A longstanding wildfire safety collaboration between the Tonto National Forest and Arizona's Gila County officials needs updating. The county began collaborating with the USFS and local fire districts back in 2006 when it installed 14 water tanks, bladders, and storage systems in helicopter-accessible areas on the forest. The intent, according to a recent Gila County Board of Supervisors meeting, was to put fires out as soon as they were detected in the Rim Country area near Payson. The water sites were positioned where helicopter turnaround time would be less than five minutes.
Arizona Rockin' River Ranch State Park opens in Camp Verde azpbs.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from azpbs.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
More than $11 million in federal grant money will go to improve land and water conservation in the upper Verde River Watershed and Big Chino Grasslands in north central Arizona. The grant requires a 50% non-federal match, which The Nature Conservancy Arizona and partners will provide - bringing the total to $23 million. Kimberly Schonek - Arizona water director for the conservancy - said the Verde River is one of the state s last free-flowing rivers, and calls it a "critical water supply" for not only the Phoenix metro area but for the biodiversity around the river, which starts just north of Prescott. .
New tour added to the River of Time | Fountain Hills Times fhtimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from fhtimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.