The SCRR is comprised of approximately 6,500 acres of public lands administered by the BLM St. George Field Office. It is located in the west central portion of Washington County, directly southwest of the communities of Ivins and Santa Clara and east of the Shivwits Indian Reservation.

 

In 1997, the City of Ivins and the City of Santa Clara, officially partnered with the BLM to establish a reserve on public lands that would protect certain values important to the local communities. These values include protecting open space, protecting sensitive archaeological and natural resources, and providing recreational opportunities. Together BLM and the two cities cooperatively developed a Recreation and Open Space Master Plan (ROMP) in 2005 that guides the management of the SCRR. The visions and recommendations contained in this document represent input from many constituencies: concerned citizens, adjacent landowners, local governments, and professional designers and planners.  The formation of the ROMP and its current implementation process embrace the principle of community-based planning, bringing together multiple elements in each community to resolve problems and achieve common goals.

 

The SCRR encompasses the entire 1,645 acre Santa Clara/Land Hill Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) which contains numerous prehistoric sites and essential riparian habitat. Critical habitat for Threatened and Endangered plant species including the Dwarf Bear Claw Poppy (Arctomecon humilis) and the Holmgren’s Milkvetch (Astragalus homgreniorum) is also incorporated into the SCRR. These important and sensitive resources informed the management strategies developed in the ROMP.

 

The ROMP identifies management strategies that will allow for visitor experiences while protecting the ACEC and other resource values. Management of the SCRR is an on-going process and includes the development of visitor facilities, funding procurement, and resource protection activities.  BLM is actively working with its partner cities, Ivins and Santa Clara, to implement the ROMP. To facilitate communication between the partners, and ensure the implementation of common goals, the Santa Clara River Reserve Board was formed. BLM and the cities of Ivins and Santa Clara each provide two representatives to the Board.