Key Messages-Week of November 7, 2022

COVID Updates

Arizona and Local Statistics

As of November 3, the CDC Community Level for Coconino County continues to be Low. In Arizona, 14 counties are in Low Community Level and 1 is in High. The 1 county that is in High is Apache county.

Total COVID cases in Arizona for the week of November 2- 9 was 7,360 which is an increase of 2,231 cases from the previous week. For the seven-day rolling average, the state is averaging slighyly over 1,000 cases per day. There were 6 new COVID-19 cases reported in the park this week.

As a reminder, be sure to promptly report any illness, to include possible COVID-19 symptoms, COVID exposure, or a positive COVID test to your supervisor and our Public Health Consultant, Ronan King. Ronan can be reached at: 202-891-8599 or Ronan_King@nps.gov.

Messages and Grand Canyon News

Honoring our NPS Veterans

Through legislation passed 68 years ago on June 1, 1954, November 11 became Veterans Day—a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

At Grand Canyon, we deeply appreciate our veterans for their military service and their continued service as NPS employees. We are thankful for their sense of comradery, mission focus, and can-do attitude, and we are proud to work beside every veteran on our team. Grand Canyon National Park employs 65 veterans with a combined 294 years of creditable military service.

Many of our veterans have seen multiple deployments and have made countless sacrifices throughout their military service.

The National Park Service is honoring the service of our veterans through free, lifetime access to recreational opportunities. Beginning this Veterans Day (Nov. 11), veterans of the U.S. Armed Services and Gold Star Families can obtain a free lifetime pass to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites spread out across more than 400 million acres of public lands, including national parks, wildlife refuges, and forests.

Each lifetime pass covers entrance fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle (or passholder and up to three adults at sites that charge per person) at national parks and national wildlife refuges, as well as standard amenity fees at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

Please take a moment to thank the veterans on your team for serving our great nation. And should that veteran happen to be a Marine, you can also acknowledge the 247th birthday of the Marine Corps, November 10, 2022.

Inner Canyon water status update

As of this Sunday, November 13 water at Cottonwood along the North Kaibab Trail will be shut OFF for the remainder of the winter season. Water utilities has been working to winterize the inner canyon pipeline and below is a current list of locations and statuses.

North Kaibab Trailhead: water OFF
Supai Tunnel: water OFF
Manzanita Day Use Area: water ON
Cottonwood Campground and Day Use Area: water ON (water turned OFF on Nov. 13)
Bright Angel Campground: water ON
Phantom Boat Beach: water ON
Plateau Point: water OFF
Havasupai Gardens: water ON
Bright Angel Trail, Three-Mile Resthouse: water OFF
Bright Angel Trail, Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse: water OFF
Bright Angel Trailhead: water ON
South Kaibab Trailhead: water ON

More information on current water status can be found by visiting the park’s Critical Backcountry Updates page here.

Cultural Demonstrators next week at Desert View

Stop by the Desert View Watchtower, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, November 15, 16, and 17, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., to meet Cultural Demonstrators, Jayne and Lynn Quam, Zuni Stone Carvers.

Jayne and Lynn have been carving traditional Zuni fetishes for over 30 years and have won multiple awards for their craft. Stop by the Desert View Watchtower to see them in action.

“In 1980 I carved my first animal fetish and received an order for more,” Jayne says. “A few years later we began going to shows. As the years go by, we gain new experiences with different stones. Our ideas for new designs are coming to life every day.”

“I carve all kinds of animals. My favorite pieces to carve are buffalos and bears,” Lynn says.

For more information on the Cultural Demonstrators series, visit the park’s website here.

Next South Rim Seminar on Wednesday, November 16—GRCA employees and community members invited!

The Interpretation and Resource Education division is excited to announce the November South Rim Seminar will take place on Wednesday, November 16 from 12-1 p.m. in person at the Shrine of the Ages Auditorium. There will be a virtual option provided on Teams. We’ll be learning about “The Tenets of PSAR” and examining interesting case reviews from the 2022 seasons with PSAR Ranger Meghan Smith.

Did you know that Grand Canyon PSAR had a total of 119,011 general trail contacts in 2022? Find out more on what a ‘preventative action’ is (totaling 20,763 total for 2022) as well as the 398 hiker assists PSAR staff and volunteers assisted with this year. Please see the attached flyer for more information.

*Important Disclaimer: During this presentation, there will not be discussion of anything terribly graphic however certain scenarios may be anxiety provoking for some.

South Rim Seminar is a new brown bag gathering offered to all internal GRCA colleagues and friends. These will be monthly lunch-time events hosted by different divisions throughout the park to share what they are working on and connect with colleagues across work units. Our hope is that these will provide opportunities for staff to learn about the amazing, diverse efforts done in different workgroups and to get to know each other better. If you have any questions, feedback, or would like to present a future session, please contact Kylie Caesar at kylie_caesar@nps.gov.

911 and emergency reporting reminders

The goal of the Grand Canyon dispatch center is to provide a rapid and reliable method of communication, connecting the public and our residents to emergency personnel. Dispatchers operate the dispatch center 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Grand Canyon dispatchers are professionals, trained to handle emergency situations, such as medical, fires, search and rescue, and general information. Here are a few reminders:

Grand Canyon Communication Center Contact Numbers:

In any emergency situation dial 9-1-1. As of 2021, you can also now text 911 in Coconino County
Non-Emergency Number (928) 638-7805

Reporting an Emergency:

DON’T PANIC – BE CALM – SLOW DOWN – GATHER YOUR INFORMATION
If someone else is giving you information about this emergency, DO NOT let that person leave. The dispatcher will have to talk to that person.
General information dispatchers will be asking you:
- What is the location of the emergency? (be specific)
- What is the emergency? (medical, fire or law enforcement)
- Your Name (first, last)
- Your Phone Number

These are some of the ways you can give necessary information to the dispatcher when you are in an emergency situation. Try to provide the dispatcher with as much information as you can. If you accidentally call 9-1-1 please do not hang up, instead please stay and the line and speak with the dispatcher.

Leadership Spotlight

Emily Omana-Smith

Native Fish Ecology and Conservation Program

Fisheries Biologist/Program Manager

I have worked as a Fish Biologist for Grand Canyon since 2010, except for just over a year spent with the Bureau of Reclamation. Prior to my Interior career, I completed my master’s degree studying evolutionary processes in intertidal invertebrates. Next, I worked in academics, in the non-profit world, and for a consulting company. While I found each to have its own unique and rewarding approach to science and conservation, I am motivated daily by the NPS mission. The combined focus on the past, present, and future is inspiring, and the opportunity to be a part of this greater good pushes me to do my best. I am surrounded by talented and committed colleagues- as a team we are a powerful force. Lastly, I consider myself very fortunate to work in a wonder of the world containing one of the most interesting native fish assemblages (but I may be biased)!

Grand Canyon Community Corner

Town of Tusayan Winter Events

The Town of Tusayan is pleased to announce their winter event calendar as well as a new online community calendar.

The community calendar is intended to be a comprehensive list of all events going on in the area community. Any non-profit event maybe included in this calendar. Please feel free to email Charlie Hendrix at tusayantownmanager@tusayan-az.gov with suggested items for this calendar.

Current Operational Hours

*Please note: new changes to operations are indicated in bold/italic

South Rim

Xanterra

Maswik Lodge Cafeteria, 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
Canyon Coffee House at the Bright Angel Fountain, 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.
Arizona Steakhouse within Bright Angel Lodge is now offering dinner service from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. daily. Lunch service is from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
Fred Harvey Tavern, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
The Grand Canyon Rec Center, 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.
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 has relocated to the Train Depot area Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (weather permitting)
Maswik Pizza Pub, located inside Maswik Lodge, is open Friday through Tuesday from 4-8 p.m.

Delaware North

On Wednesday, November 16, Delaware North will be closing the Canyon Village Market and Yavapai Gift Shop at 6 pm for inventory.
Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 12-10 p.m., Yavapai Lodge Coffee Shop, 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m., The Yavapai Dining Hall, breakfast, 7 a.m.-10:45 a.m., dinner, 5- 9 p.m.
Canyon Village Market, 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Deli-7 a.m.-5 p.m.
Camper Services laundry and shower, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. daily

Other

Grand Canyon Clinic: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (clinic is closed on weekends and holidays)
Bright Angel Bikes, Rental: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (weather permitting), Cafe-7 a.m.-5 p.m.
Grand Canyon Visitor Center (GCVC): 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Operations are now indoors for the winter season.
- Last week, we announced that showing of the Visitor Center’s orientation video, Grand Canyon, a Journey of Wonder had resumed. Unfortunately, due to last Saturday’s power outage, the projection control system memory was deleted. A technician will reinstall and update the software soon.
Grand Canyon Conservancy stores: Visitor Center Plaza, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, Yavapai Geology Museum, Verkamps, and Kolb Studio 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.,
Grand Canyon Community Library: Monday-Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Canyon Closet (located behind Community Library): Mondays 4:15-6 p.m., Wednesdays 12:15-2 p.m., Saturdays 3-5 p.m.
Grand Canyon Food Pantry: Mondays 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesdays 6-8 p.m., Wednesdays 6-8 p.m., Saturdays 2-4 p.m.

Desert View

Desert View Trading Post Coffee and Ice Cream and Market, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
Desert View Watchtower, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
The Desert View Deli, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Desert View Service Station Retail Store: CLOSED until further notice

North Rim

North Rim gas station open, pay at pump only

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

Photo Credits (in order of appearance)

Sunrise on November 8, 2022 (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
NPS employees of the armed services pose for a photo this week at the park headquarters building (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
Jayne and Lynn Quam carvings (NPS Photos)
Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center (NPS Photo)
Emily Omana-Smith during a fisheries translocation project (NPS Photo)

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.