In response to the 2020 Bighorn Fire, Sky Island Alliance has been working with the Arizona Conservation Corps and Coronado National Forest to build more than 250 erosion-control structures out of loose rocks. This helps protect springs, conserve soils, limit fire risk, and infiltrate rainwater and snowmelt in areas that were burned. Now, we’re planning to continue this restoration work around more springs, the community of Summerhaven, and other inhabited areas in the Catalina Mountains in partnership with the Coronado National Forest, Arizona Water Infrastructure Finance Authority, and Mt. Lemmon water district.
In this virtual Coffee Break, SIA Stewardship Manager Bryon Lichtenhan shares more about this project and how to get involved. He also gives an update on our new Erosion Mappers survey that folks can use to flag areas needing attention, and he discusses ways we’re working to help the landscape become more resilient in the face of fire, drought, and human disturbance. If you’d like to support this project, see our Mt. Lemmon Conservation Fund.
