Why Forest Restoration…

A presentation by Kenny EvansMayor, Town of Payson

Catastrophic wildfires: the largest single threat to our communities

Catastrophic wildfires sedimentation: the largest single threat to our watersheds

Forest restoration stops catastrophic wildfires

Forest restoration stops catastrophic wildfires

Fire behavior without restoration treatments

Fire behavior afterrestoration treatments

Forest restoration protects watersheds

Forest restoration restores grasslands

Forest restoration provides logging jobs

Forest restoration provides sawmill jobs

Forest restoration provides biomass jobs

Forest restoration provides energy jobs

Before restoration

Immediately after treatment

2 years after treatment

After 5 year maintenance cool ground fire

Stabilized functioning ecosystem

Forest & Watershed Restoration – Current achievements in the Rim Country

• July 2014: Restoration of C.C. Cragin Reservoir Watershed MOU between Town of Payson, Salt River Project (SRP) and USFS. 64,000 acres of treatment in 5 years in high priority

watershed in Coconino and Gila Counties.

• 2015: Eastern Arizona Counties Organization (ECO) develops the Black River Stewardship Agreement project with USFS, AZ Forestry, AZ Game & Fish, Salt River Project (SRP) and Arizona Public Services (APS) . 130,000 acres of treatment in 10 years in high priority

watershed in Apache and Greenlee Counties.

Forest & Watershed Restoration – Current achievements in the Rim Country

• 2014 – 2015: Eastern Arizona Counties Organization (ECO) secured funding to the Apache/Sitgreaves (A/S) for the “Bridge the Gap” program. 86,000 acres of treatments in Navajo, Apache, Coconino

and Gila Counties in the next 5 years.

• September 2014: ECO signed the Burro Stewardship Agreement with the U.S. Forest. Up to 6,000 acres of treatments in Apache County in 2015

and 2016.

• April 2015: Completion of the first 4FRI Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). 430,000 acres of restoration thinning on the Mogollon Rim

in the next 10 years

In summary: forest fire without restoration…

…and forest fire after restoration

Engaging in forest & watershed restoration is vital to our communities

Thank you.Questions?

Why Forest Restoration…A presentation by Kenny Evans

Mayor, Town of Payson