Four adjacent ranges define the western edge of the Avra and Altar valleys. Even though desert ironwood has dark green, lush foliage much of the year, this tree is almost exclusively a Sonoran Desert species. The same is true of the distribution of saguaros, foothill palo verdes, fishhook barrel cacti, and most of the hundreds of other plants growing here. These rugged ranges also provide natural refuges for a variety of wildlife, including desert bighorn and migratory pollinators. In addition to the biological resources, the area has abundant rock art sites and other archaeological sites.

Provides a brief analysis of the legal and financial feasibility of the March 16, 2000 proposal, as well as a comparative analysis of (1) the conservation value, (2) the level of cultural resource protection, and (3) the fiscal impact of the proposal as measured against other development projects and against the various alternatives that might be exercised by the landowner.