Gila National Forest opens 30-day comment period on Black Fire watershed restoration plan affecting Grant County
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Summary
A Gila National Forest representative briefed the Grant County commissioners on a proposed Environmental Assessment for Black Fire watershed restoration, outlining large-scale stream, reforestation and fuel-reduction actions and asking for public comment through May 6.
Elizabeth, a representative of the Gila National Forest, told the Grant County Board of County Commissioners the forest has opened a roughly 30-day public comment period on an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Black Fire Watershed Restoration project that began April 6 and runs through May 6.
The EA seeks to restore ecological function, protect water quality, and reduce the risk of future high-severity wildfire across a broad landscape affected by the 2022 Black Fire. Elizabeth said the proposal includes substantial work on streams, riparian areas and uplands: the EA proposes about 244 miles of stream and riparian restoration, roughly 15 acres of wetland and spring/Cienega restoration, reforestation across about 4,900 acres, 143,000 acres of vegetation treatment, and 263,000 acres of thinning and prescribed fire. She said the EA is intended to give managers the flexibility to identify site-level needs while complying with agreed design features.
Elizabeth described past and ongoing work after the fire, including more than 110 miles of trail work and 49.25 miles of rangeland fence replacement completed with partners such as Bank Conservation International (BCI), the National Forest Foundation (NFF), Sierra County Soil and Water and local contractors. She said some restoration actions (tank cleaning, water-source repairs, fence replacement) are being implemented now because they do not require NEPA review.
Commissioner Shelley pressed for funding detail and whether the Trout Fire work would follow the same approach; Elizabeth said the forest had disaster recovery funds targeted to Black Fire projects and that similar strategies would be used where funding and authorizations allow. She also noted that the forest has applied for disaster recovery funding for the Trout Fire but had not yet received word from Congress on that request. On outreach, Elizabeth said the forest sends activity cards and includes landowner communication in implementation plans when work is adjacent to private property.
The presentation emphasized use of local partners and contractors to accelerate on-the-ground work once NEPA is complete. Elizabeth encouraged public participation during the comment window and invited questions; the board took no formal action on the EA at the meeting.
Next steps: the EA comment period closes May 6; implementation timing and scope will depend on NEPA completion and available funding.
