Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests Projects Draw $20-Plus Million In Stimulus Funds

    The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests have received more than $20 million as a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to fund projects for hazardous fuel treatments, and the improvement and maintenance of forest facilities, trails, and roads.
   Chief of the U.S. Forest Service Tom Tidwell recently announced, “The purpose of the economic recovery legislation is to create as many jobs as quickly as possible. As we implement this legislation we will not increase the federal workforce; we will spend all funds on targeted ready projects; and we will begin our work promptly and complete it within one to two years for most activities.”
   The forests will use this stimulus money to fund 36 “targeted ready” projects--or those ready to begin ground work--through the employment of several local contractors. Some of these projects began earlier this year, including two at Hoyer Campground, while the remaining projects are scheduled to begin later this fall or early next spring.
   These projects will be located in various locations across the forests, though the preliminary project locations that follow may be altered due to changing conditions or priorities.
   Alpine area projects include:
   * $556,000 to surface and stabilize the soil on National Forest System Roads 26, 405, and 275, and to obliterate a user-created crossing on one of the tributaries of the East Fork of Black River (four projects total).
   * $350,000 to reconstruct the Luna Lake water system.
   * $250,00 to replace the vault restrooms and associated sidewalks at Luna Lake.
   * $130,000 to replace the vault restrooms and associated sidewalks at Buffalo Crossing and Raccoon Campgrounds.
   Big Lake area projects include:
   * $900,000 to patch asphalt, seal and stripe roads in the Big Lake area.
   * $760,000 to surface and stabilize the soil on National Forest System Roads 249, 249E and 24 (three projects total).
   * $750,000 to replace restroom facilities and associated sidewalks in the Big Lake area.
   * $375,000 to repair the Big Lake wastewater collection system.
   * $100,000 to place aggregate surfacing on the roads in Grayling and Cutthroat campgrounds.
   Eagar area projects include:
   * $722,000 to install potable water lines from the Water Canyon administrative site to the town of Eagar.
   * $416,000 to place aggregate surfacing on the Saffel Canyon OHV trail, and install signage, cattle guards and structures to protect watershed.
   Greer area projects include:
   * $948,000 to treat 1,450 acres near Greer for hazardous fuels.
   * $800,000 to reconstruct the water system and other improvements to meet accessibility guidelines at Hoyer Campground.
   * $750,000 to repair the roads and spurs at Hoyer Campground.
   * $480,000 to replace the restroom facilities at Hoyer Campground.
   In the Heber-Overgaard area, $1,400,000 will be used to treat 3,000 acres in the Brookbank area for hazardous fuels.
   Pinetop-Lakeside area projects include:
   * $2,272,000 to treat 2,800 acres for hazardous fuels near the Los Burros Campground (three projects total).
   * $1 million to treat 1,000 acres and prepare another 3,000 acres east of Pinetop-Lakeside, near the White Mountain Apache Reservation and the national forests’ boundary, for hazardous fuels reduction.
   Nutrioso area projects include:
   * $3,403,000 to treat 6,100 acres for hazardous fuels reduction (two projects total).
   Rim Lakes area projects include:
   * $1,370,000 to treat 2,422 acres for hazardous fuels reduction near Chevelon Canyon Lake (three projects total).
   * $150,000 to pave the Rim Vista trail to meet accessibility guidelines.
   Multiple area projects include:
   * $1,170,000 to improve wildlife habitat by thinning pinñon-juniper forested areas.
   * $525,000 to prepare 4,000 acres in the Rodeo-Chediski burn area for reforestation by removing hazardous fuels.
   * $401,000 to demolish five buildings which pose health and safety.risks, and contribute to unnecessary maintenance costs,
   * $132,000 to remove hazardous trees from recreation areas on the Alpine and Springerville ranger districts.
   * $100,000 to improve and maintain several trails across the national forests.
   In all, the national forests in Arizona received approximately $40 million in ARRA funding. The distribution of this funding was based on local economic conditions and the availability of targeted ready projects on the national forests. The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests received a large portion of this funding because it is situated within two of the most economically depressed counties in the state, Apache and Navajo, and it had several projects ready to begin ground work.
   For more information about the ARRA program within the national forests, please visit www.fs.fed.us.