The state will actively manage for invasive species on public and private land in arizona

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Region 3 (Southwestern Region) awarded $248,960 to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management on September 19, 2025, under the Forest Health Protection program (CFDA 10.680) to actively manage invasive species on public and private lands in the Cottonwood area along the Verde River in Arizona. The project, with an ultimate completion date of September 15, 2030, builds upon extensive restoration work accomplished by the Friends of the Verde River and Verde Watershed Restoration Coalition partners since 2011. Funding will provide additional resources to protect and sustain previous investments in invasive species treatment made through prior Arizona Water Protection Fund initiatives in the targeted project area.

The grant supports field-based invasive species management activities, including treatment, removal, and monitoring of invasive plants on both public and private lands within the Verde River watershed. Sub-awardees delivering project services include the Arizona Department of Transportation and Friends of the Verde River, an environmental nonprofit providing watershed restoration and invasive species removal services. This Project Grant award exemplifies the Forest Health Protection program's focus on protecting non-federal forest and tree resources from invasive plants while supporting state and local capacity for active forest health management across diverse landscape types.

The project is located in the cottonwood area along the verde river and builds on the extensive work accomplished by friends of the verde river and our verde watershed restoration coalition partners since 2011. Most recently, sites within this stretch were treated with funding from the arizona water protection fund and the proposed project will provide additional resources to protect those investments.