Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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The Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation is soliciting nominations for this year's inductees into the Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame. Every year the Outdoor Hall of Fame recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant and lasting contributions toward Arizona's wildlife, the welfare of its natural resources, and the state's outdoor heritage. To submit a nomination, download a nomination form (PDF and MS Word versions of this form can also be downloaded from www.a...
The Arizona Game and Fish Department implemented Stage 1 fire restrictions at all department wildlife areas on Friday, April 18. The restrictions are part of the restrictions issued by the Arizona State Forestry Division on state-owned and state-managed lands outside incorporated municipalities due to the increased risk of wildfire in the state. Stage 1 restrictions mean that no open fires are allowed -- including campfires and wood or charcoal-burning stoves and barbecues. Smoking is...
Phoenix, Arizona, 21 April 2014 — In honor of Arbor Day the Arizona State Forester Scott Hunt is pleased to announce that 25 Arizona communities have received the Tree City USA recognition. Cities and towns achieving this honored status include: Avondale, Buckeye, Casa Grande, Chandler, Coolidge, Florence, Gilbert, Glendale, Kingman, Lake Havasu City, Litchfield Park, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Patagonia, Peoria, Phoenix, Pinetop-Lakeside, Prescott Valley, Quartzsite, Scottsdale, Show Low, S... Full story
To protect the public, natural resources, and reduce the risks of wildfires, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado River District has announced fire restrictions on 5.4 million acres of public lands in western Arizona and southeastern California along the Colorado River. Effective at 6 a.m. on Friday, April 25, 2014, fire and smoking restrictions will be enforced on all public lands within the BLM Kingman, Lake Havasu, and Yuma Field Office jurisdictions. These restrictions are similar... Full story
The General Services Administration has just put out for comment a proposed rule change with a deadline of June 16th, 2014. The proposed rule change will widen the use of GSA Schedules for Disaster Preparedness and Disaster Relief to additional State and Local agencies as well as Not-for-Profit groups like the American National Red Cross and similar organizations as in more recent disasters these groups have begun to play a key role in recovery. This is highly likely to benefit small businesses... Full story
Grand Canyon, Ariz. At approximately 1:10 p.m. the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a call reporting an individual that had fallen off the rim at Mather Point located on the South Rim of Grand Canyon. National Park Service Helitak crew located the body, approximately 400 feet below the rim. National Park Service Search and Rescue crews are working to recover the body. Mather Point is currently closed to the public and will remain closed until further notice. No further... Full story
The information in this safety alert was distributed a few years ago by Coast Guard Sector New Orleans with limited geographic reach. Recently, Washington State Ferry personnel discovered numerous problematic snaphooks on one of their vessels and reported it to Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound. This alert gives the issue wider circulation, and provides contact information for persons to take corrective action and obtain new snaphooks. The issue is the spring-loaded tab in the snaphook on the... Full story
Grand Canyon, Ariz. At approximately 1:10 p.m. Monday, April 28, the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a call reporting a female that had fallen off the rim at Mather Point located on the South Rim of Grand Canyon. National Park Service Helitak crew located the body, approximately 400 feet below the rim. National Park Service Search and Rescue crews recovered the body and identified the female as Jody McDaniel, 45 of Flagstaff Arizona. An investigation in the incident is...
I generally try to be broad and focus on small business in my newsletter so it appeals to more people. With that said I am going to talk about some programs larger companies are taking advantage of that may spark some ideas for some medium to small businesses. In 2011 the goal was set for Federal Agencies to achieve $2 Billion worth of cost savings due to preformed based energy efficiencies by 2013. The Federal Government largely in part through the real estate and vehicles the GSA owns has easi...
The National Park Service and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) have recently detected additional adult quagga mussels in Lake Powell. Since this time last year, the water levels at Lake Powell have dropped which has exposed shorelines that were previously underwater. Thousands of adult quagga mussels have been found in various locations, such as canyon walls, Glen Canyon Dam, boats, and other underwater structures. The majority of mussels found are isolated adults, with additional... Full story
The federal, state, and tribal partners of the Southwest Prevention and Information Committee invite you to join us in promoting Southwest Wildfire Awareness Week, March 30 – April 5, 2014. This year’s theme is “Where We Live, How We Live, Living with Wildfire.” The focus of the week is to increase awareness and to promote actions that reduce the risk from wildfire to homes and communities. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to reach out to your local community and media w... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission today held a public meeting to discuss the strike-everything amendment to House Bill 2127, a proposal that would allow the Arizona Game and Fish Department to use Heritage Fund property acquisition funds to operate, maintain and protect Heritage Fund properties that the commission owns. The department recommended that the commission vote not to move the strike-everything amendment forward. The commission voted unanimously to approve the department’s r... Full story
On Monday the Center for Effective Government released a report showing that of the 15 federal agencies that make up over 90% of the Freedom of Information Act requests, seven of these agencies received the grade of a “F”. Of the remaining agencies four received “D”s, two received “C”s and 2 received “B”s. No Federal Agency received an “A” score. I hate to argue in the reverse that this is positive news, the reason I am saying this is because I have known about this issue for a long time and... Full story
You have heard me harp about the Amex Open study that found that of firms that do business with the federal government, the federal government is their largest customer, and is over 20% of the firm’s revenue. However getting from the starting point to a firm achieving a meaningful percentage of its revenue can be a confusing process for firms that have never done business in the federal marketplace before. Therefore this week I have put together some Tips: Tip 1: Determine if the Federal G... Full story
Grand Canyon, Ariz., On Tuesday, March 18 at approximately 6:30 p.m. the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a call via satellite phone reporting a fatality on the Colorado River. The victim, a 31 year old male, was part of a private river trip of nine self-supported kayakers nearing the end of a 12 day river trip. Curtis Joyce of Portland, OR was discovered capsized and unresponsive in his kayak near river mile 189 also known as the Lower Whitmore camp. Members of the group... Full story
SPOKANE -- The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is conducting controlled burns on parts of two wildlife areas in northeast Washington to reduce wildfire risks and enhance wildlife habitat. WDFW crews have already begun a controlled burn in the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area in Okanogan County. Depending on weather conditions, controlled burns also could be conducted as soon as April 1 in the Sherman Creek Wildlife Area in Ferry County. Recent wildfires demonstrate the importance of... Full story
By Captain Dave Esparza Semper paratus (always ready): As members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, we are trained to react to situations, take charge and make things happen. That is what took place on Feb. 22 at the International Sportsman Exposition (ISE) in Glendale, Ariz... The circumstances of that day still run through my mind as I think about how that day could have ended for one gentleman. As volunteers, we take time out of our busy schedules to stand watch at events such as this one — to e... Full story
Quagga/Zebra Mussel Comprehensive Management As of January 2014, approximately 1,300 adult quagga mussels have been found and removed from Lake Powell. We are finding additional adult mussels as the season progresses. The Quagga-Zebra Mussel Management Plan (QZMP) is needed to help the NPS decide what tools are appropriate to support the ongoing management of invasive mussels in Glen Canyon now that quagga mussels are present in Lake Powell. The QZMP will consider changes to the existing... Full story
By Bob Steger GSA ITS (Integrated Technology Schedules) Future Growth This week I am going to write about an important trend I believe is occurring in the IT space within the Federal Government. A little over a year ago the President issued Executive Order 13636 which ordered the Department of Defense (DOD) and General Services Administration (GSA) to collaborate and make recommendations on the issue of cyber security, which is believed to be one of the greatest risks facing the United States... Full story
Grand Canyon, Ariz. – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that over 4.4 million visitors to Grand Canyon National Park in 2012 spent $454 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 6,010 jobs in the local area. “Grand Canyon is proud to welcome visitors from across the country and around the world,” said Superintendent Dave Uberuaga. “We are delighted to share the story of this place and the experiences it provides, and to use the park as a way to introduce our vis... Full story
The 2014 Arizona Hunting and Fishing licenses and tags have been available at most Arizona sporting goods retailers and other authorized license dealers beginning Jan 1. Delivery of these items to dealers was delayed by production issues, but Game and Fish Department officials took extra measures to ensure that licenses and tags would be in stores on time. Arizona Hunting and Fishing licenses for 2014 may also be purchased online at www.azgfd.gov. Customers who want to buy their annual license... Full story
Lisa, we'll forever rreasure the years we shared. Her Mother, Carol L. Allen Beloved daughter, mother, wife, sister, and friend: Lisa was a loving, giving, kind, bright, funny, beautiful young woman, and oh, so much more. Born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Lisa graduated from Central Memorial High School, excelled in swimming, and began her service to others as a young member of St. John's Ambulance (a first-aid service organization). The Life She Loved She moved with her family to Arizona in 198... Full story
Preventing the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) in Arizona waters starts with Arizona boat owners and anglers. To protect Arizona lakes, rivers and streams from the devastating effects of invasive species, Arizona Game and Fish laws require boaters and anglers to be good stewards by cleaning, draining and drying their boats and pulling the boat plug when leaving an AIS-affected lake. Failure to do so may result in a citation for the boat owner and possible fines. Clean, Drain, Dry Game... Full story
The Arizona State Parks department, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, is launching a new program to offer opportunities for homeless Veterans to apply for jobs as temporary park specialists in rural Arizona. "The Arizona State Parks department is highlighting these opportunities for Veterans in an effort to help them transition back into the workforce because they possess many of the skill sets we require for those jobs," said State Parks Director Bryan Martyn. "We're... Full story
(PHOENIX) – The Arizona Office of the Auditor General has conducted an audit of the Arizona Game and Fish Department and made its report public today on the Auditor General’s website (http://azauditor.gov/). The audit thoroughly examined the Game and Fish Department’s systems, programs, resources and personnel and provided recommendations for enhancements in three areas: internal controls, big game draw process, and information technology. “We appreciate the diligence of the Office of the Audito... Full story