Coconino County ramps up its efforts in wildfire risk reduction with new partnerships aimed at forest restoration in the Flagstaff region. The County has forged agreements with The Nature Conservancy and the Greater Flagstaff Forest Partnership to facilitate crucial forest management initiatives. District 1 Supervisor Patrice Horstman emphasized the severity of wildfire and post-wildfire flooding in the area, stating to Coconino County, "To reduce the risk of these threats, we are pursuing several of forest restoration projects."
Chief among these initiatives is the Observatory Mesa Fuels Reduction Project, which targets 672 acres for mechanical thinning and other fire-preventative measures. Running the show, the Greater Flagstaff Forest Partnership is set to manage the project with a mixed approach: a sweeping 541 acres will undergo mechanical thinning, while more precarious steep-slope acres will see hand thinning. According to the Coconino County press release, wood products from these efforts will reach local communities through programs like Wood For Life.
Moving upstream, The Nature Conservancy's agreement offers no immediate dollars but paves the way for future financial assistance for projects such as the Hoch/Little Wing efforts. With a budget of over $2 million for fiscal year 2025, these projects target forest restoration on more than 2,000 acres in the Upper Rio de Flag Watershed. As Jay Smith, Coconino County Forest Restoration Director, pointed out, "We have identified significant wildfire and post-wildfire risk in the Upper Rio de Flag Watershed—risk that could cause an economic impact of up to $2.8 billion in the region," the Coconino County quoted.
Joel Jurgens, Forest Program Director of TNC Arizona, recognized the vital role of collaboration in this large-scale mission. "Our organization is focused on tackling the root causes of some of the toughest problems facing both people and nature, but we clearly recognize that we can never do this alone," Jurgens told Coconino County. The mutual objective shared by TNC and Coconino County aims to preserve the watershed and the way of life it supports.
