Crews, machinery expected during forest restoration work
PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is making hunters, anglers and other outdoor recreationists aware of three forest health and wildfire fuel-reduction projects that could affect outdoor activities in northern and northeastern Arizona.
The three projects, conducted by the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) and the U.S. Forest Service, will help reduce wildfire risk, improve forest and watershed health and support Arizona's forest products industry.
"There are no forest closures associated with these projects, but we ask folks to keep their distance from machinery and handcrews," said Matthew Wilcox, public information officer for DFFM. "Most importantly, we want hunters and other outdoor recreationists to know that there will be noise and machinery to consider in these areas."
The work falls under the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) program, which allows DFFM to carry out forest restoration on federal lands. Together, the projects represent nearly 7,000 acres of restoration to Coconino, Prescott and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.
Here are details about each project:
Jotter 1: This 3,559-acre project is located on the Coconino National Forest, east of Interstate 17 and south of Stoneman Lake Road. Crews will selectively thin ponderosa pine, pinyon pine, and junipers to reduce overgrown vegetation and hazardous fuels. The project was designed to improve nearby watershed conditions, restore grasslands, and improve wildlife habitat. Work began in mid-October and is expected to take approximately one year to complete.
Log Springs 1: This 1,700-acre project is located on the Prescott National Forest, west of the community of Cherry, in Yavapai County. The project uses heavy machinery to thin overgrown vegetation and reduce hazardous fuels. The work helps reduce the potential for high-intensity wildfire while improving overall forest health. The project began mid-October and is expected to continue through March 2028.
Brentwood: The Brentwood project is located on the Alpine Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest and includes a 1,300-acre timber sale and nearly 400 acres of hand thinning. Brentwood is the first state and federal collaborative GNA project on the Apache-Sitgreaves. The project is expected to supply nearly 40,000 tons of timber to support rural Arizona's forest industry. The hand thinning portion helps to protect the Black River watershed and prepares the land for future prescribed fire. Work on this project starts in November and is scheduled through 2029.
For more information, see DFFM's news release.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department receives no general fund tax dollars. The majority of funding to manage more than 800 native wildlife species comes from Arizona's hunters and anglers.