In St. George, Utah, restoration efforts are underway in France Canyon after a wildfire burned nearly 35,000 acres. This is part of the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Watershed Restoration Initiative, which includes 42 projects in southern Utah. The DNR plans to aerial seed to restore vegetation, helping to prevent floods and reduce fire risks.
Next year, the DNR will focus on fire prevention, particularly in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, which supports threatened species like the desert tortoise. Invasive cheatgrass poses a significant threat, as it increases fire frequency. The DNR plans to treat 20,000 acres to control this invasive species.
Despite challenges from federal funding cuts, the initiative has $12 million allocated for future projects. Overall, the DNR aims to restore 50,000 acres next year and has successfully restored over 144,000 acres statewide last year.
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