Salt River Project and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management have extended their commitment to partner on strategic forest thinning projects through 2030, SRP officials said.

A memorandum of understand “sets the foundation for the utility and state agency to plan, fund and implement forest thinning projects,” according to a release from the Tempe-based utility.

SRP and the state have funded in the first five years of the partnership 25 thinning and mastication projects that will restore 35,000 acres, officials said.

The goals for the next five years will be to focus on expanding the partnership across the Prescott National Forest and the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest while continuing to work in the Tonto and Coconino national forests, the release stated.

SRP and DFFM plan to partner on an additional 52,000 acres of restoration work through 2030.

“We know forest restoration projects like these can only be done through collaborative efforts with agencies across the state, and we are proud to continue working closely with DFFM to ensure healthy forests,” Leslie Meyers, SRP chief water executive said.