Presentation to Council for Input
The City’s Parks, Recreation, and Open Space division is presenting the Greater Observatory Mesa Area Trail Plan to City Council this Tuesday in preparation for a future request to adopt the trail plan for implementation.
According to the Council’s agenda, the meeting will provide the City Council an understanding of the trail plan, and offer the opportunity to provide feedback on the plan in preparation for a future request to adopt the trail plan for implementation by the City via resolution.
The Greater Observatory Mesa Trail Final Draft Plan and associated map can be found here https://www.flagstaff.az.gov/4870/Greater-Observatory-Mesa-Trail-Plan.
Background
This trail plan is for the Observatory Mesa Natural Area (OMNA) was established via a conservation easement with Arizona State Parks & Trails. Land within the OMNA is managed by the City of Flagstaff, U.S. Forest Service, and Lowell Observatory, although no trail management is proposed in this plan for Lowell’s Section 17 which is adjacent to Thorpe Park.
The draft trail plan proposes:
- New trail construction of 19.93 miles, an increase of trail mileage in the system from its current 5.27 miles to a new total of 27.15 miles on OMNA and Forest Service lands.
- New trails will be designed with a 24-inch width and natural surface with the exception of 8 miles of trail loops for adaptive mountain biking (aMTB) which will be constructed to 40-inch width.
- Four trails (5.25,5.26, 5.28, 5.29) will be designed and constructed to provide intentional mountain bike-focused experiences for biking while remaining open to all allowed uses.
- Motorized vehicles are not allowed within the planning area, but electric bikes are allowed on existing motorized alignments.
- Additional parking for residents and visitors to access Observatory Mesa trails will be provided along Route 66 near the Public Works Yard and at the western boundary on Forest Road 515, resulting in two additional formal access points (bringing the total to eight).
- The Greater Observatory Mesa contains approximately 24 miles of unauthorized trails and informal roads (excluding Lowell’s section 17). The long-term plan proposes to restore and naturalize approximately 14 of these miles: 4.1 miles of unauthorized trails and 10.5 miles of abandoned roads.
- Just over 3 miles of unauthorized trail and existing roadbed will be adopted into this authorized trail plan. All remaining trails outlined in this trail plan will require the building of of new and additional trails.
F3’s Position Regarding the Draft Trail Plan
F3 has followed the development of this trail plan for the years it has taken to produce the draft to be presented to Council this week. F3 wrote to the Open Spaces Commission about concerns with the draft plan on October 27, 2024 (view here). Our concerns relate directly to the intent of the Deed of Conservation Easement between the City and State for the management of the former state trust lands within the OMNA. That agreement states that no changes can be made to the parcel that would seriously or negatively affect the baseline conservation or open space values.
It is F3’s opinion that the significant increase and use of new trails proposed in this trail plan will negatively impact the conservation values as outlined in the baseline documentation. While it’s understood that it may be impossible to perfectly maintain baseline conditions, the proposed plan to build an additional 18 miles of new trail significantly moves the area even further away from any effort to protect and conserve the baseline conditions.
Baseline conditions are described as providing habitat for resident wildlife including elk, deer, black bear, pronghorn antelope, pine oak songbirds, and the northern goshawk. In addition, seasonal grazing is provided for deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, and mountain lion, smaller mammals such as fox, porcupine, skunks, and squirrels, as well as songbirds, and great horned owls. The baseline report also references the identification and mapping of pronghorn antelope habitat, black bear movement corridors, and important areas for turkey and goshawk as well.
F3 is also concerned that only in Phase III of the Trail Plan, for which no implementation time frame is provided, does the City plan to restore and naturalize 10.46 miles of identified unauthorized roads, thus resulting in many miles of open trails will be in place between building of new trails in Phase I and Phase II and final implementation of Phase III.
Provide Your Input
F3 encourages you to read the Final Draft Plan, review the maps, and provide your input to City Council before Tuesday’s council meeting. There are two ways to provide comments:
A) Email the Mayor and council members with this one email address: council@flagstaffaz.gov, and/or;
B) Provide comments directly to City Council via making a verbal public comment on Agenda Item #9 during the council meeting on Tuesday, May 13, in person at City Council chambers in City Hall, or virtually make an online verbal public comment via Microsoft Teams using this link.
