Arizona State Trust Lands Conservation Profile: State Trust Lands and Archeology
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Arizona State Trust Lands Conservation Profile: State Trust Lands and Archeology ARIZONA’s HeritAGE It should come as no surprise that significant archeological sites exist on state trust lands in Arizona. Sonoran Institute, An estimated 10,000 archaeological sites and historic in collaboration with structures have been documented, including well known examples such as the platform mound and ballcourt at conservation groups Adamsville and the extensive petroglyph assemblages across Arizona and with around the Picacho Mountains. Countless others funding from the Nina are little known except to archaeologists, outdoor Mason Pulliam Charitable enthusiasts, and unfortunately looters and vandals. With 9.2 million acres of land to manage, the Arizona Trust, has assembled State Land Department (ASLD) lacks the resources to state trust lands suitable protect these windows into Arizona’s past. for conservation into a The importance of the archaeological records on state single database. The trust lands cannot be overstated. Evidence of human resulting profiles focus habitation from 12,000 years ago to the modern day, can be found throughout the state. Because much of on conservation values. the land is remote and has remained as open space, Political values are left many areas provide a complete record of Native for another day. American settlements, including pre-European contact. Villages, hamlets, field houses, agricultural terraces, prehistoric trails, and rock art assemblages are often be found in one setting, which suggests a relatively intact archaeological record of a cultural landscape. Shaping the Future of the West www.sonoraninstitute.org “Our natural and cultural heritage remains one of Arizona’s most valued assets. The best use of select state trust land is conservation in perpetuity. The case is solid, the time to act is now, our children and our children’s children demand it.” – Andy Laurenzi, Archeology Southwest LOCATION Archeological Sites on State Trust Land The sensitivity of the locations of archeological sites on state trust land prevents disclosure of exact locations. Many sites have ancestral ties to modern day Native American tribes in Arizona; sites that retain cultural importance to Arizona tribes today. The maps on this page show all state trust land proposed for conservation. Northern Arizona State Trust Land Parcels for Conservation Colo rad 160 o River H a v a s u C 264 re e k 64 Grand Canyon Scenic Corridor 87 ata C ra ct C r e e k 180 89 66 L i 40 ttle Co lora do Rive 99 r 18 0 Turkey Hills Observatory Mesa 89 40 40 66 Central Arizona State Trust Land Upper Chino Valley Grasslands Centennial Forest Walnut Canyon 17 89A Parcels for Conservation 89 r Homolovi Ruins State Park 89A 77 ive 89A Puerco R Ve rde Headwaters 61 99 40 Ve rd V e e 99 R rd 87 Ve rde Headwaters e iv Middle Ve rde R Upper Chino Valley Grasslands e 89A i r 180 v 191 e 179 r Middle Ve rde 89A 260 77 Burro Creek 179 Glassford Hill 377 260 Badger Peak 69 169 277 17 61 Glassford Hill 89 69 r 169 e Badger Peak iv Lyman Lake State Park 97 260 e R rd 96 mpa R e a iv V 260 y er Ea s t 90 a 17 s 277 89 s 260 a Springerville Grasslands H er iv 260 R o ad Little Colorado River or 473 ol 89 C le 73 itt 87 L Wickenburg r e Daisy Mountain v 60 i Spur Cross R Ranch Conservation Area w 188 74 Cave Cree ek Recreational Arearea N r e er Southern Arizona State Trust Land Phoenix Sonoran Preserve iv iv Tonto Creek R R White lt a Continental Mountain 60 S r e iv k R 101 ac Parcels for Conservation Bl 303 51 88 78 G Agua Fria River ila R 143 iv McDowell Sonoran Preserve er 191 287 lt River 202 191 Sa 60 87 75 S a Hassayampa River Superstition Mountains n 101 70 Picacho Mountains P e 70 d G r i 77 o la R 79 R iver 587 iv e r 366 85 S a Oracle State Park n Picacho Peak State Park t 191 a 177 238 C r 387 287 u 78 266 z W 187 Lower San Pedro as h Lower San Pedro Tortolita Mountain Park 8 79 S 84 287 an Pe Tortolita Fan S dro Ri Catalina State Park anta San ta Picacho Mountains 191 77 C C v r 366 u ru z R iv e r Catalina Galiuro Corridor 186 86 186 386 83 80 10 191 286 Cienega Creek 181 Santa Rita Experimental Range Kartchner Caverns Corridor Dragoon Mountains Wildlife Corridor Santa Cruz Wildlife Corridor 82 191 Sopori 90 Leslie Canyon 19 80 Patagonia Lake State Park San Pedro Riparian Area 80 92 San Bernardino Valley 189 Page 2 Arizona State Trust Lands Conservation Profile ARIZONA STATE TRUST LAND In 1912, the federal government gave 10.5 million acres of state trust lands to the new state of Arizona. These lands are not owned by the state, but are held in trust for the benefit of the state’s school system and several other beneficiaries. Proceeds from the sale or lease of these lands generated about $50 REASON FOR CONSERVATION million for the beneficiaries in 2010. The Arizona State Land Department, Archeological Sites on State in its role as trustee for the Trust Land beneficiaries, is constitutionally obligated to seek maximum financial The decision to protect our cultural resources is return for trust lands. complicated. Local communities, state and federal This requirement has complicated agencies, tribal entities, and other stakeholders have to efforts to preserve state trust land for come together to develop a plan and vision for protecting these assets. Organizations such as Archaeology recreational use and environmental Southwest work to “develop a comprehensive vision for protection. The state cannot simply how to identify, describe, evaluate, locate and protect turn a parcel of trust land into a park the places of our past.” or nature preserve since it is required to receive full market value for the Many of these places are located on state trust land. land. All state trust land is subject to From the Grand Canyon to Las Cienegas and from sale or lease to the highest bidder. Yuma to Springerville, these cultural assets must be Preservation of trust land requires preserved through evaluation of objective criteria. The sustained community input coupled State Historic Preservation Act requires that any action on state trust land evaluate impacts to cultural resources with legislative action. and to avoid, minimize or mitigate these impacts. However, this preservation law allows for the destruction of sites provided that proper documentation is in order. Long-term preservation is best accomplished by avoiding development on sensitive lands, yet the fiduciary responsibility of the trust thwarts any decision by the ASLD to not develop a piece of land due to the proximity or location of cultural assets. Long overdue reform of the trust rules must acknowledge the value of these assets to the people of Arizona. Photos Page 1 top - Bruce Hilpert, bottom center - TNC; Arizona State Trust Lands Conservation Profile Page 3 Page 4 #2 and #4 Friends of Rio de Flag, #3 Friends of Walnut Canyon; others Sonoran Institute. STATE TRUST LAND CONSERvaTION Collaborating Partners Archaeology Southwest is a private nonprofit organization that explores and protects the places of our past across the American Southwest and Mexican Northwest. We have developed an integrated, conservation-based approach known as Preservation Archaeology. The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust seeks to help people in need, especially women, children and families; to protect animals and nature; and to enrich community life in the metropolitan areas of Indianapolis and Phoenix. The Sonoran Institute inspires and enables community decisions and public policies that respect the land and people of western North America. Facing rapid change, communities in the West value their natural and cultural resources, which support resilient environmental and economic systems. Founded in 1990, the Sonoran Institute helps communities conserve and restore those resources and manage growth and change through collaboration, civil dialogue, sound information, practical solutions and big-picture thinking. The Sonoran Institute is a nonprofit organization with offices in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona; Bozeman, Montana; Glenwood Springs, Colorado; Sheridan, Wyoming; Twentynine Palms, California; and Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. “…identify the highest-priority places to protect, as well as strategies to protect them. The result is something special: a vision for how to successfully protect our cultural heritage on the land for future generations.” - Archeology Southwest CONTACT: Dave Richins, Director Sun Corridor Legacy Program 11010 N. Tatum Blvd, Ste D101 Phoenix, AZ 85028 (602) 393-4310 x 309 [email protected] Shaping the Future of the West Page 4 Arizona State Trust Lands Conservation Profile www.sonoraninstitute.org 10/9/2012.