The Hassayampa River Preserve at Vulture Mountains Recreation Area
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The Hassayampa River Preserve at Vulture Mountains Recreation Area Site Master Plan This page intentionally left blank. 2 This plan is recommended by: Recommended:________________________________/________________ Vacant, Park Supervisor Date Recommended:________________________________/________________ Jennifer Johnston, Westside Regional Date Park Superintendent Recommended:________________________________/________________ Jennifer Waller, Operation Manager Date Recommended:________________________________/________________ Robert Branch, PhD., Chair Date Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Commission Approved:____________________________________/________________ RJ Cardin, Director Date Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department Approved:_____________________________________/________________ Dan Stellar, Deputy State Director Date The Nature Conservancy in Arizona 3 This page intentionally left blank. 4 Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 8 1.1 Project Background ............................................................................................................................. 9 1.2 Vision and Mission ............................................................................................................................ 10 2.0 THE PLANNING PROCESS ...................................................................................................................... 10 2.1 Purpose of this Plan .......................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Previous Planning Efforts or Studies ................................................................................................. 10 2.3 Plan Amendments or Updates .......................................................................................................... 11 2.4 Planning Issues .................................................................................................................................. 11 2.5 Agency Participation ......................................................................................................................... 11 2.6 Public Participation ........................................................................................................................... 12 2.7 Public Information ............................................................................................................................ 13 3.0 RESOURCES ........................................................................................................................................... 14 3.1 History and Folklore .......................................................................................................................... 14 3.2 Land Ownership and Jurisdiction ...................................................................................................... 15 3.3 Existing Land Use and Zoning ............................................................................................................ 17 3.4 Future Land Use ................................................................................................................................ 17 3.5 Management Zones .......................................................................................................................... 17 3.6 Access and Transportation ................................................................................................................ 18 3.7 Mineral Rights and Mining Claims .................................................................................................... 18 3.8 Existing Facilities and Infrastructure ................................................................................................. 19 3.9 Physiography and Climate................................................................................................................. 20 3.10 Water Resources ............................................................................................................................. 20 3.11 Earth Resources .............................................................................................................................. 22 3.12 Biological Resources ........................................................................................................................ 25 5 3.13 Biological Resource Concerns ......................................................................................................... 26 3.13 Cultural Resources .......................................................................................................................... 26 3.14 Cultural Resource Concerns ............................................................................................................ 26 3.14 Visitation and Primary Activities ..................................................................................................... 27 4.0 TRAILS .................................................................................................................................................... 28 5.0 OPERATIONS ......................................................................................................................................... 29 5.1 Proposed Use .................................................................................................................................... 30 5.2 Operating Expenses and Revenue .................................................................................................... 30 5.3 Staffing and Volunteers .................................................................................................................... 31 6.0 CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN ....................................................................................................................... 31 6.1 Conceptual Site Improvements ......................................................................................................... 31 6.2 Phased Implementation .................................................................................................................... 32 Appendix A – ASU Visitor Study Report ...................................................................................................... 37 Appendix B – February 6, 2014, Public Meeting Details ............................................................................. 38 Appendix C – Site Conservation Plan .......................................................................................................... 41 Appendix D – Photo Monitoring Program .................................................................................................. 42 Appendix E – Annual Operations Plan ........................................................................................................ 47 Appendix F – Property Boundaries and Transfer Parcels ........................................................................... 48 Appendix G – Geology ................................................................................................................................. 50 Appendix H – Bird Checklist ........................................................................................................................ 54 Appendix I – Cultural Resource Reports, Surveys, Inventories ................................................................... 57 Appendix J – Trail System Plan .................................................................................................................... 58 Appendix K – Conceptual Site Improvements ............................................................................................ 59 Appendix L – Fire Management Plan .......................................................................................................... 62 Appendix M – Wildlife Management Plan .................................................................................................. 63 6 Appendix N – Invasive Species Management Plan ..................................................................................... 64 Appendix O – Biocides, Biological Agents, and Fertilizers Management Plan ............................................ 65 Appendix P – Instream Flow Monitoring Plan ............................................................................................ 66 Appendix Q – Groundwater Monitoring Plan ............................................................................................. 67 7 1.0 INTRODUCTION During the initial discussions of the Vulture Mountains Cooperative Recreation Management Area Master Plan process, Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department (MCPRD or Department) met with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) on many occasions to discuss including the Hassayampa River Preserve (Preserve) as a partner. The Preserve’s existing public outreach, mission, and other similarities were compatible to a Maricopa County park. As a result, TNC stepped forward as a major stakeholder and partner to the Department. A goal of TNC is to ensure the health and survival of the natural world that sustains us all. One way TNC does this is by building collaborative partnerships to implement innovative solutions and by working with local communities to achieve lasting, measurable results. TNC does, on occasion, transfer their ownership of acquired and protected properties to agencies or groups that share a common