Arizona State Land Department Wildfire Restoration and Invasive Species Control Grant

Eligible applicants are limited to the Arizona State Land Department (ASLD/DOC). ASLD has an extensive background in wildland fire, and experienced crews fully trained to handle wildfire restoration projects. The supervised fire crews come with ground transportation, and prepared with tools needed for site clean up and preparation. The principal purpose of this agreement is to restore native habitat within the historic floodplain of the Lower Colorado River. All restoration efforts (cleaning, clearing, planting) that occur have a profound benefit to the wildlife resources occurring in desert uplands and along the riparian corridor adjacent to the Lower Colorado River. Restored sites will mimic historic cottonwood-willow gallery forests, supplement available habitat for threatened and endangered species, and reduce invasive exotic plant distribution. An array of resident and migratory species will also benefit from restored habitats. In addition, restored sites will create wildlife corridors and facilitate recolonization of native fauna in previously restored sites. Further, establishment of native vegetation will increase aesthetic values and decrease soil erosion. The primary goal of ASLD/DOC will be to assist the Refuge in rehabilitation efforts associated with wildfire damaged areas, and to control invasive species limiting future catastrophic wildfire events.