The Two Minute Summary

Fort Valley Restoration Strategy

1. Reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire to the greater Flagstaff community.
2. Restore forest health.
3. Research, monitor, and demonstrate new approaches to forest restoration.


Decades, if not centuries, are required to fully restore forest health and ecological functions at Fort Valley. The following activities, in brief, represent the first step.

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Restore the Low Intensity, Frequent Fire Regime

…to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire to the greater Flagstaff community, to properly cycle nutrients, to enhance native plant communities, and to control tree density.

Actions include tree thinning to restore the fire-adapted large tree component and prescribed fire.

Restore Native Plant and Animal Communities

…to reduce the unwanted effects of nonnative (noxious weeds) plants, and strengthen the complex habitat relationships between the more than 600 native plants, animals, and invertebrates.

Actions include tree thinning, prescribed fire, and reducing road and trail densities.

Restore Water Absorption, Infiltration, and Transport

…to provide for greater and prolonged water runoff, increased water percolation in the soil, proper water storage in meadows, and revitalized springs.

Actions include reducing tree density by thinning, reducing duff (forest floor) layers by prescribed fire, eliminating erosion from roads and trials by relocation or closure, eliminating compaction in meadows by fencing to eliminate vehicular access, and restoring water flows on piped springs.

Balance the Needs of People

…to realize that neither humans nor the ecosystem will bear the sole consequences nor reap the sole benefits of restoration activities.

Actions include retaining significant access (both roads and trails), creating/stimulating local business which are sustained by the byproducts/activities of restoration, and researching the social and economic impacts of restoration.

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Major Actions By The Numbers

Implementation of this strategy is governed by the Environmental Analysis (NEPA) process directed by the US Forest Service. Decisions to implement any or all of the listed activities are made by the Forest Supervisor or District Rangers. Environmental Documents are available from the Coconino National Forest.

Activity at Fort Valley	Planned	Approved 1999
Aggressive Tree Thinning	2,700 Acres	300 Acres
Conservative Tree Thinning	1,300 Acres	700 Acres
Research Thinning Blocks	700 Acres	700 Acres
Thinning to Restore Aspen	25 Acres	25 Acres
Clearcutting	0 Acres	0 Acres
No Thinning/Some Prescribed Fire	2,500 Acres	2,500 Acres
Prescribed Fire (with Thinning)	4,700 Acres	1,700 Acres
Private Land (No Jurisdiction)	2,000 Acres
Roads Closed or Obliterated	23 Miles	23 Miles
Roads Converted to Trails	6 Miles	6 Miles
New System Trails	8 Miles	8 Miles
Meadow Restored	1 Each	1 Each
Spring Restored	1 Each	1 Each

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