan and the primary South Entrance (Hwy 64) road. Work is expected to be completed on or about August 12.

The new cattle guard will expand the existing cattle guard width by approximately four feet, allowing easier access for trailers and large vehicles. Additionally, the cattleguard replacement will help deter trespass livestock from entering the park and help ensure better long-term maintenance of the cattle guard.

Desert View Construction update

Starting this week, construction contractors at Desert View will begin major upgrades to the existing footpaths to ensure ADA compliance for visitor access.

Depending on the construction schedule and work locations, wheelchairs might have difficulty accessing certain areas of Desert View, to include the Desert View Watchtower while the construction is taking place. Interpretation Rangers stationed at the Desert View Information Kiosk will have specific information on open and wheelchair accessible paths.

Last week, Grand Canyon’s Vanishing Treasures Program completed annual stabilization maintenance at Tusayan Pueblo for 2022, and this year marks 90 years of stabilization at the pueblo.

The team’s biggest accomplishment this year was removing and re-applying the stabilization cap on the kiva bench. Deteriorated stabilization mortar from 2015 was removed before applying multiple coats of new stabilization mortar on the bench surface. This bench cap treatment is done approximately every 5 years to mitigate the effects of erosion and protect the fragile architecture. Stabilization treatments were also completed on the main room block to repair eroded mortar joints and reset loose wall stones, which must be done annually to keep the masonry in good condition.

Donelle Huffer and Kelsey Gruntorad thank everyone who assisted with stabilization, as well as their supervisors for helping make it happen. Thanks and appreciation go out to Karen Fernandez and Karen’s son Martin Fernandez, and Abigail Gillam, Rachel Comp, Christine Dyer, and everyone from SRM Cultural Resources who also took time away from their busy schedules–Ellen Brennan, Kim Besom, Mary-Hannah Coyle, Jason Nez, Colin Bahin, and Michael Padian. The team could not have done it without you!

Grand Canyon Food Pantry seeking new volunteers

The Grand Canyon Food Pantry has transitioned to a new platform for signing up to volunteer. Interested volunteers can now email: gcpantryvolunteers@gmail.com and you’ll receive an email with a link for volunteer sign up. From this page you are able to select dates and times to volunteer.

The current schedule for the pantry, located at 87 Sunset Drive, is as follows:

Mondays: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Tuesdays: 6-8 p.m.

Wednesdays: 6-8 p.m.

Saturdays: 2-4 p.m.

Tusayan Gardening Q&A

The Town of Tusayan and Coconino County Health and Human Services is sponsoring two Q&A gardening sessions at the Community Garden near the Tusayan Sports Complex. The next event will be held on July 26 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

More information on this event can be found in the attached flyer here.

North Rim Butterfly count recap

Last weekend, the North Rim staff held their annual butterfly count that included 38 participants. A total of 604 butterflies were documented, representing 46 different butterfly species. The most common butterfly that was observed was the small wood-nymph, at 240 individuals, and the North Rim’s endemic butterfly species, Schellbach’s Fritillary, observed 28 times.

Over the next few weeks, staff from Grand Canyon will submit the final data count to the North American Butterfly Association. Many thanks to those employees and partners who helped organize this event, including Lonnie Pilkington, Rob Hannacker, Miranda Terwilliger, Jesse Barden, and Doug Crispin.

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.- 3 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.
• El Tovar Dining Room and Lounge
• Breakfast, 6:30-10:00 a.m.
• Lunch, 11:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
• Dinner, 4:30-9:30 p.m.
• Lounge, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
• Patio (limited menu), 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Fred Harvey Food Truck, located in front of the El Tovar/Hopi House Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (weather permitting)

Delaware North

• Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 12-10 p.m.
• Yavapai Lodge Coffee Shop, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Beginning Monday, July 25, the coffee shop will be open from 6:30 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.
• The Yavapai Dining Hall, breakfast, 7 a.m.-10:45 a.m., dinner, 5 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Other

• Grand Canyon Clinic: 7 days a week, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Bright Angel Bikes
• Rental: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Cafe-8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Visitor Center (GCVC): Daily from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., operations held outside of the GCVC building
• Grand Canyon Conservancy stores: Visitor Center Plaza, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, Yavapai Geology Museum, Verkamps, and Kolb Studio 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.,
• Kennel Operations: Overnight boarding is only available from Friday through Sunday nights. Pick-ups and day boarding are available on Mondays. Contact Xanterra Switchboard or Xanterra Fire and Security for afterhours pick-ups.
• Grand Canyon Community Library: Monday-Friday from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Desert View

• Desert View Trading Post Coffee and Ice Cream and Market, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
• Desert View Watchtower, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.
• The Desert View Deli, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Desert View Information Table (staffed by NPS), 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (as staffing levels allow).

North Rim

• North Rim Lodge Dining Room, Breakfast: 6:30-10 a.m., Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Dinner: 4:30-9:45 p.m.
• In addition to regular breakfast service in the dining room, the Grand Canyon Lodge at North Rim is now offering a breakfast buffet daily from 6:30-8:00 a.m.
• Deli in the Pines, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Roughrider Saloon, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
• Coffee Saloon, 5:30-10:30 a.m.
• North Rim General Store: 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
• North Rim Service Station, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• GCC Bookstore/Visitor Center, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Roaring Springs Kiosk information, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The following closures are in place:

• Maswik South Lodging
• Maswik Pizza Pub

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

• Sunset from the North Rim (NPS Photo/L. Cisneros)
• Two photos of the Dragon Fire taken on July 20 (NPS Photos/Fire Effects)
• Tuweep at sunset (Photo courtesy of Amy Martin)
• Pipeline repair in the Box north of Phantom Ranch (NPS Photo)
• A member of the Helitack crew receives a slingload at the South Rim helibase (NPS Photo)
• Collection of photos of Tusayan Pueblo provided by Donelle Huffer
• Pantry volunteers on July 20 (Photo courtesy of Mike Scott)
• Lonnie Pilkington leads a butterfly count group on the North Rim (NPS Photo)