Kearny River Fire Initiative Shipman Fire (2013) 500+ acres

Shipman Fire

Shipman Fire After 2 Years

Kearny River Fire 1,428 acres

Kearny River Fire

WINKELMAN NRCD Kearny River Fire Initiative Strategies Create a defensible space around Kearny (The Winkelman to Kelvin watershed is one of the state’s highest-risk fire areas) Remove invasive salt cedar Restore native vegetation / habitat Protect endangered animal species

Kearny River Fire Initiative Remove Salt Cedar (Tamarisk) Tamarisk has infested approximately 1.6 million acres in the western US Consumes over million acre-feet of water per year, water for 20+ million people a year Negative Environment Impacts: – Creates even saltier soils, ie, nothing else will grow – Displaces native vegetation – Provides poor habitat for wild animals & livestock

Kearny River Fire Initiative Remove Salt Cedar (Tamarisk) Negative Environment Impacts (Continued): – Provides little food value for native wildlife – Increases wildfire hazards, due to dense, nearly impenetrable thickets – Limits use / access to the waterways – Narrows / channels streams & rivers Use mechanical, chemical & biological methods

Kearny River Fire Initiative Plan for the Tamarisk Beetle Arrival

Kearny River Fire Initiative Tamarisk Beetle Tamarisk or salt cedar leaf beetle (Diorhabda elongata) was brought to the US as a biological control to reduce or eradicate tamarisk. In 2001, the beetles were released in 6 states (CA, NV, UT, CO, WY & TX) Currently, in 10 states after 20 years of study Expected to be near Safford in 3-5 years Current Restoration projects – Verde River Valley & Gila River Valley (Safford)

Kearny River Fire Initiative Restore Habitat & Protect Wildlife Replant cottonwoods, willows, etc Restore native grasses Create appropriate habitats for endangered species such as – Southwestern Willow Flycatcher – Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

WINKELMAN NRCD Kearny River Fire Initiative Partners Arizona State Forestry San Carlos Reclamation US Bureau of Reclamation Asarco NRCS USDA Town of Kearny

WINKELMAN NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICT There are 32 Natural Resource Conservation Districts (NRCD) in Arizona. NRCDs are local units of state government Every part of Arizona is within a NRCD NRCDs are organized by watershed boundaries. Funded by Arizona State Legistature