 |
|
 |
|
 |
||||
| News | Letters & Essays | Feedback | Resources | About CRC | ||
 |
|
 |
||||
| Hot Topics | |
| Open Space Meetings | ||
| Agua Fria Center | ||
| Village at Young's Farm | ||
|
|
|
| Dewey-Humboldt | |
| History | ||
| Organizations | ||
| Photos | ||
| Other Information | ||
|
|
|
| Get Involved! | |
| Join Our Mailing List | ||
| Share Your Thoughts | ||
|
|
|
|
||
| Overview | Developments | Latest News |
Not long ago, an effort to protect a large portion of land from wholesale development was won. Residing in the upper Agua Fria watershed, this collection of BLM, private, state, and US Forest Service lands awaits a long range plan for its future use. Several organizations and many individuals have come together to voice concerns and assess priorities in an effort to develop a plan for the management and use of this open space. An ongoing series of "Open Space meetings" has been established and is open to (and encouraging) public participation.
You can make a lasting contribution to the future of our open lands. These meetings will establish priorities, goals and viable solutions.
You may contact individual representatives below or send us an e-mail at: AguaFriaOpenSpac@aol.com
|
Garry Rogers Citizens for a Rural Community (928) 772-7111 |
Jim Buchanan Yavapai Horsemen's Association (928) 445-0072 |
|
Peggy Titus Friends of the Agua Fria River Basin blmlands@hotmail.com |
Mary Hoadley Upper Agua Fria Watershed Partnership (928) 632-6212 |
|
Skip Rains Dewey-Humboldt Community Org. (928) 632-8989 |
Sanford Cohen Prescott Open Trails Association (928) 445-8289 |
| Overview | Developments | Latest News |
8/28/06 - The August 28, meeting concerning open space in the upper Agua Fria region went very well. It was a stellar gathering with six groups of interacting participants that included interested citizens and representatives of two newspapers, six governmental agencies, and 8 or 9 private and quasi-governmental groups. Participants came from every community from Black Canyon City, to Prescott Below is a brief summary for those of you that could not attend.
The six groups debated the critical concerns in three general categories: Uses & Goals, Problems, and Management. Each group reached a consensus on the three leading concerns within each category. These were posted, and at the end of the meeting each participant "voted" with three dots that they placed on the one, two, or three concerns that they believed to be most important. The attached photos illustrate the voting process.
The leading concerns in all three categories were related to protection from damaging uses. Also highly ranked were education and management plans that include baseline data and designated-use areas. All the concerns and the votes will be summarized and be available at our September 11, meeting held at 6:30 pm at Academic Distributing, 12180 E. Turquoise Circle, Dewey, AZ.
9/11/06 - Our first follow-up to August 28, Open Space meeting was held at the Academic Distributing warehouse in Dewey. Participants reviewed a summary of the first meeting and discussed:
- Open Space Vision for the Future
- Reconnaissance inventory
- Public education
- Trails
- Dumping and shooting
- Legal issues
- Funding
- Group Organization
- Clean-up on BLM land next Saturday at 8:30, N. of MDI Rock.
Attendees represented numerous interests including several government agencies, watershed resources, ranching, motorized and non-motorized trail users, natural environments, geology, and more.
Vision: The most common theme of the first meeting was protection of open space from human impacts. It was stated in various ways. The highest vote count was for "Protect open space that sustains the health & diversity of the land" with 11 votes. The suggested vision presented at the latest meeting was similar, but it included regulating use to minimize change, another common idea from the first meeting. Though no one disagreed, more discussion is needed.
It became apparent last night that trails are a serious concern for everyone. The impact of trails in our area is not well known. Many unmapped trails exist and because of unregulated motorized vehicle use, new trails are probably being created constantly. The trails discussion led to discussion of rules, enforcement, and funding.
Next meeting topics will be:
- Vision: Everyone please bring an idea or two to present to the group to
help clarify our goals. You may also wish to come prepared with comments on choices between recreation use and preservation. How will we use open space without damaging it?
- Organization: We will discuss the steps to create a Board-controlled
non-profit organization.
- Reconnaissance inventory with strong trails component: We will discuss how trails are identified and mapped, the nature of trail impacts, and decision criteria for trail closures.
You may also be interested in joining Tanya Baker for the AZ Game & Fish Clean-Up Day on BLM Lands.
Tanya says "We will meet at 8:30 am on Saturday September 16th, at the beginning of Section 31. Take Hwy 169 to MDI Gravel/Rock mine and drive through the mine (be careful for mining equipment, they will be operating that day) when you come out the North side of the mine you will see a large Game & Fish sign addressing Sportsmen. You should then see us in the open field beyond that sign. You can always call me with questions, 710-3700. We will have a backhoe, & tractor, and Game & Fish is bringing some gloves, garbage bags, pickers, etc., so anything that you would feel comfortable using to pick up trash you should bring. Bottled water would be a good idea too."
9/17/06 - Participants in the September 11, open-space meeting pointed out that the meetings would be more productive if they were better organized. Acting on their advice, an agenda has been prepared.
As announced, the next meeting will be held Monday, Sept. 18, at 6:30 pm, at Academic Distributing (ADI) at 12181 E. Turquoise Circle. ADI is the second building north of the Kachina Animal Hospital which is located at the corner of Bradshaw Mountain Road and Turquoise Circle. Call 772-7111 for information.
| Overview | Developments | Latest News |
9/21/06 - The third open-space meeting was held Monday evening, September 18, at the ADI warehouse in Dewey.
The meeting opened with a personal account of 35-years of open-space observation and research that witnessed continuing deterioration in much of the US because of lack of detailed resource descriptions and lack of adequate use regulation. This group has an opportunity to set the standard for open space planning in the 21st Century.
Attendees continued work on Vision and Mission statements. They also formed a committee headed by Sanford Cohen to begin the process of forming a 501.c.3, nonprofit corporation, and they formed a committee headed by Tanya Baker to begin compiling the existing maps, photographs, monographs, and articles pertaining to open space in the Upper Agua Fria River Basin region.
The group decided to hold future meetings on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. Meetings will be held at Academic Distributing, 12180 E. Turquoise Circle, Dewey, at 6:30 pm. The next meeting will be held on October 10, 2006. Agendas will be distributed by e-mail.
Attendees discussed names for the group and decided to call upon interested individuals for suggestions. Here are some ideas for names:
Agua Fria River Basin Friends
Alliance for Open Space, A Friend of the Upper Agua Fria Watershed
Agua Fria Planning Alliance
Agua Fria Open Space Alliance
Alliance of Upper Agua Fria River Basin Friends
Alliance of Friends of Agua Fria Open Space
Send us your thoughts and suggestions.
Copyright 2006, Citizens for a
Rural Community