West Water Cultural Survey / wildfire fuels reduction

The West Water Cultural Inventory Project will provide the BLM Kingman Field Office with data on the cultural resources within the West Water Vegetation Treatment Unit located in the Music Mountains, northwest of the small community of Truxton, AZ. An intensive cultural resource inventory (Class III) of 6,444 acres will need to be performed, following current professional standards, to comply with Section 106 of the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act (Section 106) ahead of planned mechanical vegetation treatments being implemented to reduce wildfire risk and threats to WUI and public and firefighter safety. This cultural inventory is needed to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act prior to implementing mechanical fuels reduction treatments on approximately 6,444 acres of hazardous fuels in a high-risk area to reduce wildfire threats to firefighter and public safety, infrastructure, and natural resources. Failure to implement this project would violate the 2001 Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy, which prioritizes firefighter and public safety, ecosystem sustainability, and the use of wildland fire to protect, maintain, and enhance resources. Additionally, not proceeding would contravene the Department of Interior's fire management program, which aims to reduce catastrophic fire risks and support local communities in high-risk areas, and as a result, may harm the local surrounding populations, communities, and resources.