The Rim Country Project is a part of the larger Four Forest Restoration Initiative or 4FRI. The 4FRI is a planning effort designed to restore forest resilience and function across four national forests in Arizona including the Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino, Kaibab, and Tonto national forests. The 4FRI is a result of many years of planning and collaboration among interested parties, groups and organizations, federal, state and local government agencies. The focus has been to restore forest landscapes and reduce the potential for uncharacteristic wildfire effects in a manner that also benefits the local economy. The purpose is to restore and maintain the structure, pattern, health, function, and diversity in forests and grasslands across the landscape using a variety of design features and planning tools such as the mechanical and aquatic toolboxes. These tools allow for the flexibility within on the ground projects to modify as needed according to the guidance and criteria provided through them.
Conservation Goals
- Improve and/restore native vegetation and soil recovery in fire affected areas.
- Improve the condition, function and habitat of the streams, springs and other hydrological resources.
- Increase forest and grassland resilience and sustainability.
- Reduce hazards associated with undesirable fire effects.
Map
Primary Threats
1. Agriculture
5. Disease, Pathogens, and Parasites
7. Human Intrusions and Disturbance
8. Invasive and Other Problematic Species
9. Natural System Modifications
11. Transportation and Service Corridors
Potential Conservation Actions
1. Land and Water Protection
- Conserve a variety of habitats that support healthy populations of fish and wildlife as climate changes.
- Improve wildlife water availability across the landscape.
2. Land and Water Management
- Conduct habitat and natural process restoration within previously burned portions of 4FRI, pine and other hardwood thinning throughout for fire management.
- Improve exclusion fencing to protect sensitive riparian habitats from livestock.
- Monitor and implement conservation strategies as it relates to the prevention and spread of chytrid fungus.
- Implement efforts to control invasive species, such as mistletoe, bark beetle, tamarisk, juniper, and non-native forbs.
- Implement riparian and aquatic restoration.
4. Education and Awareness
- Increase outreach describing the 4FRI initiative with the public to improve awareness and support.
6. Livelihood, Economic and Other Incentives
- Work with forestry programs to increase labor force, reduce resource waste, and better coordinate conservation efforts.
- Conduct timber sales for conservation and reducing fuel loads.
7. External Capacity Building
- Strengthen partnerships and share all relevant data to ensure goals are met across the entire 4FRI footprint.
- Apply for fuel mitigation grants through the US Forest Service and Arizona Division of Fire and Forestry Management.
Habitats Present
- Lentic Systems
- Lotic Systems
- Springs
- Petran Montane Conifer Forests
- Great Basin Conifer Woodlands
- Chaparral
Strategy Species
Amphibians
Arizona Toad, Arizona Treefrog, Chiricahua Leopard Frog, Lowland Leopard Frog, Northern Leopard Frog, Arizona Tiger Salamander, Arizona Treefrog
Birds
American Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle, Band-tailed Pigeon, Chipping Sparrow, Common Black Hawk, Flammulated Owl, Golden Eagle, Long-eared Owl, Mexican Spotted Owl, American Goshawk, Rock Wren, Steller's Jay, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Western Screech-Owl, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay
Invertebrates
Sierra Ancha Talussnail, Diablo Mountainsnail, Ancha Mountainsnail, Milk Ranch Talussnail
Mammals
Allen's Lappet-browed Bat, Cave Myotis, Fringed Myotis, Pale Townsend's Big-eared Bat, Southwestern Myotis, Stephen's Woodrat, Yuma Myotis
Reptiles
Arizona Black Rattlesnake, Black-necked Gartersnake, Gila Monster, Narrow-headed Gartersnake, Terrestrial Gartersnake
Fish
See Associated Aquatic COAs for fish species.
Protected Areas and Other Areas of Conservation Value
- Tonto Creek Hatchery
Potential Partners
- Northern Arizona University
- US Forest Service
- Arizona Department of Fire and Forestry Management
- Arizona Elk Society
- Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
- Trout Unlimited
- US Fish and Wildlife Service
- AZ Department of Environmental Quality
- Arizona Mule Deer Organization
- Mule Deer Foundation
- National Wild Turkey Federation
- Mogollon Sporting Association
- National Forest Foundation
Relevant Conservation Plans
- Four-Forest Restoration Initiative
- Kaibab National Forest Management Plan
- Land Management Plan for the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (Revised October 2017)
- Chiricahua Leopard Frog Recovery Plan
- Gila Trout Recovery Plan
- Mexican Spotted Owl Recovery Plan
- Statewide Strategy for Restoring Arizona's Forests
Associated Aquatic COAs
- Barbershop Canyon - East Clear Creek to Headwaters
- Bear Canyon Complex (East Clear Creek Drainage)
- Chase Creek
- Cherry Creek (Salt River-Theodore Roosevelt Lake)
- Chevelon Canyon - Chevelon Canyon Lake to the confluence of Woods Canyon and Willow Springs Canyon
- Cold Springs Property
- Dane Canyon Complex
- Dick Williams Creek (Haigler Creek-Tonto Creek)
- Dude Creek
- East Clear Creek - C.C. Cragin Reservoir to headwaters
- East Verde River - Mail Creek to Ash Creek
- Ellison Creek
- General Springs Canyon Complex
- Gordon Canyon Creek (Haigler Creek-Tonto Creek)
- Greenback Creek (Gun Creek-Tonto Creek)
- Gun Creek (Gun Creek-Tonto Creek)
- Haigler Creek (Haigler Creek - Tonto Creek)
- Hunter Creek (Haigler Creek-Tonto Creek)
- Kehl Canyon - East Clear Creek to Kehl Spring
- Leonard Canyon Complex
- Marsh Creek (Haigler Creek-Tonto Creek)
- Miller Canyon Complex
- Pine Creek-Above Hwy 87
- Pine Creek-Below Hwy 87
- Pine Creek-Williamson Valley Wash tributary
- Rock Creek
- Spring Creek (Haigler Creek-Tonto Creek)
- Webber Creek
- Willow Creek - Clear Creek to Headwaters
- Yeager Canyon - East Clear Creek to Headwaters