A U.S. Forest Service rehabilitation team has nearly completed its work on a section of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, after a wildfire earlier this summer.
Helicopters spread 60,000 pounds of barley and native seed mix across an 11-square mile section of the forest last week, southeast of Show Low. They were targeting areas that lost most of their ground cover to prevent severe erosion during monsoon storms.
The crews also removed burned trees that were posing hazards, stabilized roads and put up warning signs and temporary gates.
The fire, which broke out June 26, ravaged an area of mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine forest. It burned for more than two weeks. The rehabilitation effort began in early July.