Consistent with the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the Navajo Nation (FEMA-4 703-DR), dated April 11, 2023, and in accordance with my authority as Chief of the Executive Branch, and effective immediately I am ordering the temporary closure to ALL access of Canyon De Chelly National Monument for tour operations and site visits inside the canyon.
The closure is in response to the recent flooding that is expected to last another week or potentially longer. More moisture is predicted from reservoirs and runoffs in the coming weeks as reported by the United States Geological Survey through www.waterdata.usgs.gov.
Please provide me daily updates on the status of the flooding and your recommendation on whether to continue to keep the Canyon closed. Please provide these daily updates to Chief of Staff Patrick Sandoval at pj.sandoval@navajo-nsn.gov and his assistant Tauve Begaye at tauve.begaye@navajo-nsn.gov.
Thank you for your continued service.
The Navajo Nation
Office of the President
