Coconino County approves $3.5 million for first half of Leroux forest restoration project

With Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff facing a “catastrophic” economic impact in the event of wildfire and postwildfire flooding on the western side of the San Francisco Peaks, a long-planned restoration project will soon move forward.

Initially announced in March 2024, the Leroux Project originally consisted of 1,200 acres within the Upper Rio de Flag watershed. Flanking both sides of Snowbowl Road to the east of U.S. Route 180 and the western side of the San Francisco Peaks, the project area has long been identified as a “key focus area,” according to Lucinda Andreani, Coconino County Flood Control District administrator. The total acreage was split into two smaller project areas, dubbed Leroux East and Leroux West, with the former noted as the highest priority.