Wednesday the Phoenix City Council approved a three-year deal to give $200,000 annually to the Northern Arizona Forest Fund.
This is a continuation of an investment that began in 2015 to support projects that protect the Salt and Verde river watershed.
“We must continue to protect and preserve the river watersheds that our city and the surrounding metropolitan area rely upon,” said Phoenix Mayor Thelda Williams in a statement.
About half of Phoenix's raw water comes from the Salt and Verde river watershed, and the NAFF has funded 21 restoration projects in the past three years, including planing over 4,000 native plants and improving erosion control across 130 miles of river.
The money will also be used to manage prescribed burns, forest thinning, trail improvements and wetland restoration projects in the Apache-Sitgreaves, Tonto, Kaibab, Coconino and Prescott National Forests.
