Eastern Arizona Forest Plans For Wildfire Recovery
An eastern Arizona forest charred by a massive wildlife is seeking comments on a modified plan to salvage burned timber and replant trees.
The project is in response to last year’s Wallow Fire that burned more than 538,000 acres in Arizona and parts of western New Mexico.
Apache Sitgreaves National Forest officials plan to salvage timber on about 15,000 acres over three years, and replant trees on 4,000 acres over 10 years.
Their goals are to provide economic opportunities for the local communities, remove existing hazards, manage cultural and natural resources, and reduce the fuel load.
A public comment period is expected to open this week.
Forest officials eliminated some work from an earlier plan, including thinning green trees and restoring meadows in parts of the forest.