Approval of Cooperative Forest Road Agreement No. 26-RO-11031200-005 between Gila County and the USDA Forest Service, Tonto National Forest, for the maintenance and improvement of Forest Service roads within Gila County, and authorization of the Chairman's signature.

The previous Cooperative Forest Road Agreement between Gila County and the Tonto National Forest was scheduled to expire on September 30, 2025. In September 2025, TNF began implementing a new Travel Management Plan and advised the County that it would not complete a new agreement before the expiration date. As a result, the existing Agreement was extended for one year, through September 30, 2026, to allow the County and TNF additional time to negotiate a new agreement.

Since that time, Gila County and TNF have worked collaboratively to develop a new Cooperative Forest Road Agreement, with the intent of having the Agreement in place effective October 1, 2026. The proposed Agreement will remain in effect for four (4) years, through September 30, 2030.

To ensure continuity of road maintenance in the event the new Agreement was not fully executed by October 1, 2026, the Gila County Board of Supervisors approved Gila County’s application for a USDA Forest Service, Tonto National Forest Special Use Permit at its September 15, 2026 Regular Meeting. The Special Use Permit provides interim authority for the County to continue scheduled maintenance of designated Forest Service roads from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027, or until the Cooperative Forest Road Agreement is fully executed, whichever occurs first.

As part of developing the Agreement, the County and TNF have discussed potential changes to the roads covered by the Agreement. These may include adding or removing roads, adjusting road mileage based on updated GIS data, and modifying maintenance levels or frequencies.

Schedule A identifies the specific Forest Service roads the County will maintain, along with the applicable maintenance levels and frequencies. The County and TNF recommend approval of the Agreement with the understanding that Schedule A may be modified in the future, as mutually agreed upon by both parties, to add or remove roads or make other necessary adjustments.

Approval of the Cooperative Forest Road Agreement will provide a long-term framework for Gila County to continue maintaining the designated Forest Service roads identified in Schedule A and will establish the County's and TNF's respective road maintenance responsibilities.

The Agreement also allows the County and TNF to adjust Schedule A as road conditions, maintenance needs, updated GIS information, and priorities change.

Approval and execution of the Cooperative Forest Road Agreement will replace the interim authority provided by the Special Use Permit and establish a four-year agreement to maintain designated Forest Service roads through September 30, 2030.

Entering into the Agreement is mutually beneficial to Gila County and the Tonto National Forest and supports the continued maintenance and accessibility of the designated Forest Service road system.

The Public Works Director recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve and enter into Cooperative Forest Road Agreement No. 26-RO-11031200-236 between Gila County and the USDA Forest Service, Tonto National Forest, and authorize the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors to execute the Agreement on Gila County's behalf.

Information/Discussion/Action to approve and enter into Cooperative Forest Road Agreement No. 26-RO-11031200-236 between Gila County and the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Tonto National Forest, for the maintenance of designated Forest Service roads, effective October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2030, and to authorize the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors to execute the Agreement on behalf of Gila County.  (Joseph Dickison/Matt Rencher)