For a second consecutive year, partners of the Northern Arizona Forest Fund volunteered to help improve Arizona’s Oak Creek watershed on the Coconino National Forest as part of a Friends of the Forest® Volunteer Day. SanTan Brewing Company, Pink Jeep Tours, Nackard Beverages and Salt River Project all came together for the volunteer day, turning out 27 volunteers. The National Forest Foundation (NFF) and Coconino National Forest Red Rock Ranger District hosted the volunteer event with organizational and on-the-ground leadership from the Oak Creek Watershed Council.
Collectively, volunteers invested more than 150 hours on the project. The work directly aided the Coconino National Forest, providing much needed support on a high priority project. Volunteers raked, seeded and mulched six and a half acres of reclaimed roadbeds near Forest Service road 9845. These activities decrease erosion and sedimentation in Oak Creek while restoring native vegetation in a popular recreational area near Sedona.
We believe one of the best ways to enhance forest health is to engage local communities, business partners, and individuals in a hands-on experience in the forest. Today, we did just that! Restoring six and a half acres of compacted soil by reseeding it with native grasses and flowers will reduce the amount of sediment going into Oak Creek, which benefits fish and wildlife, improves the recreational experience, and enhances water quality.
The volunteer work and financial support provided by prominent Arizona businesses and organizations, speaks to the importance of protecting the watersheds that supply water to the Phoenix-metropolitan area. As Matt Neuman, National Sales Director for SanTan Brewing, explained, “At SanTan Brewing Company, we know that great water helps us make great beer, so we are excited to be a part of the efforts to protect our watersheds. And, we all enjoy recreating in Arizona's National Forests, so giving back by volunteering alongside my family, my co-workers, and our business partners to help our National Forests makes me proud to be an Arizonan.”
“It’s our dedication as an organization to give back to the environment, and to have the opportunity to partner with other Arizona based companies who share in our reverence for the National Forest was truly special,” added Chris Epper, Vice President of Marketing for Pink Jeep Tours.
The on-the-ground volunteer efforts of this Friends of the Forest® Day are one just component of the Northern Arizona Forest Fund. This program was developed by NFF and SRP to improve the health of National Forest lands in the Salt and Verde River watersheds. The Northern Arizona Forest Fund engages Arizona municipalities, businesses and residents in a multi-year effort to support implementation of priority watershed health projects across Northern Arizona’s National Forests. High priority watershed restoration projects are happening across all five National Forests of northern Arizona thanks to statewide support and strong working relationships with local non-profits, contractors and the Forest Service. These projects reduce wildfire risk, improve streams and wetlands, enhance wildlife habitat, restore native plants, enrich recreational experiences, and limit erosion and sediment into Arizona streams, rivers, and reservoirs.
If your business or organization would like to support the Northern Arizona Forest Fund or volunteer for a Friends of the Forest® Day, please contact Marcus Selig, by email [email protected] or by phone (720) 437-0290.
About Salt River Project
Tempe-based SRP is the largest provider of water and electricity to the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, delivering about 800,000 acre-feet of water annually to cities that serve approximately 2 million residents, urban and agricultural water users, and serving more than 1 million electric connections as the third-largest public power utility in the nation. For more information, visit the SRP websites at www.srpnet.com or www.srpwater.com.
About SanTan Brewing Company
Open since 2007 under the leadership of founder and brewmaster, Anthony Canecchia, SanTan Brewing Company has established a strong reputation as one of Arizona’s favorite craft breweries. All SanTan Brewing Company craft beers are Southwestern Style Ales. SanTan’s brews are fermented to completion and carbonated higher than traditional American beers for a more effervescent, crisp and refreshing hand crafted beer – perfect for quenching your thirst in the hot Arizona sun and throughout the southwestern region of the US. Check out SanTan Brewing Company online at www.SanTanBrewing.com and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SanTanBrewingCo or follow them at www.twitter.com/SanTanBrewing.
About Pink Jeep Tours
Pink Adventure Group, the premier adventure tour company of Arizona & Las Vegas, Nevada, was founded in 1960 and has its corporate headquarters in Sedona, Arizona. It serves visitors from around the world under two brands, Pink Jeep Tours and Pink Adventure Tours, with a corporate fleet of 150 cutting edge vehicles and is the only tour company with guide trainers certified by the National Association for Interpretation on its staff, and the only tour company to use the professional driver training company, Smith System®, by all guides. To learn more, visit us at www.pinkjeeptours.com.
About Oak Creek Watershed Council
The Oak Creek Watershed Council is a community-driven non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to maintaining a standard of excellence for watershed stewardship, as well as preserving the integrity of Oak Creek, and its tributaries. For more information visit www.oakcreekwatershed.org.
