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Kearny River Fire Initiative. Shipman Fire (2013) 500+ acres. Shipman Fire. Shipman Fire After 2 Years. Shipman Fire After 2 Years. Kearny River Fire 1,428 acres. Kearny River Fire. Kearny River Fire. WINKELMAN NRCD Kearny River Fire Initiative Strategies.
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Kearny River Fire Initiative Shipman Fire (2013) 500+ acres
WINKELMAN NRCDKearny 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 InitiativeRemove Salt Cedar (Tamarisk) • Tamarisk has infested approximately 1.6 million acres in the western US • Consumes over 2- 4.5 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 InitiativePlan for the Tamarisk Beetle Arrival
Kearny River Fire InitiativeTamarisk Beetle • Tamarisk or salt cedar leaf beetle (Diorhabdaelongata) 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 NRCDKearny 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