Springs Monitoring for the Four Forest Restoration Initiative in Northern Arizona

Learn about an extensive springs monitoring study within the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) in this 54-minute presentation that explores the impact of forest restoration treatments on spring ecosystems across Northern Arizona's national forests. Discover how the Springs Stewardship Institute conducts their five-year monitoring program examining the effects of mechanical thinning and prescribed burns on over 20,000 springs throughout the Colorado River basin. Gain insights into how these keystone ecosystems serve as indicators of environmental change, and understand how the study's findings are enhancing knowledge of spring ecosystems while shaping future management strategies to improve forest resilience and reduce wildfire risks across 2.4 million acres of ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forest.