Flagstaff AZ (March 21, 2012) – The Flagstaff Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest is seeking public input on the proposed Schultz Sediment Reduction Project. In addition, all interested parties are also encouraged to attend a public meeting Tuesday March 27, 7:00 p.m. at Cromer Elementary School, 7150 Silver Saddle Road in Flagstaff to learn more about the project.
Activities proposed in this project would help reduce the amount of sediment transported by floodwaters on the Coconino National Forest in order to support county efforts to channel runoff water through private land. Though this project specifically focuses on only those activities proposed on the National Forest, addressing sediment delivery from the Schultz burn area requires an integrated approach between the Forest Service and Coconino County. “Coordinating efforts on the National Forest and on private lands is critical due to the connected nature of watersheds” says Mike Elson, Flagstaff District Ranger. Currently, the amount of sediment produced during precipitation events could fill channels on the private land, rendering the channels useless and unsustainable. “Full watershed recovery on the forest will take many years,” says Elson. “However, the channel work proposed in this project could help speed recovery of streambanks and limit the amount of sediment produced on the Forest.”
In general, sediment reduction treatments would occur on the land between Forest Road 420 (Schultz Pass Road) and the National Forest boundary behind the Timberline area. No treatments would take place in designated wilderness areas as a part of this project, and any actions on private land would be authorized by the landowner in consultation with Coconino County and will not be directly analyzed as part of this proposal.
The Proposed Action, with more information on current forest conditions, proposed treatment description and related design features is posted on the Coconino National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/coconino/landmanagement/projects.
For additional information or to submit comments contact Erin Phelps, NEPA Coordinator, Flagstaff Ranger District, 5075 N. Highway 89, Flagstaff, AZ 86004, phone (928) 527-8240. Comments may also be submitted by email to comments-southwestern-coconino-flagstaff@fs.fed.us.