Water Crisis Forces Closure of Palatki

The Coconino National Forest has announced the temporary closure of the Palatki Heritage Site following a malfunction of its well pump. This closure will last until at least Thursday, October 10, as repair efforts are underway.

Coconino National Forest Permit Administrator L.J. Varon-Burkhart emphasized the importance of safety, stating, “We don’t have a safe living condition for our on-site hosts who are there 24 hours a day. We’re hopeful it won’t be too long of a closure, but we cannot invite the public until we ensure safe living and working conditions.”

The U.S. Forest Service is currently assessing options, including the installation of a temporary Water Buffalo storage system or repairing the existing well pump. The bidding process for these repairs is ongoing, and no cost estimates have been provided yet.

Heritage Site Manager Nicholas Massoni explained the logistics of the Water Buffalo system, which would involve transporting about 300 gallons of water from the ranger station. “This amount could sustain four people for about a week, assuming conservative water use,” he noted. Regular refilling would be necessary until the water situation stabilizes.

Setting up the Water Buffalo poses additional challenges, as it requires extensive cleaning and testing before it can be utilized. The site closure has been communicated through various channels, including recreation.gov, social media platforms, and physical signage along access routes. Meanwhile, the Honanki Heritage Site remains open just 2.3 miles to the northwest as an alternative for visitors.

Officials are directing visitors to the Crane Petroglyph Heritage Site, located at 6750 Forest Service Road 618 in Rimrock, which is extending its hours to accommodate guests from Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“We’re working to schedule contractors and order necessary parts for repairs,” Varon-Burkhart remarked. “Given the age of the current system—over 25 years—we recognize the urgency of this matter. Our district ranger and engineering staff are focused on restoring service as soon as possible for public access.”