1. Why Forest Restoration… A presentation by Kenny Evans Mayor, Town of Payson

2. Catastrophic wildfires: the largest single threat to our communities

3. Catastrophic wildfires sedimentation: the largest single threat to our watersheds

4. Forest restoration stops catastrophic wildfires

5. Fire behavior without restoration treatments Fire behavior after restoration treatments

6. Forest restoration protects watersheds

7. Forest restoration restores grasslands

8. Forest restoration provides logging jobs

9. Forest restoration provides sawmill jobs

10. Forest restoration provides biomass jobs

11. Forest restoration provides energy jobs

12. Before restoration

13. Immediately after treatment

14. 2 years after treatment

15. After 5 year maintenance cool ground fire

16. Stabilized functioning ecosystem

17. Forest & Watershed Restoration – Current achievements in the Rim Country July 2014: Restoration of C.C. Cragin Reservoir Watershed MOU between Town of Payson, Salt River Project (SRP) and USFS. 64,000 acres of treatment in 5 years in high priority watershed in Coconino and Gila Counties. 2015: Eastern Arizona Counties Organization (ECO) develops the Black River Stewardship Agreement project with USFS, AZ Forestry, AZ Game & Fish, Salt River Project (SRP) and Arizona Public Services (APS). 130,000 acres of treatment in 10 years in high priority watershed in Apache and Greenlee Counties.

18. Forest & Watershed Restoration – Current achievements in the Rim Country 2014 – 2015: Eastern Arizona Counties Organization (ECO) secured funding to the Apache/Sitgreaves (A/S) for the “Bridge the Gap” program. 86,000 acres of treatments in Navajo, Apache, Coconino and Gila Counties in the next 5 years. September 2014: ECO signed the Burro Stewardship Agreement with the U.S. Forest. Up to 6,000 acres of treatments in Apache County in 2015 and 2016. April 2015: Completion of the first 4FRI Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). 430,000 acres of restoration thinning on the Mogollon Rim in the next 10 years

19. In summary: forest fire without restoration…

20. …and forest fire after restoration

21. Engaging in forest & watershed restoration is vital to our communities

22. Thank you. Questions? Why Forest Restoration… A presentation by Kenny Evans Mayor, Town of Payson