Access restricted with Road Closures in San Rafael Valley

Contributed by:

Zack May
Southern AZ Quail Forever
Chapter President
zmay@comcast.net

Two gates have been locked by private landowners south of Patagonia that have closed road access to over 30,000 acres of public land mostly in the north part of San Rafael Valley. Brittany Oleson from AZ G&F reported this to me over a month ago but I did not fully understand the overall impact until I went down with her to view the gates and the land. There is a more detailed writeup on each closure, potential mitigations and maps provided below. This is a bigger deal than Hog Canyon as it represents much more land and we always had access into Hog Canyon from the north. This highlights our need to be respectful of private land and make sure our actions do not impact their owners. We need to be mindful about closing gates, picking up our trash, ruining roads and keeping our speed and dust down.

What is being done:

-G&F has discussed this with both landowners to no avail – neither landowner seems interested in pursuing any agreement that would allow access. G&F has offered improvements and other consideration to the landowners in exchange for access.
-Raul Vega the regional G&F supervisor is meeting with Kerwin Dewberry the Coronado National Forest Supervisor to discuss potential actions that might provide alternative access.
-Raul has also suggested that I meet with Mr Dewberry.
-We are advising other wildlife and outdoor groups of the issue.
-Based on the initial response from Mr Dewberry we may work a more aggressive phone call and letter writing campaign to get action. I will keep you apprised as this progresses and will ask for help/action as needed.

Overview of Closures

Meadow Valley

-Access into Meadow Valley and Bog Hole Wildlife Area via FSR 765 was locked mid-July 2018; access required driving across private property on the Vaca Ranch. This closure was legal. The locked gate is located at 31.460138, -110.650745.

-The closure prevents vehicular access to miles of USFS roads and limits foot access on approximately 14 square miles of public land, including important areas for hunting (whitetail, mule deer, quail, and waterfowl) and for birding (waterfowl and riparian birds). The AZGFD Bog Hole Wildlife Area, typically accessed by FSR 5534 from FSR 765, is no longer accessible by vehicle and can only be reached by a 1.5-mile walk across the grassland from FSR 58.

-AZGFD reached out to the local ranch manager, Travis Nevins, to inquire about the gate. They were told the closure was primarily due to the gate being left open and cattle getting out.

-AZGFD offered to install a cattle guard to alleviate the concern while restoring access, but was told the ranch was not interested in access agreements.

-Access could be restored by constructing a new FSR 765 route that goes around the western end of the Vaca private property parcel that the current FSR 765 transects. Total length of new road would be approximately 1.15 miles depending on topographical constraints.

-An alternative requiring less road construction would be a land swap with the Vaca. The current parcel is a rectangular shape with the northeast corner missing and the equivalent amount of land added onto the northwest corner. If the USFS could swap land with the Vaca, thus moving the northwest “tab” of private into the northeast “slot” of public, the private parcel would then be a complete rectangle. A new road paralleling the existing fence could be created; this would require 0.65 miles of road creation on easy flat grassland.

-A less desirable option to restore access would be to create a 1.5-2 mile road from FSR 58 across USFS land to the existing FSR 765 north of the conflicting Vaca parcel. This road would be longer than the previous options but would likely be easy to construct out in the open grassland.

-A second private Vaca parcel to the north blocks access to FSR 4689, which used to provide access to Saddle Mountain but no longer exists. Saddle Mountain can still be accessed from FSR 765 via FSR 5530 and requires no additional reroutes.

Map demonstrating new 1.15-mile alternative access route for FSR 765, going around the private parcel from the locked gate, and potential land swap option that would reduce new road required to 0.65 mile. Private property is white, while USFS property is green.

Red Rock Canyon

-Access into Red Rock Canyon via Red Rock Canyon Road (FSR 138) was locked mid-September 2017; access required driving across private property on the Byrum Ranch. This closure was legal. The locked gate is located at 31.550103, -110.711865.

-The closure prevents vehicular access to miles of USFS roads and limits foot access on approximately 36 square miles of public land, including important areas for hunting (whitetail, bear, javelina, quail, and turkey) and for birding (yellow-billed cuckoos).

-AZGFD inquired about the closure and was told it was in response to the USFS rerouting a portion of the Arizona Trail (AZT) in the area.

-AZGFD attempted to enter into an access agreement with the landowner, but the two parties could not agree on terms. Access requires the public to drive one quarter of a mile through the landowner’s corrals, passing within 60 yards of the ranch headquarters.

-Sign-in boxes and access signs placed when the ranch was owned by Richard Collins (Collins C6 Ranch) were removed and replaced with “NO THRU ACCESS” signs in August 2018.

-Access into Red Rock Canyon could be restored by securing an easement from Highway 82 across Rosemont Copper property north of Sonoita Springs; this is the area where the AZT is proposed to be rerouted through Corral Canyon, and roads connecting the Rosemont Copper property to existing Forest Service roads in Corral Canyon (such as FSR 4600, and FSR 4601). Little to no road creation would be required to restore access in this manner, though some roads would likely need repaired due to years of limited use. A new trailhead could be created for the AZT.

-With creation of a short section of connecting roadway on Rosemont Copper property to get around a small private parcel, FSR 5743 (which spurs off of FSR 4600) joins to FSR 5744 which in turn connects to FSR 4604 and provides access from the Papago Springs area off Highway 83.

Map showing project location and scope of issue. Note locked gate on only public road (Red Rock Canyon Rd) into the Red Rock Canyon area.

Map showing Rosemont Copper parcels (yellow) that could be utilized to create an access easement. Existing roads could be utilized to connect to FSR 4600 and FSR 4601 (both roads also yellow then green), thus providing access into Red Rock Canyon.

Map showing existing roads, starting at Highway 82, that could be utilized to cross Rosemont Copper property and provide access to Red Rock Canyon. Rosemont Copper and other private parcels shown in white, USFS in green. Continuation of FSR 4600 on USFS land is not highlighted.