Salt River Project outlines multi‑year forest restoration in Payson area, says treatments reduce fire severity and protect water infrastructure
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Summary
Salt River Project (SRP) described a multi-project, multi‑partner program to thin and restore thousands of acres in the Payson and rim watersheds to reduce high‑severity wildfire risk and protect water and power infrastructure.
Elvie Barton, SRP water and forest sustainability senior manager, told the House Ad Hoc Committee on Fire Preparedness that SRP adopted a forest‑health goal in 2019 to thin 800,000 acres over the coming decades and is investing with partners to increase pace and scale of restoration across the Verde and Salt watersheds.
Barton said SRP and partners have funded more than 29,000 acres of restoration work in the region to date, with six completed projects, four in progress and six planned over the next five years, and that the initiative combines SRP funds with federal, state, local and nonprofit contributions. "In total, over $25,000,000 has been invested in this regional landscape," Barton said.
She described benefits the utility is tracking: reduced infrastructure damage risk to power and water facilities, improved post‑fire watershed resilience and water quality, and improved firefighter safety and suppression effectiveness where treated areas provide safety zones or opportunities for containment actions. Barton highlighted several named treatment projects in the greater Payson area (Winged Victory, Cordelia, Princess Buttercup, Hoops, Pioneer, Roberts) and rim projects (Jude 1–4, Cole Court Stallion, Haigler phases) with acreages and phased start years through 2029.
Barton emphasized that SRP is not a land manager but an implementing and funding partner and that success depends on collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, Arizona DFFM, counties, towns, mills and contractors. She said SRP and DFFM renewed an MOU to coordinate priorities and funding and asked DFFM to provide local procurement and contractor hiring details for community employment concerns.
Committee members asked how many local workers are hired on SRP‑funded projects; Barton deferred to DFFM for procurement specifics and said field staff coordinate projects and SRP has expanded procurement staff to support field operations. SRP offered to provide maps and project details for Yavapai County and other local inquiries.