[ADEQ Media] ADEQ Director Owens Announces $250, 000 Grant to Restore Waters Damaged by 2002 Rodeo-Chediski Fire

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

ADEQ Director Owens Announces $250,000 Grant to Restore Waters Damaged
by 2002 Rodeo-Chediski Fire 

PHOENIX (July 18, 2008) -- Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Director Steve Owens announced today that ADEQ is awarding a $250,000
grant to the White Mountain Apache Tribe to reverse damage done to
watersheds by the 2002 Rodeo-Chediski fire.

The wildfire, the largest in Arizona history, burned nearly 500,000
acres of forest land, including a substantial area on the Fort Apache
Indian Reservation in east-central Arizona.  Flooding because of erosion
caused by the fire is still occurring in the community of Cibecue and
throughout the western part of the reservation, and is damaging homes,
roads and land throughout the region. 

"The Rodeo-Chediski fire was the most devastating fire in our state's
history, and its impact is still being felt throughout the Apache
reservation and northeastern Arizona," Director Owens. "We have been
working closely with the White Mountain Apache Tribe to deal with the
consequences of the Rodeo-Chediski fire and protect precious water
resources in the area.  This is one of the most important water quality
improvement grants we are providing this year."

The grant will help Cibecue, a community about 50 miles southwest of
Show Low with a population of about 2,000 people, implement management
practices to protect the land and water. The grant focuses on the Willow
Creek drainage area in the Salt Creek watershed and the Day School Wash
drainage area, located within the Cibecue Creek watershed.

Under the grant, the tribe will plant seedlings and native vegetation
and install dams and dikes in areas where erosion is occurring.  The
tribe also will use the grant money to build fences and widen channels
to reduce flood risk, erosion and bacteria levels.  

In addition, the tribe will conduct follow-up monitoring to measure the
water quality and to better determine the sources of erosion. It also
will conduct outreach and public educational programs to boost awareness
of water quality, fire and health issues. 

Work under the grant will be performed under the White Mountain Apache
Tribe's authority and will include the efforts of contractors and
volunteers.

-30-

News media interested in additional information on this or any other
topic concerning the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality should
contact the Office of Communications at (602) 771-2215 or via email at
communications@azdeq.gov.

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