Department of Agriculture

Kaibab National Forest 2017 Accomplishment Report

Walking the Land Together

Forest Southwestern Publication No. Publication www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab Service Region MB-R3-07-26 Date 05/2018 : Walking the land together As the stewards of this unique and beloved landscape, the employees of the Kaibab National Forest seek to create a legacy of walking the land together. Through restoring complex ecosystems, offering diverse recreation opportunities, and fostering relationships and life-long connections to this land, we hope to forever be known by the tracks we leave.

“The Kaibab has always encouraged me to connect people to the outdoors. As a result, I lead dozens of field trips every year for our public, internal employees and partners. Connecting them to the Kaibab’s rich history and archaeology gives them a better appreciation of why protecting our history is so relevant today.”

– Neil Weintraub, archaeologist, Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts

Message from the Forest Supervisor Glimpse of rare beetle results in scientific documentation Creating young citizen scientists This accomplishment A Kaibab National Forest employees alike to take photos science project with a couple Throughout 2017, the Isabel Caldwell to develop an report is dedicated to the varied employee captured the first of plants and animals and post goals in mind. First, biologists Kaibab National Forest after-school iNaturalist club and important work we’ve and only known image of a them to the project page using and planners hope to increase teamed with Williams Middle for interested students. Forest accomplished by “walking the land rare beetle. the iNaturalist app. knowledge of plant and School to teach students Service employees visited the together.” We are all stewards of our Art Gonzales, fire staff In what was described as animal species, especially about the natural world by school each week to present public lands, and the Forest Service officer, was out with his an important observation of unusual or rare ones such showing them how to make on natural and cultural couldn’t do the work that’s needed family during summer 2017 its taxon by iNaturalist, the as the Typocerus gloriosus discoveries about plants and resource topics and also led to conserve these lands without the near an earthen stock tank on Typocerus gloriosus beetle did beetle, and to inform the animals near their homes field trips to interesting sites public’s help. the Williams Ranger District not have any image sources overall species list for the and on their public lands, on the Kaibab National Forest. This is not my father’s Forest Service; now more than when he came across a available until the submission forest as well as management thereby creating a small army Once participants posted ever, it will take all of us to manage these lands for current beetle that, until now, had no by Gonzales, according to approach. Second, forest of young citizen scientists photos of plants or animals and future generations. Whether we’re partnering to photographic evidence in the Boris Büche, who is described managers see the project as who can assist land managers to the “Kaibab NF 2017 provide opportunities for children, restoring springs, or scientific literature. as “an invaluable beetle expert a way to build relationships in understanding the Citizen Science Project,” they thinning trees with our tribal partners, we do it better Gonzales, who is an avid on iNaturalist who currently with local communities biodiversity of the area. received expert feedback from when we do it together. birder, can now not only has 48,662 identifications.” and visitors, creating an Kaibab National the iNaturalist community Thepublic depends on National Forests for clean water, claim fame for his prized Büche used The opportunity for shared Forest resource specialists on their discoveries. Kaibab timber, recreation experiences, jobs and so much more. photo of the Typocerus Cerambycidae of North stewardship and turning demonstrated to the eager National Forest biologists But the condition and use of our forest are changing. Our gloriosus beetle but also America guide to identify visitors into scientists and students a new way to interact also helped identify or lands have become out of balance over many decades for for it being selected as the observation and added, champions of public lands with the forest and its flora confirm findings, providing a a variety of reasons, both historical and more recent. Our the “Observation of the “In 1976, no more than five and the resources and fauna using their smart connection to local scientists forests are overstocked and are not resilient to drought, Week” on the free online specimens were known to they offer. phones and the free online who are interested in knowing fire, insects and disease. Additionally, more people than platform iNaturalist.org. At science. It is readily identified “Through iNaturalist, platform iNaturalist.org. more about and tracking the ever are living closer to National Forests, and public the beginning of 2017, the by its colour pattern, being I hope to share my excitement At the beginning of 2017, abundance and distribution of demand for recreational experiences, opportunities and Kaibab National Forest began one of the most beautiful, and with others and share my the Kaibab began a citizen species on the forest. access continues to increase. It has been increasingly a citizen science project to most scarce Longhorn beetles observations on the Kaibab science project to identify and “I am hoping that students difficult to meet these demands, especially with over half identify and document the on U.S. territory.” National Forest with people document the biodiversity take more time to observe the Forest Service national budget going to fire suppression biodiversity of the forest by The aibabK National across the globe,” Gonzales of the forest by encouraging their surroundings. Growing each year. Thankfully, Congress passed a fire funding fix in encouraging visitors and Forest created its citizen said. “As I walk through visitors to take photos of up in this time, it is easy for April 2017, which will help alleviate some of the pressure the woods, I’m constantly plants and animals and post students to be completely on our management programs in the future. reflecting on the treasures them to the project page absorbed in their technology In the Southwestern Region, we are addressing these we are provided with all that using the free iNaturalist app. and forget about the world issues and needs by prioritizing our work into three public lands offer to every one Not only did the Kaibab around them,” said Caldwell. of us. All of the observations National Forest host an “I think one of the strengths equally important areas: Relationships, Recreation, and iNaturalist provides students my family and I have made outdoors iNaturalist day of the iNaturalist program is Restoration. The intent is to ensure we provide for healthy with a vehicle that fosters this were on Forest Service lands for all 140 students in the that it allows students to use forests, strong relationships and economic vitality in our connection.” “We have a great group of people who are and are available for everyone sixth, seventh and eighth their technology to access communities. To participate with the passionate about their work. They love else to enjoy.” grades, but employees Mark the natural world. The more We have a tremendous opportunity to turn the tide Kaibab National Forest in To participate with the Christiano, Neil Weintraub connected students feel doing the right thing for the land, sharing it to a more resilient state for our forests thanks to our its current citizen science Kaibab National Forest in its and Natasha Kline also to their surroundings and employees, our stakeholders and our volunteers, who are project, visit https://bit.ly/ with the public, and building strong teams most current citizen science worked with Williams Middle community the more likely all committed to that shared restoration vision. Please join KNFiNaturalist2018. between programs and with partners.” me in celebrating all the outstanding work our employees project, visit https://bit.ly/ School science teacher they are to protect it, and and partners completed in 2017 while looking forward KNFiNaturalist2018. – Geordie Beck, safety manager, Supervisor’s Office into 2018 and beyond toward even greater successes! 2 3 Story map showcases delightful cabin rentals The aibabK National this is the first of many more is Jumpup Cabin. Built in 1906 a mile south of the Grand at our historic cabins,” said Liz Welcome to Kaibab National Forest partners Forest released a story map story maps to come from the and situated at the mouth of Canyon, is the oldest surviving Schuppert, recreation, lands the Kaibab! with The Nature Conservancy that showcases historic cabins Kaibab.” Jumpup Canyon, the historic historic cabin near the Grand and minerals staff officer for In addition to four office on forest restoration project available for members of the The cabin story map can cabin offers a panoramic view Canyon’s south rim and was the Kaibab National Forest. locations, the Kaibab National public to rent as part of the be viewed at http://arcg.is/ of Wilderness built in the late 1880s as part “These are places to which Forest offers two visitor centers near Williams popular “Rooms with a View” KNFCabinRentals and is and easy access to the remote of a sheep ranch that was later people feel connected and to assist members of the public The aibabK National Forest is partnering with cabin rental program. also available on the Kaibab and challenging Ranger acquired by the Forest Service want to bring their children in enjoying their time in The Nature Conservancy to complete critical forest The aibabK National National Forest website. The Trail #41. for use as a ranger station. and grandchildren. And, not northern . restoration and watershed protection work around Forest offers four breathtaking story map takes viewers on a The igB Springs Cabins, Spring Valley Cabin, only can you create memories The illiamsW and Forest Bill Williams Mountain near the City of Williams. locations as part of the photo-filled tour through the adjacent to the most abundant a short drive from both that will last a lifetime, but Service Visitor Center is located The tree thinning work within the 2,496-acre Clover statewide program, which forest’s four cabin locations water source on the Kaibab Flagstaff and the south rim of you can also help ensure the in Williams, Ariz. In 2017, the project area began in late 2017. The work is occurring provides visitors to national – Jumpup Cabin and the Big Plateau, are about an hour the , was the future preservation of these center provided information and within the larger 15,200-acre Bill Williams Mountain forests in Arizona with Springs Cabins on the North drive from the Rainbow Rim residence for rangers working amazing sites.” services to more than 97,000 Restoration Project footprint and is a top treatment a unique recreational Kaibab Ranger District, Hull Trail, a winding 18-mile at a nearby guard station, and Fees charged for renting visitors. priority for forest managers due to the area being the opportunity to experience an Cabin on the Tusayan Ranger hiking and mountain biking while it is the original 1917 these historic sites go back The aibabK Plateau Visitor primary watershed and municipal water supply for overnight stay in a historic District, and Spring Valley trail that offers stunning views design, has many charming to maintaining the cabins as Center is located in Jacob the City of Williams. Forest Service cabin. Cabin on the Williams from five scenic overlooks upgrades and amenities to well as to making other Forest Lake, Ariz. In 2017, the center “Getting this work accomplished is incredibly The Esri Story Map, Ranger District. along the north rim of the ensure a wonderful stay. Service cabins available to the provided information and important to us as forest managers and as members titled “Kaibab National Forest The most recent addition Grand Canyon. “We have received public as part of the “Rooms services to more than 30,000 of the Williams community,” said Samantha Flores, Historic Cabin Rentals,” to the Kaibab’s cabin offerings Hull Cabin, located just incredible feedback from with a View” cabin rental visitors. timber staff officer for the South Zone of the Kaibab is a web application that members of the program. All reservations for National Forest. “By partnering with The Nature allows map products to be public about cabin rentals must be made Walking the Land Conservancy through a stewardship agreement, we combined with narrative their experiences through www.recreation.gov. are able to meet our shared goals of greatly improving text, images and other Together forest and watershed health while also making the multimedia. According City of Williams safer in the long run from threats to Mark Christiano, GIS like wildfire and flooding.” coordinator for the Kaibab National Forest, it was the perfect tool to highlight the forest’s spectacular cabin site locations and make a broader audience aware of the opportunity to experience Efforts underway on Bill Williams Mountain Restoration Project stays in these special places. The aibabK National Because of the inability of wildfires that could pose wildfires on and around the “All maps tell stories, Forest completed several most heavy equipment to threats to the mountain and to mountain. they chronical discovery and forest restoration efforts in reach these challenging areas, the Williams community. “For many years, even conquest, documenting an 2017 within the 15,200-acre crews carried in chainsaws to Other work done in the decades, on the Kaibab understanding of the patterns Bill Williams Mountain accomplish the work. recent past in the Bill Williams National Forest, we have and interrelationships that Restoration Project footprint, • More than 200 acres were Mountain footprint: been working toward this underlie human and natural which included the following: treated using mechanical • From the late 1990s until goal of treating Bill Williams systems,” Christiano said. • Employees planned and laid thinning, meaning heavy December 2015 when the Mountain in a truly significant “But this new platform from out more than 3,500 acres to equipment, along Forest Road Record of Decision was way that will help not only in Esri – story maps – allows us be included in timber sales. 122 south of Bill Williams signed for the Bill Williams terms of forest health but also to go to the next level with This involved developing Mountain. This treatment is Mountain Restoration Project, community protection and our story telling. Story maps prescriptions for these acres intended to serve as a buffer a significant amount of public safety,” said Mike Uebel, weave a narrative through and marking trees within for any wildfires that might get treatment occurred within fuels program manager for photos, text and interactive them. The Forest Service started south of the mountain. the Bill Williams Mountain the Williams Ranger District maps that mash together to will be seeking to offer these This is a particularly important footprint. The Kaibab National of the Kaibab National Forest. allow us to tell the stories of acres in timber sales to local place to treat given prevailing Forest treated approximately “To see all of the time, energy the Forest Service in a fun contractors and others who winds in northern Arizona 9,000 acres with a variety and preparation we’ve put into and interactive way. We hope may be able to support the and the typical direction of of forest restoration efforts this effort turning into actual forest restoration effort. wildfire spread due to those including both prescribed fire work on the ground is very • More than 700 acres were winds. This is also a critical and tree cutting in order to rewarding and something treated using hand thinning treatment due to the high create fire breaks to protect the we hope the Williams operations on the steep recreational use in this area mountain and to reduce the community will be pleased slopes of the south side of Bill and the resulting potential for overall risk of high severity to see in action.” What is forest restoration? Williams Mountain. unwanted, human-caused Forest restoration includes:

High school students treated to trail adventure Mechanical thinning • Heavy equipment is used to thin forests. Treatments are designed to During summer 2017, the Kaibab National Forest Association, planned the event with the goal of students replicate historic conditions that were resilient to wildfire, drought and and Arizona Trail Association hosted an educational getting to experience tools in their hands and their feet disease outbreaks. event for 250 high school students from southeastern on a trail in order to build confidence, expand horizons, • Harvested trees are stacked and later transported to processing facilities. Iowa and the Grand Canyon region. and provide the opportunity to create connections • Biomass (residual branches and bark) is either transported off site, scattered Arizona Trail Association volunteers led the with the natural world. Once made, these connections to protect soil, or left in piles for later burning. students on a hike down a portion of the iconic benefit not only the students but also public land • Some roads are constructed for temporary access to harvest areas, and later Arizona Trail, a non-motorized path stretching 800 management agencies and nonprofit organizations like decommissioned and rehabilitated to a natural state. miles across Arizona from Mexico to , and the the Arizona Trail Association, which are upheld and students made stops at several education stations invigorated by passionate volunteers. Fire and smoke hosted by both Kaibab National Forest employees and • Fire and smoke are natural parts of the Southwest’s forests. Public and volunteers. From throwing atlatls, which are ancient community safety is the foremost concern for fire managers. hunting weapons that pre-date the bow and arrow, to • Wildfires often have a range of outcomes, from risking high-value areas identifying trail building tools to listening for birds, and resources to beneficially reducing fuel and tree densities. Wildfires are the students learned and asked questions about the managed on a case-by-case basis. different specialties that contribute to the stewardship • Prescribed fire can reduce the risk of future severe wildfires by removing of public lands. excess fuel and also improve forest health by breaking down nutrients. Dutch Maatman, a recreation specialist for the • Fire managers try to minimize smoke impacts to people while managing Kaibab National Forest, and Sabrina Carlson, northern all fires. Heavy smoke from some fires can occur. Arizona regional coordinator for the Arizona Trail 4 5 Video highlights the prehistoric paintings and etchings of Snake Gulch The aibabK National Forest “Snake Gulch: A Passage the dedication of the people who academic researchers and local archaeologist and tribal and gathering lifestyle to Service has set a foundation Archaeology field school released a short video telling Through Time” captures the cherish and work to preserve it. tribes, have been documenting, liaison for the North Kaibab agriculture, often referred to to better protect and preserve A joint summer 2017 field school between the Kaibab the story of a remote canyon beauty and value of that place Snake Gulch is located in the photographing, interpreting Ranger District. “Our tribal as the Neolithic Transition. these amazing nonrenewable National Forest and the University of Nevada Reno north of the Grand Canyon that and its colorful images, which Kanab Creek Wilderness on the and working to preserve partners and volunteers play On the canyon walls, there are resources over time. The conducted fieldwork across the forest from May 20 is home to an incredible array represent thousands of years of North Kaibab Ranger District of the thousands of sites over a a tremendous role in helping many anthropomorphic, or Kaibab National Forest through June 25. Instructor Marielle Pedro Black, who of prehistoric paintings and human history and leave a visual the Kaibab National Forest. For winding 10-mile stretch within agency archaeologists human-like, images with head continues to work with youth is also a Forest Service employee, led a group of students etchings. record of the rich cultures that the past three decades, Forest this remarkable canyon. like me in caring for these dresses, necklaces and other groups, professional artists, in surveying, site recording and soil sampling across all forms of adornment engaging tribal elders, volunteers, once occupied the area. It Service archaeologists, “Managing cultural resource irreplaceable sites. Our goal three of the Kaibab National Forest’s ranger districts. in celebratory activities like and other organizations also showcases with the assistance sites on public lands is an is to share these incredible A total of 1,680 volunteer hours provided copious of volunteers, enormous task, and federal resources with the American dancing and playing music, and individuals to make amounts of information and the opportunity for the archaeologists can’t do it alone,” public, while respecting tribal as well as other day-to-day progress on this significant students to learn about Southwest prehistory and said Connie Reid, values and doing what we subsistence activities such as documentation and archaeology. More than 50 sites were newly recorded can to protect the hunting and farming. These preservation endeavor. area for future generations to images give archaeologists “I would say to the youth or updated, and all of the survey work contributes to learn from and enjoy.” rare glimpses into the vibrant to be respectful of places the archaeological inventory and study of prehistoric The ncienta images found cultures that once called the like this, to take care of it so lifeways on the Coconino and Kaibab plateaus of in Snake Gulch were left by area home. that their children and their northern Arizona. Native American people The aibabK National Forest grandchildren can see these who occupied the region developed an extensive photo writings. These places are Tree specialists continue work to restore ponderosa thousands of years library of the invaluable images places of power, what we call ago. Many of of Snake Gulch that can not ‘puha,’” said Glendora Homer, pine on North Kaibab Ranger District the images only be viewed by the public member of the Kaibab Band Employees on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest again were made but can also serve as a reference of Southern Paiute. “Respect partnered with the National Forest Foundation to plant seedlings in the Warm Fire 2017 during the source for researchers and is the most important thing planting project area at East Lake. transition a monitoring tool for forest that you can give a place like The 2017 lantingp project was completed in the spring with the help of a $54,000 grant period archaeologists. Kaibab National this. Respect the beliefs of the from the National Forest Foundation and the combined efforts of both the Forest Service from the Forest employees are also Indian people. Respect these and Oregon-based contractor GE Forestry. All told, this on-the-ground effort yielded a total hunting sharing the treasures of Snake writings. They might not mean of 76,000 ponderosa pine seedlings planted in the 350-acre East Lake project area. It also Gulch and the importance anything to you, but they do increased the overall grand total for the Warm Fire recovery work to more than 1.8 million of valuing them with a wider have great meaning to us and trees planted and certified across 6,100 acres of this multi-phased reforestation effort since audience by producing great significance to us. This planting began in 2008. “Snake Gulch: A Passage is also a part of your heritage This ear’sy project was led by North Kaibab Ranger District silviculturists Joseph Varnado Through Time.” as Americans, and we as and Garry Domis. This is the sixth such project in the Warm Fire area. All six projects were While the work in Snake Americans have to take care of made possible through more than $440,000 in grants provided to the Kaibab National Forest Gulch is far from our cultural heritage sites.” complete, the Forest To view the video, go to from the National Forest Foundation, American Forest Foundation, Salt River Project Trees for http://bit.ly/SnakeGulch. Change program, and the National Bank of Arizona’s Sustainable Initiatives program. “The key here is survival. We are planting tomorrow’s future forest,” said Varnado. “So when we’re out here, we are looking for the best possible sites to plant. Sites with the best moisture, with the best shade, and the best protection from the elements so we can enhance the survivability of our investment and protect our future forest.”

“I have committed to this forest and spent many years working and living in this area because I believe in the work that we do and the contributions that we make.” – Garry Domis, silviculturist, North Kaibab Ranger District

Wildlife Key 2017 accomplishments by district The Kaibab National (T&E) species are not understanding of species’ North Kaibab Williams and Tusayan sites of rare Arizona black were deployed, which Forest’s wildlife program negatively impacted by abundance and distribution. Ranger District Ranger Districts . will help determine is responsible for a wide proposed forest projects, • The wildlife staff regularly The North Kaibab & Wildlife Service. The CA (South Zone) Wildlife biologists migration movements. range of activities and wildlife staff: participated in local wildlife program provides guidelines for South Zone wildlife conducted or oversaw an This is a collaborative projects to protect and • Prepare analyses for each environmental education completed annual managing this rare cactus biologists participated in amazing 82,000 acres of partnership between monitor wildlife. Forest project on its potential programs on the forest monitoring of sensitive and its habitat to protect it the annual winter eagle surveys in anticipation of multiple National Forests, Service employees impacts to sensitive and and at local schools and wildlife species, including into the future. University survey in Arizona. As in forest restoration work the Arizona Game and frequently work with T&E species, including other educational venues. peregrine falcons (one of Illinois researchers previous years, biologists associated with the Four Fish Department, the biologists and researchers conservation measures Popular themes included new eyrie discovered in completed a study of the from the Hopi Tribe and Forest Restoration Initiative. Arizona Department from other agencies, to avoid or mitigate such iNaturalist and raptors. The 2017), northern goshawks Kaibab bladderpod, another other Kaibab National The Duck Lake Restoration of Transportation, and organizations and impacts. raptor programs featured a (20 post-fledging areas rare plant of the Kaibab Forest staff assisted in project, a partnership with the Arizona Antelope institutions such as the • Conduct species surveys Cooper’s hawk, which was surveyed in 2017 covering Plateau. the effort. The survey the Arizona Game Foundation. The intent Arizona Game and Fish per established protocols to: being rehabilitated by one about 12,000 acres; 10 North Kaibab biologists documented 21 eagles (14 and Fish Department, of the partnership is to Department, U.S. Fish & – clear sites so project work/ of the forest’s biological nests were active, all provided surveys, specialist bald, 4 golden, maintained surface water inform management Wildlife Service, National treatments can occur, and technicians. fledging at least two reports and other input 3 unknown species) on 16 through the dry winter, actions based on Park Service, Bureau – regularly monitor sensitive, young), and Kaibab for forest restoration work, routes. Forest biologists providing water for many pronghorn migration of Land Management, T&E, or other species of Wildlife habitat restoration squirrels (covering 750 including fire and vegetation partnered with the wildlife species, both aquatic and movement patterns Northern Arizona management interest (e.g., To mitigate the impacts acres). Remote wildlife management projects. Arizona Game and Fish and terrestrial. across the landscape. University, Grand Canyon invasive species, ungulates, of forest treatments or cameras also documented Forest employees partnered Department to deploy Biologists mapped 5,961 Also, biologists and other Trust, Bird Conservancy or prairie dogs, whose activities, as well as other sensitive wildlife species, with the Arizona Game and a GPS transmitter on a acres of occupied prairie dog forest employees worked of the Rockies, Bat healthy colonies are needed anthropogenic impacts, including photos of Fish Department on several juvenile bald eagle at habitat in 2017, which was with volunteers to remove Conservation International, to support the introduction and wildfire to forest peregrines drinking from a initiatives including providing White Horse Lake. The an increase of 274 acres of or modify 7 miles of fence and more to accomplish a of endangered black- lands, biologists and other wildlife water. information to hunters bald eagle successfully occupied habitat from the in 2017 in order to plethora of projects. footed ferrets). staff implement habitat The program also about the dangers of lead fledged, and biologists are 2014 survey effort. They also facilitate pronghorn and restoration projects, completed inventory and ammunition to California collecting movement data assisted the Arizona Game ungulate movement. Environmental Compliance Public educational including: monitoring of both the condors. The North Kaibab to inform management and Fish Department with About 2,500 acres of To meet the requirements programs and internships • Vegetation and wetland endangered Fickeisen Ranger District also teamed activities. They also vaccinations and dusting of grassland restoration work of the National • Wildlife biologists were treatments, plains cactus and the with the Arizona Wildlife completed annual prairie dog colonies in order was completed thanks Environmental Policy Act, key in helping develop • Installing/maintaining Paradine plains cactus, Federation and the Arizona monitoring of peregrine to minimize the impacts of to a successful long- Endangered Species Act, the Kaibab National wildlife-friendly cattle which is now managed Game and Fish Department falcons, shorebirds, plague. term partnership with Migratory Bird Treaty Forest’s iNaturalist citizen exclusion fences from under a Conservation to repair 15 existing wildlife nightjars (whip-poor- The Kaibab National the Habitat Partnership Act, and other federal science project, which natural waters or other Agreement (CA) between waters and develop three wills and poor-wills), Forest assisted with Committee, which and agency regulations promotes members of sensitive areas, and the Kaibab National new waters. and breeding birds; pronghorn antelope capture consists of a variety of that ensure sensitive and the public helping in the • Installing water Forest and the U.S. Fish aquatic vertebrates; for telemetry. South of conservation partners, threatened or endangered documentation of plants catchments. and, communal den Interstate 40, a total of 25 and the Arizona Game and animals to enhance telemetered radio collars and Fish Department.

6 7 Kaibab National Forest creates map products to improve motorist navigation

“As urban areas become more and more congested, the public is likely New Motor Vehicle Use Additional natural and to the Motor Vehicle Use also include more extensive accompanying Travel Map to look toward places like the Kaibab National Forest as an oasis for Maps and Travel Maps for the cultural resource surveys will Maps. The GPS-enabled Travel cartographic design and for the North Kaibab Ranger Williams and Tusayan Ranger be undertaken over the next Maps for smartphones, tablets featured recreation destinations District. recreation opportunities and for simply reconnecting with nature.” Districts of the Kaibab National three years before the motorized and Garmin GPS devices are to help visitors enjoy their forest These and other motorized – Margaret Hangan, heritage program manager, Supervisor’s Office Forest were made available dispersed camping distance is specifically designed to help experience. travel aid options are available in 2017. extended from 100 to 300 feet in motorists locate their position The aibabK National Forest at http://bit.ly/KNFmaps. The otorM Vehicle Use order to ensure forest managers while traveling on the forest is currently working on a new Maps, which show what roads can identify resources that and using their devices. They Motor Vehicle Use Map and are open to motor vehicle may require further protection travel, are the result of years of within that zone. monitoring public feedback “The South Zone Travel following implementation of Management Revision Project the Travel Management Rule. was directly responsive to The maps, which are the hundreds to thousands of available for free at any comments we received from Kaibab National Forest office, our local community members implement the decisions and other forest users. We heard of the South Zone Travel over and over again that our Management Revision Project. visitors were dissatisfied with The biggest change stemming their recreation experiences,” from that project and reflected said Danelle D. Harrison, on the new Motor Vehicle Use district ranger for the Williams Trail mapping to enhance Maps is the authorization of and Tusayan Ranger Districts. visitor experience motorized dispersed camping “It was incumbent upon us along 276 miles of designated to find a better way to protect The aibabK National consistent process that National Forest System roads forest resources while also Forest took on a major trail will result in updated, on the Williams and Tusayan providing a quality motorized mapping project in 2017 high-quality data that Ranger Districts. dispersed camping experience. as part of a larger Forest can eventually be shared Motorized dispersed We believe we’ve found that Service topographical with other employees and camping is now authorized for balance.” Engineering initiative aimed at members of the public. 100 feet from the centerline Also in 2017, the Kaibab Road miles bladed producing new and more The orestF Service of designated roads. In years National Forest produced More than 500 miles Road resurfacing Mowing accurate maps for employee is putting focus to the to come, motorized dispersed Travel Maps for the Williams of road were bladed across Three heavily-used About 12 miles of the and public use. topographical initiative camping will be authorized for and Tusayan Ranger Districts. the forest in 2017 in order forest roads received major paved section of FR 22 on Throughout the summer, because many of the 300 feet from the centerline of These maps are intended to to maintain the roadways resurfacing work in 2017, the North Kaibab Ranger employees and interns agency’s maps are based on these designated roads. serve as helpful companions for public and employee to include 4.8 miles of District were mowed in (such as wildfire response) Forest Road (FR) 22 on order to reduce encroaching re-mapped miles upon outdated U.S. Geological use. Every year, the forest the North Kaibab Ranger vegetation and improve miles of trails across the Survey topographic maps, has a defined number of District, 5.4 miles of FR sight distances. This will 1.6-million-acre Kaibab so there are inconsistencies friendly smooth bottom document effects from miles to maintain in order 302 on the Tusayan Ranger help ensure the safety of National Forest by hiking and errors in the data. and top wires. This fence thinning and burning to meet targets. During District, and 6 miles of FR motorists on this important each and every one of them. The creation of new will prevent injury to wildlife activities on soil and access road. attempting to access the watershed resources. The these blading operations, 140 on the Williams Ranger On a typical day, recreation topographic maps includes heavy equipment is used to District. This work not only spring source but will Forest Soil Disturbance maintain the surface of the improves safety conditions Asphalt patching intern Mary Bielamowicz re-mapping trails and effectively prevent livestock Monitoring Protocol road and drainage features but also visitor experience Forest employees and and geographic streams, taking more entry. A new concrete cover (FSDMP) describes such as lead-out ditches. when traveling to popular volunteers worked and information systems intern high-quality aerial photos, for the spring box was how to monitor a site’s This is done to smooth recreation areas on the sweated together to patch Michelle Barton grabbed and making more exact constructed to eliminate a response to ground- out the road and reclaim forest. 5 miles of potholes on FR 22 their tablets loaded with digital elevation models. wildlife hazard. disturbing management lost gravel. on the North Kaibab Ranger activities, like mechanical District. Their labor will the ArcGIS Collector app, This larger, coordinated Parissawampitts Spring vegetation treatments and Crush and stockpile pay off in the long term by a mapping and spatial data effort to upgrade log fence exclosure prescribed fire, through Best Management Practice About 40,000 tons of reducing the deterioration analysis application, and topographic data and map construction project examination of physical (BMP) monitoring material was crushed at of the asphalt. selected a trail to hike. The products, which is being In cooperation with attributes that influence The national BMP pits on the Kaibab National Soil and watershed with forest employees to Grand Canyon Trust site resilience and long- monitoring program is the tablets have a GPS chip, led by the Forest Service complete restoration of Forest Service nonpoint Forest and stockpiled. Road packages During 2017, more volunteers, Kaibab term sustainability. The so even when they were Southwestern Regional Middle Elk Spring, which is source pollution control These crush and stockpile In order to support than 23,800 acres of soil National Forest employees attributes describe surface offline, they could map Office, will eventually located on the north side of program for achieving contracts are designed to the extensive forest and watershed resources completed installation of conditions that affect soil Sitgreaves Mountain on the and documenting water provide a specific gradation Cinder production restoration work occurring trails located far from any provide for better visitor were improved on the a new post and pole fence stability, productivity and Williams Ranger District. resource protection. Each of material to be used on About 10,000 tons of on the Kaibab National Wi-Fi signal. experiences, improved Kaibab National Forest around Parissawampitts hydrologic function. The The project included year, National Forests forest roads to reduce soft cinders were processed in Forest, engineers created Once they were on the safety, and more precise due to restoration and Spring and associated desired result of the FSDMP removal of 134 feet of failed complete monitoring spots and rutting. This 2017. Cinders are used to several road packages other treatments such as riparian vegetation in is to determine how forest trail, they mapped the management decisions pipeline that connected a evaluations pertaining work is important in order temporarily repair soft spots representing various timber prescribed fire, thinning, order to prevent livestock practices are influencing beginning mile point, on the Kaibab National concrete spring box to a to the national core to recondition frequently- in roadways and provide a sale contracts. Engineers invasive weed removal, from accessing the area long-term soil productivity. trough downslope of the BMPs. In 2017, the Kaibab used forest roads in order cushion over larger rocks. evaluated roads and created ending mile point, noted Forest. Topographic maps and spring rehabilitation. and causing damage to Usage of the protocol is spring source, restoring National Forest completed to improve safety for Cinders are also useful as work schedules and cost maintenance needs and remain indispensable Highlights from the soil the resources. The spring also helpful in assessing natural flow to the spring’s BMP monitoring on motorists. a base to maintain roads estimates in order to provide issues along the route, and tools for everyday use and watershed program runout channel flows overall Best Management historic path and improving campgrounds, trails accessing areas receiving potential timber purchasers included: beyond the exclosure, Practice effectiveness in took photos of signs or in government, science, riparian habitat. An old and timber sales. This restoration treatments such with information about providing water for conserving soil and water any other special features. industry, land management and damaged barbed information will be as timber harvesting. It is work needed to safely Elk Spring restoration domestic livestock. This resources. Beginning in the When other employees planning and recreation. wire exclosure fence was aggregated over time important for log trucks haul logs on roadways. project project was completed as spring of 2017, this protocol replaced with a new fence to provide national and to be able to access areas mapped trails, they “What we will be able The Hopi Tribe Ancestral part of the Kane Ranches was implemented across all that included wildlife- regional scale evaluations where forest restoration followed the same process. to say is that in 2017, we Lands Crew partnered allotment management three ranger districts of the of BMP performance. work is occurring. The Collector app synched had new trail maps, new plan and was included Kaibab National Forest. back to ArcGIS Online. hydrologic data, and new in the Kane Ranches Grazing Allotment Renewal Invasive species ArcGIS Online is cloud- resource photography,” Environmental Assessment. The Kaibab National Forest accomplished more than 1,000 acres of weeds treatments. based, which meant that said Mark Christiano, Similar exclosure fences are Of particular note were the continuing treatments of Russian olive in Kanab Creek everyone on the system geographic information being planned in 2018 at Wilderness on the North Kaibab Ranger District. Russian olive grows exceptionally fast could see what others had systems coordinator for Timp and Squaw springs on and can take over other species within an ecosystem. They also use a significant amount mapped, what specific the Kaibab National Forest. the North Kaibab Ranger of water and will deprive other plants of the water and nutrients they need to survive. District. Also significant, treatment of noxious weeds helps with reestablishment of plant information had been “Better data will lead to species important to pollinators. Restoring land with native plants allows for a proper gathered, and what trails more informed decisions, Forest soil disturbance food source for pollinators and habitat for those species that have specific plant-host still required attention. This and that’s why this initiative monitoring interactions for egg laying or nesting. allowed for an organized, is so important.” The first forestwide Finally, the forest certified one new pesticide applicator in 2017 in order to ensure monitoring plan has been continued availability of the training, tools and contracts necessary to make the initiated to track and program successful.

8 9 Partnering in service of the land Youth crews spend summer supporting public lands and creating community The aibabK National Forest hosted the 2017 Waters for Life Youth Service The aibabK National Forest timber and silviculture. Both District. They worked with the technique. They helped spruce forest personnel likely would Project with the Grand Canyon Trust and Hopi tribal members and youth, hosted two youth crews over the Williams and Fredonia range department to remove up the popular not otherwise have been able which strengthened existing partnerships and allowed participants to work summer 2017 to accomplish YCC corps members invasive bull thistle and old, Visitor Center and were treated to accomplish. They also saw together and share knowledge on projects important to all. projects, experience public completed a remarkably unneeded fencing across to a presentation on California places that few people will ever This asw the fourth year of the partnership, which was developed through lands, and learn skills and a diverse array of projects the district. They assisted condors. They assisted in see, experienced challenges that the Hopi Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act program to promote strong work ethic, all while helping Kaibab employees the timber and silviculture painting the porch, steps not everyone could overcome, opportunities for Hopi youth to participate in service-learning projects on the earning money and the with work they may not have programs to mark boundaries and outhouse at the historic and made investments in Kaibab National Forest. possibility of an education otherwise had the time or for a timber sale while also Jacob Lake Ranger Station public lands that will endure for Over several days, the partners worked to protect waters on the North award upon program person-power to accomplish. being taught skills in map Cabin and then got to take an years or even decades. Kaibab Ranger District, which are scarce commodities that connect many completion. The illiamsW YCC crew reading and GPS, plant and educational tour of the North “We’ve all been passed a local communities and people to the beloved Kaibab Plateau. As part of that The outhY Conservation assisted range staff in removing tree identification, forest Kaibab Ranger District to view torch to conserve and care effort, participants restored fences around three designated waters in order to Corps (YCC) is a program a broken trick tank, which is a health, and insect and disease archaeological sites and learn for these lands that have been protect the sensitive riparian habitats from livestock. Protecting and restoring coordinated through the watering device for livestock or identification. about Forest Service cultural set aside, and we should see natural waters and wetlands has been a long-standing goal of all of the Arizona Conservation Corps wildlife, and unneeded fencing “Working with the youth resource management and laws. to it that we’re able to pass partners involved. that affords young people, material. Working with the is not just about getting the “On the Kaibab National that same torch. Additionally, In addition to the fence repairs around designated waters, participants typically 17- and 18-year-olds, recreation department, they job done,” said Allison Ayers, Forest, we have partners who though, there’s something also presented a series of “class-time” educational sessions for the Hopi youth the opportunity to perform helped maintain the popular wilderness and trails specialist have been committed to YCC delightfully subversive about covering a broad spectrum of natural and cultural resource topics including community service and Bill Williams Mountain Trail with the North Kaibab Ranger members’ development for a young person swinging range conservation, timber management, archaeology, soils, hydrology, resource conservation through by using crosscut saws to clear District. “It’s also about a long time and are really an ax,” Dickerson said. “The entomology, and botany. hands-on project work with a fallen trees, and they helped empowering young people to invested in our YCC members’ story about young people only The aibabK National Forest is committed to establishing and maintaining variety of land management clean out drainage ditches. do things they never thought experiences,” Dickerson said. “If staring at their phones and collaborative partnerships with native communities. These partnerships are and community partners, Assisting silviculturists, they in their wildest dreams that the YCC members work as hard thinking only for themselves built through government-to-government consultation, youth outreach, and including the Kaibab National scrubbed aspen trees to they could do. This program in their future endeavors and is so widespread that it goes implementing projects of mutual interest and benefit like the Waters for Life Forest. As in past years, the remove damaging oystershell makes the impossible possible take the lessons they learn about unchallenged. I know a Youth Service Project. Kaibab hosted two crews scale insects and helped for many young adults.” communication and teamwork different set of young people, Video documentation of the very first Hopi-Kaibab National Forest last summer, one stationed monitor the condition of aspen The redoniaF YCC crew along with them, there’s no need though – their boots are spring restoration project is available at https://www.youtube.com/ in Williams and the other in stands. also assisted in clearing and for any of us to worry about the trashed, their hands have hard watch?v=X5eeAoJVzaI. Fredonia. The illiamsW YCC corps maintaining a number of future.” callouses, their packs are heavy, “When I think about the members worked with fire trails, including the iconic All told, YCC corps members and they’re giving, unselfish, experience our YCC members and archaeology crews to thin Rainbow Rim Trail, and contributed a whopping 2,410 aware, and thoughtful.” get serving on public lands, and pile trees from the historic received instruction on hours toward project work on For additional information Tribal partnering and outreach I’m struck with what a great 1930s Civilian Conservation crosscut saw and ax use and the Kaibab National Forest that on YCC, visit www.azcorps.org. Tribes with aboriginal treatments through a Sharing knowledge • Forest employees traveled with the Hopi Tribe to opportunity it is for them to Corps interpretive site located territories and traditional Master Participating globally - Indonesian to community events in provide large-diameter develop a healthy relationship near Barney Flat south of ties to the land now Agreement with the Kaibab conservation education Cameron and Tuba City timbers to the village of exchange with work and service,” said Williams. They also removed administered by the Kaibab National Forest. ANSBI also to make it easy for tribal Walpi for restoration of Through a new Russ Dickerson, operations fuels and low vegetation from National Forest include the completed 49 additional members to receive traditional kivas. District partnership with Empower Havasupai Tribe, the Hopi acres of treatment on the fuelwood permits. More employees worked with tribal director for the Arizona historic logging railroad grades International, the Kaibab Tribe, the Hualapai Tribe, Tusayan Ranger District than 200 fuelwood permits representatives to provide Conservation Corps. “They get across the Williams Ranger National Forest was the Kaibab Band of Paiute and produced 120 cords were issued, and the forest’s these timbers for traditional to work as a close team, come District in order to help protect honored to host Indonesian Indians, the Navajo Nation, of fuelwood for local Facebook post about the use through the Culture fellow Etty Rahmawati on to understand that if they don’t the sites from future wildfires. the San Juan Southern communities through a opportunities was shared and Heritage Cooperative forest. Rahmawati is the give it everything they have Finally, they assisted biologists Paiute, the Yavapai-Prescott separate agreement with the 18,000 times, reaching many Authority. This was the third community outreach and Indian Tribe and the Pueblo Foundation. who wouldn’t have otherwise project the Kaibab National someone else may have to pick in removing crayfish, an conservation education of Zuni. The Kaibab National • To date, ANSBI has known about this public Forest has conducted to up the slack, and see firsthand invasive species, from Keyhole coordinator for Alam Sehat Forest shares boundaries completed 1,106 acres of service. provide these important the lasting impacts that their Sink. Crayfish are not native Lestari (ASRI), a non-profit with Havasupai and Navajo thinning treatments, 38 acres • The Tusayan Ranger materials to the Hopi Tribe. organization dedicated to service can have.” to Arizona, but they have tribal lands, and is in close of piling, and provided 360 District established promoting environmental The 2017 CCY program ran become established in many proximity to numerous tribal cords of fuelwood to local fuelwood cutting units Traditional plant collection and human health in from June 5 to July 22. Corps waters throughout the state communities. The forest Navajo communities through close to the Navajo The Kaibab National West Borneo, Indonesia. borders the Grand Canyon this agreement. reservation to increase Forest continued its work to members worked Monday and endanger aquatic native Rahmawati participated National Park and is part of accessibility of fuelwood. facilitate trips for traditional through Friday from 7 a.m. species. in the 2017 Waters for Life a unique cultural landscape Supporting the Hopi District employees then plant collecting for tribal to 5:30 p.m. and assisted with Fredonia YCC corps Youth Service Project, of great traditional and Ancestral Lands Crew worked with the Cameron members and elders. learning about the Kaibab a variety of resource areas on members accomplished an cultural value to native In 2017, the Hopi Tribe Chapter to organize a National Forest’s tribal youth the Kaibab National Forest equivalently impressive list of people. established an Ancestral community drive to provide Salt River Pima Maricopa conservation education The tribal relations Lands Crew (ALC), and wood to tribal elders. Indian Community (SRPMIC) including range, wildlife, projects during their tenure programs and sharing youth engagement program works to facilitate the Kaibab National Forest Forest engineers performed recreation, fire, archaeology, on the North Kaibab Ranger information about ASRI’s Forest employees hosted open communication with worked with the tribe to maintenance along the major work in Indonesia. The the SRPMIC youth program federally recognized tribes provide opportunities for forest road to these units in Kaibab National Forest at White Horse Lake and the development of restoration and project work order to facilitate access. plans to host additional Campground on the Williams tribal partnerships related on the forest. The forest has • Forest employees Empower International Ranger District. Kaibab to all aspects of forest also competed successfully created a dual English- fellows in the future. National Forest specialists led management. Key 2017 for future funding to expand Navajo language poster participants on a hike to learn highlights included the these opportunities in 2018. to help educate tribal • In 2017, the Hopi ALC Hopi Tribe eagle about cultural and natural following: survey partnership members about fuelwood restored Elk Springs on the resources in the area. The For the seventh year in a opportunities and Williams Ranger District as Forest Service also provided Alamo Navajo row, wildlife biologists from regulations. thinning treatments part of spring restoration fishing equipment to the the Hopi Tribe partnered The Kaibab National efforts associated with the young people so they could with the Kaibab National Timbers for kiva restoration Forest’s partnership with the Four Forest Restoration enjoy the forest’s outstanding Forest to assist with the The North Kaibab Alamo Navajo School Board Initiative (4FRI). The crew recreational opportunities forest’s annual bald and Ranger District worked Inc. (ANSBI) has continued dug out and removed 134 while learning. golden eagle surveys. to grow since its inception feet of rusted pipeline,

removed 60 feet of fencing, in 2012. This partnership Providing fuelwood provides funding to ANSBI and repaired an additional to communities on the to conduct timber marking, 60 feet of fence around the Navajo reservation thinning treatments, and spring. In 2017, the Kaibab fuelwood production • Mike Lyndon, tribal National Forest continued projects on the forest. The liaison for the Kaibab programs to provide partnership provides jobs National Forest, led the accessible fuelwood to and technical training to a effort to develop a Master rural communities on the disadvantaged community Participating Agreement Navajo reservation. Forest on the Navajo reservation with four area tribes employees coordinated while contributing to the to expand these types fuelwood permit sale days forest’s fuels and timber of projects in the 4FRI on the Navajo reservation targets. footprint. and worked with nearby • In 2017, ANSBI conducted communities to conduct 203 acres of thinning community fuelwood drives for tribal elders.

10 11 Grants and agreements - partnering in restoration In 2017, the Kaibab National Forest completed 26 new partnership agreements and 32 modifications for continuing partnerships, an incredible volume and scope of collaborative work coordinated by the forest’s grants and agreements program. Of particular note were four Supplemental Project Agreements (SPAs) under a Master Stewardship Agreement with The Nature Conservancy in the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) footprint on the Kaibab National Forest. The Nature Conservancy – 4FRI Walking the Land Restoration Project is a cooperative effort to improve learning and ecological resilience Together while increasing the pace and scale of restoration in order to maximize forest health and Restoration goes digital minimize the risk of large-scale, uncharacteristic wildfire and the consequences those The utureF Forest Project is a collaboration with events bring to communities and economies, watersheds, wildlife, and the long-term the Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, and viability of ponderosa pine forests in northern Arizona. The four SPAs with The Conservancy on the Kaibab National Forest are as follows: the forest products industry to accelerate the pace • Clover project – 2,496 acres. Forest restoration work has already begun in the Clover and scale of thinning to restore forest health and project area and is expected to continue over the next two years, depending on weather to manage forests sustainably as a source of water, and ground conditions at any given time. The treatments are occurring within the larger recreation and wood products. A primary strategy 15,200-acre Bill Williams Mountain Restoration Project footprint, which is a top treatment is to identify ways to make forest thinning more priority for forest managers due to the area being the primary watershed and municipal economical by streamlining the process. water supply for the City of Williams. To date, 200 acres have been cut in the Clover project. As one part of that streamlining, the partners • Moonset project – 4,415 acres. This project area is located just west of the community are using technology to reduce costs and time spent of Parks. It is a critical area for treatment in order to better protect the greater Parks on marking trees with paint, which has been done area, in which there are many homes and a significant amount of private inholdings, historically to identify which trees to cut or leave. from unnaturally severe wildfire in the future. The project area was part of the first 4FRI Restoration units can now be marked digitally in Environmental Impact Statement. • Junction project – 356 acres. This project area is located in Pitman Valley near the place of traditional painting methods. Marking Sherwood Forest Estates community. It is adjacent to the popular and heavily visited crews use tablets to designate where tree clumps Bearizona theme park and provides treatment along an access route from the City of and groups should be placed, and generally how the Williams to Garland Prairie, which could provide additional ingress and egress for the structure in those areas should look. greater Williams area. The project area was part of the first 4FRI Environmental Impact The use of technology in the form of GPS- Statement. enabled tablets could help reduce harvesting costs • Dog project – 1,630 acres. This project area is located near Dogtown Lake southeast of the City of Williams. The project is important because it is centered on Dogtown Lake, a borne by private industry; increase the amount major recreation site for visitors to the Kaibab National Forest and one of the few places of acreage prepared by the Forest Service for with a year-round water source. The area is also a nesting site for bald eagles. Treatments “The Kaibab National Forest spans a geographic area with a tremendous amount of ecological treatments; and obtain real-time monitoring data to will focus not only on forest health and uncharacteristic wildfire risk reduction but also inform adaptive management. on enhancing recreation experiences for the public and improving wildlife habitat. The project area was part of the Dogtown Environmental Assessment. diversity, which translates to a wide range of recreational opportunities and experiences.” Operations on the Moonset, Junction and Dog projects are anticipated to begin over the course of the next year. – Mike Lyndon, tribal liaison, Supervisor’s Office This collaborative partnership between the Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy will ideally serve as a venue in which to jointly develop efficiencies in planning, preparation, administration and implementation of timber sales in order to lower costs and enhance opportunities for the Forest Service and private sector to work together while, ultimately, accelerating the pace of restoration across northern Arizona.

Geographic Information Systems Silviculture and Timber – working hand in hand to improve forest health and provide Lands and realty management Current Forest Service objectives for the range management program are: The Geographic in extensive updates to the North Kaibab Ranger The lands and realty management 2017 iNaturalist Citizen resources to communities • To manage range vegetation to Information Systems records and databases. District in the near future. program secures and protects the The Kaibab National Forest is committed to the use of protect basic soil and water resources, (GIS) program of the The new trails layers will Science Project–By the numbers! American public’s rights, title, value, all tools and management activities possible to support provide for ecological diversity, improve Kaibab National Forest be used to create visitor LiDAR data and interests in its national forests and the restoration of ecosystems and the protection of or maintain environmental quality, and achieved the following key maps and will also become In 2017, the GIS program grasslands and authorizes a variety of communities and values at risk. meet public needs for interrelated accomplishments during part of the national Forest led the way for Quality uses on those lands to meet the needs of Key accomplishments from 2017 including the resource uses. 2017: Service trails system. Level 1 (8 points per square present and future generations. following: • To integrate management of range meter) LiDAR acquisition Total Total number Lands and realty management is Timber Sale Acres Sold to Industry vegetation with other resource programs Development of tablet Updated Motor Vehicle for the Williams and observations of unique species carried out through four major activities: • 10,820 acres of commercial acres sold to achieve multiple use objectives technology Use Maps Tusayan Ranger Districts observed • Landownership adjustment (91,761 ccf* of volume) contained in forest land and resource As field echnologyt The Motor Vehicle Use by bringing together 3,121 • Special use authorizations and Forest Vegetation Improved management plans. has advanced, the Kaibab Maps for the Williams the Forest Service, non- 770 administration (for all purposes including wildlife, soils, watershed, • To provide for livestock forage, wildlife National Forest has sought and Tusayan Ranger profits and corporate • Boundary and title management and fuels) food and habitat, outdoor recreation, to stay on the cutting edge Districts were updated groups. LiDAR, which • Valuation Observations by category: • 2,702 acres of non-commercial forest thinning and other resource values dependent on and look for ways to increase to ensure they reflect the stands for Light Detection Grassland Acres Restored/Improved range vegetation. efficiencies. To that end, the most current information and Ranging, is a remote Key 2017 lands and realty Birds • 2,500 acres • To contribute to the economic and forest implemented use of available regarding the sensing method that management work on the Kaibab Plants 534 Acres of Aspen Protected social well-being of people by providing the Esri app Collector. Esri, roads open to motor uses light in the form of a included the following: 1,488 • 11 acres of aspen fencing opportunities for economic diversity and which is also the producer of vehicle travel. Many forest pulsed laser to measure • 1 active land exchange Insects Acres of Forest Regeneration/Reforestation (for all by promoting stability for communities the ArcMap software that is visitors use motorized ranges (variable distances) • 1 active land sale 449 purposes/processes including fire, insects, disease) that depend on range resources for their the backbone of the Forest vehicles to travel and to the Earth. These light • 104 active lands authorizations to • 1,241 acres livelihood. Service GIS infrastructure, recreate on the forest, and pulses combined with standard (billed, insurance checked, Forest Products Offered • To provide expertise on range ecology, was the ideal solution for these maps help ensure other data recorded by the Mammals and inspected) Fungi & Reptiles • Fuelwood (paid personal, free use, ceremonial use) botany, and management of grazing a number of challenges. they know where they can airborne system generate • 7 communication sites inspected 118 Lichens 77 – 12,390 cords** animals. Collector provides a drive, motorized dispersed precise, three-dimensional • 10 expired permit reissues 90 – Paid – 9,058 cords During 2017, the Kaibab National seamless connection camp, and more. The GIS information about the • 7 new special use permits/leases – Free – 3,214 cords Forest administrated 31 grazing between the user’s desktop, program will be working on shape of the Earth and • 1 trespass/encroachment case resolved – Ceremonial – 118 cords allotments totaling 737,000 acres to the ArcGIS cloud and the an updated Motor Vehicle its surface characteristics • 2 communication site management • Christmas tree tags – 1,492 permits standard, exceeding its target for the tablet in the field. It has put Use Map for the North such as trees, buildings and plans updated and finalized; all – This included 38 free tags for fourth graders as grazing year. mapping into the hands of Kaibab Ranger District. ground features. The goal 9 management plans on the forest part of the Every Kid in a Park initiative The range program continued field-going personnel to is to develop a high-quality, are complete • Wildings – 20 permits to develop and implement a joint improve the accuracy and Travel Maps forestwide LiDAR dataset Ray-finned • 1 trespass communications site Arachnids – Wilding permits authorize collecting live plants research and stewardship program on currency of spatial data and The Kaibab National that will support all aspects Amphibians Fishes impounded; will be sold to interested and trees from National Forest lands for personal use the North Kaibab Ranger District with allow for more timely and Forest produced Travel of forest management 56 12 buyer 29 • Fence Post and Fence Stays (Juniper) – 23,680 permits multiple partners including the Grand informed decisions. Maps for the Williams and by providing detailed • 1 fiber optic permit issuance in – This included 10,720 free permits Canyon Trust. This research included Tusayan Ranger Districts. surface and vegetation progress the following: Southwest Experimental Trails re-mapped These full-color, digital, structure data for use • 10.3 miles of survey Garden Array common garden sites for Over summer 2017, geospatial maps, which in assessments, effects • 7.3 miles of maintenance of posted line employees from the GIS work with the Avenza analysis, modeling and climate change monitoring, livestock Unverified Most observed species exclosures/enclosures, deer diet quality, and recreation programs Maps app, are specifically monitoring. The LiDAR to date Livestock grazing management invasive and noxious weed mitigation, hiked hundreds of miles designed to help motorists flight is scheduled to take 187 • Common stork’s-bill – 35 in order to re-map Kaibab locate their position while place in summer 2018, with • Ponderosa pine – 25 The Forest Service supports livestock “Firescape” modeling, seeding coating/ seed planting experiments, and National Forest trails. In total, traveling on the forest. the data available later in • Abert’s squirrel – 24 grazing on National Forest System almost 650 miles of trails The GIS program will be the year. lands. Livestock grazing on these lands, soil change experiments related to were re-mapped, resulting working on a Travel Map for • Western bluebird – 24 if responsibly done, provides a valuable cheatgrass. This work will be used for • Red-tailed hawk – 23 resource to the livestock owners as well forest management throughout the • Mule deer – 21 as the American people. Southwestern Region of the Forest Service into the future. * The measurement ccf refers to 100 cubic feet. ** A cord of wood is defined as a well-stacked pile 8 feet long by 4 feet wide by 4 feet high. 12 13 Heritage and archaeology Goals of forest treatments in the Four Fire and fuels Fire on the Landscape: Forest Restoration Initiative footprint management Almost 29,000 acres of prescribed fire and wildfires Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts on the Williams Ranger District that (South Zone) details the cabin’s history. Chinking is the At a Glance managed with a resource benefit objective, up 8.4% from • Restore pine forests across northern Arizona using Educational outreach remained material that fills the gap between logs Precipitation 2017: the 10-year average of 26,512 acres mechanical harvesting and fire to thin dense stands of a top priority on the South Zone. in a log structure. • 16.41” total, 105% smaller trees and leave larger, mature trees. Archaeologists and volunteers gave During the Boundary Fire in summer of average Fire Occurrence: • Improve streams, springs, and wildlife habitat. 53 programs, directly reaching 1,943 2017, the Kendrick Lookout Cabin again • 5.29” total monsoonal For the third year in a row, fire occurrence has been • Reduce wildfire threats and impacts to communities, people. Through exhibits, podcasts, took center stage. Archaeologists precipitation, 79% static. There were 100 starts in 2017. This is down only watersheds, and recreation areas. radio interviews, magazine articles, and worked with Forest Service fire crews of average one from 101 in 2016, and the 10-year average is 103. The • As more forest is restored, allow wildfires to be part news radio, they also conservatively to successfully wrap the cabin and number of human to natural ignitions is also fairly static. of a suite of forest management efforts. reached 24,000 people with important protect it during all stages of the fire. Fire Occurrence: Human ignitions were up four, from 22 in 2016 to 26 in • Engage private industry to conduct treatments and messages and interesting facts about Archaeologist Neil Weintraub made a • 100 ignitions, down 2017. Natural ignitions in 2017 were down five, from 79 in provide jobs to rural communities. the value of preserving heritage sites time-lapse video of the cabin wrapping 3% from the 10-year 2016 to 74 in 2017. • Monitor treatments to ensure we meet our shared and legacy. that went viral, with more than 17,000 average of 103 vision of a healthy forest for future generations. views on the Kaibab National Forest’s • 26 human ignitions, Wildfire Acres Burned: Facebook page. up 8% from the 10-year In 2017, wildfires burned a total of 13,948 acres. This Within areas to be treated as part of average of 21.7 is down 20.4 percent from the 10-year average of 17,516 the Four Forest Restoration Initiative, • 74 natural igntions, acres. Of all the acres burned by wildfire, only 2.2 percent private archaeological contractors community; consulting with local tribal down 9% from the had a primary suppression strategy. A whopping 97.8 conducted 11,840 new acres of survey governments; maintaining agency 10-year average of 81.3 percent of the acres burned by wildfire were managed with while recording 116 new cultural records and databases; and, supporting beneficial resource outcomes as the primary management resources. In addition, they monitored the larger stewardship mission of the Wildfire Acres Burned: objective. The Kaibab National Forest is accomplishing 236 previously recorded sites that were • 13,948 total wildfire a significant amount of restoration work through using Kaibab National Forest. all in good condition. Kaibab National acres, down 20.4% from wildfire across the landscape for resource objectives. The The team conducted multiple Forest archaeologists conducted nearly the 10-year average of number of acres managed primarily with a suppression educational efforts including 1,000 acres of inventory, documenting 17,516 acres objective in 2017 (304.5 acres) was down 80.5 percent presentations for agency employees, 30 new cultural resources. They also • 2.2% (304.5 acres) from the 10-year average of 1,560 acres. local schools and universities, Northern Arizona University, monitored 83 sites, all of which were were managed under participants in the Youth Conservation University of Nevada Reno, Grinnell found to be in stable condition. These a suppression objective Prescribed Fire: Corps (YCC) and American Conservation College, Arizona Site Stewards and surveys led to the important discovery • 97.8% (13,643.5 acres) The Kaibab National Forest successfully burned 14,889 Experience (ACE), the University other individual volunteers contributed of the plant fetid goosefoot in an area were managed under acres with prescribed fire. This was 65.5 percent more of Nevada Reno field school, tribal thousands of hours toward the recently burned by wildfire. a resouce objective prescribed fire acres than the 10-year average of 8,997 youth, and at local events such as the management, protection, monitoring, Due to the discovery, Weintraub acres, and 30.7 percent more than the 5-year average Kane County fair. Archaeologists also documentation and interpretation of hosted a collaborative workshop with engaged in several field training efforts Cost: of 11,392 acres. This was a big accomplishment, only heritage resources across the South the Kaibab National Forest, Grand • Wildfires managed surpassed by even greater numbers of acres treated with for members of the local Arizona Site Zone. Grinnell College intern Griffin Canyon National Park, and Dr. Alan primarly with a prescribed fire in 2015 and 2016. This shows the focus of Steward program and sponsored a Boehm developed the “Williams is Sullivan from the University of Cincinnati suppression objective – the forest on increasing acres treated with prescribed fire Passport in Time project. The heritage Awesome” summer library programs, in order to discuss the importance of average cost of over time in order to help meet overarching restoration team assisted forest public affairs staff which connected children to the forest the appearance of fetid goosefoot after $3,390.20 per acre objectives. with the production of an educational and its natural and cultural resources. the Scott Fire in the Upper Basin area of • Wildfires managed Forest managers will continue to seek opportunities video in recognition of the 50th Arizona site steward Joseph Jordan the Tusayan Ranger District. Dr. Sullivan with a resource benefit to use fire when and where appropriate to build resilient anniversary of the National Historic researched historic Coconino Country had long argued that the inhabitants of objective – average cost landscapes that can resist insect and disease, mortality Preservation Act, which focused on the school houses, while site steward John the woodland forests along the South of $253.74 per acre due to drought conditions, and be less prone to rock art of Snake Gulch. Holmes led field trips to Keyhole Sink Rim of the Grand Canyon subsisted uncharacteristically high severity fires. Archaeologists mentored and trained during Archaeology Month. Long- on native edible plants rather than Prescribed Fire: youth corps members and student time volunteers Ross and Maiya Gralia corn, also believing that the ancient • 14,889 total prescribed interns through work on a variety of spent 166 hours documenting a dozen Puebloans used fire to help regenerate fire acres, up 65.5% from projects. They led local YCC students in prehistoric sites discovered during the edible plants. The presence of fetid the 10-year average of the completion of annual maintenance at 2016 Scott Fire. Four students from Dr. goosefoot after the fire in an area with a 8,997 acres and up 30.7% the historic Jacob Lake Ranger Station, Marty Lee’s Wilderness Management high occurrence of 11th and 12th century from the 5-year average which included painting structures and Class at Northern Arizona University pueblos helped confirm his theories and of 11,392 acres landscaping. Staff also worked with helped re-chink the historic 1912 was highlighted in several news pieces. ACE crews to complete restoration work Kendrick Lookout Cabin and also in Houserock Valley and Kanab Creek, developed an interpretive sign outside North Kaibab Ranger District as well as leading the Grand Canyon of the Kendrick Mountain Wilderness The North Kaibab Ranger District National Park Ancestral Lands Crew in archaeology team completed a repairing fencing at the Snake Gulch trail variety of projects that enhanced head and removing rotting fencing at heritage resources and supported Castle Springs. overall forest priorities. This work The heritage program supported other entailed conducting cultural resource priority forest work, especially projects “My vision is that the Kaibab continues to restore the structure and inventories; documenting, protecting, being planned to restore degraded forest function of fire-adapted ecosystems informed by a monitoring and and rehabilitating cultural resource health. A major accomplishment was sites; engaging in public outreach and completion of the clearance report for adaptive management program; and, supports local communities by education; working with a variety of the 28,000-acre Burnt Corral project, youth and young adult employment which will improve forest health and providing high quality settings for recreation and traditional cultural uses, programs; contributing to the scientific vigor while also enhancing habitat a supply of wood that supports a sustainable local economy, and conditions to increase resiliency. Archaeologist Connie Reid, who is also educational programs that connect with the next generation of forest the forest’s cave program manager,

Trust Funds Trails worked with specialists from other conservationists.” – Ariel Leonard, forest planner, Supervisor’s Office regions of the Forest Service to facilitate Road Maintenance 1% 11% a monitoring trip to sensitive caves on 2% the North Kaibab Ranger District.

4% A primary focus in 2017 for Recreation archaeologists was work to inventory

5% Administration and rehabilitate hundreds of sites 6% Jacob-Ryan Vegetation Forest plan monitoring Range exposed during recent wildfires that Management Project The Kaibab National Forest partnered with Northern Arizona University’s Ecological 2% Facility Maintenance were then vulnerable to erosion and Permanent Funds potential vandalism. Members of the This 26,000-acre project area is located on Restoration Institute to collect ground-based (rapid plot) data on key ecological attributes Arizona Site Steward program, under North Kaibab Ranger District. The 2012 project such as tree sizes, snags, down logs, fuels (down wood), weeds, and pre-settlement Lands and Minerals 1% the direction of local archaeologist decision provides for the implementation of evidence. The project used a systematic sampling framework so that data collected at the 2% Doug McFadden, initiated an intensive mechanical and prescribed fire treatments. site-specific level can also be used to make inferences about the health of the greater forest. Fire Preparedness 22% survey of wildfire areas to locate and Progress in 2017 included: Monitoring provides information about how well the Land and Resource Management Plan assess exposed sites. McFadden went • 6,500 acres were treated with for the Kaibab National Forest is being implemented. It provides information about forest on to record many of the larger sites prescribed fire conditions and management effectiveness while helping identify changes that may be on a volunteer basis, spending months • 1,125 acres were thinned and hand piled by needed. working on the project. Other partners timber and silviculture crews Key objectives of the project were to provide baseline information and to support adaptive management, which is integral to the revised forest plan. This project also directly and volunteers, along with North Kaibab meets the Ecological Restoration Institute’s mission and objectives to fill science and Ranger District archaeologists, also 31% Forest Planning science-application gaps. Incorporating data on the natural range of variation with internal Budget participated in additional site recording Forest Service monitoring not only benefits the forest acquisition of baseline information, and documentation efforts. To date, $17,800,303 more than 430 new sites have been it also contributes to land manager and community understanding of landscape-level 2% condition, departure from the historic range of variation, and management needs to make located and at least partially recorded Integrated Restoration progress toward desired conditions. Fuels through this major effort. Besides A six-month cost-share agreement was established in June 2017 to meet these objectives. location and documentation, work also 11% Total Budget The Ecological Restoration Institute and Kaibab National Forest collected a total of 71 forest included rehabilitation, such as removal plots across the Williams Ranger District, prioritizing plots in units scheduled for treatment. of dead trees, lop and scatter for erosion These data will help forest managers better understand the effects, effectiveness, and $17,800,303 abatement, and aerial seeding, on 166 implications of large-scale restoration treatments. sites. 14 15 Restoring the critical ecological role of grasslands The aibabK National Forest will soon begin implementation of a large-scale grassland restoration project across the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts thanks to a decision signed in late 2017 by District Ranger Danelle D. Harrison. The South Zone Grassland Restoration Project will implement thinning, prescribed fire and other activities to restore the structure and function of grassland and pinyon-juniper grassland, also referred to as savanna, ecosystems in an effort to improve their resilience to disturbance and changing climate regimes. Specifically, Harrison’s decision allows for a combination of commercial and non-commercial mechanical treatments as well as prescribed fire on approximately 80,000 acres of grasslands and 63,000 acres of pinyon-juniper grasslands within the 550,000-acre project area, which covers large portions of both the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts of the Kaibab National Forest. These areas represent historical occurrences of grasslands and pinyon-juniper grasslands on the South Zone. As part of these treatments, conifers – primarily juniper – will be selectively removed using mechanical means or hand thinning. Additionally, thinning will be used to restore connectivity between grassland habitats for wildlife species such as pronghorn antelope. Broadcast and pile burning will be used where necessary to reduce fuel loading, control regeneration of conifers, and promote understory plant vigor. The decision includes a number of other provisions including collaborating with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to both install wildlife waters in strategic locations to encourage the movement of ungulates and other wildlife species and to translocate populations of Gunnison prairie dogs to serve their role as a keystone species in grassland ecosystems and assist with the mixing of soil contents. The urposep of this project is to restore the structure and function of the South Zone’s grasslands and pinyon-juniper grasslands by reducing tree densities, reestablishing natural fire regimes, and promoting grassland-associated wildlife species. As a result of historical livestock grazing, fire suppression, changes in wildlife populations, and climate change, these areas have experienced substantial encroachment and infilling by woody species over the last century. This has reduced habitat quality and connectivity, and impacted nutrient cycling and water availability. “This decision is significant due to the important ecological role that grasslands play,” Harrison said. “We recognize the value of these ecosystems, and we also recognize that they have been greatly altered over the past century. The South Zone Grassland Restoration Project will help set us on a course to functioning, healthy grasslands that can support a variety of species.”

“ Through permit and allotment administration, and by working with grazing permittees, other resource specialists and partners, I help maintain and improve forest and grassland ecosystems while offering a public benefit.” – Mandy Ball, rangeland management specialist, Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts

Kaibab National Forest Supervisor’s Office In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. National Environmental Policy Act Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations Heather Provencio, Forest Supervisor and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, What is it? 800 S. 6th Street • Williams, AZ 86046 and institutions participating in or administering USDA The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, (928) 635-8200 color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including drafted by Congress in 1969 and signed into law on gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital Jan. 1, 1970. NEPA was the first major environmental North Kaibab Ranger District status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation law in the United States and is often called the “Magna Randall Walker, District Ranger for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity 430 S. Main Street • P.O. Box 248 conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all Carta” of federal environmental laws. NEPA requires programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by federal agencies to assess the environmental effects Fredonia, AZ 86022 • (928) 643-7395 program or incident. of their proposed actions prior to making decisions. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means Tusayan Ranger District of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should Danelle Harrison, District Ranger contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at Why does it matter? Kendall Cikanek, Deputy District Ranger (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through NEPA allows a “hard look” at the potential the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, 176 Lincoln Log Loop • P.O. Box 3088 program information may be made available in languages environmental consequences of each proposed project, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023 • (928) 638-2443 other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the provides public officials with the information they need USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, to make better decisions, and fosters excellent action Williams Ranger District found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_ cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed that protects, restores and enhances the environment. Danelle Harrison, District Ranger to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information Summary of NEPA planning in 2017 on the Kaibab Kendall Cikanek, Deputy District Ranger requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint 742 S. Clover Road • Williams, AZ 86046 form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or National Forest letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, • Environmental assessments – 17 in progress at some (928) 635-5600 Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) point through the year fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected]. www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer • NEPA decisions signed – 9 and lender. NEPA planning focused on facility improvements, construction and maintenance; forest vegetation improvements; fuels treatments; grazing allotment management, authorizations, and structural improvements; minerals or geology plans of operations; noxious weeds treatments; rangeland vegetation improvements; special use authorizations; species habitat improvements; and watershed improvements.

Learn more about the Kaibab National Forest! The Kaibab National Forest offers many sources of forest information including the following: • Kaibab National Forest website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab • Kaibab Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF (Text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404 to receive text messages.) • Kaibab Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF • Kaibab Flickr photo showcase site: https://bit.ly/KaibabNFPhotos • iNaturalist citizen science project: https://bit.ly/KNFiNaturalist2018 • Kaibab Fire Information/Fire Restriction/ Fire Danger Recorded Hotline: 928-635-8311 • Kaibab Inciweb pages: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov (Updated when there is fire activity on forest) Printed on recycled paper on recycled Printed