Grand Canyon National Park
Key Messages – Week of March 21, 2022
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Arizona and Grand Canyon Community Statistics
As of March 17, Coconino County community transmission remains moderate, and the community level is low. In Arizona, 13 of the 15 counties have low community levels. Total cases for the week of March 10-16 is 5,153, which is an average of 736 cases per day for the seven-day rolling average for the week. No new cases have been reported this week within Grand Canyon National Park or in the 86023 zip code.
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Reporting COVID symptoms is critical to limiting exposure and keeping our staff and community safe.
If you think you may have been exposed to COVID, regardless of your vaccination status, immediately isolate and report your situation to your supervisor and Public Health Consultant, Ronan King, and await their instructions. Following this protocol and Ronan’s instructions is extremely important so that any community spread can be contained as quickly as possible.
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Public Health Contacts
Ronan King, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Public Health Service
For all email correspondence, please also cc: Chris Glime, Captain, U.S. Public Health Service
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Messages and Grand Canyon News
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Serious law enforcement incident on March 18 involving multiple agencies
On Friday evening, March 25, Grand Canyon law enforcement rangers and the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office deployed law enforcement field teams to search for a family who was reportedly involved in a domestic dispute. Investigators and detectives worked to gain more information, and the Northern Arizona Tactical Team was dispatched to the area to assist. On Saturday, the Sheriff’s Office, NPS, the Northern Arizona Tactical Team, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs worked together to gather resources and respond to the incident on Havasupai Tribal lands. NPS law enforcement rangers deployed surveillance and contact teams, including K9 Mazi and the park’s fixed wing aircraft. A full news release on the incident can be found in this news release from the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office. Thank you to the many agencies involved in this incident and for conducting a safe operation keeping the Grand Canyon community and our visitors safe.
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South Rim District Report Available
The South Rim District Report for the period ending on March 12 is now available here:
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Chinook helicopter operations planned for next week
Construction for the Phantom Ranch Wastewater Treatment Plant (PRWWTP) continues with Chinook helicopter flights scheduled next week from Monday, March 28 through Wednesday, March 30, depending on weather. The Chinook helicopter will be bringing large materials and equipment such as an excavator, connex boxes, precast manholes, and precast headworks to the Phantom Ranch area.
There were be short closures of the trails in the Phantom Delta area when the Chinook is in the area. Access to the Delta restroom may be limited during this time. More information on this project can be found in this news release from early February.
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Coconino County Redistricting public comment period open through April 12
On Tuesday, March 8, 2022, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors proposed six draft maps for redistricting Coconino County’s supervisory districts. A public input period has begun.
Members of the public may submit input on draft maps until April 12, 2022. Comments may be submitted to redistricting@coconino.az.gov. County residents are also encouraged to attend and provide input at the Virtual Public Input Sessions via Zoom.
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NPS Work Group Highlight
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 Employee Safety & Wellness Team, who’s current charter was updated in 2019.
The mission of the Employee Safety & Wellness Team is to:
- Promote a sustainable culture of safety, health, and wellness through education, communication, and advocacy for the employees, volunteers, contractors, community, and public of the park.
- Serve as a clearinghouse for the exchange of ideas, expression of employee concerns and suggestions, and identification of safety problems that have the potential to impact the productivity and safety of the workforce.
- Serve as a conduit between the park employees and management to help maintain a safe and healthy work environment and provide for the wellness of staff.
This team is responsible for promoting the understanding that safety and wellness are not only for the workplace, but also for everything we do – on and off the job. We emphasize the need for all employees to look out for one another and work together as a team. We also strive to improve the park community by delivering opportunities to engage employees in the full spectrum of health and wellness, which will improve the quality of life both on and off the job.
The group consists of representatives from each division and is currently led by Chair, Sarah Acomb, Executive Management Assistant. A subcommittee of the Employee Safety & Wellness Team is working to improve the park’s Wellness Program and increase regular communication regarding safety and wellness at Grand Canyon. Keep an eye out for regular communication about the Wellness Program and how you can participate!
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Grand Canyon Semester returns in 2022
The Grand Canyon Semester, an integrated learning experience in the humanities and sciences, will be coming back to the park this year. The program is designed to provide opportunities for Northern Arizona University (NAU) students to understand the environmental and social challenges confronting society in the 21st century. Grand Canyon National Park is actively collaborating with the NAU Honors College to design this years’ program.
The group will be on the South Rim, at Desert View, and on the North Rim in August 2022 to study and possibly participate in a citizen science project. More information on this year’s Grand Canyon Semester program can be found here.
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NPR KNAU Earth Notes: Arthropod Tracks Discovered
A fascinating Earth Note aired on KNAU on March 16 about arthropod tracks in Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is full of footprints, and one, extinct and rare arthropod has left its mark for paleontologists to study.
Only two specimens of this arthropod existed in Canada before this discovery. You can listen to or read the entire piece here at knau.org.
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Grand Canyon Community Corner
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Town of Tusayan Calendar of Events
The Town of Tusayan is continuing to offer library services at the Town Hall every Friday from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. This Friday, March 25 the town will offer a storytime at 11 a.m. highlighting Disney’s Encanto by reading the book. There will be snacks and activities at the event. More information can be found in this flyer. Additionally, the Town of Tusayan has recently added a community calendar on its website. You can follow events by clicking on the link below. Two upcoming events open to the public are the Mental Health First Aid Class on March 25 and the Red Cross Emergency Prepardness Class on March 31. All are welcome to attend. Please contact us at Townhall for more information.
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Navy Band Southwest at the Shrine of the Ages on Friday evening, March 25
On Friday, March 25 from 6-7 p.m. there will be a free concert featuring the Navy Band Southwest’s Brass Quintet at the Shrine of the Ages auditorium.
The Navy Band Southwest is one of the Navy’s finest and oldest continuing musical organizations. The Brass Quintet’s musical repertoire includes ceremonial and chamber music, children’s favorites, as well as popular songs from the past and present.
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Artist in Residence Evening Program on Saturday, March 26
Join Daniele Genadry, current Artist in Residence whose practice focuses on the relationship between painting and photography, at the Shrine of the Ages auditorium, for an evening presentation on Saturday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m.
She will share her experience creating and working at Grand Canyon National Park and the connection between natural landscape and human consciousness. A flyer of the event can be found here.
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‘Seed to Supper’ Gardening Programs to begin April 7
Like to garden but don’t know where to start? Want to hang out with others who are into gardening? Join Coconino County Health and Human Services for Seed to Supper, a free six-week gardening course. Classes will be held in April and May on Thursdays from 10-11:30 AM in Tusayan at the Red Feather Lodge meeting room above the lobby.
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Grand Canyon Food Pantry Seeks Volunteers
The Grand Canyon Food Pantry is currently looking for volunteers, especially for Wednesday afternoons from 12-2 p.m.
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Current Operational Hours
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Please note, new operational changes are highlighted in red.
South Rim
Xanterra
- Maswik Lodge Cafeteria, 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
- The Maswik Pizza Pub, daily from 4 p.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 lunch service from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. daily.
- Fred Harvey Tavern, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Grand Canyon Kennel-daily from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Delaware North
- Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 12-9 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.-2 p.m.
Other
- Bright Angel Bikes
- Rental schedule beginning March 12 : 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Cafe-8 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Grand Canyon Visitor Center Indoor Operation: 9 a.m.-4 p.m, Thursday-Monday
- Grand Canyon Conservancy stores (Kolb Studio, Verkamps Visitor Center, Visitor Center Plaza, and Yavapai Geology Museum), 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.
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 park closures remain in place:
- Headquarters Information Desk
- Yavapai Lodge Restaurant (tentative reopening Spring 2022)
- North Rim services (tentative reopen-May 15, 2022)
- Grand Canyon Community Library and Canyon Closet
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Photo Credits (in order of appearance)
- First day of Spring, March 20, 2022 from the South Rim (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
- Yellow Aster flowers in bloom below Indian Garden the week of March 21 (NPS Photo/S. Kubicek)
- Chinook helicopter in the inner canyon near Phantom Ranch in 2019 (NPS Photo/D. Brenchley)
- Prickly pear cactus in bloom (NPS Photo)
- Arthropod tracks with a ruler for scale (NPS Photo)
- Daniele Genadry giving a presentation along the South Rim (NPS Photo)
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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.
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