From Trout Unlimited:
Alpine, AZ – Trout Unlimited (TU) recently broke ground on the organization’s first major restoration project in Arizona. Located near the community of Alpine in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, the $1.8 million Thompson-Burro Meadow Restoration Project grew from humble beginnings to a multi-million-dollar restoration project thanks to support from the local community, U.S. Forest Service, corporate partners, and a variety of dedicated funders.
“The Thompson-Burro Meadow is a pivotal nexus of conservation,” said Nathan Rees, Arizona state lead for TU. “Not only do the streams and rivers in this area feed the Phoenix Valley and Colorado River, but they are also home to the state’s native Apache trout and are part of the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest in the United States.”
This area is also still recovering from the impacts of the 2011 Wallow Fire in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, which burned the landscape and overwhelmed the river systems. It caused channel incision and erosion, leading to the loss of fish and wildlife habitat and floodplain connectivity, which are critical to groundwater storage and the health of the watershed. The wildfire also threatened the water supplies for downstream communities.
Because of these impacts, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest and TU worked together to identify ways to mitigate these impacts, improve critical habitat for fish and wildlife, and make the national forest more resilient to drought and wildfires in the future.
TU is currently working through the first phase of the project, which includes installing more than 200 of these wood log jam structures – with materials sourced from hazardous fuels reduction projects – and 70 sod plugs to slow down the water flowing through the meadow so it can once again meander, spread out on the landscape, and replenish groundwater levels. The next phase will include installing an elk exclosure around the whole meadow before finishing the project by replanting all native riparian vegetation. Uniquely, Trout Unlimited is also measuring stream flow data in the meadow to quantify the increase in water levels once the project is complete. This is especially important for Apache trout in their historic range after being delisted from the Endangered Species Act in 2024.
“When complete, this project will restore approximately 3.5 miles of stream, reconnect 128 acres of wet meadows, and inject millions of dollars into Arizona’s rural economies through local contractors and suppliers. It will also make the area more resilient to drought and wildfire to the benefit of Arizona’s communities,” said Rees.
Because of the variety of benefits, this project was able to secure funding from U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Reclamation – WaterSMART Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, CK Blueshift, BlueCommons ReBeaver Restoration Fund, and Microsoft. The Bonneville Environmental Foundation and World Resources Institute have also joined as project partners.
“Microsoft supports the Thompson-Burro Meadow Restoration project because it strengthens water security for both people and nature in the Phoenix region and helps support Microsoft’s broader commitment to become Water Positive by 2030, including replenishing water in critical regions and driving innovation in water management,” said Vickie Robinson, General Manager at Microsoft. “By revitalizing natural landscapes, we’re helping secure clean water for people and wildlife, reducing flooding risks, and creating a healthier environment for future generations.”
Construction will continue for the next few years, with more updates as the project progresses.