Pima County, in partnership with the National Park Service, has been an active participant in the development of a 70 mile segment of the trail. With the preparation of this Master Plan, Pima County has embarked on an active program to acquire the necessary rights-of-way and easements and to construct the Pima County segment of the national historic trail.

In this initial (interim) report, 21 different natural resource based outdoor recreational activities are identified. These activities are believed to represent the most popular natural resource based recreational activities in eastern Pima County. Based on the best information available, the document provides an overview and description of each of the noted activities. Information is also provided regarding the primary or preferred locations where the subject activity occurs. Data on participation in the individual activity is included where available. Use patterns, such as seasons when the activity is most prevalent, have been identified and trends related to changes in participation levels are discussed. Finally, issues related to the recreational activity vis-a-vis the goals of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan are also presented.

This study from the citizens of the Arivaca community proposes to establish an Arivaca Resource Management Zone, where a atwo level management plan integrates the otherwise fragmented land use and water policies of the various regulatory agencies. The Arivaca watershed contains one of the last remaining cienegas and perennial streams in southern Arizona. These unusual water features exist because the area is still in a state of balance, where annual water consumption is less than the natural recharge replenishing the aquifer during years of average precipitation.

The Cochise County Comprehensive Plan adopted in 1984 and last revised in 2011 serves to promote orderly and well-planned County growth. The Plan consists of a written document establishing land use, transportation, water conservation and public facility goals and polices and a series of maps that serve as a blueprint for the intensity and type of land uses expected near the incorporated cities and towns and in the outlying rural areas. Community and area plans are amendments to the Comprehensive Plan that address the future growth of a specific community or region of the County. They offer an opportunity for citizens who live and work in an area to have voice in the location, type and intensity of growth in their community. These plans based on long discussion with the community are designed to support land uses that enhance and protect an area’s unique character.

Apache County is required by state law to prepare a comprehensive plan “to conserve the natural resources of the county, to insure efficient expenditure of public funds, and to promote the health, safety, convenience, and general welfare of the public.” The planning process is structured to emphasize public involvement and incorporate comments, ideas, and direction of the public into the plan. This plan strives to create strong and vibrant communities within Apache County by encouraging orderly development.