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FINAL The Arizona State Parks Board approved this Plan at their 09/11/2009 meeting. A Statewide Motorized & Non-Motorized Trails Plan Photo Credits for Cover Page 1. ATV Riding in the White Mountains. Photo Courtesy of Arizona State Parks (ASP). 2. Backpacking in Paria Plateau. Photo Courtesy of Annie McVay. 3. Trail Biking. Winter in Arizona. Photo Courtesy of Jeff Gursh. 4. Urban Trail Use. Indian Bend Wash, Scottsdale. Photo Courtesy of ADOT Transportation Enhancement Program. 5. Vibrams in the sand. Yuma Sand Dunes. Photo Courtesy of Tanna Thornburg. 6. Tire Tracks in the sand. Photo Courtesy of ASP. 7. Horseback Riding in the Sonoran Desert. Photo Courtesy of Bureau of Land Management. 8. Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTV) or Side by Sides. Florence area. Photo Courtesy of Tom Stark. 9. Safety First. Arizona State Parks Photo Contest Winner, Brian Lawson. 10. Mountain Biking along the Arizona Trail, Gila Mountains. Photo Courtesy of Scott Morris. 11. Mountain Biking sequence (Randy Victory). Red Rock country. Photo Courtesy of Francine Austen. 12. Canoeing the Verde River Greenway State Natural Area, Cottonwood, AZ. Photo Courtesy of ASP. 13. Sand Rail. Glamis dunes, CA. Photo Courtesy of Michael Sommer, Sand Sports Magazine. 14. Four Wheel Driving in the Four Peaks area. Photo Courtesy of Larry Burns. 15. Hiking in Catalina State Park. Photo Courtesy of ASP. ARIZONA TRAILS 2010: A Statewide Motorized and Non-Motorized Recreational Trails Plan Prepared by: Arizona State Parks July 2009 10/20/09 Arizona Trails 2010 Janice K. Brewer Governor of Arizona ARIZONA STATE PARKS BOARD Reese Woodling Chairman Tucson Tracey Westerhausen Phoenix Larry Landry Phoenix Walter D. Armer, Jr. Vail Arlan Colton Tucson William C. Scalzo Phoenix Maria Baier State Land Commissioner Phoenix This publication was prepared under the authority of the Arizona State Parks Board. Renée E. Bahl Executive Director (current-from June 2009) Kenneth E. Travous Executive Director (former-through May 2009) Jay Ream Assistant Director, Parks Jay Ziemann Assistant Director, External Affairs iv 10/20/09 Arizona Trails 2010 Acknowledgements The Arizona Trails 2010: State Motorized and Non-motorized Recreational Trails Plan is composed of the State Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Plan and the State Non-motorized Trails Plan. The Planning and Recreational Trails Unit, Resources Management Section of Arizona State Parks prepared this planning document and facilitated the statewide public involvement used to develop the priorities and recommendations included in this Plan. Arizona State Parks Annie McVay, State Trails Coordinator/Program Manager (Principal Author) Amy Racki, State OHV Coordinator/Program Manager (Principal Author) Tanna Thornburg, Chief of Planning and Recreational Trails (Principal Author, editor, plan design and layout) Acknowledgements are gratefully due to State Parks staff for their help in the planning process and contributions to the plan: Dawn Collins, Research Project Manager; Tye Farrell, Webmaster and Cover Design; Doris Pulsifer, Chief of Grants; Ruth Shulman, Advisory Committee Coordinator and Copy Editor; Robert Baldwin, Recreational Trails Grant Coordinator; Dan Shein, Chief of Resource Management; Genevieve Johnson, Open Space Program Manager; Laura Burnette, GIS Analyst; Joanne Roberts, Resource Ecologist. Special acknowledgements are given to our partners who contributed to plan sections. Arizona Department of Transportation: Michael Sanders, Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator Arizona Game & Fish Department: Joe Sacco, OHV Law Enforcement Program Manager; Reuben Teran, Project Evaluation Specialist Arizona State Land Department: Ben Alteneder, Legislative Liaison, Government Affairs; Jody Latimer, Environmental Resources & Trespass Section Manager Bureau of Land Management: Bill Gibson, Travel Management Coordinator RideNow Powersports: Tyler Steimel, General Manager Arizona State University, Department of Recreation Management and Tourism and Survey Research Laboratory, conducted the surveys and prepared the technical reports for this plan. Dave D. White, Ph.D., Project Director/Principal Investigator Donna Meyers, Research Assistant Photographs provided by Arizona State Parks and photo contest winners, Arizona Department of Transportation, Transportation Enhancement Program, Arizona Game & Fish Department, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Coconino Rural Environment Corps, Sand Sports Magazine, Francine Austen, Larry Burns, Dan Cameli, Jeff Gursh, Sandee McCullen, Mike Merrill, Richard C. Moeur, Scott Morris, Hank Rogers, John Roberts, Mike Sipes, Tom Stark, and many others. v 10/20/09 Arizona Trails 2010 Arizona State Committee on Trails (ASCOT) Don Applegate, Bureau of Land Management Catherine Bradley, Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, National Park Service Maureen DeCindis, Maricopa Association of Governments Anne Ellis, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University Tom Fitzgerald, Central Arizona Project Brian Grube, City of Flagstaff Daye Halling, Citizen-at-large, Maricopa County Jim Horton, Citizen-at-large, Maricopa County Chris Hosking, City of Prescott Mary McMullen, City of Payson Stephen Saway, Huachuca Hiking Club Paul Schilke, Alpine Ranger District, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest Linda Slay, Arizona State Horseman’s Association Kent Taylor, Citizen-at-large, Pinal County John Vuolo, Citizen-at-large, Navajo County Bruce Weidenhamer, Volunteers for Outdoor Arizona Erik Wilson, City of Peoria Off-Highway Vehicle Advisory Group (OHVAG) Rebecca Antle, Arizona Association of 4-Wheel Drive Clubs Bob Biegel, Mesa 4-Wheelers Harold “Drew” John, Gila Valley ATV Riders Club Pete Pfeifer, American Motorcyclist Association Hank Rogers, Apache County ATV Roughriders (Chair) John Savino, Citizen-at-large, Navajo County David Moore, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Arizona Outdoor Recreation Coordinating Commission (AORCC) Jeffrey Bell, Apache Junction Parks and Recreation Department Karla Brady, Bullhead City Parks and Recreation Department Margaret Nyberg, Citizen-at-large Devin Rankin, Citizen-at-large William “Bill” Schwind, Glendale Parks and Recreation Department Renée Bahl, Arizona State Parks Larry Voyles, Arizona Game and Fish Department Additional thanks to everyone who participated in the public surveys and workshops, and reviewed and commented on the Plan. vi 10/20/09 Arizona Trails 2010 Table of Contents Executive Summary...............................................................................................................xiii Chapter 1. Introduction............................................................................................................1 Why a State Trails Plan? Benefits of Trails A Snapshot of Current Issues Affecting Trails and OHV Recreation Chapter 2. Trails 2010 Planning and Public Involvement Process .......................................11 Telephone and Online Surveys and Methods Survey Results Definitions, Percentages of Arizona’s Trail Users Regional Workshops Regional Workshop Results/Summaries Public Comments and Advisory Committees Draft and Final Plans Chapter 3. A Profile of Motorized Trail Recreation in Arizona ..........................................27 History of Arizona Off-Highway Vehicle Legislation Motorized Recreation Opportunity Survey Findings for Motorized Trail Users Land Manager Survey Results Motorized Trail Priority Recommendations — Issues and Actions Program Accomplishments Chapter 4. A Profile of Non-motorized Trail Recreation in Arizona ...................................75 Survey Findings for Non-Motorized Trail Users Land Manager Survey Results Non-Motorized Trail Priority Recommendations — Issues and Actions Program Accomplishments Chapter 5. Planning for Trails and OHV Recreation.......................................................... 113 Potential Impacts of Trails and OHV Routes Sustainable Trails Invasive Species Planning Trails and Motorized Recreation with Wildlife in Mind Regional Non-motorized Trails and OHV Planning Arizona Open Space and Recreation Inventory (GIS) Alternative Transportation U.S.–Mexico Border Issues Chapter 6. Grants and Funding ........................................................................................... 151 Arizona State Parks Partnerships and Grants Transportation Enhancement Program (ADOT) Additional Fund Sources Appendices ............................................................................................................................ 169 vii 10/20/09 Arizona Trails 2010 A. References................................................................................................................... 171 B. Relevant Trails and OHV Legislation.......................................................................... 177 C. Timeline of Pertinent OHV Legislation and Policy Decisions, 1989-2009 .................. 197 D. Arizona Trails 2010 Survey Results & Questionnaire .................................................. 201 E. EPA and BLM Dust Suppressant Test Results............................................................. 269 F. Arizona Wildlife Linkages Assessment ...................................................................... 279 G. Responses to Public Comments Received Regarding the Draft Plan ............................ 283 H. Eight OHV Destinations.............................................................................................. 297 viii 10/20/09 Arizona Trails 2010 Tables and Figures TABLES Table 1. Percentages and Numbers