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By Sam Hosler
Mayor, Town of Kearny
If you take a look at the “backside” of the 400 block of Jamestown Road, you will see that much of the flammable brush has been removed. This was a cooperative effort of The Copper Basin Railway and the Town of Kearny, similar to what was done earlier on the 100, 200, and 300 blocks of the town next to the railroad. We thank Bobby Blake, the railway, and our public works employees for making Kearny safer.
This past week the Winkelman Natural Resources Conservation District and its chairman, Bill Dunn, held its regular quarterly meeting as well as a special day hosting government entities which have the expertise to bring about a revitalization of the burned areas along the Gila River. This is a complicated task. Burned lands are owned by ASARCO, the Bureau of Land Management, area ranchers, the State Land Trust, and the Town of Kearny.
Tours of the burned areas were conducted both days. Most of the ash has been blown away by the winds, leaving mostly sterile land in which only the Salt Cedar (tamarisk) can grow. And, indeed, it is already coming back. Fire losses include cottonwoods, willows, and grass along the banks of the river. A visit to the Shipman Fire area of two years ago reveals that salt cedars now tower 25 to 30 feet, crowding out other vegetation. This will be the pattern for the Kearny River Fire unless action is taken soon.
There is a window of opportunity. Endangered birds (the Southwestern Yellow Flycatcher and the Yellow Cuckoo) soon will be heading south. If work is accomplished between now and the beginning of May, some (if not most) of the tamarisk can be removed. The opportunity is complicated by the fact that herbicides can only be used judiciously, being careful that there is no runoff into the Gila River. Replanting is complicated, too, because the burned soils are now so sterile, and because willows and cottonwoods grow slowly compared to salt cedars. The burned salt cedars will have to be dug up and treated with topical applications.
This is an expensive process. It was good to see so many agencies of the State of Arizona and the U.S. Government exploring the process together, and I am heartened that ASARCO wants to be part of the process.
The Town of Kearny will work cooperatively with all these land owners and agencies. From my own experience, I know that things will not come about as smoothly or as quickly as we may like, but I am mightily encouraged that so many groups are willing to work together.
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