Completed Projects as of February 1, 2006

 

Question 1, Sonoran Desert Open Space and Habitat Protection; Preventing Urban Encroachment of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base

 

At the May 18, 2004 bond election, Pima County voters approved bond funding in the amount of $174.3 million for the acquisition of land in fee or for the purchase of conservation easements, to protect wildlife habitat, scenic landscapes, riparian areas, and water quality, and to preserve lands in the vicinity of Davis Monthan Open Space.  As of February 1, 2006 Pima County had acquired 24 properties totaling 21,485 acres for a total acquisition cost of $51.3 million.

 

Within Question 1 of the Bond Implementation Ordinance there are four categories of properties: Community Open Space Parcels, Urban Open Space Requested by Jurisdictions, Habitat Protection Priorities, and Davis-Monthan Open Space.  The following completed acquisitions are broken out by these categories

 

Community Open Space Parcels

 

OS 1.1 Sweetwater Preserve

On June 25, 2004 Pima County acquired the Sweetwater Preserve located in the eastern foothills of the Tucson Mountains.  Acquisition of this 695-acre property protects a key segment of the Sweetwater Wash that connects Tucson Mountain Park to the Santa Cruz River, as well as habitat for numerous species, saguaro studded slopes, and a recreational area for hikers and horseback riders.

Acquisition Cost: $11,773,653                                   

                                                                                       Sweetwater Preserve, Photo by Debbie Hecht

 

 

OS 1.09, Carpenter Ranch

On August 29, 2005, the County purchased the remaining 360 acres associated with the Carpenter Ranch totaling 560 acres.  This completed the Carpenter Ranch acquisitions that Pima County began in 1999 with the purchase of 200 acres.  The acquisition will contribute to the expansion of Tortolita Mountain Park and will provide additional protections to the watershed that drains into Pima County to the south.

Acquisition Cost: $1, 100,000 (Plus $70,000 from          Carpenter Ranch, Photo by Vanessa Bechtol

the 1997 Question 4 bond funds)                                      from AOLT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OS 1.07, Canoa Ranch

On August 31, 2005, the County purchased 83 acres of inholdings within the County’s historic Canoa Ranch property.  This was Phase 1 of a two-phase acquisition.  Phase 2 will include the acquistion of an additional 50-acre parcel within a year.

Acquisition cost: $1,801,106 (Plus $1, 200,000 from 2004 Flood Control District Bond Funds)

 

                

                                                                                     Canoa Ranch Photo by Robie Pardee, NRPR

                                                                                             

OS 1.14, Hiett, Heater, Berard, Pacheco, Hyntington  (Tucson Mountain Park South Corridor Project Area)

On August 30, 2005 the County purchased the 7-acre Berard parcel, and on September 7, 2005 the County purchased the 50-acre Heater and 25-acre Hiett parcels.  More recently, the County purchased the Pacheco properties on December 13, 2005, and the Hyntington property on January 26, 2006.  All five properties are part of a series of acquisitions in the Tucson Mountain Park South Corridor project area located at the southern end of the Tucson Mountains, south of Ajo Highway and west of Mission Road. Acquisition of these properties will: (1) protect this scenic gateway into metro Tucson containing saguaro-studded hillsides characteristic of the Tucson             Mountains and visible from considerable distances; (2) expand Tucson Mountain Park and link existing County holdings; and (3) provide new recreational trails and public                                                                  

access in this area.                                                                 Photo by Michael Berard

Acquisition Cost for 5 properties in total: $2,108,571

 

OS 1.2, Matesich, Selective Marketing, Serr  (Tucson Mountain Park Camino de Oeste Project Area

Pima County acquired three properties on the Camino de Oeste Project Area totaling 38 acres.  Selective Marketing was purchased on October 31, 2005, Matesich was purchased on November 8, 2005, and more recently, the Serr property was acquired on December 14, 2005.  All three properties are part of a series of acquisitions in the project area.  It is located south of Gates Pass and west of Camino de Oeste.  Acquisition of these parcels will protect views from Gates Pass, expand Tucson Mountain Park, and protect biological and cultural resources. 

Acquisition Cost for 3 properties in total:  $272,734

Urban Open Space Requested by Jurisdictions

 

OS 1.16 Jacobs Trust Property – City of Tucson 36th Street Corridor                     

On March 10, 2004 Pima County purchased the Jacobs Trust property at the west end of 36th Street, along a corridor included in the City of Tucson’s jurisdictional requests to ultimately link Tucson Mountain Park to the West Branch of the Santa Cruz.  The Conservation Acquisition Commission approved the use of 2004 bond funds as a reimbursal for this previous 80-acre purchase.

Acquisition Cost: $601,336

 

 

                                                                                                                                      Photo by Trilby Dupont, Arizona Open Land Trust

 

 

 

OS 1.15 Doucette Property – City of Tucson Agua  Caliente                       

On December 28, 2004, Pima County purchased the 21-acre Doucette Property. This property is located near the confluence of Tanque Verde Creek and Agua Caliente Wash, and was purchased to preserve important riparian habitat and natural floodplain conditions, as well as habitat for priority vulnerable species.

Acquisition Cost: $569,608

 

OS 1.19 Granite property – Town of Sahuarita Santa Cruz River Open Space

On October 13, 2005, Pima County purchased the 68-acre Granite property, located along the Santa Cruz River on the west side of Old Nogales Highway, in the Town of Sahuarita.  This property was purshased to preserve the natural floodplain conditions, provide open space, and to establish an easement for the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail.

Acquisition Cost :  $212,443

 

OS 1.16  Belvedere Estates – City of Tucson 36th St. Corridor

On January 11, 2006 Pima County acquired the 72-acre Belvedere Estates property.  It is located along the west end of 36th Street and borders Tucson Mountain Park.  Purchase of this property will expand Tucson Mountain Park, protect a scenic hillside, and provide a location for a connector trail from a planned trailhead on 36th Street to Tucson Mountain Park.  

Acquisition Cost :  $615,972

                                                                                              

Habitat Protection Priorities

 

OS 1.27 A-7 Ranch – San Pedro Sub Area              

On September 13, 2004 Pima County purchased the A-7 Ranch. The Ranch is located in the Redington Pass/San Pedro River area and was purchased to protect a large natural landscape and wildlife corridor from the Galiuro Mountains to the Catalina Mountains, as well as potential habitat for numerous priority vulnerable species.  The Ranch includes 6,828 acres of fee land, plus 34,195 acres of State and 80 acres BLM lease land.  This acquisition also included the purchase of cattle, houses, equipment and other improvements.                    A-7 Ranch,  photo by John Sullivan

Acquisition Cost: $2,041,933

 

OS 1.21 Baker Property – Southeast Sub Area

On October 19, 2004 Pima County purchased the Baker property.  The 155-acre property is located in the Vail area, and was purchased to provide a connection between the County’s Colossal Cave Mountain Park and Cienega Creek Natural Preserve, and to preserve habitat for priority vulnerable species. 

Acquisition Cost: $226,342

 

 Baker property, Photo by Linwood Smith,EPG

OS 1.24 Bee and Mordka Properties – Avra Valley Sub Area

On February 4, 2005 the County purchased the Bee and Mordka properties totaling 160 acres.   The properties are located west of the Tucson Mountains and south of the Garcia Strip.  The acquisition preserves a portion of a critical landscape linkage by providing landscape connectivity via a tributary to the west branch of the Brawley Wash that continues north across Tohono O’odham land to ultimately link up with the Santa Cruz. 

Acquisition Cost: $81,183

 

OS 1.21 Bar V Ranch – Southeast Sub Area

On February 17, 2005 the County purchased the Bar V Ranch.  This Ranch is located south of I-10 and east of Sonoita Highway, and includes 1,763 acres of fee land and 12,674 acres of State grazing leases that adjoin the County’s Cienega Creek Natural Preserve.  This purchase will protect an important wildlife corridor under I-10, rare riparian habitat for numerous priority vulnerable species, drainage that flows into the Cienega Creek and Tucson Basin, areas with high archaeological potential, a planned equestrian route for the 800-mile long Arizona Trail, and scenic views of Davidson Canyon and the Empire Mountains.                                         Bar V Ranch, Photo by Gloria Browne

Acquisition Cost: $8,689,228         

 

OS 1.23 King 98 Ranch – Altar Valley Sub Area

On February 22, 2005 the County purchased the King 98 Ranch. This Ranch is located in the Altar Valley, south of Ajo Highway and west of Sassabe Highway, near Three Points.  The purchase includes 1,034 acres of fee land, 3,096 acres of State grazing lease land, and 410 acres of State agricultural lease land.  Acquisition of this property will prevent development of the property, provide the potential for restoration opportunities along the Brawley Wash, expand existing County investments in the area, and will assist in preventing the movement of development south along the Sassabe Highway corridor.

Acquisition Cost: $2,102,921

 

OS 1.23 Rancho Seco – Altar Valley Sub Area

The County closed on the Rancho Seco property on May 19, 2005.  Rancho Seco is located just north of Arivaca, between I-19 and the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge.   The purchase includes 9,553 acres of fee lands, 27,000 acres of federal and state grazing leases, and a conservation easement over 480 acres retained by the sellers.  Conservation of this ranch will preserve a very large, unfragmented landscape within Altar Valley, containing high biological values, habitat for numerous priority vulnerable species, and cultural and historic resources. This will be the County’s largest single open space purchase, to date.                                                            Rancho Seco, Photo by Trilby Dupont, AOLT                                  

Acquisition Cost: $18,503,948                                   

 

OS 1.23, Madera Highlands – Habitat Protection Priority Altar Valley Sub Area

On August 12, 2005, the County purchased the Madera Highlands property. This 366-acre property is located on the east side of Sassabe Highway in Altar Valley, and borders the Buenos Aires National Wildlife refuge.  Purchase of this property will protect a portion of the Brawley Wash as well as habitat for numerous priority vulnerable species, including the Pima Pineapple Cactus.

Acquisition Cost: $385,733                                        

                                                                                 Madera Highlands, Photo by Vanessa Bechtol, AOLT             

 

 

OS 1.21, Poteet – Habitat Protection Priority Southeast Sub Area

On August 31, 2005, the County purchased the Poteet property.  This acquisition will secure a half-mile segment of the Agua Verde Creek and its associated floodplain, which supports a well-developed mesquite-dominated riparian woodland habitat for at least seven priority vulnerable species.

Acquisition Cost: $275,821

 

                                                                                                                                                       

          Poteet property, Photo by Linwood Smith, EPG                                                                                                                                                                   

 

The following projects were still under development as of January 26, 2006 and remain under development.

 

OS 1.14  Firkins – Community Open Space Tucson Mountain Park South Corridor

The Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of the 1.4-acre  property on October 4, 2005.  This property is the final acquisition in a series of acquisitions in the Tucson Mountain Park South Corridor project area located at the southern end of the Tucson Mountains, south of Ajo Highway and west of Mission Road.  Acquisition of these properties will: (1) protect this scenic gateway into metro Tucson containing saguaro-studded hillsides characteristic of the Tucson Mountains and visible from considerable distances; (2) expand Tucson Mountain Park and link existing County holdings; and (3) provide new recreational trails and public access in this area. 

 

 

 

 

OS  1.21 Cienega Corridor Properties (Southeastern Corridor Project Area, Habitat Protection Priorities)

On November 10, 2005 the Conservation Acquisition Commission approved due diligence for the possible acquisition of approximately 800 acres, owned by several property owners in the Cienega Corridor.  These parcels fall in three general locations:  the northern extent of the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, the linkages are between Colossal Cave Mountain Park and the Cienega Creek Natural Preserve, and along a key segment of Agua Verde Creek.  Acquisition of these parcels will promote conservation values for wildlife, water quality, flood control, and open space.