Grand Canyon National Park
Key Messages – Week of May 17, 2021
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This week’s numbers at a glance:
- The average number of new cases per day in Arizona in the last week was 567, down from 726 per day in the previous week.
- Coconino County is no longer reporting daily case counts per zip code on theirCOVID-19 Dashboard website. Information previously available on the Coconino County COVID-19 Daily Dashboard on the website will now be available in a weekly report moving forward.
- Since the pandemic began, we’ve had 47 total positive COVID-19 cases in the park. To date, and as reported, none of the positive cases resulted from interaction with park visitors.
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Navajo Nation Information
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Public Health Contacts
If you test positive for COVID-19, please immediately inform your supervisor and our NPS Public Health Consultant. This is to ensure proper public health protocols are followed and that any exposure to the virus is minimized.
- 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
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NEW CDC Mask Guidance:
Fully vaccinated individuals can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.
Do I Need to Wear a Mask?
- Consistent with CDC recommendations, people who are not fully vaccinated (less than 2 weeks past your final dose) must continue to wear masks indoors and in crowded outdoor spaces.
- All people, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask on all forms of public transportation and in healthcare settings on DOI lands. This applies to the Grand Canyon shuttle bus system.
- Additional details are available at www.nps.gov/coronavirus.
Working with the Public
- While working in public-facing positions, we suggest federal employees have a mask handy for use while interacting with visitors, community members and each other, and be prepared to use it if needed.
- Park management supports any individual who prefers to wear a mask. If you feel more comfortable wearing a mask, please feel free to do so.
- We should not enforce mask requirements that were in place prior to last week’s updated guidance for people who are fully vaccinated, and we should assume those that are not wearing masks are vaccinated.
- The DOI COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan asks all individuals to continue to maintain a distance of at least six feet from others at all times, whether indoors or outdoors.
- Concessioner and partner employees should check with your employer to ensure you are following your company’s policies and requirements.
NPS-Managed Facilities
- Reduced occupancy standards for NPS-managed facilities and those managed by concessions, partners, commercial use authorization holders, and leaseholders will be required only during periods of substantial or high community transmission in the County.
- We are currently in moderate transmission in Coconino County, so reduced occupancy is not currently required, but may be required in the future if County transmission levels increase.
NPS Employees Only
- DOI continues to maximize workplace flexibilities such as alternative work schedules, maximum telework, and maxi-flex.
- We will be reviewing and updating the park’s COVID Job Hazard Analysis to reflect the latest mask guidance in the near future.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Information
The Grand Canyon Clinic will continue administering Moderna vaccines 1-2 days weekly based on demand, which has been slow but steady. Vaccination totals at the Clinic as of last week were 2,089 total doses given with 1,019 individuals fully vaccinated. To schedule a vaccine appointment at the Grand Canyon Clinic, call the clinic directly at 928-638-2551.
On Wednesday, May 26 there will be a single dose vaccine event at the Tusayan IMAX from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Registration is required and more information can be found in the attached flyer.
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Flagstaff Vaccine Location Hours
Northern Arizona University is hosting a high-capacity sit-down state vaccination site, located at the NAU Fieldhouse (1050 S. Knoles Drive) that operates Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
*Beginning the week of May 23, the site will operate Wednesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Anyone 12 years of age and older can register for a vaccination at the NAU site.
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COVID-19 Testing Details
- The Grand Canyon Clinic has hours for COVID testing on Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. If you need a test outside of this hour, you need an order from your health care provider indicating a test is warranted. As the clinic transitions to summer hours, no weekend testing will be available due to specimen storage and transport requirements.
- In Flagstaff, COVID testing is available at Coconino Community College at 2800 South Lone Tree Road, and the NAU Fieldhouse at 1050 Knoles Drive.
- Testing is also available at other locations in Flagstaff, including:
- Walgreens on 4th Street
- NextCare Urgent Care
- The Veterans Affairs Clinic
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Messages and Grand Canyon News
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Additional Services Reopening this Week
Several facilities will be reopening or adding services this week:
- Village interpretive staff will begin providing visitor information outside of the Visitor Center starting May 21.
Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC) Hours will change beginning May 23:
- Visitor Center Plaza bookstore: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily
- Verkamps Visitor Center: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
- Yavapai Geology Museum: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
- Kolb Studio-CLOSED
- Desert View: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday-Monday only (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
- North Rim Visitor Center: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
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Coconino County Launches New Fire Restrictions Website
Coconino County Emergency Management has recently launched a ‘one-stop-shop’ fire restrictions website. This new resource includes links to the County Wildfire Defense Ordinance 2021-02, GIS Mapping specific to restrictions, prohibitions of each of the three Stages of Restrictions, and links to all authorities that issue fire restrictions. Coconino County Emergency Management will maintain this page with appropriate real-time updates, usually following Monday afternoon fire restriction updates.
Grand Canyon National Park remains in Stage 1 fire restrictions at this time with fire danger on both the South and North Rims as ‘Very High.’ As a reminder, Stage 1 fire restrictions are implemented in the park year-round on both the South and North Rims (all campfires must be in designated fire rings and open flames are never allowed below the rim). For more information on Stage 1 fire restrictions and to view the most updated fire information for Grand Canyon visit the park’s Fire Information and Management Website.
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Endangered Species Day
Friday, May 21
The Sentry milk-vetch is not only endangered, it also is endemic. This means that Grand Canyon is the only place in the world that this plant lives. Therefore, the risk of its extinction is elevated because the sentry milk-vetch only exists at Grand Canyon in a few small populations. With the plant’s only habitat in a tiny, narrow band at the edge of the canyon’s rim, sentry milk-vetch has no other place to go in cases of persistent drought or extreme weather events. Our staff within the SRM Division has partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Arboretum at Flagstaff, and the Grand Canyon Conservancy, to initiate a dynamic conservation program designed to preserve, protect and facilitate the recovery of this endangered species.
Grand Canyon is home to seven endangered animal species, including the California condor, humpack chub, razorback sucker, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Kanab Ambersnail, and Ridgeway’s Rail and one endangered plant species, the Sentry Milk-vetch. There are also more than 35 animal species of special concern and nine plants of special concern.
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Matt Vandzura Hangs up the Flat Hat
Please join us in extending best wishes to Chief of Visitor and Resource Protection (VRP), Matt Vandzura, who is retiring from the National Park Service (NPS) on May 31. Matt has been an esteemed leader in the NPS for more than 30 years, and he will be greatly missed by many colleagues across the service and here at Grand Canyon National Park.
Matt began his service with the NPS the summer of 1988 as a ranger in Shenandoah National Park. From there, his career took him to many parks including Yellowstone, Gateway Arch National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Grand Canyon, and Organ Pipe National Monument. Since early 2016, Matt has served as the Chief of VRP, overseeing hundreds of employees within the fees, law enforcement, emergency services, and the backcountry programs.
Over the past five years, Matt has been a community leader and advocate, focusing his mission on making Grand Canyon a better place to work and live for all residents. During the government shutdown of 2018-2019, Matt was instrumental in the creation of the Grand Canyon Food Pantry, now an established community resource serving more than 10,000 people since its opening.
Mike Scott, Director of the Grand Canyon Food Pantry states, “Matt cares as much for the people of Grand Canyon as he does the park itself. He is a very genuine person who strives to make life better for the community. As many who have worked alongside him know, he doesn’t just send people to do the work, you can count on him to roll up his sleeves and be with you in the trenches every step of the way.”
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In his time at Grand Canyon, Matt has also been instrumental in creating new programs for the larger community such as the bi-monthly Community Wellness Meetings, victim witness services support services, and the newly-opened Canyon Closet.
We have all benefited from his innovative community leadership, which has been an inspiration to us all. He will be sorely missed and impossible to replace.
We hope you all will join us in wishing Matt well as he starts a new chapter in life. We know he is eager to catch up on the traveling, birding, and the volunteering he loves so much.
A retirement potluck will be held in his honor this Saturday, May 22 from 5-10 p.m. at the South Rim Helibase. Please see the attached flyer for additional details. COVID-19 mitigations will be in place. The event is a potluck but guests are encouraged to bring their own plates, utensils, and seating. Thank you, Matt, for your outstanding service to Grand Canyon and the National Park Service!
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Low Flow at Granite Rapid
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In March 2021, NPS archaeology and data management staff, a Pueblo of Zuni representative, and Superintendent Ed Keable conducted site condition monitoring along the Colorado River. This river mission documented the impacts of Glen Canyon Dam operations and visitation along the Colorado River corridor.
The team conducted condition assessments, structure documentation, and stabilization planning at a total of 71 locations along the river corridor. Grand Canyon Whitewater provided logistical support with four outstanding boat operators.
The attached footage from the trip is of Granite Rapid, located at the confluence of Monument Creek and the Colorado River, when the river flow was 4,000 cubic feet per second (note exposed series of rocks on river left). The trip experienced low river flows due to maintenance activities on the dam by the Bureau of Reclamation.
Thank you to Jen Dierker for providing this footage!
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Current Operational Updates
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Desert View
- The Watchtower lower level is open Friday-Monday.
- Desert View Trading Post Coffee and Ice Cream is open.
- Desert View Gas Station is open, offering Pay-at-the-Pump services only.
- Desert View Campground is open. Reservations can be made via www.recreation.gov.
North Rim
- North Rim Interpreters are staffing an outdoor visitor contact station at the Roaring Springs Overlook Kiosk daily from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Kiosk is located on the southern end of the North Rim Lodge parking lot.
- Guided nature walks will begin three times per week starting May 23. Space is limited to only eight visitors at this time. Advanced reservations will be available on a first-come first-serve basis at the Roaring Springs Overlook Kiosk.
Concessions Hours of Operation
- The Fred Harvey Food Truck (located at the El Tovar / Hopi House area): 11 a.m.-5 p.m., weather permitting.
- Maswik Gift Shop: 8 a.m.- 9 p.m.
- Canyon View Market will open at 7a.m., additional Breakfast items will be available at the Yavapai Coffee Shop (open 6 a.m. – 1 p.m.), and Lunch and Dinner will be available at Yavapai Tavern (open 12 p.m. – 9 p.m.).
- Desert View Market: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Desert View Retail Store operates 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
- Canyon Village Deli is open from 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
The following park closures remain in place:
- All residential areas
- South Rim Visitor Center (indoors) and Headquarters
- Kolb Studio is closed until further notice.
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