KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College,
and Maricopa Community Colleges

Copyright © 2024 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Arizona Among 13 States To Share $10 Million To Cut Land Wildfire Risks

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell has announced $10 million for land restoration projects in 13 states in a strategy to reduce catastrophic wildfires.

Nearly $4 million, which is the largest share of the $10 million, will be split between Oregon, Nevada and California.  The plan is to restore sagebrush shrub by controlling juniper expansion.

Southern Arizona will get $150,000 for a project focusing on control of buffelgrass, a fire-adapted invasive grass, and help restore the natural fire regime to the biologically sensitive Sonoran Desert.

Utah will get more than $2.6 million to remove pinyon pine and juniper and establish vegetation to restore the resilience of the landscape.

Jewell said Friday that making land more resilient to fire is essential for vulnerable species and for healthy rangelands, forests and watersheds.

The projects are part of a new Interior Department program to unite federal, tribal, state and non-government groups to create fire-resilient landscapes.

Tags
Dennis Lambert was a morning host at KJZZ.