Arizona: Tonto National Forest to hold public meetings on preliminary proposed management plan

The Tonto National Forest will be releasing a proposed plan to update the 1985 forest management plan that it is operating under.  The proposed new plan will be available on the National Forest’s website by Monday, November 6^th , but ahead of its release meetings have been scheduled by the National Forest to share information with the public.  The National Forest says that a new plan is needed to manage its nearly 3 million acres of forest lands because the current plan is outdated and does not address relevant issues such as recreation, healthy watersheds, open spaces, ecosystem restoration and wildlife.  In order to keep the National Forest open for hunting and target shooting, it is important that sportsmen and women get engaged in this planning process, beginning with attendance at one of the public meetings, in order to shape the future of hunting and shooting in the Tonto National Forest.  

Meeting dates, times and locations are: 

• Tuesday, November 7, from 5 – 7 p.m. (Mesa)
  Franklin at Brimhall Elementary/Franklin Junior High, 4949 East Southern Ave, Mesa

• Wednesday, November 8, from 5 – 7 p.m. (Cave Creek)
  Desert Foothills Library, 38443 North Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek

• Monday, November 13, from 5 – 7 p.m. (Roosevelt)
  Tonto Basin Ranger District Office - Roosevelt Lake Visitor Center, 28097 AZ-188, Roosevelt

• Tuesday, November 14, from 5 – 7 p.m. (Payson)
  Payson High School, 301 South McLane, Payson

• Wednesday, November 15, from 2 – 4 p.m. (Young)
  Pleasant Valley Community Center, Highway 288, Young

• Thursday, November 16, from 5 – 7pm (Globe/Miami)
  Bullion Plaza Cultural Center, 150 North Plaza Circle, Miami

• Monday, November 20, from 5 – 7pm (Superior)
  Superior Junior/Senior High School, 100 W Mary Dr., Superior

• Tuesday, November 21, from 5 – 7pm (Phoenix)
  24th Street Conference Center, 1841 N 24th St #10, Phoenix 

More information about the meetings will be available on the plan revision website www.tontoplan.org. Those with additional questions are encouraged to contact the Tonto National Forest via email at: [email protected].