Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Departments Hassayampa River Preserve2011

Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department 41835 N. Castle Hot Springs Rd. Morristown, AZ 85342 www.maricopacountyparks.net AWARD INFORMATION Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Dept. – Hassayampa River Preserve

CONTACT INFORMATION Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department Attn: Dawna Taylor, Public Information Officer 41835 N. Castle Hot Springs Rd. Morristown, AZ 85342 Phone: (602) 506-2930 Direct line: (928) 501-9204 Email: [email protected]

PROGRAM TITLE Hassayampa River Preserve

PROGRAM CATEGORY Parks and Recreation

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ABSTRACT OF THE PROGRAM Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Dept. – Hassayampa River Preserve

In approximately 200 words or less, summarize the program include the program description, the purpose and outcomes.

**Abstracts of award winning programs will be published. Please be sure to provide clear and concise information as this section will be used publicly in whatever format it is submitted.

The Nature Conservancy has been the property manager for the Hassayampa River Preserve for the past 30 years. However, the Conservancy’s mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends, not manage individual properties. In 2006, the Conservancy approached Maricopa County about managing the Preserve. As the manager of several conservation areas and thousands of acres of park land, the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department was honored that the Conservancy would put their trust in them to manage the Preserve. By April 2017, the Agreements were in place, and Conservancy transferred management of the Preserve over to the department.

The addition of the Preserve marks the first new major acquisition of parkland in nearly 20 years for the department. In addition to enabling the department to bring a regional park to the northwest valley, the Preserve will serve as the gateway to the Vulture Mountains Recreation Area, a property the department has entered into a Cooperative Management Agreement with the Bureau of Land Management to manage. Since the transition, staff have made structural and cosmetic improvements around the Preserve, while protecting the natural and historical features, to expand services and enhance park visitor experiences.

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THE PROBLEM/NEED FOR THE PROGRAM Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Dept. – Hassayampa River Preserve

Discuss the problem or need that prompted the development of the program and the county’s legal obligation, if any, to take action. Approximately ¼ pages.

Maricopa County’s Parks and Recreation Department manages more than 120,000 acres of pristine, Sonoran Desert parkland surrounding the metro-Phoenix area. In 2006, the department was approached by the Wickenburg Conservation Foundation about developing a county park in the picturesque Vulture Mountains, located just outside of the Town of Wickenburg in the far west valley. With the closest county park located more than 40 miles from Wickenburg, the department was interested in the possibility of expanding the footprint of Maricopa County's regional park system to bring recreational opportunities to the far west valley.

In 2009, the department hosted a stakeholders planning meeting with the Arizona Bureau of Land Management to flesh out a Cooperative Management Agreement for management of the Vulture Mountains Recreation Area. During the planning process, the department learned that one of the attending stakeholders, The Nature Conservancy, was interested in transferring management of the Hassayampa River Preserve to the department to incorporate into the Vulture Mountains Recreation Area.

After numerous meetings, the development of several in-depth management plans, and extensive contract negotiations, an Agreement was put in place between the agencies identifying Maricopa County as the new manager of the Hassayampa River Preserve. In April 2017, the property was transitioned over to the county. Since that time, the county has made numerous repairs and improvements to the property, expanded staffing and program offerings, and increased services to the community.

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COST OF THE PROGRAM Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Dept. – Hassayampa River Preserve

Provide a description of the nominated program including its objectives, time frame for development and implementation, clientele, the county’s role in implementing the program and the contributions of any other partners where applicable (e.g. states and the federal government, consultants and private partnerships). Approximately 2 ½ pages.

Nestled amongst a ribbon of green along Highway 60 is a modest yet important conservation area known as the Hassayampa River Preserve (Preserve). The Preserve consists of approximately 789- acres along the Hassayampa River, just south of Wickenburg. The Hassayampa River is one of the few undammed rivers in Arizona which flows above ground, creating an oasis in the Sonoran Desert.

The story of the Preserve has many chapters. Over the years, the area now called the Hassayampa River Preserve has been managed by various private land owners. When the property went up for sale in 1986, The Nature Conservancy (Conservancy), an international non-profit conservation organization, saw the ecological importance of the area and purchased the property, creating the Hassayampa River Preserve. In addition, the Preserve offers approximately 2.7 miles of self-guided trails that branch out from the Preserve’s Nature Center.

For more than 30 years, Conservancy has provided protection to the Hassayampa River Preserve’s ecologically-unique riparian ecosystem that runs along a five-mile stretch of the Hassayampa River within the Preserve, and serves as an outdoor classroom by providing environmental education opportunities, and experiences for visitors along the river.

But now, the Preserve begins a new chapter in its long history. In 2006, the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department (department) was approached by the Wickenburg Conservation Foundation about developing a county park in the picturesque Vulture Mountains. Later that same year, the county began discussions with the Arizona Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regarding a Cooperative Management Agreement for the Vulture Mountains.

In 2009, the department hosted the first planning meeting for the Vulture Mountains Cooperative Recreation Area, with BLM. One of the attending stakeholders at the meeting was a Conservancy member since the Hassayampa River Preserve abutted the proposed recreation area boundaries.

During the planning process, the department learned that residents desired a county park near the Wickenburg community, and the Conservancy was interested in transitioning management of the Hassayampa River Preserve to Maricopa County to incorporate into the Vulture Mountains Recreation Area. The agencies agreed that Hassayampa River Preserve would serve as the gateway to the much larger Vulture Mountains Recreation Area, a 71,000-acre area owned by the BLM west and south of the Preserve.

Over time, the Conservancy had decided to shift their focus from management towards protecting larger ecosystems and watersheds, and take a step back from managing individual properties. Following many discussions with Conservancy and county staff, an Agreement was reached, and the agencies worked together to ensure a smooth transition as the Preserve officially became part of the Maricopa County regional park system in April 2017.

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COST OF THE PROGRAM Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Dept. – Hassayampa River Preserve

Under the Agreement, the Conservancy transferred management of the Hassayampa River Preserve to Maricopa County, and the county agreed to oversee management of two parcels of land: • a 65.3 acre parcel of land described in the Agreement as Fee Property (the Visitor’s Center and Palm Lake); and • a 646 acre parcel of land described in the Agreement as “Leased Property” (river corridor and Sonoran Desert upland).

The fee property, and it’s associated well and water rights, were deeded to the county via a Gift Deed with Reservation of Conservation Easement and Access. The leased property will be leased to the county until property boundary discrepancies have been resolved. Upon resolution of the boundary discrepancies, a separate Gift Deed will be initiated for the 646 acres to be transferred to the county.

To commemorate the transfer, the agencies held a “Key Moment Ceremony” at the Preserve on May 16, 2017. At the ceremony, a set of rustic keys was symbolically handed over by The Nature Conservancy to Maricopa County recognizing and celebrating the accomplishments of the agencies, as well as the numerous people involved in the process of transferring the Preserve.

Once the dust settled, visitors began to wonder what exactly the acquisition meant for the Preserve. On the management side, it meant that Maricopa County is now be responsible for managing the visitor center, trails and the surrounding lands that comprise the Preserve. While the Conservancy retained a conservation easement on the land, which is a voluntary agreement that allows the Conservancy to monitor the Hassayampa’s ecological health into the future.

During the transition, the department filled the Vulture Mountain Recreations Area Manager position and housed the individual at the Preserve so she could learn the Conservancy’s standard operating procedures, and culture. In addition, the Conservancy’s seasoned staff and volunteers remained on-site to share their expertise and history of the Preserve.

Since the transition, the department has made structural and cosmetic improvements around the Preserve, while protecting the natural and historical features, to expand services and enhance park visitor experiences. Improvements include:

• hiring a full-time interpretive ranger to offer a wide variety of programs; • cosmetic repairs such as fresh paint and new flooring; • structural repairs such as building patchwork, electrical system upgrades, roofing improvements , a new air-conditioning unit which may be less noticeable but are all very important in maintaining a quality visitor experience; • parking area upgrades, including pipe rail fencing along the driveway; • fuels reduction around the perimeter of the buildings to reduce the threat of wildfire; • new office furniture, computers, front desk in the Visitor Center, display shelving in the retail center; and a point of sale system; • reconstruction of the Visitor Center’s back porch; • installation of new trail signs and trail reroutes;

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COST OF THE PROGRAM Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Dept. – Hassayampa River Preserve

• improvements to the picnic area, including construction of a bench wall to increase the functionality of the space by making it a two-tiered area for presentations and school group usage, new picnic tables, and trails benches; • a new information kiosk and visitor center exhibit; and • installation of a new ADA-accessible restroom building adjacent to the visitor parking lot.

On March 24, the department and Conservancy celebrated their accomplishments and partnership by hosting a Grand Reopening at the Preserve to showcase the changes that have taken place thus far under the county’s management.

The Conservancy has been the responsible steward for the Preserve, and the agency has done an excellent job managing the land. As the new manager, Maricopa County’s Parks and Recreation Department looks forward to building on the Conservancy’s legacy as it works to enhance visitor services and expand the stewardship role.

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THE RESULTS / SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Dept. – Hassayampa River Preserve

Describe both the operating and capital costs incurred in developing and implementing the program. List all costs that would be incurred by a county attempting to replicate the program. Approximately ¾ to 1 page.

When The Nature Conservancy purchased the Hassayampa River Preserve in 1986, the riparian cottonwood and willow forest was in danger of disappearing. Over the years, Conservancy staff and volunteers worked tirelessly to eliminate invasive species and restore the flora to its natural state. With the land in good health at the time of the transition, Maricopa County decided to allocate their resources towards facility improvements and expanding customer services.

Historically, Conservancy’s operating budget for the Preserve had been approximately $95,000 which includes part-time and full-time staffing, and facility operating costs. When the agencies transitioned the property, the county assumed financial responsibility and provided full-time staffing. Per the Agreement, any revenue collected during 2017 would be accepted as “donations” that would then be used towards maintenance of the Preserve. Below is the breakdown of the FY17 and FY18 budgets. FY17 and FY18 Through January close Revenues Budget Objects FY 2017 FY 2018 6352 - Other Charges For Services 3,757 19,645 Total for: Charges For Services 3,757 19,645 6504 – Donations / Contributions 19,347 8 Total for: Miscellaneous 19,347 8 Total for: Revenues 23,104 19,653 Expenditures Budget Objects FY 2017 FY 2018 Total Expenditures Total for: Personal Services 50,839 112,054 213,732 Total for: Supplies 22,182 10,052 54,203 Total for: Services 86,511 16,727 189,749 Total for: Capital Outlay 32,766 16,727 82,259 Total for: Expenditures 192,298 138,833

As mentioned previously, the county hired a full-time staff, including an interpretive ranger. This allows the Preserve to offer more public programming than Conservancy was able to offer. In high demand is the monthly night walk Creatures of the Night, which fills up every time. Improvements made to the picnic area has provided additional space for interpretive programming.

This summer, the Preserve hosted a weeklong Kids Nature Camp, continuing a beloved Conservancy program. The Park Supervisor worked with a local teacher who had led the camp in the past to develop STEM-based activities and projects focused on the unique resources of the Hassayampa River Preserve. The majority of the Preserve’s previous volunteer base under the Conservancy’s management has returned to assist the county with interpretive programs, staff the nature center and maintenance projects around the facility. Since taking over management at the Preserve, attendance numbers have steadily increased, with dips occurring during the warmer summer months.

July- Aug.- Sept. Oct.- Nov.- Dec.- Jan.- Feb.- Mar- Apr.- May- Jun- Month Year 17 17 17 17 17 17 18 18 18 18 18 18 to to Date Date 210 152 479 670 1,037 937 1,057 0 0 0 0 0 4,542 4,542

711 1,085 2,456 1,754 717 360 711 7,103

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WORTHINESS OF AN AWARD Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Dept. – Hassayampa River Preserve

Give justification for why this program meets the outlined criteria and should be awarded a 2018 Achievement Awards. Approximately ¼ to ½ page.

The Hassayampa River Preserve is a prime example of two agencies with similar missions working together to preserve valuable community ecosystem, while bringing additional and affordable recreational opportunities to an area.

Together, the agencies have developed a long-range vision for the Preserve to guide site-specific development priorities that will provide for both the public’s enjoyment and the protection of the Preserve’s resources. The plan provides a conceptual framework for establishing priorities, and identifying existing and future needs.

Since assuming management at the Preserve, the county has begun implementing the plan by making structural and cosmetic improvements around the Preserve, expanding visitor services, and obtaining feedback from the community regarding their needs at the Preserve.

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SUPPORTING INFORMATION Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Dept. – Hassayampa River Preserve

Water Use It Wisely Celebrate AZ Water: Hassayampa River Preserve – An Oasis in The Desert May 29, 2017

An oasis in the desert. Photo by Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department

The story of the Preserve has many chapters. Over the years, the area now called the Hassayampa River Preserve has been managed by

The original ranch house now serves as the Visitor Center. Photo various private land owners. The area was part of by Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department a productive farm and ranch in the late 1800s, feeding the miners from the nearby Vulture Mine Welcome to the Hassayampa River Preserve, an outside of Wickenburg. oasis in the desert. Nestled amongst a ribbon of green along Highway 60 is a modest yet important Palm trees planted during this era provided an conservation area known as the Hassayampa River idyllic setting for the property to become Preserve. The Preserve consists of approximately Wickenburg’s first dude ranch in 1913, dubbed 789 acres along the Hassayampa River, just south the Garden of Allah after a popular novel of the of Wickenburg. The Hassayampa River is one of time. The ranch has changed hands and names the few undammed rivers in Arizona which flows over the years, and by the 1960s, when it became above ground, creating an oasis in the Sonoran the Shady River mobile home park, had suffered Desert. The Hassayampa River begins at Groom significant degradation. Creek in the near Prescott. Groom Creek is a typical mountain stream, When the property went up for sale in 1986, The plunging over rocks and bordered by tall trees Nature Conservancy, an international non-profit typical of higher elevations. Several other streams conservation organization, saw the ecological join it on its downhill journey, and when the river importance of the area and purchased the reaches the valley floor, it disappears under a property, creating the Hassayampa River Preserve. thousand feet of sand and gravel that has been When the Conservancy began managing the eroded, over millennia, off the mountains. Preserve, much of the floodplain area was severely trampled and barren due to years of livestock From this point to where it converges with the grazing and off-road vehicle use. , the river is almost entirely underground. But for five miles at the Preserve, Within three years after the exclusion of those the granite bedrock domes up, forcing the water impacts, nature began to heal itself, and the to the surface, where it flows year round. This riparian cottonwood and willow forest understory geological fact led to its naming, Hassayampa, had been substantially recolonized by new plants which can be translated from the as the and trees. Today, this towering canopy of shade is “upside-down river”. one of the last remaining stretches of willow and cottonwood forest in Arizona and supports an amazing diversity of wildlife, including almost 300

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SUPPORTING INFORMATION Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Dept. – Hassayampa River Preserve

different species of birds, both migratory and Summer hours for the Preserve are Wednesday resident. through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., with all trails closing at 3:30 p.m. Preserve visitors may For the past 30 years, the Conservancy has stroll the approximately three miles of self-guided provided protection to this ecologically-unique trails that branch out from the 140-year-old adobe ecosystem and has served as an outdoor ranch house, now serving as the Visitor Center. classroom, providing untold opportunities and Entry fees for the Preserve are $5/adult (age 13 experiences for visitors. But now, the Preserve and up). Maricopa County Park’s annual passes begins a new chapter in its long history. In 2006, are honored. Friends of Hassayampa passes and the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Nature Conservancy memberships will be Department was approached by the Wickenburg honored through 2017. To learn more about the Conservation Foundation about developing a Hassayampa River Preserve, please call the county park in the picturesque Vulture Mountains. Preserve at (928) 684-2772, or visit Later that same year, the County began www.maricopacountyparks.net. discussions with the Arizona Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regarding a Cooperative Cronkite News Management Agreement for the Vulture Mountains. County wants visitors to In 2009, the Department hosted the first planning discover Hassayampa meeting for the Vulture Mountains Cooperative preserve, hidden treasure in Recreation Area with BLM. One of the attending stakeholders at that first meeting was the Wickenburg Conservancy since their Preserve abutted the By Janie Hoyt | Cronkite News proposed boundaries of the recreation area. Tuesday, April 11, 2017 During the planning process, the Department learned that the Conservancy was interested in donating the Hassayampa River Preserve to the Parks Department to incorporate into the Vulture Mountains Recreation Area.

The Conservancy was looking to shift their focus more towards protecting larger ecosystems and watersheds, and step back from managing individual properties. Following many discussions with Conservancy and County staff, an agreement As many as 280 species of birds migrate or nest in the Hassayampa River Preserve, according to the Nature Conservancy. Maricopa County will officially was reached and the agencies worked together to take over the preserve April 16 and plans to renovate a visitor center and expand ensure a smooth transition as the Preserve parking over the next several years. (Photo by Devon Cordell/Cronkite News) officially became part of the Maricopa County regional park system in April 2017. WICKENBURG – A hidden gem is getting revamped. The Conservancy has been the responsible steward for the Preserve, and the agency has done Maricopa County, which will soon become the an excellent job managing the land. As the new sole manager of the Hassayampa River Preserve, plans to expand parking and revamp the visitor’s manager, Maricopa County’s Parks and Recreation Department looks forward to building on the center over several years. Conservancy’s legacy as it works to enhance visitor services and expand the stewardship role. The Nature Conservancy will turn over operations To date, the Department has increased visiting to the county on April 16. hours and public programming, and there are several infrastructure improvements scheduled to “The first thing that we thought was important take place before the grand opening in the fall. was get some quality restroom buildings here,

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SUPPORTING INFORMATION Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Dept. – Hassayampa River Preserve

some upgraded picnic facilities and better parking. That will be the first phase of the development that we’ll be starting this summer,” said R.J. Cardin, director of the county Parks and Recreation department.

The visitor’s center, which was a stagecoach stop in the late 1800s, will retain its historical feel through any upgrades, he said.

“We really want to keep the integrity of the historic property here and the integrity of the preserve and the conservation area as well,” Cardin said.

Maricopa County Supervisor Clint Hickman said a goal is to get more people to stop by the preserve.

The preserve provides an up-close look of the Hassayampa River. The preserve features a small lake, 280 species of birds and several self-guided trails.

“Some of these things are important to preserve but also utilize, not just stare at it from a car going 55 miles an hour but actually offer services there that people can use,” Hickman said.

Maricopa County hopes the Hassayampa Preserve will act as a gateway to the nearby Vulture Mountain Recreation Area, a park the county already owns.

The Hassayampa River Preserve is near U.S. Highway 60 in Wickenburg. It is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday.

Video: https://youtu.be/wn4sAlpD7No Digital story: https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2017/04/11/county- wants-visitors-to-discover-hassayampa-preserve- hidden-treasure-in-wickenburg/

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