USDA Joins Watershed Restoration Project
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Government
Partnership Protects and Restores Important Central Arizona Watershed and Provides Next Step in Western Watershed Enhancement Partnership
Interior Deputy Secretary Michael Connor and Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie joined state, local and private partners today to mark the signing of a newjoint watershed restoration agreementfor C.C. Cragin Reservoir in Central Arizona. The agreement is a pilot project of theWestern Watershed Enhancement Partnership, aimed at reducing the risks of costly wildfires and their impact on western watersheds as part of President Obama'sClimate Action Plan.
"This agreement reflects our commitment to work with state and local partners in restoring and improving the health and resiliency of priority watersheds in Central Arizona," Deputy Secretary Connor said. "Restoration activities and proactive planning help minimize the impacts of the hotter and longer wildfire seasons on western reservoirs and other critical infrastructure, and help water managers avoid costly repairs in the future."
"USDA and the Obama Administration are working with partners across the country to restore the health of our forests and watersheds across public and private lands," Under Secretary Bonnie said. "Given longer fire seasons and increased fuel loads in our forests, increasing the pace and scale of forest restoration is critical to reducing the threat of catastrophic fire and protecting watersheds."
This new partnership joins the Salt River Project, National Forest Foundation, City of Payson, Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Forest Service in collaborative efforts to assess and implement treatments that protect the municipal water supply and minimize wildfire and flood risks. Potential projects include forest thinning, prescribed fire, tree planting, riparian vegetation improvements, stream, spring and channel restoration and other forest and watershed health improvements on National Forest System lands within the area.
The partners will develop a collaborative five-year action plan specifying the treatment zones and planned restoration and protection activities, as well as accomplishment goals and funding commitments.
Read More Related Content On This Topic - Click Here
Media
Taxonomy
- Environment
- Watershed
- Water Management