Airport Project:
The purpose is to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire through the reduction of small trees (via thinning) and ground fuels (via broadcast burning). The project area encompasses Flagstaff's Pulliam Airport and National Forest lands adjacent to subdivisions surrounding the airport: Pine Dale, Skunk Hollow, Bow and Arrow, Bennett Estates, and Aspen Shadows. Mechanized thinning is proposed on 850 acres with no trees over 12 inches in diameter proposed for cutting. Approximately 2,000 acres are proposed for broadcast burning. Thinning activities are scheduled to begin in the fall of 2001.

Arboretum Project:
The purpose is to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire through the reduction of small trees (via thinning) and ground fuels (via broadcast burning). The project area encompasses about 600 acres south of the Flagstaff Arboretum. About 100 acres will be thinned and broadcast burned. Another 500 acres will be broadcast burned without mechanical thinning first. Thinning activities are currently underway.Fort Valley

Ecosystem Restoration Project:
The Fort Valley Ecosystem Restoration Project is the Partnership's first landscape-scale ecosystem restoration project. The project will occur within a 9,100 acre analysis area and consists of two phases. Phase one consists of several different restoration approaches, including burn only, adapted versions of the NAU Ecological Restoration Institute restoration prescription (based on the findings from the Fort Valley Research and Demonstration Sites), the Natural Processes restoration model developed by the Southwest Forest Alliance, an Uneven aged approach developed by the Rocky Mountain Research Station, and others. Phase two will be designed and implemented according to monitoring and research feedback from phase one. Thinning activites are currently underway. Implementation of Phase 2 may begin as early as 2003.

Elden Project:
The purpose is to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire in an area adjacent to Buffalo Park and at the base of Mount Elden. This area has been identified as a high risk for catastrophic wildfire. Approximately 200 acres will be thinned by crews with chainsaws. Both Flagstaff Fire Department and Forest Service crews will do the work. Most of the thinning material will be stacked and burned, perhaps as early as fall of 2001. The area will be subsequently burned with a prescribed broadcast burn (probably in 2002 or 2003). Thinning activities are currently underway.

Fort Valley Research and Demonstration Sites:
Implemented in 1998, the Fort Valley Research and Demonstration Sites were the Partnership's first ecological restoration project. The study sites compared three different restoration prescriptions (all developed by the Northern Arizona University Ecological Restoration Institute) in three forest conditions. Restoration prescriptions varied according to thinning intensity, followed by prescribed burning. The nine 35-40 acre treatment units and three control units continue to contribute valuable data for ecosystem research and monitoring. This on-going information and experience is essential to informing the design of the Fort Valley Ecosystem Restoration Project.

Kachina Village: (.pdf format only)
The purpose is to determine and implement forest health needs on about 13,000 acres of National Forest lands from Pulliam Airport between Highways 89A and Interstate 17 south to about Kelly Canyon. Proposals for thinning, burning, and other restorative actions are forthcoming (as early as March 2001). Forest Service crews have surveyed and are analyzing current conditions. The Mountainaire Project analysis has been combined into this project. Implemenation of projects is scheduled for 2002.

Mountainaire Project:
The Partnership selected the Mountainaire area as one of four smaller project areas to follow between phase 1 of Fort Valley and the next large forest health restoration area, Kachina Village. (The other three are Airport, Arboretum, and Elden-see below). The project areas were selected for places with limited ecological complexity, so projects could be quickly implemented and provide some immediate relief from the risk of ctastrophic wildfire. Thinning techniques and results learned from numerous fuels reduction projects currently underway around Flagstaff helped develop the numerous thinning ideas being formulated for this project. Approximately 1,200 acres are being proposed for thinning and subsequent broadcast burning. The environmental analysis for this project will be included with Kachina Village (see below).

Woody Ridge:
The purpose is to determine and implement forest health needs on about 30,000 acres of National Forest lands from Interstate 40 south to the Oak Creek Vista and west of Highway 89A. This area includes Rodgers Lake and Dry Lake, and many sections of the newly designed Centennial Forest. Coordinated inventory and planning with Centennial Forest managers is underway. Proposals for thinning, burning, and other restorative actions are expected as early as March 2002. Implementation of projects is scheduled for 2004.