FWPP awards two new contracts for thinning work in the Dry Lake Hills area!

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The Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project is excited to announce the award of two new contracts for thinning work in the Dry Lake Hills and Mount Elden areas of the project. The two new contract awards are for approximately 900 acres of forest thinning work in steep and complex terrain. The helicopter contract was awarded to Markit! Forestry Management from Colorado Springs, and the steep slope, ground based contract was awarded to Smith Forestry Services Inc. from Albany Oregon. To learn more about the new awards, please read the Official News Release

In addition to the new contract awards, FWPP would like to share the October 2018 FWPP Status Update. This update outlines FWPP areas that are completed, in progress, and planned. It also includes some of our highlighted accomplishments, and the challenges and needs that we continue to address.

Lastly, please take 10 minutes to listen to FWPP personnel discuss the two new contract awards during a recent interview with KAFF Country Radio.

As always, thank you for your continued support!

FWPP Biannual Report: January – June 2018

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A report of FWPP activities over the past six months in now available. The project has been busy, and now with fire restrictions lifted, we are able to get into the woods to do work! The biggest development to report is the successful bid and takeover of the FWPP Phase 1 timber contract. Dakota Logging has moved his equipment into the area and is begging operations when monsoonal conditions allow. For more updates on what FWPP has been up to the last six months, please see the report: Biannual Report Jan-June 2018

Flagstaff watershed protection project lands bidder for timber sale!

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The Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project (FWPP) made marked progress last week after a Phoenix-based logging company successfully bid to take over a timber sale contract of 642 acres that had not been completed by a prior contractor in the area of Schultz Creek along the base of Mount Elden.

Dakota Logging LLC, the high bidder, has one year to complete the work, which will involve closure of areas and trails in the immediate logging area as work progresses. See the official press release from the Coconino National Forest:  COC-NR-5-8-18-TimberBid

 

FWPP Phase 1 Update

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On March 31st, 2018 the US Forest Service reoffered the FWPP Phase 1 (Elden Base) Timber Sale Contract.   This 642-acre area is at the base of Mt Elden: it was previously sold but ended with little work completed this past December.   The Coconino National Forest will open bids on May 1st, 2018.   The sale period is for up to one year.

 

For further information on this sale, please contact the Flagstaff Ranger District, 5075 N. Hwy 89, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, (928)-527-3600, or the Coconino National Forest Supervisor’s Office, 1827 S. Thompson St. Flagstaff, AZ 86001, (928) 527-3600.

2018 FWPP Project Update

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City and FWPP project leadership have produced and released a project update on the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project. The update highlights the work we have done since the start of the project five years ago. Updates includes how much work has occurred and where, how much of the voter approved bond has been used to support the ongoing project, and how much outside, leverage funding has been brought into the project with the help of all our partners.

The project has come a long way since the beginning, and the City team is still working hard as the project continues to be implemented. Take a look at the report!

Full report:

FWPP Status Update CCR – Update 02082018

The bids are in; timber harvest planned for spring in FWPP

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The bids are in; timber harvest planned for spring in FWPP  

Aug. 25, 2016
The US Forest Service and City of Flagstaff are pleased to provide an update on the progression of the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project; a contractor has provided a bid to conduct tree thinning operations on 642 acres of National Forest along Schultz Creek and the base of Mt. Elden. For full press release, click here: coc-nr-08-26-2016-intrim-timber-for-fwpp

Update on Temp Road Construction & Trail Reroutes in the Dry Lake Hills

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On Monday (July 18th) the contractor will begin construction of a temporary logging road near the base of Mt. Elden. The temporary logging road will use a short segment of the Arizona Trail (which connects Rocky Ridge and Lower Oldham Trail).  Please see map FWPP_Phase1_TempRd#2_07152016.  We will post signs/barricades (see photo on right) DSCF3901 on both ends of this trail to inform hikers/bikers about the road work.  Also, the temporary logging road will be within the natural gas pipeline corridor – which includes a couple of segments of the Pipeline Trail, but it shouldn’t warrant closing those trail segments.

The contractor started construction of the temporary logging road at the Schultz Creek Trailhead (i.e. utilizing approx. ½ mile of the Schultz Creek Trail – which if unaware was an old logging road from year’s past). The contractor will finish up the road work near Schultz Creek Trailhead on Monday, July 18 and at that time we will re-open that segment of Schultz Creek Trail as well as Rocky Ridge Trail.

Summary:

  • Temporary logging road construction near Schultz Creek Trailhead will be completed on Monday, July 18.
  • Schultz Creek Trail and Rocky Ridge Trail will reopen on Monday, July 18.
  • Temporary logging road construction will begin near the base of Mt. Elden on Monday, July 18.
  • We will post No Public Access signs on both ends of the Arizona Trail affected by this closure.
  • It is difficult to determine how long the temporary logging road construction will take in this area, but given the timeline of the work they did near Schultz Creek Trailhead, estimate 10-12 days.
  • Logging operations for FWPP Phase 1 can begin as early as the middle of August – but we will keep you apprised of the actual starting date when that becomes available.