Shared Stewardship
Shared Stewardship is a cooperative approach to managing Utah's forests. Utah’s Shared Stewardship agreement provides a framework for the State, the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to work together to identify forest health priorities that focus on restoration projects
Governor's Tour Highlights Shared Stewardship
In July 2023, state, federal and local officials visited forest management projects to see how Utah’s land managers are proactively addressing the wildfire crisis. Utah Governer Spencer Cox hosted Deputy Chief Chris French and Intermountain Regional Forester Mary Farnsworth with the U.S. Forest Service; Regional Conservationist Astor Boozer and State Conservationist Emily Fife with the Natural Resource Conservation Service; Legislators; County Commissioners; Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Joel Ferry; Brig. Gen. Kurt Davis, director of the Joint Staff, Utah National Guard, and more.
Beaver Canyon Watershed Improvement Project
Beaver River Canyon has been identified as one of the top priorities on the Fishlake National Forest and the Beaver Ranger District. Over the years, this area has been the focus of numerous vegetative treatments. However, these treatments lacked the scale necessary to modify fire behavior, reduce risk of negative impacts to important resources, or improve watershed health. Key values in Beaver Canyon include:
• Private lands, structures
• Utility corridors, hydro-electric power plants
• Beaver City culinary water sources
• Eagle Point ski resort and associated infrastructure
• Recreational facilities • trailheads
• State highway 153, Beaver Canyon Scenic Byway
Through Shared Stewardship, which includes increased partner involvement, treatments are now being planned and implemented at a larger scale, which will modify fire behavior, reduce risk to values and improve watershed health.
An Extended Look at the Beaver River Project video below discusses how implementation of Shared Stewardship in Utah is being used to build relationships and improve forest conditions. The Beaver River Project is a watershed restoration project located on the Fishlake National Forest in a mutually identified priority landscape. The project includes multiple partners and cross boundary work.