ARIZONA – Coconino National Forest is proud to be working with many different partners to implement three of four critical recovery and wildfire mitigation projects in Arizona slated to receive millions of dollars as part of the larger and the Agriculture Department’s 10-year strategy to fight wildfires across Arizona.

The forest is focusing on leveraging partnerships to implement and complete the Museum Fire Sediment Reduction Project, Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project and Cragin Watershed Protection Project.

Working together with partners such as city of Flagstaff, Coconino County, National Wild Turkey Federation, Bureau of Reclamation, Northern Arizona University, National Forest Foundation, Salt River Project and Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, these important Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act projects will treat unhealthy and unnaturally crowded forests in strategic locations to protect communities and preserve vital watersheds.

In teaming up with the city of Flagstaff and Coconino County, the Museum Fire Sediment Reduction Project will design and construct watershed restoration measures on Forest Service land near the Museum Fire burn scar. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore pledged $3.5 million toward the effort as part of a Good Neighbor Authority agreement, while Coconino County signed an agreement with the USDA NRCS for an additional $3.5 million.

The Cragin Watershed Protection Project is a collaborative forest restoration project that is in the midst of treating 64,000 acres with thinning and prescribed fire to restore the forest to healthier conditions and protect the C.C. Cragin Reservoir. This reservoir is set atop the Mogollon Rim and is a critical additional water supply for some surrounding communities.

Partners include Salt River Project, Bureau of Reclamation, the town of Payson, National Wild Turkey Federation, National Forest Foundation, AZDFFM and other community members and organizations involved in the Happy Jack and Mogollon Rim area.
 
The Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project focuses on work done on city, state and federal lands to protect vital watersheds in and around Flagstaff. To date, more than 5,000 acres have been mechanically harvested or hand-thinned, more than 1,500 acres of slash has been chipped and removed, 850 acres of slash relocated, approximately 2,400 acres of slash has been piled and burned and 999 acres have been broadcast burned.