Arizona Heritage Alliance -

AZGFD and its Arizona Partners Put Record $24 million into Wildlife Conservation in 2023

September 22, 2024 by azheritage2

Press Release: Arizona Game and Fish – September 18, 2024

The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), partnering with Arizona’s wildlife conservation organizations, put a combined total of $24.2 million into on-the-ground projects for terrestrial and aquatic wildlife conservation in 2023.

Equally impressive to the dollar amount was the teamwork it took to make these projects happen: 151 conservation partners helped complete 867 distinct efforts. See the summary list of projects, funding amounts and partners.

“It’s a great achievement, but we couldn’t have done it without all of our partners,” said Dan Sturla, AZGFD’s Landowner Relations & Habitat Enhancement program manager. “It’s all hands on deck to get that amount of money on the ground.” Although project selection focused on those involving game species and projects that improved hunting and fishing opportunities throughout the state, many non-game species will benefit from this work as well.

“For example,” said Kyle Dutro, AZGFD habitat enhancement coordinator, “projects that involve removing encroaching woody vegetation from historic grasslands can benefit everything from pronghorn and elk to prairie dogs, ferrets, and other grassland obligate species.”

The summary list is Arizona-specific. While federal partners make significant contributions to the state’s wildlife, this list highlights what was done by AZGFD and its in-state, non-governmental partners. “Although some of our efforts may include federal funding,” said Sturla, “we wanted to focus this list on efforts led by non-federal partners.” A record-breaking year of investment in Arizona’s wildlife is exciting on its own and it’s also helping build momentum for the future. “As soon as good things are done for wildlife, it grows and we bring in more and more partners,” said Jake Jaeger, AZGFD Landowner Relations program coordinator. “It wouldn’t surprise me if next year it’s even bigger.”

A few highlights of the conservation work benefitting Arizona and its wildlife:

Aquatic Projects

Almost $2 million dollars for fish stockings, including 51 Community Fishing Program lakes across the state; walleye, crappie and largemouth bass stockings in Region 6; five Colorado river rainbow trout stockings; youth events; and more.
Over $1.5 million for the operation and maintenance of fish hatcheries, enabling over 600 stockings of sport fish at 100 locations across Arizona.
$124,000 for aquatic habitat enhancement, including 241 structures placed at Alamo Lake; fish habitat structures installed in Show Low Lake; as well as structures installed in three reservoirs.

Terrestrial Projects

Over $14 million for habitat enhancement and restoration, including 15,000 acres of grassland, browse, and forest restoration efforts to improve forage and habitat for a variety of wildlife; the removal of 44 acres of invasive tamarisk near I-85; restoration of Tacna Marsh; migratory bird crop planting; and increased public recreational access.
$2.6 million in wildlife water building and repair, including a rain tank rebuild in Kaibab National Forest; constructing a wildlife water at Whitewater Draw; and redeveloping, constructing and performing major maintenance of wildlife waters statewide.
$725,000 for big game population surveys.
Over $200,000 in special projects, including monitoring deer and sheep for Gonzales pass crossing and translocating turkeys from Region 1 to Region 6.

Tourism to Grand Canyon National Park contributed $768 million to local economy in 2023

September 15, 2024 by azheritage2

A group of visitors stands at the rim of the canyon taking photos of the sunrise — Yavapai Point sunrise, Sept. 2023

NPS Photo/J. Baird

News Release Date: September 11, 2024

Contact: Grand Canyon Office of Communications

A new National Park Service report shows that 4.7 million visitors to Grand Canyon National Park in 2023 spent $768 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 10,100 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $1.0 billion.

“I’m so proud that our parks and the stories we tell make a lasting impact on more than 300 million visitors a year,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “And I’m just as proud to see those visitors making positive impacts of their own, by supporting local economies and jobs in every state in the country.”

“We’re excited to see how the Grand Canyon continues to drive economic growth in our local communities,” said Grand Canyon Superintendent Ed Keable. “The spending by our visitors not only underscores the park’s allure but also highlights its vital role in supporting jobs and boosting the regional economy.”

The National Park Service report, 2023 National Park Visitor Spending Effects, finds that 325.5 million visitors spent $26.4 billion in communities near national parks. This spending supported 415,400 jobs, provided $19.4 billion in labor income and $55.6 billion in economic output to the U.S. economy. The lodging sector had the highest direct contributions with $9.9 billion in economic output and 89,200 jobs. The restaurants received the next greatest direct contributions with $5.2 billion in economic output and 68,600 jobs.

An interactive tool is available to explore visitor spending, jobs, labor income, and total economic contribution by sector for national, state and local economies. Users can also view year-by-year trend data. The interactive tool and report are available on the NPS website.

To learn more about national parks in Arizona and how the National Park Service works with state name communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to https://www.nps.gov/state/az/index.htm

Arizona Heritage Alliance Announces $6 Million in Heritage Fund Grants for FY 2024

July 24, 2024 by azheritage2

PHOENIX, AZ (July 15, 2024). The Arizona Heritage Alliance is pleased to announce the allocation of $6 million in Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund grants for Fiscal Year 2024. These grants, approved by the State Legislature and Governor Katie Hobbs as part of the state budget signed on June 30, 2023, will support 36 projects across Arizona, enhancing outdoor recreation, historic preservation, trail development, and environmental education.

The grants are distributed as follows:

50% ($3 million) for local, regional, and state parks

30% ($1.8 million) for historic preservation projects

10% ($600,000) for non-motorized trails

10% ($600,000) for outdoor and environmental education

“These grants represent a significant investment in Arizona’s natural and cultural heritage,” said Lani Lott, Executive Director of the Arizona Heritage Alliance. “From developing mountain bike parks to preserving historic buildings, these projects will enhance quality of life for Arizonans and attract visitors to our beautiful state.”

The full list of approved projects includes:

Local, Regional & State Parks:

$500,000 for DeConcini Park Development (City of Avondale)

$500,000 for Veteran & Centennial Park Upgrades and Repairs (Town of Duncan)

$500,000 for Wa:k Community Park (Tohono O’odham)

$500,000 for Sports Complex Phase I (Town of Pima)

$464,519 for Bike and Trails Park Land Purchase (Town of Snowflake)

$170,287 for 100-Acre Wood Mountain Bike Park Development (City of Tucson)

$145,770 for Remembrance Garden and Park Improvement (City of Winslow)

$110,000 for Foothills Park Development (Yuma County)

Historic Preservation:

$358,350 for Monroe Street Window Renovation (Housing Opportunity Center)

$346,678 for Main Street (Arizona Copper Art Museum)

$324,329 for Seargeant-Oldaker House Relocation & Rehabilitation (City of Phoenix)

$170,546 for Cartwright Heritage House Preservation (Cartwright School District)

$145,882 for Taawaki: Orayvi Sun Clan House Rehabilitation (Archeology Southwest)

$104,966 for Renovation of the Historic Lehi Auditorium (Mesa Historical Society)

$99,712 for St. Philip’s In the Hills Historic Church Preservation

$95,916 for Historic Rialto Theatre Restoration

$91,527 for 1908 Fair Store Sidewalk Preservation (Bisbee)

$40,136 for Romero Site Interpretive Sign (Archaeology Southwest, statewide)

$34,500 for Kerr Restoration (Arizona Board of Regents)

$30,000 for Proctor-Leiber House Condition Assessment (Town of Oro Valley)

$19,416 for Taliesin West Public Accessibility Improvements (Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation)

Non-Motorized Trails:

$120,000 for Garden Wash Phase III (City of Sierra Vista)

$120,000 for Bean Peaks Gravity Flow System (Prescott Mountain Bike Alliance)

$120,000 for Red Mountain Park Lot Improvements (Hawes Trail Alliance)

$120,000 for Frontiere Trails Project (Coconino County)

$120,000 for Verde Valley Circle Trail Segment 8 (Verde Valley Trail Fund)

$100,000 for Finger Rock & Pontatoc Canyon Trail Enhancement (National Forest Foundation, statewide)

$80,500 for Cottonwood Wash Trail (Town of Snowflake)

Outdoor Environmental Education:

$120,000 for Sky Island STEAM Express Mobile Lab (Bisbee Science Exploration & Research Center)

$119,746 for Arizona Wildlife Federation Education Program (statewide)

$119,724 for Outdoor Environmental Education Program (City of Flagstaff)

$47,541 for Maricopa Trail Safety and Environmental Education (Maricopa Trail and Park Foundation)

$40,652 for Camp Colton (Flagstaff Unified School District)

$21,756 for Bike Bell Distribution (Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition)

$21,000 for Exploring Arizona Watersheds (Grand Canyon Youth, statewide)

$16,234 for Kiosk Trailhead Update (Flagstaff Trails Initiative)

The Arizona Heritage Alliance congratulates all grant recipients and looks forward to seeing these projects come to fruition, benefiting communities across the state. Click here for more detailed information about each project. Click here to view a map of the FY21 -FY 23 projects.

Message from AZ Heritage Alliance President – Jim McPherson

June 5, 2024 by azheritage2

Dear Members, Friends, and Supporters of the Arizona Heritage Alliance,

Celebrating a Decade of Achievement

Together, over the past decade, the Arizona Heritage Alliance has helped return the Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund to its rightful place to benefit Arizona. With the support of thousands of community allies and dozens of legislative champions, the State Parks Heritage Fund was reinstated into statute in 2019. Over the past three fiscal years, millions of dollars have been appropriated in the following categories:

50% for local, regional, and state parks
30% for local, regional, and state historic preservation
10% for local, regional, and state non-motorized trails
10% for outdoor/environmental education

A full list with photos of the projects can be reviewed and downloaded at by clicking here.

Looking Ahead: Overcoming Setbacks and Continuing the Fight

We were disappointed by the narrow defeat of Senate Concurrent Resolution 1038 in March of this year. Despite positive bipartisan support in legislative committees in both the State Senate and the State House of Representatives, the resolution was defeated by one vote in the full State Senate due to political considerations outside our control. Nonetheless, we remain committed to securing funding for the State Parks Heritage Fund in fiscal year 2025. Please look for the call to action further down in this newsletter to see how you can help us.

Celebrating New Developments

Rockin’ River Ranch State Park: We are delighted about the opening of the Rockin’ River Ranch State Park and the naming of one of its trails after our long-time executive director and past board president, Janice Miano. Our heartfelt thanks go to Arizona Heritage Alliance board member Sam Campana and Arizona State Parks & Trails (ASPT) Director Bob Broscheid for facilitating this recognition and trail naming.

New State Park: We are thrilled about the protection of 734 acres, now owned by ASPT, in partnership with Trust for Public Land, Yavapai County, Nature Conservancy, and the Town of Chino Valley. This new state park will connect people to the outdoors, protect Sullivan Lake at the start of the Verde River, enable the extension of the Peavine National Recreation Trail from Prescott to the river, and preserve important historical sites. ASPT plans to develop its newest park on this newly acquired land, offering additional outdoor recreation opportunities in north-central Arizona.

Encouraging Participation

We support ASPT’s launch of their 2025 Trails Plan public survey. Every five years, the agency seeks public input on trail use, preferences, opinions, and important issues facing recreational trails and off-highway vehicle routes in Arizona. Your feedback is invaluable for future trail-related decisions, planning, and projects. We encourage you to participate in the survey [here](https://azstateparks.com/trails-plan-survey).

In Memoriam

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Bill Meeks, a past board member of the Arizona Heritage Alliance and Arizona State Parks Foundation. His contributions were invaluable, and he will be greatly missed.

Our Ongoing Commitment

The Arizona Heritage Alliance continues to raise awareness of the Arizona Heritage Fund, encompassing both the State Parks Heritage Fund and the Arizona Game & Fish Heritage Fund. We will keep you informed about Arizona’s natural, cultural, and historic resources through our website, social media channels, and newsletters. We encourage you to engage with the information we share for the benefit of your community.

Our Activities and Partnerships

We remain active in the following areas:

Attending (virtually) State Parks Board meetings to support projects aligned with the goals of the State Parks Heritage Fund and advocating for policies to protect our state park assets.
Strengthening and expanding partnerships with the Arizona Preservation Foundation, local preservation groups, National Trust for Historic Preservation, League of Arizona Cities and Towns, Arizona Parks and Recreation Association, Arizona Forward, Arizona Trails Association, and related organizations.
Maintaining robust communication and outreach through our web presence, Facebook page, e-alerts, quarterly newsletter, and one-on-one meetings.

Thanking Our Supporters

We are grateful to elected officials in our cities, towns, counties, and tribal areas, stakeholder partners, and friends from all corners of Arizona for the significant progress made over the past couple of years. Special thanks to our state legislative champions who have sponsored or co-sponsored bills since 2019: Alston, Andrade, Blackman, Bowers, Bowie, Boyer, Bradley, Brophy McGee, Carbone, Carter, Chávez, Contreras, Cook, Dalessandro, De Los Santos, Diaz, Dunn, Engel, Gabaldon, Gonzales, Hatathlie, A. Hernandez, M. Hernandez, Jermaine, Kerr, Lieberman, Longdon, Marsh, Mathis, Mendez, Navarrete, Nutt, Osborne, Otondo, Peshlakai, Pratt, Quezada, Rios, Salman, Shope, Stahl Hamilton, Steele, Sun, Teller, Terán, Travers, and Tsosie.

Call to Action

We have proven that we can achieve our goals, and we look forward to accomplishing even more. However, we need your help, especially now, as we work to resolve the significant state budget shortfall. We cannot afford to lose ground without an appropriation in the upcoming fiscal year and eventually full funding via the Arizona Lottery, the original funding source of the State Parks Heritage Fund before the Great Recession.

All gifts, large or small, will make a significant difference in supporting the Arizona Heritage Alliance’s mission and ensuring the State Parks Heritage Fund is fully restored. Your membership can be mailed directly to the Arizona Heritage Alliance, P.O. Box 16282, Phoenix, AZ 85011, online at azheritage.org, or if needed, we can send an invoice. Thank you for your past generosity and assistance. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, comments, or ideas at mail@azheritage.org or 602-528-7500.

Thank you for your continued support.

Warm regards,

Jim McPherson
Board President, Arizona Heritage Alliance