Mexican Spotted Owl (MSO) Protected Activity Center (PAC) Thinning Project Sikes Act Cooperative Agreement via the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program in support of Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station (NOFS), Flagstaff, AZ

Description

The primary objective of the Cooperative Agreement is to ensure that encroachment does not threaten the ability of Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station (NOFS) to achieve its mission objectives and support military readiness. Encroachment protection is a cost-effective means to limit incompatible land use and support local conservation efforts. The proposal for this work, submitted by Navy Region Southwest to address installation resiliency encroachment challenges at NOFS, has been validated by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and has been identified as a priority project for the United States (U.S) Navy. The intent of the project/funding is to reduce the threat of stand-replacing fires in the vicinity of NOFS and reduce the threat of habitat loss, due to fire, for the Mexican spotted owl (MSO), a federally listed species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This project will support the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) and its overall goals which include restoring the structure, pattern, composition, and health of fire-adapted ponderosa pine ecosystems, reducing fuels and the risk of unnaturally severe wildfires, and providing wildlife and plant diversity. Improving and maintaining these areas will enable NOSF to protect important resources and habitat for the MSO. The project supports the Navy’s mission by supporting the prevention of catastrophic wildfires and protection of water resources. The prevention of erratic, unpredictable fires protects the Navy’s considerable investment over time in the telescopes at NOFS and the Naval Precision Optical Interferometer at Anderson Mesa. Additionally, benefits are realized in the protection of the mission through the reduction of particulate matter and smoke that could obscure the night sky or damage sensitive equipment. This is a voluntary joint initiative between NOSF and the National Forest Foundation (NFF) to manage fuels reduction work located off of NOFS, but within the NOFS Military Influence Area (MIA), in order to mitigate anticipated challenges related to military training, activities, and operations near and adjacent to the installation and ranges. The MSO Protected Activity Center (PAC) Thinning Project is a part of a broader suite of projects captured under the 4FRI Initiative. This funding will be used to maintain and improve of natural resources located off of a military installation to relieve or eliminate current or anticipated challenges that could restrict, impede, or otherwise interfere with, whether directly or indirectly, current or anticipated military activities.This project will benefit MSO by establishing an effective ecosystem fire improvement program within the NOFS MIA. Please see the statement of work for the full description of work, provided as a separate attachment.

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