WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014, Deputy Secretary of the Interior Mike Connor and Undersecretary of Department of Agriculture Robert Bonnie will join local officials in commemorating a joint watershed restoration agreement at C.C. Cragin Reservoir in Arizona. The agreement is one of many Western Watershed Enhancement Partnership project a part of President Obama's Climate Action Plan aimed at reducing the risks of wildfire to America's water supply in western states.
Mayor Kenny Evans, of Payson, Arizona and John Sullivan, the Deputy General Manager of the Salt River Project, will also join the signing ceremony.
The Western Watershed Enhancement Partnership was formally established in July 2013 by Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, with a goal of restoring forest and watershed health, and proactively planning for post-wildfire responses to protect municipal and agricultural water supplies.
Interior and USDA are working with state and local stakeholders on five additional pilots across the West, including:
* Colorado-Big Thompson Headwaters in Colorado;
* Boise River Reservoir Partnership in Idaho;
* Reclamation Mid-Pacific Region in California;
* Yakima Basin in Washington State; and
* Hungry Horse Reservoir/Flathead River in Montana.
WHO:
Michael L. Connor, U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior
Robert Bonnie, Undersecretary, for Natural Resources and Environment, U.S.
Department of Agriculture
Kenny Evans, Mayor, Payson, Arizona
John Sullivan, Deputy General Manager, Salt River Project
Marcus Selig, Director, Colorado Program, National Forest Foundation
WHAT:
Restoration of C.C. Cragin Reservoir Watersheds Proclamation Signing
WHEN:
Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014, at 2 p.m. MST
WHERE:
The Rim Club
300 E. Rim Club Drive
Payson, Ariz. 85541
RSVP:
Credentialed members of the media interested in covering the event are encouraged to RSVP HERE by Aug. 26, 2014, at 6 p.m. MST
Source: Department of Interior
