County approves $816,779 grant for fuels-reduction work near Lowell Observatory

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 30 approved an agreement with the Greater Flagstaff Forest Partnership to serve as subrecipient and manager for the Lowell Observatory/Observatory Mesa fuels-reduction project. The board voted unanimously to execute the grant subrecipient agreement and move the project toward contractor selection.

The grant award that will fund the county’s role in this project is $816,779 in congressionally directed spending. Project managers said the total project will cost about $1 million once partner contributions are added. The City of Flagstaff has pledged about $100,000, Lowell Observatory $50,000, and Salt River Project an additional $50,000 to expand work around the base of Observatory Mesa and Thorpe Park.

Jay Smith, forest restoration director for the Coconino County Flood Control District, told supervisors the work will thin roughly 640 acres on Lowell-controlled property and remove biomass so crews do not have to burn piles near the observatory. Smith said contractors are in short supply because many are committed to work in the Upper Rio area; the county expects work to begin in spring and finish within a single operational season.

Anne Matek, director of the Greater Flagstaff Forest Partnership, described the project as years in the making and thanked project partners. She said GFFP prepared detailed maps, operations plans and budgets to make the application eligible for the funding. Smith said earlier attempts to obtain other federal funding had been stalled because some earlier candidate parcels were on federal land and therefore ineligible for the particular grant source.

Supervisor Tammy Ontiveros moved approval of the consent agenda item. The motion passed unanimously.

Supervisors and staff described the project as locally important because Observatory Mesa sits adjacent to downtown Flagstaff and the work would reduce fuels on the prevailing southwest wind side of the city. Supervisors noted the project’s mix of federal-directed funds and local match and thanked the nonprofit and Lowell Observatory for their roles.

The county will execute a grant agreement with the Greater Flagstaff Forest Partnership to administer the funds and oversee project procurement. Staff said insurance and contracting language delayed final execution earlier this year but those issues are now resolved and the county will proceed with project manager selection and contractor procurement.

No litigation or permit requirements were raised at the Sept. 30 meeting; staff said standard procurement and environmental requirements will be followed as the project moves into contracting and field operations.