Consideration and Approval of Contract: Arizona Game and Fish Cooperative Stewardship Agreement for Recreational Access to Observatory Mesa Natural Area for a five-year term.

Project Name: Arizona Game and Fish Cooperative Stewardship Agreement Recreational Access for Observatory Mesa Natural Area.

Location:  Observatory Mesa Natural Area.

Purpose: Provide funding to the City of Flagstaff, Open Space Program, for public recreational access on and across the Observatory Mesa Natural Area as to allow public recreational access and archery hunting access on the property for a period of five (5) years.

History:  Observatory Mesa Natural Area is a 2,251 acre legally designated open space property just west of downtown Flagstaff behind Lowell Observatory and Mars Hill. The property is bound on the northern, eastern, and southern boundaries by private development (primarily single-family homes), with Forest Service property immediately adjacent on the western property boundary. The Forest Service also owns a full section (center parcel, Figure 5) within the Natural Area. The Observatory Mesa vicinity has been widely used by the Flagstaff community for decades as a hunting ground and outdoor recreation location. Varied recreational use resulted in a strong community interest in permanently protecting the area. In 2004, Flagstaff voters approved a $5.5-million-dollar bond dedicated to acquiring Arizona State Trust land on Observatory Mesa to provide permanent natural open spaces for public use and to preserve the unique conservation values of the area. Additionally, Observatory Mesa is an important component of the Flagstaff-area ecosystem. Several drainages, seeps, and springs make it an important component of the Rio de Flag watershed. It is located within an important wildlife corridor that provides habitat for large mammals traveling between the San Francisco Peaks and Mogollon Rim. It also provides a natural buffer between the Forest Service property to the west and downtown Flagstaff.

Arizona State Conservation Easement:  This property is under the protection of an Arizona State Conservation Easement (# 213303), which was entered into January of 2014. In May 2020, staff reached out to Arizona State Parks to ensure that renewing the agreement with Arizona Game and Fish Department would not be in violation of the parameters outlined in this deed of conservation easement. Arizona State Parks informed staff that if no terms have changed and the City could renew this agreement.

The Agreement:  The agreement would provide funding to the Landowner in an amount not to exceed forty-thousand dollars ($40,000.00) for public recreation access on and across the Observatory Mesa Natural Area. Payment for access will be in one installment of $40,000.00, which will be provided upon signature of the Agreement by both Parties. Renewal would allow recreational and hunting access (archery only) to the Property (Observatory Mesa) for a period of five (5) years commencing on the effective date of the Agreement.

Recreation:  In 2020, City staff estimate that 8,500 people per year visit Observatory Mesa for wildlife viewing and an additional 11,000 recreationalists. The Arizona Game and Fish Wildlife Manager for Unit 11M estimates 44 big game hunters for the game management unit. A broad array of recreational day activities are currently available on the property, including hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and snow shoeing. There are three designated, authorized trails within the Natural Area, although a comprehensive survey of the property identified a significant number of user-created, unauthorized trails traversing the property.

Positive and Negative Impacts:  There may be safety concerns related to the continuation of archery hunting on the property given the extensive use by other recreationalists. Recreational use will likely increase as the Open Space Program works to complete and implement a trail plan for the property that will provide better access to the community and visitors. Though harvesting wildlife may be in conflict with elements of preserving City Open Space resources, hunter’s recreational costs, such as tags, generally yield a return that helps support conservation areas as this agreement signifies. These funds would help support the completion of the Natural Area's trail plan, trail infrastructure, signage, and unauthorized trail restoration.

Arizona Game and Fish Department would provide funding to the City of Flagstaff, Open Space Program, in the amount not to exceed forty-thousand dollars ($40,000) for public recreation access on and across the Observatory Mesa Natural Area.

In return the City of Flagstaff would allow public recreational access and archery hunting access on the Subject Property commencing on the effective date of the Agreement and remaining in effect for five (5) years. The agreement would also allow Arizona Game and Fish Department personnel unrestricted access to the Property to perform official duties authorized under state law.

• Encourage public trust through transparency, accessibility and use of the City’s public participation policy.
• Actively manage and protect all environmental and natural resources.
• Provide amenities and activities that support a healthy lifestyle.

 
Regional Plan: 

• Goal LU.3. Continue to enhance the region’s unique sense of place within the urban, suburban, and rural context (Policy LU.3.3). 
• Goal LU.6. Provide for a mix of land uses (Policy LU.6.4).
• Goal LU.14. Maintain the character of existing rural communities (Policy LU.14.4).
• Goal CC.2. Preserve, restore, and rehabilitate heritage resources to better appreciate our culture. 
• Goal ED.7. Continue to promote and enhance Flagstaff’s unique sense of place as an economic driver. 
• Goal REC.1. Maintain and grow the region’s healthy system of convenient and accessible parks, recreation facilities, and trails. 

No, council has not weighed on the Cooperative Stewardship Agreement with Arizona Game and Fish Department in the past. However, the City of Flagstaff did enter into an agreement in May of 2015 that was in effect for a five-year period, through May 1, 2020. This agreement just expired in May of 2020. This prior agreement provided funding for open space related project in the natural area.