Grand Canyon National Park
Key Messages – Week of October 11, 2021
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Federal Workforce Vaccination for NPS Employees
As a reminder, November 22 is the deadline for federal employees to be fully vaccinated.
- To meet the November 22 deadline, NPS employees must receive their first dose by October 11 if getting the Moderna vaccine or October 18 if getting the Pfizer vaccine
- November 8 is the deadline for the second dose of both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, and for receiving the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine
By November 22, all federal employees must be fully vaccinated or actively working with their supervisor and HR on a reasonable accommodation request. More information can be found on the vaccine FAQ page on the Safer Federal Workforce website.
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Arizona and Grand Canyon Community Statistics
Case numbers in Arizona decreased this week to 2,260 new cases per day compared to last week’s average of 2,601.
As of Tuesday, there have been a total of 255 cases in the 86023 zip code since the beginning of the pandemic. Of those, approximately 67 cases are in the park. To date, Coconino County is reporting that the Grand Canyon community is 71.8% fully vaccinated.
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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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InterTribal Working Group Meeting this Week
Representatives from each tribe were in attendance as well as project managers for the Desert View project. On Tuesday, Superintendent Keable presented a vision for the future of Grand Canyon’s Tribal relationships for staff and NPS leadership that rely on three basic strategies:
The first is to increase Tribal presence in the management opportunities at GRCA. We’ll do this by:
- Increasing cooperative agreements with Tribal Partners
- Increasing non-monetary formal engagements with our Associated Tribes to support Grand Canyon management needs and opportunities
- Increasing the number of GRCA employees who are members of the 11 Associated Tribes, and by proposing new legislation to promote Direct Hire Authority for members of Associated Tribes.
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The second strategy is to build respect for Tribal Members and beliefs into GRCA management decisions. We’ll do this in several ways, including:
- Renewing our commitment to allow members of the 11 Associated Tribes to access the Park and permits free of charge
- Identifying opportunities to eliminate permit requirements or costs to GRCA Tribally Associated Members to engage in religious and cultural activities
- Continuing to identify opportunities to rename places within GRCA that are either offensive to our Associated Tribes or would otherwise demonstrate respect to them
The third strategy is to treat GRCA employees from Tribes with respect by:
- Implementing regular listening sessions with NPS employees from Tribes
- Initiating cultural awareness training as a regular Part of GRCA training programs
Current efforts that support these strategies include:
- The drafting and approval of the Contiguous Hiring Authority to allow GRCA to hire directly from the neighboring communities for certain positions
- Bison operations and agreements with the InterTribal Buffalo Council directly relate to this strategy. Since 2019, the park has successfully relocated 124 bison to six tribes in four Great Plains states.
- Our Fisheries team has managed the delivery of trout from the canyon to tribal communities so that there is a beneficial use for life removed from the Canyon.
We value the cultural richness and heritage that the 11 associated tribes bring to Grand Canyon. Their insights and contributions will shape the future of the park, and we are grateful for their voices and engagement.
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National Fossil Day Celebrated on October 13
Wednesday, October 13, is National Fossil Day, and our park paleontologists, Anne Miller and Erikka Olson, along with interpreter Ronnie Colvin, have created two new and exciting videos about Grand Canyon Paleontology. The first video shows how fossils are discovered, preserved, and protected in the field with park paleontologists Anne Miller and Erikka Olson. Watch their journey as they survey plant fossils in the Hermit Formation near the Bright Angel Trail, record trackways in the Coconino Sandstone, and show trace fossils in the Bright Angel Shale. The video can be found by following this link. The second video features Anne Miller discussing the extensive fossil record found at Grand Canyon. From over 500 to 280 million years, the park preserves many different environments and organisms of the geologic past. In this video you will learn about trace fossils, the organisms that made them, and their paleoenvironments through time. The video can be found by following this link. An additional ‘thank you’ to our interpretation staff for handing out Jr. Paleontologist books and badges and for creating strong and engaging social media posts for National Fossil Day. Also thank you to staff at the South Entrance gate who have been handing out Grand Canyon Fossil Trading cards to visitors as they enter the park.
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Behind the Scenery Podcast
Episode #16, Photography Grand Canyon
Adam Schallau never imagined what he thought was his one and only visit to Grand Canyon would lead to a decade of photographing the canyon, rim to river. Asking “How much more could there be?” he was surprised by the wonderful perspective Grand Canyon reveals when you looking behind the lens. Join a professional photographer to learn pro tips about photographing Grand Canyon.
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North Rim Scenics Closed October 19-21
If operations allow, next week from October 19-21, the Cape Royal and Point Imperial Roads will be closed from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. for mowing operations.
Due to the winding and narrow profile of the roadway, there will be a hard closure of these roads at the gate near Highway 67.
The road will be open for visitor traffic anytime before or after these hours.
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South Rim District Report Available
For the latest news on South Rim happenings, read the latest South Rim District Report. This report encompasses the dates between September 26-October 10 for significant law enforcement incidents in the South Rim response area.
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Leadership Spotlight
Division Lead, Science and Resource Management
Dave Worthington
Grand Canyon National Park Deputy Superintendent Louis Rowe recently announced the selection of Dave Worthington as Chief for the Division of Science and Resource Management. Worthington brings more than 23 years of experience with the National Park Service and will manage programs at Grand Canyon that include Cultural Resources, Data and GIS Services, Native Fish Ecology and Conservation, Physical Science, Research Permits, Vegetation, Wilderness/Recreation Planning and Soundscapes, and Wildlife.
Worthington spent most of his youth in Montana and was always drawn to the natural world, particularly birding. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Montana, specializing in bats.
After several summers spent working as a biological technician on biology projects throughout the west, he headed further west to Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Hawaii where he worked as a biologist for both the local government and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
In 1998 Dave began working for the National Park Service when he took a job as a biologist at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah, eventually becoming Chief of Natural and Cultural Resources there. He moved from Capitol Reef after 15 years to Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California, then to Virgin Islands National Park, where he has served as Chief of Cultural and Natural Resources and Interpretation. Over his many years in the NPS he has both studied and taught at the Albright Training Center located on the South Rim of Grand Canyon.
When not in a park, Dave and his wife Stephanie live on Cape Cod in Massachusetts with their cat, Binty. Dave is infamous for his penchant for hot sauce as well as for coffee, which he tends to enjoy separately. There is no evidence that these influence his ability to ride his bike, hike, or ski. Dave is excited to reacquaint with the people and the cultural and natural resources of the canyon.
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Current Operational Hours
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South Rim
Xanterra
- Maswik Lodge Cafeteria: 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Bright Angel Fountain and Coffee House, 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Fred Harvey Burger: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Xanterra Food Truck will be changing the hours to 11:30 am – 3:30 pm. daily. With Fred Harvey Burger now open, Xanterra is seeing a decrease in demand at the food truck.
Delaware North
- Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, New hours 12-9 p.m.
- Yavapai Lodge Coffee Shop, 6 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Canyon Village Market, 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Deli-7 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Beginning Saturday, October 16 the new deli hours will be from 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Other
- Bright Angel Bikes, Rentals: New hours 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Cafe: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Grand Canyon Visitor Center information table: 8a.m.-5p.m.
- Grand Canyon Conservancy stores on the South Rim (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, staffed by GCC Saturday-Wednesday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Watchtower will be closed to the public on Thursdays and Fridays.
- Desert View Information Table (staffed by NPS)- Most days will still be staffed from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., however, due to staffing levels, some days will only be staffed from 12:30-5 p.m.
- Desert View Campground is accepting reservations through October 17 with the campground closing for the season on October 18.
North Rim (current)
- General Store, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
- Roaring Springs Overlook Kiosk, NPS staffed from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. daily, will close for the season on October 17
- North Rim Visitor Center, GCC staffed from 8 a.m.-6 p.m., will close for the season on October 15
- North Rim Lodge dining, 4:30-9:30 p.m. daily, will close for the season October 15
- Deli in the Pines, 6 a.m.-7:30 p.m. daily, will close for the season October 15
- Rough Rider Saloon, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily, will close for the season October 15
North Rim (October 17-November 30 or when Hwy. 67 closes)
- General Store, Tuesday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (while supplies last)
- Self-serve gas station (credit/debit card only)
- North Rim Backcountry Information Center, daily 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 1-5 p.m., will close for the season November 1
The following park closures remain in place:
- South Rim Visitor Center (indoors), information table staffed 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. daily
- Headquarters Information Desk
- Yavapai Lodge Restaurant
- Maswik Pizza Pub and the Arizona Steakhouse
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Photo Credits (in order of appearance)
- Helicopter 368 near the Silver Bridge during a mission this week (NPS Photo/D. Yurcik)
- North Rim Lodge veranda on October 13 after the first snowfall of the season (NPS Photo/L. Derr)
- Desert View Watchtower with the vision statement of the InterTribal Working Group (Photo courtesy of GCC)
- Anne Miller describes the trace fossils that are found in the Bright Angel Shale formation alongside Deron Clark, SRM Wildlife Intern (NPS Video/ A. Trejo)
- Scenics closure sign. For a flyer of this sign, please email: grca_public_affairs@nps.gov
- Dave Worthington in front of a sign for U.S. Virgin Islands (photo courtesy of D. Worthington)
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