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Regular Agenda Item 4. E.
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| Regular BOS Meeting |
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| Information |
| Request/Subject |
| The Salt River Project (SRP) would like to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Gila County to tackle forest thinning/ wildfire reduction projects on National Forest Service Lands. This partnership would entail a financial contribution of $5,000 per year and would help leverage additional State and Federal dollars. |
| Background Information |
The health of the National Forest System lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) in Arizona affects water supplies, water quality, water infrastructure, wildlife habitat, public safety, natural resources, recreation, and the economic vitality of the surrounding and downstream communities. In recent decades, forest ecosystems have experienced unnaturally large and intense wildfires that have adversely impacted Gila County communities, businesses, and residents. Forest restoration activities improve watershed and forest health and reduce the threat of large, high-severity wildfires and corresponding impacts such as (1) catastrophic floods, (2) increased erosion and resulting sedimentation, (3) damage to water storage and delivery infrastructure, (4) damage to electric generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure, (5) devastating impacts to natural resources and (6) destruction of rural communities.
SRP is responsible for the care, operation, and maintenance of a water system that includes seven water storage reservoirs in central Arizona – two reservoirs located in the Verde River watershed, four reservoirs in the Salt River watershed, and one reservoir in the East Clear Creek watershed within the Little Colorado River system. These reservoirs are part of the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project and collect water from a combined drainage area of about 8,365,000 acres. The Salt River Project manages stored water for the benefit of its shareholders and other water rights holders in the Salt River Valley and Northern Gila County.
SRP seeks a partnership with Gila County to invest in and implement forest restoration, including forest thinning treatments and associated activities that are required to accomplish forest restoration on National Forest System lands or other forest lands within the C.C. Cragin Watershed and Salt and Verde River Watersheds within or adjacent to Gila County. SRP also looks to engage with the Forest Service, contractors, nonprofit partners, and others, to assist in forest restoration projects on National Forest System lands and other forest lands within the C.C. Cragin Watershed and Salt and Verde Watersheds within or adjacent to Gila County. |
| Evaluation |
| This proposed Memorandum of Understanding between SRP and Gila County is to invest in and implement forest restoration, including forest thinning treatments and associated activities on National Forest System lands or other forest lands within the C.C. Cragin Watershed and Salt and Verde River Watersheds within or adjacent to Gila County to benefit its residents and protect valuable natural resources. |
| Conclusion |
| A strong partnership between SRP and Gila County will provide the opportunity to invest in and implement forest restoration, including forest thinning treatments and associated activities that are required to accomplish forest restoration on National Forest System lands or other forest lands within the C.C. Cragin Watershed and Salt and Verde River Watersheds within or adjacent to Gila County. SRP also looks to engage with the Forest Service, contractors, nonprofit partners, and others, to assist in forest restoration projects. This partnership seeks to protect valuable natural resources for residents of Gila County. |
| Recommendation |
| Approval of the Memorandum of Understanding is recommended to solidify a partnership with Salt River Project to assist them in working with the U.S. Forest Service to tackle forest thinning and wildfire reduction projects that will benefit residents of Gila County and protect valuable natural resources. |
| Suggested Motion |
| Information/Discussion/Action to approve a Memorandum of Understanding between Salt River Project (SRP) and Gila County to assist them in working with the United States Forest Service to protect valuable natural resources at a cost of $5,000 per year as presented. (Michael O'Driscoll). |
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