The Lower Sonoran Field Office Releases Land Use Plan – Public Encouraged to Participate in Review Process Now Through November 25, 2011.
The Lower Sonoran Field Office and Sonoran Desert National Monument are pleased to announce the release of a Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement. This land use document provides direction for approximately 1.4 million acres of public land in south-central Arizona managed by the Lower Sonoran Field Office (LSFO). Of these public ands, approximately 486,400 acres are within the Sonoran Desert National Monument (SDNM) established in 2001 by Presidential Proclamation.
The public is encouraged to review the document. Electronic versions of the Plan will be available for review on this website in the near future. A printed copy of the document is available for review at local libraries, or by requesting a CD. Public comments will be accepted now through November 25, 2011 – the day after Thanksgiving.
After receiving and processing public comments, the Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environemental Impact Statement will be published in late spring of 2012, and two Records of Decision will be signed - one for the Sonoran Desert National Monument and one for the remainder of public lands in the Lower Sonoran planning area.
The planning process began in 2002. In 2003, 11 public scoping meetings were conducted in Ajo, Buckeye, Case Grande, Gila Bend, Globe, Maricopa, Mesa, Phoenix, Sells, Tucson, and Yuma. More recently the Lower Sonoran Field Office re-engaged cooperators and interested parties, and will hold public meetings during the next few months.
The Draft Resource Management Plan proposes five management alternatives: the no-action alternative (maintaining existing management) and four action alternatives, including the BLM's preferred alternative. These alternatives propose management actions ranging from multiple use and development to resource protection. Actions include:
- Designating roads & trails within the Sonoran Desert National Monument;
- Addressing recreational target shooting within the Sonoran Desert National Monument:
- Analyzing the effects of livestock grazing within the Sonoran Desert National Monument through a grazing compatibility analysis;
- Identifying special recreation management areas, including one that focuses on family-oriented motorized recreation uses;
- Proposing lands managed to protect wilderness characteristics;
- Proposing new areas of critical environmental concern;
- Defining wildlife habitat areas;
- Defining special cultural resource management areas
- Defining multi-use utility corridors;
- Identifying lands suitable for disposal;
- Identifying utility-scale renewable energy development conflict areas; and
- Identifying areas available for mineral development.
We encourage you to get involved in the planning process which will identify BLM's management actions on the public lands for the next 15-20 years.
Schedule of Public Meetings
Date | Time | Location |
Oct. 4: | 6-9 pm | Phoenix Public Meeting BLM National Training Center
9828 North 31st Avenue
Phoenix AZ 85051
* Must present photo ID / Driver’s License |
Oct. 5: | 6-9 pm | Public Meeting - Grazing Compatibility on Sonoran Desert National Monument BLM National Training Center
9828 North 31st Avenue
Phoenix AZ 85051
* Must present photo ID / Driver’s License |
Oct. 12: | 6-9 pm | Mesa Public Meeting Red Mountain Multigenerational Center
7550 E Adobe Road,
Mesa AZ 85207 |
Oct. 13: | 6-9 pm | Casa Grande Public Meeting Vista Grande High School cafeteria 1556 N Arizola Rd,
Casa Grande AZ 85122 |
Oct. 25: | 6-9 pm | Buckeye Public Meeting Youngker High School
3000 South Apache Rd
Buckeye AZ 85326 |
Oct. 26: | 6-9 pm | Gila Bend Public Meeting Unified School Dist. Auditorium
308 N. Martin Ave.
Gila Bend AZ 85337 |
Oct. 27: | 6-9 pm | Ajo Public Meeting Ajo Community Center
290 W. 5th Street,
Ajo AZ 85321 |
If you wish to receive news about the planning process, we encourage you to provide an email address, by emailing us at : blm_az_ls_sdnm_plan@blm.gov
Or write to:
BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office
LS-SDNM RMP
21605 North 7th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85027
For more information, call the office during business hours at 623-580-5500, or leave a message on the Lower Sonoran Planning voice mail at 623-580-5526.
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