“Thin the Threat”
Coconino County Parks & Recreation is conducting a forest thinning project in Fort Tuthill County Park to increase forest health, to improve public safety and to reduce wildfire risk. Removal will be by hand and mechanical thinning.
The Fort Tuthill Thinning Project is a collaborative effort between Coconino County, Arizona Department of Forestry & Fire Management, Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership, U.S. Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, Arizona Game & Fish Department, Northern Arizona University Ecological Restoration Institute, and the City of Flagstaff.
To educate the community about the project, Coconino County Parks and Recreation will host two open houses. Staff and project stakeholders will be available to answer questions.
WHAT: Fort Tuthill Forest Thinning Community Open House
WHEN/WHERE: 1 – 3 p.m. June 9 – East Flagstaff Public Library, 3000 N. Fourth St.
4 – 6 p.m. June 13 – Fort Tuthill Commercial Building, 2446 Fort Tuthill Loop.
Forest treatments are planned to occur on approximately 325 acres of the park, and include both hand thinning (approximately 70 acres) and mechanical thinning operations. Crews will cut trees and remove logs that can be utilized offsite. Residual slash and debris from hand thinning operations will be piled for disposal through burning. Slash produced from mechanical operations will be chipped and hauled offsite for other potential use. Treatment areas include the former Arizona State Trust Land located in the northwest part of the park, and near the archery range in the southwest part of the park. Fort Tuthill County Park and Soldiers Trail will remain open during the project although intermittent trail and area closures will occur to ensure public safety.
Approval for the thinning project contract and two associated funding grants will be decided by the County Board of Supervisors, June 6. The contractor may begin thinning after Board approval and the project is expected to be completed in December 2017.
For more information on Coconino County Parks and Recreation: http://www.coconino.az.gov/parks