Month: August 2010

Arizona State Parks Board Authorizes Fourteen Projects out of the Off-Highway Recreation Fund

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[Source: Arizona State Parks Press Room]

In 2008 the Arizona Legislature authorized a new Off-Highway Vehicle “Sticker Fund” which started producing revenues in January of 2009. A $25 fee is charged for off-highway vehicles each year and that sticker is then attached to the license plates of these vehicles.

Photo credit: Arizona State Parks

Revenue from sticker sales amounts to almost $1 million per year and recently the Arizona State Parks Board awarded $534,725 from the OHV Recreation Fund to 14 OHV projects. Those funds went to areas near the following towns: Globe, Scottsdale, Mesa, Phoenix, Show Low, Kingman, Black Canyon City, Prescott, Chino Valley, Cottonwood, and Camp Verde. These projects will improve OHV routes, trails, and facilities and help manage recreational activity on Arizona’s public lands by motorized vehicles.

The Arizona State Parks – OHV Recreation Fund (gas taxes) has been in existence since 1991 and has been used for mitigation and enforcement on trails as well as an OHV map guide, provide riding facilities, OHV education, trail signage, and other rural OHV maps.

Motorized trail project applications are accepted at any time and reviewed periodically by the Off-Highway Vehicle Advisory Group for funding by the State Parks Board. In addition to trail and facility improvements, the funds can be used for mitigation of damage caused by OHV activities, cultural and environmental compliances, and education projects/programs and law enforcement.

State Parks develops the OHV recreation plan every five years with input from land managing agency staff, OHV user organizations, individual OHV users, and the general public. The 2010 State Trails Plan can be found on the State Parks website.

Projects selected for funding will encompass all of the following recommendations:

  • HIGH-USE AREA – the project will be located on a route, trail, or area that is currently experience heavy OHV traffic.
  • USER SUPPORTED – the project will be endorsed by at least one user organization that can be identified with the specific project area.
  • PRIORITY RECOMMENDATION – the project will include: maintenance and/or renovation of existing routes, trails, or areas; mitigation of damage in proximity to approved use areas; and installation of trail route signs.
  • DIVERSITY – the selected projects will represent a cross section of use types and geographic areas.
  • SPONSOR ELIGIBILITY – the applicant must have control of and management responsibility for the area of the project and have a current agreement with State Parks in effect to allow transfer of funds for OHV project purposes.

For more information call (602) 542-4174 (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free (800) 285-3703) or visit AZStateParks.com. Follow us on Twitter.

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9th Annual Arizona Historic Preservation Conference will be June 2011 in Tucson, AZ

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The 9th Annual Arizona Historic Preservation Conference will take place in Tucson, at the University Park Marriott Hotel, 880 E. Second Street, June 22-24, 2011.

This year’s them is “Valuing Historic Perspectives” and is sure to draw record numbers of participants. The conference planning organizations include the Arizona Preservation Foundation, Arizona State Parks, National Park Service, Arizona Historical Society, Arizona Department of Commerce / Main Street Program, and the Arizona Archaeological Council.

Attendance is typically comprised of architects, archaeologists, city planners, local and state government employees, historians, lecturers, educators, students, contractors, developers, historic homeowners, Native AmericanTribal representatives, and many more.

The conference will take place at the University Park Marriott Hotel, 880 E. Second Street, Tucson, Arizona 85719. The program will include off-site mobile sessions, visits to historic districts in central Tucson, and educational seminars and workshops.

Registration will begin January, 2011, but information may be obtained by visiting azpreservation.com or emailing questions to: questions@azpreservation.com.

Registration discounts for early registration will be available in early 2011. Standard registration costs include the full conference, some food and beverage, some special events, and all conference materials. Sponsorship opportunities are available as well. Hotel accommodations are not included in the registration fees.

Interested parties may also register to receive email notifications of updates to the website by visiting the same website’s home page.

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Arizona Lake Campgrounds

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[Source: Livestrong.com]

Overview

Photo source: Livestrong.com

Hikers, bikers and fishermen can definitely find themselves at home at some of Arizona’s lakes. Keeping active with a camping vacation can be a good way to stay healthy and release some stress. The spring, summer and fall months are prime season to get out to Arizona’s lake campgrounds, which are usually open from about May to the early fall. Some lake campgrounds, such as Fool Hollow Lake in eastern Arizona, are open to campers year-round.

Upper Lake Mary Campgrounds

Upper Lake Mary is a large lake in Flagstaff that’s well-stocked with a wide variety of fish. Located on federal land, this destination offers camping opportunities from early May to mid-September. In addition to two campground areas, the Upper Lake Mary recreational area offers boat ramps, picnic areas, hiking trails and fishing areas. The Upper Lake Mary campgrounds are fully developed with clean drinking water, cooking grills and maintained toilets. The fee for camping at Upper Lake Mary is $6, and for $35 campers can purchase a seasonal pass, as of August 2010.

Ashurst Lake Campgrounds

Like Upper Lake Mary, the Ashurst Lake Campground is managed by the federal government as part of the Coconino National Forest. This pristine campground, a mere 20 miles from Flagstaff, offers free camping from May to mid-October. There are 50 camping spots on the grounds, and each provides drinking water, toilets and cooking grill areas. According to the Forest Service, Ashurst Lake is unique among lakes its size in Arizona for its ability to hold water throughout the dry season. The lake is equipped with a boat ramp and excellent fishing opportunities. Anglers can expect to find rainbow and brook trout.

Patagonia State Park

The 250-acre Patagonia State Park in southeastern Arizona might be one of the state’s better kept secrets. The campground is positioned on a man-made lake, and opportunities abound for avid hikers, anglers and rowers. The lake is stocked for fishing from October through March, while campgrounds are available for $17, as of August 2010. Campgrounds are fairly well-developed with restrooms, showers and electric hook-ups. Park entrances are open to campers from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m., but overnight stays are allowed.

Lyman Lake State Park

One of Arizona’s lake campgrounds that provides cabin or yurt camping is Lyman Lake Park, located in the eastern part of the state. Lyman Lake Park is also fairly big, with over 1,200 square acres. It costs $50 to rent one of Lyman Lake’s cabins and $35 for a yurt, as of August 2010. Tent and RV camping sites are also available for less. Cabins and yurts are open from late May to early September. This Arizona lake campground is a good spot for hikers and tourists as well, who can participate every weekend in a guided tour of the area’s historical features–the former Rattlesnake Point Pueblo, a native American settlement.

Fool Hollow Lake Campground

Some Arizona lake campgrounds provide opportunities for year-round camping and recreation. One of these is the Fool Hollow Lake, also located in eastern Arizona. This area is a state park with developed campgrounds, featuring both electrified and non-electric campsites. In addition, these sites share showers, restrooms and picnic areas. Fishing is available and Fool Hollow Lake, too, including rainbow trout in abundant numbers, according to Arizona State Parks.

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Trail Training this Fall

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[Via: CopaNews.com]

Arizona State Parks, along with several partners including the Arizona State Parks Foundation, City of Phoenix, City of Scottsdale, and Volunteers for Outdoor Arizona, are hosting two trail trainings this October.

Photo credit: worldssmalletsmeuseum.com/CopaNews.com

Trail Design and Layout Course

October 9-10, Phoenix, AZ

Registration is $30

This two-day class in trail design starts with a half day in the classroom learning the basic concepts of trail design and layout. The afternoon is spent learning how to use a clinometer and to apply the new trail design skills to evaluate existing trails. The second day is spent evaluating an existing section of trail and laying out a new sustainable reroute. NOTE:  This is not a construction course.

Trail Design Concepts Covered:* The Three Purposes of Trails * Grade, Tread Watershed, Anchors * Measuring Grade with a Clinometer * Five Critical Rules of Trail Design * Indications of Poorly Designed Trail * Evaluating Existing Trails * Planning Trail Reroutes * Five Stages Of Trail Layout * Types of Trail Users * Positive, Negative, Seasonal and Construction Control Points * Trail Routing Considerations * Climbing Turns vs. Switchbacks * Designing For Sustainability

For more information on this training click here.

Universal Trail Assessment Process Coordinator Workshop

October 19 – 20, Scottsdale, AZ

Registration is $50

The Universal Trails Assessment Process (UTAP) provides objective, accurate information about the conditions on a trail or in outdoor environments. The assessment results can help trail users determine whether a trail meets their interests and abilities. Land managers can also use the information to identify areas where access may be limited and to determine whether a trail complies with the proposed accessibility guidelines.

This two-day workshop enables individuals to conduct accurate assessments of trails in their own community and to lead groups of untrained individuals in the completion of trail assessments. Individuals who achieve a minimum of 70% on the final written exam are also eligible to be certified by American Trails as a Trail Assessment Coordinator. To become certified, individuals must submit copies of the trail data that they have collected for a minimum of two trails, which total at least one mile in length.

For more information on UTAP click here.

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For more information on this specific training visit https://azstateparks.com/trails/trail_workshops.html.

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