This carefully timed, custom-designed thinning project protects forest health, recreational use, forest views, wildlife movement and community needs.
Just beyond those trails, a strategic forest restoration effort is underway – carefully planned so that the work meant to protect the forest does not detract from the very experience that draws people there.
The Derffer Forest Restoration Project spans more than 3,000 acres on the Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, at the base of the San Francisco Peaks. The area is a key concern to foresters because a wildfire burning here could threaten the San Francisco Peaks, the City of Flagstaff and two major watersheds: the Upper Rio de Flag on the Peaks and the Verde, above Phoenix.
Thus, the project focuses on thinning overstocked forest areas to reduce wildfire risk, improve forest health, support the movement of wildlife like turkey and deer, and protect communities and water resources from post-fire flooding.
The work is led by the National Forest Foundation (NFF) in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, Coconino County and Salt River Project, with support from local businesses and contractors. “NFF is the congressionally designated nonprofit organization for the Forest Service that identifies priority projects that otherwise would not be done,” said NFF Southwest Region Director Sasha Stortz. “We bring together multiple resources, and our team oversees the project hand in hand with the Forest Service.”
What makes the Derffer project stand out is how it intersects with Arizona Nordic Village, a year-round recreation destination owned and operated by Babbitt Ranches, known for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, biking, hiking and special events.
“This is a really unique place,” said Arizona Nordic Village Manager Sydney Nieminen. “The forest experience is why people come here. This is where guests say they feel connected to the land, where they belong. From the beginning, the Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation understood that, and they have been wonderful partners, working with us on the ground to make sure the work protects both the forest, our operations and the guest experience.”
To minimize disruption, restoration crews adjusted traditional thinning prescriptions, protecting ski and recreation trails, leaving trees for shade to slow the evaporation of snow, protecting views and the wildland experience, and coordinating work schedules around peak seasons and events, such as weddings. No work was conducted during the Nordic Village’s busiest months; heavier activity took place during shoulder seasons or periods when the facility was already closed.
The goal, partners say, is to create forest conditions that are more resilient to wildfire while preserving the visual and recreational character of the area.
“Thinning at Derffer is helping restore healthier forest conditions – reducing wildfire risk while protecting nearby communities like Flagstaff and vital watersheds from potentially catastrophic post-fire flooding,” said Stortz.
The project is one critical piece of a much larger, landscape-scale strategy to protect the Upper Rio de Flag Watershed, which has a history of post-fire flooding capable of devastating neighborhoods, roads and infrastructure. The Verde Watershed, which also benefits from the project, is a critical water source for the Salt River Project and the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.
Northern Arizona contractors Perkins Timber Harvesting of Williams and Bob Lee and Sons Tree Service based in Payson are completing the work through a three-year contract overseen by the NFF. Some of the removed material is being transported to sawmills, some is being made available as firewood. Federal funding through the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Grant is being used to remove leftover slash to further lower the fire risk.
Funding for the project includes contributions from the Coconino County Flood Control District, Salt River Project and the U.S. Forest Service. Historic Brewing Company, with businesses in Flagstaff and Williams, also is supporting the effort through sales of its Feller Bunch IPA.
For partners involved, the project reflects a shared understanding that forest health, recreation, the guest experience, wildlife movement and community safety are deeply connected, said Nieminen. “It’s amazing to work with partners who understand both the needs of the forest and the people who love it.” FBN
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
Courtesy Photo: Northern Arizona contractors Perkins Timber Harvesting of Williams and Bob Lee and Sons Tree Service based in Payson are completing the work through a three-year contract overseen by the National Forest Foundation.
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