In Coconino County, wildfires and subsequent flooding remain the biggest threat
Coconino County officials say wildfire threat and the resulting flooding are the most prominent dangers in the region. And in an election year, they caution that there’s no guarantee that federal dollars will continue coming in to stop it.
The prospects are grim. A recent study conducted for the county predicts that 93 percent of county properties are at risk from wildfire in the next 30 years.
The county’s flood control district will be giving presentations throughout the new year laying out the dangers for residents. And the costs: Nationally, forest restoration is now being funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at $4.5 billion since its inception.
That could change in 2024, warned forest restoration director Jay Smith.
"The question is, will it continue, because Congress or a new presidency can decide, ‘we’re not gonna fund this anymore.’ Then where are we at," he said.
So far, the U.S. government has provided $21 million in forest restoration to the county; triple what the county invested. But those dollars are only available through a competitive process and the number of communities needing help is growing.
