Cooperative Agreement F23AC02411

THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FIREFIGHTING BUREAUS UTILIZE BURNED AREA REHABILITATION PROJECTS TO ADDRESS THE DAMAGING EFFECTS OF WILDFIRE ON SERVICE LANDS. BURNED AREA REHABILITATION BEGINS WITHIN FIVE YEARS OF A WILDFIRE CONTAINMENT IN ORDER TO REPAIR OR IMPROVE FIRE-DAMAGED LANDS THAT ARE UNLIKELY TO NATURALLY RECOVER TO MANAGEMENT APPROVED CONDITIONS. THE ARIZONA FIRE ZONE HAS SEVERAL RESTORATION PROJECTS ON-GOING TO ADDRESS THE ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF THE AVONDALE AND PLANET RANCH FIRES. THE AGREEMENT PARTNER, THE ALTAR VALLEY CONSERVATION ALLIANCE, WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANALYZING, TREATING, RE-PLANTING AND MAINTAINING BURN SCARS TO ENSURE VITAL THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITAT IS PROTECTED. RESTORATION WORK WILL INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, THE REMOVAL OF BURNED OR CHARRED INVASIVE SPECIES TIMBER AND DEBRIS, CLEARING WATER BODIES, RIVERS AND STREAMS OF DOWN AND DEAD WOOD, SOIL PREPARATION, PLANTING OF NATIVE SPECIES INCLUDING IMPORTANT RIPARIAN PLANTS LIKE FREMONT WILLOW AND GODDINGS COTTONWOOD AS WELL AS UPLAND MESQUITE, SALT BUSH, QUAIL BUSH, BRITTLEBUSH AND OTHER FORBS AND GRASSES, EROSION CONTROL METHODS INCLUDING ONE ROCK DAMS, WATTLES AND OTHER WATER DIVERSION AND CONTROL STRUCTURES, IRRIGATION OF PLANTINGS AND MONITORING EFFORTS TO RECORD RESULTS AND FACILITATE ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT. WITHOUT THE CRITICAL EFFORTS OF ALTAR VALLEY CONSERVATION ALLIANCE STAFF, IMPORTANT HABITAT ON U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE LANDS FOR MIGRATORY BIRD SPECIES LIKE THE YELLOW BILLED CUCKOO, ENDEMIC SPECIES LIKE THE WILLOW FLYCATCHER AND RIDGEWAYS AND BLACK RAILS, MEXICAN GARTER SNAKE, CHIRICAHUA LEOPARD FROGS AND OTHERS WILL EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF SHRINKING HABITAT.