WILLIAMS/PARKS — The Kaibab National Forest is conducting preparatory work in anticipation of implementing timber sales in five project areas east of Williams near the community of Parks on the Williams Ranger District. These forest restoration efforts have resulted in increased activity that may be noticeable to residents and visitors in the area.

Preparatory work including tree marking and boundary layout operations are underway in each of the five project areas, which stretch from Brannigan Park near Bellemont west to Pittman Valley on the north side of Interstate 40. Once this work is completed, the Kaibab National Forest will be seeking to offer timber sales to local contractors and others who may be able to support the forest restoration effort. The tree marking and boundary layout work will ultimately serve as visual guidance to assist these contractors in ensuring Forest Service expectations for treatment are met.

As activity on these projects increases over the next few months, residents, land owners and visitors will likely notice more Forest Service personnel and vehicles in the area. Once timber sale contracts have been awarded, forest restoration work including timber removal and log hauling operations will also be noticeable to members of the public.

The ultimate goal of both the preparatory work and the eventual timber sales is to improve forest health and reduce the potential for high-intensity wildfires that could threaten lives, property and natural resources. These projects are planned for long-term implementation and may be ongoing for the next several years on an intermittent basis depending on weather and other conditions.

“We are pleased to be making progress on this important work, and we hope local residents continue to support our efforts in improving forest health and public safety,” said Josh Giles, silviculturist with the Kaibab National Forest. “Projects like this are critical to the long-term sustainability of our forests, watersheds and communities.”

The five projects, known as 49er, Saddle, Moonset, Parks West, and Sitgreaves, are all part of the overarching restoration work associated with the Four Forest Restoration Initiative, which is intended to treat more than 2.4 million acres of ponderosa pine forest across northern Arizona.

One goal of the Four Forest Restoration Initiative is to increase resilience in the fire-adapted ponderosa pine forest by reducing tree stand densities to a more historic level, which eventually reduces the potential for uncharacteristic wildfire. This work also offers greater protection for residents living in and adjacent to the wildland-urban interface, where developments and forested areas merge together.

Goals of treatments in the Four Forest Restoration Initiative footprint include:

• Restoring pine forests across northern Arizona using mechanical harvesting and fire to thin dense stands of smaller trees and leave larger, mature trees.
• Improving streams, springs, and wildlife habitat.
• Reducing wildfire threats and impacts to communities, watersheds, and recreation areas.
• As more forest is restored, allowing wildfires to be part of a suite of forest management efforts.
• Engaging private industry to conduct treatments and provide jobs to rural communities.
• Monitoring treatments to ensure a healthy forest for future generations.

For more specific information about these and other current restoration projects on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest, contact Josh Giles at (928) 635-5616.

Information is also available through the following sources:

Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
Four Forest Restoration Initiative Website: www.fs.usda.gov/4fri
Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF