APS begins vegetation removal towards new Bright Angel Substation 

On Wednesday, March 8, APS began tree and vegetation removal as part of the Right of Way establishments for the new Bright Angel Substation. The new substation, located approximately 0.5 miles west of the junction of Clinic and Center Road, will provide enhanced electrical upgrades to the South Rim. Most vegetation removal will be at the substation construction site, however, there are some trees in the residential area along Havasupai Street and Clinic Road that will also be removed. Residents along Havasupai Street will be informed ahead of time if any trees will be removed in proximity to their residence.

Additional vegetation removal along the APS corridor in the areas of Mohave Street, Paiute Apartments, and Pinyon Park will occur and residents can expect additional noise in the general vicinity from Monday-Thursday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Crews will also be working this Saturday, March 11 though future weekend work has not been requested at this time.

Existing trees with a diameter of 4” or larger will be salvaged and smaller trees and limbs will be chipped onsite for mulch. Salvaged trees will be provided to the Wood for Life program. Wood for Life is a partnership between government agencies, Indigenous communities, and conservation nonprofits and wood from this project will be delivered to Tribal partners who distribute it among communities to help heat the homes of Indigenous families. Some trees may also be set aside for resident use in the future.

Spring Break 2023—are you ready?

Visitors and park residents should be prepared and patient; the spring break season is upon us, and we should expect long lines and full parking lots. 

If past years are an indication, we should expect traffic to be backed up at all entrance stations, with the longest wait times between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Parking lots, especially near the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, start to reach capacity by 12 p.m. and shuttle bus lines will be long. 

Over the next few weeks, Delaware North and Xanterra lodging is expected to be at or near capacity for the spring break season. To help improve awareness of possible congestion, our public affairs and social media teams will be encouraging visitors to purchase entrance passes ahead of time and use Lane 1 at the South Entrance Station, consider other transportation methods to enter the park, and encourage visitors to arrive early before parking lots fill, or visit late in the day. We encourage all visitors to visit this webpage before their arrival for tips on visiting the South Rim during the busy season (also great reminders for residents). 

If you are a front-line employee and have ideas or suggestions on improving visitor experiences during busy periods, please email us at: grca_public_affairs@nps.govwith your suggestions.  

Employee Spotlight!

Claire Stout—Public Safety Dispatcher

I live here at the canyon with my partner Mark who works at the South Entrance. I’ve been working for the park service since 2010. I started my career as an SCA in Yellowstone and worked there my first 4 seasons there while getting my bachelor’s in Environmental Science. I’ve had the privilege of working at some other wonderful parks such as Glacier, Haleakala, and Big Bend where I most recently came from. In addition to dispatch, I’ve worked as a general ranger working bear jams, SARs, and the ambulance in the Tower Sub-district in Yellowstone. I also worked as LE for 5 years.

How long have you worked at GRCA? Where are you based out of?

I’ve worked at GRCA since May 2022. I’m based out of the dispatch center at Station 1 on the South Rim. I’ve had the fantastic opportunities to explore and learn about many different areas of the park such as the North Rim and the corridor within the canyon. I hope to get out on the river sometime this year to make myself more familiar with it as seeing locations on foot help a lot to visualize places and response times when dispatching. I also hope to get on some of the non-corridor trails this spring once they’re a little less slick with snow.

What have you enjoyed the most about working and/or living at GRCA so far?

Sometimes I’ve gone weeks without walking over to the canyon rim and seeing the view. My Job never takes me to it. But every time I do, I’m reminded of how beautiful this place is and at the same time try to remind myself to walk the rim more often. I always enjoy rim walks, early morning ones especially.

As for work, we have a fantastic team here in dispatch. Everyone comes from different backgrounds and has so much to bring to the table. The entire visitor/resource protection division has been amazing to work with. It is easy to see how each individual cares deeply about the protection of the park and the people within it.

This week, are you team winter or team spring? 

Team winter. 100%. I grew up in New England with snow and ski racing, and after living in Texas with no snow for the past three years, this winter has been a welcome sight. I generally work 6 am shifts and have to leave my house at 5:30 or 5:45 in the morning. On days where my street hasn’t been plowed yet and its too snowy to drive, I’ve been able to walk to work in a silent winter wonderland. If you haven’t tried snow covered walks in the dark, I highly recommend. Don’t forget about anti slip precautions like yak-tracks though!

NPS job opportunities for local  residents! 

Are you a local within a 90-mile commuting distance of Grand Canyon? The NPS Administration Division is currently seeking applicants for a up to three Budget Technicians duty stationed on the South Rim. This announcement is now open through Wednesday, March 15 on usajobs.gov. 

Under the local hiring authority, only persons who have either lived or worked in or near Grand Canyon for the past two years are considered eligible (excluding Flagstaff). For more information, check out the link to USAjobs or see the attached flyer here. For information regarding the application process contact:

• Shannon Buckmaster, Human Resources Specialist, at 720-520-2399
• Cori Stonebridge, Human Resources Specialist, at 928-606-2671

Community Blood Drive at Rec Center on March 17

The Rec Center will again be hosting a community blood drive through Vitalant on Friday, March 17 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Appointments are suggested. To schedule ahead of time, individuals can visit www.donors.vitalant.org with blood drive code: “grandcyn.”

Vitalant is the sole supplier to 96% of AZ Hospitals including the Flagstaff Medical Center. More information can be found in the attached flyer here.