Flagstaff's Forest Safety Boost: Local Restoration Efforts to Mitigate Wildfire and Flood Risks

The Upper Rio de Flag Forest Restoration Project began in early March to reduce wildfire and flood risks in the Flagstaff area. This project is a joint effort between the Coconino National Forest and the Coconino County Flood Control District. It targets a critical 12,000-acre area within the larger 21,500-acre Upper Rio de Flag Watershed. Studies suggest that wildfires could potentially cause up to $2.8 billion in economic damages in this region.

Recently, the Coconino National Forest started working with Perkins Timber Harvesting on forest restoration in the Wing East project area, which spans 2,604 acres. This company, based in Williams, Arizona, will start work this week. Additionally, a contract with The Nature Conservancy to treat 2,053 acres in the Hoch and Little Wing areas is expected to be finalized soon, aiming for completion within a year.

Plans are in place to extend contracts to additional priority areas. By October 2024, contracts for the Derffer and Wing West areas, covering over 7,000 acres, are expected to be offered. Decisions for the Leroux area are planned for May 2025.

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors has allocated $7.6 million from the Coconino County Forest Restoration Initiative budget for these efforts. This is in addition to $11 million already provided by the Coconino National Forest, with plans to secure an additional $13 million needed for the initial phase of the project.

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