Haley Hills Report 4/20/07

Springtime in the Haley Hills is fully present and exquisitely radiant. The few rains of recent weeks have finally coaxed the red-orange blooms of the Ocotillo, and the Saguaro flowers are just about ready to open. The Palo Verde are as beautifully golden as the little flowers on the Red Barrel Cactus. Buzzards are riding the thermals, and I'm still seeing quite a few hawks out and about. Officer Dan Urquidez of Arizona Game & Fish was out there not long ago at the very back west ridge and spotted a mule deer doe and her fawn. That's a first in my books. I've seen Javelina hoof prints and heard strange rustling sounds in the brush at night, but never seen any deer. But that may very well explain the recent mountain lion sightings.

The nice weather also brings out the ORV riders in full force. Today I had a not too pleasant encounter with two of them. To make a long story short, though they acknowledged the signs, they admitted to ignoring them. Reason? Because as long as they've lived out here, they've always ridden out there. I politely explained that the law states that ORVs must stay on "existing roads" with violations subject to fine. They did not believe me. Therefore, I've requested additional signage from Arizona Game and Fish to that effect. Confronted with the reality of getting a ticket and having to pay a $200+ fine might be just the incentive they need to avoid the area. Maybe not, but it's worth a try. Meanwhile I will continue to do my part in monitoring the situation, and trying to get the BLM to speed up their efforts, which so far, have only amounted to words. We need some action out here and soon.

Got a few more videos posted at YouTube. The "Hackberry Tree of Life" has provided us with some remarkable footage of several different species of moths and butterflies, in addition to some beautiful little ladybugs. Enjoy at http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=waywardmuse.

For the Haley Hills,

Judy

Intro -- Bringing Everyone Up to Date

The Haley Hills -- a small mountain range and box canyon -- is located in northwestern Pinal County in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. While not as large or well known as some of the surrounding ranges such as the Sierra Estrella and the Superstitions, it is still an ecologically significant area of public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a subdivision of the United States Department of Interior. Rural mini-ranches and a few small farms skirt its outlying fringes to the north, east, and south. The Vekol Wash -- a historically and ecologically significant xeroriparian habitat -- runs along its southern border. The area is about 7 miles southwest from the Ak Chin Indian Reservation, host to Harrah's Casino, and 14 miles southwest of the burgeoning bedroom community of Maricopa. Maricopa is about 30 miles south of the greater metropolitan area of Phoenix. To the west the Haley Hills meets up with the Sonoran Desert National Monument, a protected wilderness area. If it were not for this pure desert wilderness, it might be one of the last "wilderness islands" in an area that is rapidly succumbing to unchecked development and urban sprawl.

We consider ourselves very fortunate to live at the foot of these hills. When we first moved out here in January of 2000, Maricopa was not incorporated and the nearest grocery store was over 40 miles away. There were no subdivisions, no cable television, and no fast food restaurants. Feed stores outnumbered convenience stores, and there was no public transportation. We still have to haul our own water and the only high speed Internet access is by satellite.

In 2003, the town of Maricopa incorporated. Housing developers had a field day, and while the booming has slowed some, new cookie cutter boxes continue to clutter the horizon, along with proliferating strip malls and fast food chains. The highway connecting Phoenix to Maricopa that was once mostly used by ranchers and farmers and as a short cut to Interstate 8 for folks on the way to San Diego, is now a crowded commute and a traffic nightmare for all but the crazy speed demons. For those of us who moved out here to get away from all that, it is especially disheartening.

This explosion in development also triggered an invasion of "city slickers" who view the surrounding wilderness areas as their personal playground. Their recreational area is not just our backyard now -- it is also the home for many unique, rare, and threatened plant and animal species, such as the Desert Tortoise, the Pygmy Owl, and Willow Flycatcher.

While the growth in the area has tripled property values for existing residents, it is not without a price. The rural ranchette area just south of the Haley Hills is called "Hidden Valley." Indeed several years ago, the hills at night were also invisible, cloaked under ink-black skies filled with the brightest stars imaginable and punctuated with coyote choruses that could put any wolf pack to shame. Now the northern outline of the hills is always visible at night with the backdrop of light pollution from the neighboring housing developments. We hardly ever hear the coyotes anymore, though they're still around. I suppose that steady encroachment upon one's home is hardly anything to sing about.

During the past year, we've seen an escalation in illegal ORV (off-road vehicle) tracks disfiguring the desert and a slow diminishing of wildlife sightings. Initially, we didn't think there was anything we could do about it. Then we saw a posting at the feed store announcing a public meeting where one of the topics to be discussed was turning this area into a regional park. That did it. We were fully alarmed and decided to go the meeting.

The meeting was hosted by Pinal County for the purpose of "scoping" and obtaining public commentary on their "Open Spaces and Trails Master Plan." It was very informative and the county officials seemed genuinely open and receptive to comments. Much of the data provided confirmed what we already knew based on our personal observations; most importantly, that the Haley Hills is an area rich in the highest quality of biological resources, with mammal, bird, and reptile species density in the higher ranges. While the Vekol Wash is dry for the larger part of the year, when it runs wet, it floods – most typically during Monsoon season (July-September) when we receive our heaviest rains. Its borders and islands are lush and densely vegetated year round – in striking contrast to the surrounding desert. Walking down the wash is like being in another world. The entire Haley Hills area is a natural refuge for many protected species, such as the Desert Tortoise, Willow Flycatcher, and Pygmy Owl. I’ve sighted Desert Tortoise on three separate occasions – two times near illegal ORV tracks. I’ve also sighted Gila Monster on numerous occasions. Scientists say that such frequent sightings are rare, leading me to believe that a healthier than normal population flourishes here.

The following species represent just some of the wildlife I’ve had the privilege of identifying by sight, scat, track, and burrow -- many captured on video: Mountain Lion, Bobcat, Coyote, Common Gray Fox, Kit Fox, Javelina, Skunk, Racoon, Jackrabbit, Desert Cottontail Rabbit, Round-Tailed Ground Squirrel, White-Tailed Antelope Squirrel, Kangaroo Rats, Mice, Bats, Sonoran Desert Toad, Diamondback Rattlesnake, Kingsnake, Coachwhip Snake, Gopher Snake, Garter Snake, Gila Monster, Desert Iguana, Zebratail Lizard, Collared Lizard, Desert Spiny Lizard, Long-Tailed Brush Lizard, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier Hawk, Sharp-Shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-Tailed Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Elf Owl, Pygmy Owl, Burrowing Owl, Gambel’s Quail, Roadrunner, Crow, Gila Woodpecker, Curve-Billed Thrasher, Phainopepla, Vieros, Warblers, Tanagers, Flycatchers, Cactus Wren, House Wren, Sparrows, Gilded Flicker, Hooded Oriole, Cardinals, Towhees, Cowbirds, Yellow-Headed Blackbird, Finches, Dove, Jays, Hummingbirds, etc. Countless varieties of insects, spiders, butterflies, and moths also grace our area. We are treated to the most unique array of plant varieties found nowhere else but the Sonoran Desert such as the Giant Saguaro Cactus. Palo Verde, Mesquite, and Ironwood trees are a special delight. Ocotillo, Teddy-Bear Cholla, Barrel Cactus, Prickly-Pear, and Pin-Cushion Cactus are prolific. In the fall, Desert Broom Brush launches silky-like snowflakes all over the place. One very early morning I caught a glimpse of the mysterious, elusive Desert Night-Blooming Cereus – a very rare event I am told. Desert Wildflowers that bloom in the spring are especially plentiful after a wet winter. We live in a sea of Creosote bushes – one of the most ancient plants with many uses. I could go on and on, but you get the picture. It’s a desert paradise, warranting a designation of natural open space with restricted usage – nonmotorized and nonfunctional, by government officials.

Our particular comments regarding the Pinal County Open Spaces and Trails Master Plan were formalized in a letter posted at my website: http://www.judykennedy.com/haleyhills.htm. To see the extensive damage wrought by the ORVs which is continuing to accrue, please visit my AOL public picture gallery at http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/waywardmuse?backState=prevPage%3D/ap/myAlbums.do%26state%3DalbumId%253D50489.1284.1168895249266.1.

After inquiring about the ORV issue, I learned that all BLM land in Arizona is classified as “limited use” – meaning that all motorized vehicles must stay on existing roads. There are no “existing roads” out there except for a one lane resource road previously used by a rancher who leased the parcel, and it’s not even on the current BLM inventory listing as a road. At any rate, the ORVs only use it for gaining access to the area. They do not stay on it at all. So I called the Sheriff’s office to find out exactly who could enforce these laws. Out came Deputy Puroll on Sunday, January 14, 2007 – the officer in charge of search and rescue and all the back roads in Pinal County. He was angry and disheartened by what he saw, and promised us he would try to step up enforcement in the area. In the meantime, he encouraged us to get Arizona Game & Fish and the BLM out here to post signs. Troy Christensen with Arizona Game & Fish came out on February 8, 2007 and put up some preliminary signs at critical locations to serve as deterrents. He also repaired a fence that had been torn down in all likelihood by ORVs and/or smugglers so they could avoid traveling on legitimate roads. Kevin Harper, the BLM area manager contacted me and said he would be sending one of his rangers out to get some more signs up. It wasn’t long though until it was evident that the signs that AZ Game & Fish put up were being ignored, and the fence that Troy Christensen repaired was torn down again. On March 3^rd, a vehicle was abandoned on our property. The Sheriff’s deputy who came out to investigate said it was the 10^th abandoned vehicle reported in the area during the recent month. He said it looked like the vehicle was used by smugglers. Several gallons of water were found in the back and a machete was tucked underneath the seat with some Mexican soft porn. The VIN number was scratched off the side of the door and the interior lights disconnected. On March 10^th, Dan Urquidez, AZ Game & Fish Wildlife Manager for this region, came out to visit and to check on some recent reports of mountain lion sightings. Again, he repaired the fence that had been torn down for the second time. We were also informed about an increase in smuggling activity on BLM land. A BLM ranger has contacted me twice by e-mail to tell me that she was coming out to put up signs, but she has not been able to do so yet. Many of my neighbors have expressed a concern not only for the damage to the environment done by the ORVs, but for the safety of the children who make up the majority of the riders. Per our observations, the ORV riders using this area are not mature and responsible “OHV recreational enthusiasts” that you might encounter elsewhere. They are mostly kids who have no regard for the law or the environment. Most of them are under the age of 18 and do not wear helmets. They tend to drive too fast on the roads and into the washes where there are many natural and unnatural hazards.

The alarming escalation of environmental damage due to illegal ORV activity and smuggling in the BLM Haley Hills area requires that we ask the BLM to close off the area to motorized vehicle use in the interim in order to prevent further unnecessary and undue degradation of the land while restoration efforts and other planning is underway. This blog is dedicated to recording and tracking these issues.

Haley Hills Report

3/26/07 Mon. East Trail Hike

To the BLM

cc: Arizona Game & Fish, Pinal County Planning & Development, Pinal County Sheriff’s office (attn: Deputy Puroll, Search & Rescue)

The weekend of March 24-25^th saw much illegal ORV activity in the Haley Hills BLM land again. It was right after a series of several storms that saturated the ground to capacity. Therefore, we thought it would be an excellent opportunity to follow some of the fresh tracks to determine exactly where the motor vehicles were entering the area. Most of the damage this time was to the BLM area east of the rancher’s old “resource road” along and around what we call the Haley Hills East Trail. As you know, this trail was primarily a hiking and horseback riding trail up until a year ago. Since that time, reckless off-road vehicle recreationists and smugglers have attempted to turn it into an illegal “ghost road.” Yet it is not too late to reclaim and restore this trail to its former condition in standing with current state and federal policy.

The hike covered approximately 2.7 miles and was documented with 169 digital photographs. These photos record evidence of fresh illegal ORV tracks, their origin, new “wildcat trails” in the making, and other environmental damage caused by this reckless, illegal off-road and smuggling activity. Out of those 169 photos I selected 45 and put them in slideshow format with descriptive captions for your review. This particular album has been forwarded to you in a separate and subsequent e-mail. The photos are also published online as part of my AOL public gallery. Please review them at your earliest convenience.

The photos include a collection of litter gathered on the hike, and several photos of hazardous vehicle debris which was too large and dangerous for me to remove by myself. Much of the debris is in the form of shiny objects which in some cases have been known to start wildfires. Much of the metal and glass debris is deadly sharp creating unnatural hazards for wildlife and humans alike. Not only was much of this debris near visible animal habitat, a beer can was actually obstructing the entrance to an animal burrow.

The illegal ORV tracks are not confined to the East Trail. I documented the formation of several new illegal “wildcat trails” in the making, some of them running over and severely damaging vegetation. Some of these illegal tracks were less than 50 feet from a Desert Tortoise sighting near the Vekol Wash. I also photographed the major entrances used by the vehicles to enter the area where barricades should be erected.

I photographed evidence of fresh illegal ORV tracks whizzing right past a sacred grave site of historical and archeological significance. One of the “No Motor Vehicles” signs erected by Arizona Game & Fish was found uprooted and severely damaged in the midst of fresh illegal ORV tracks, photos also included.

Our new website and blog, dedicated exclusively to exposing and tracking these issues, will be up and running soon, at which time we will provide you with the link.

We recognize that other planning priorities and insufficient allocation of specific funds and resources have prevented the local BLM field office from giving as much attention to this issue as needed and desired, particularly in the timely enforcement of existing regulations. That is all the more reason to immediately close off this land to motorized vehicle use in the interim. Not only will it help prevent further unnecessary and undue degradation of the land, it may be the only way to improve legal compliance on the part of everyone concerned. Therefore, a formal petition pursuant to 43 C.F.R. § 8341.1-2(a) and FLPMA § 1732(b) with further data and supporting documents is forthcoming.

Thank you again for your time and attention to this matter. If there is anything we can do to further assist you in these efforts, please feel free to let us know.

For the Haley Hills,

Judy Kennedy

Co-Founder, Center for the Haley Hills

www.judykennedy.com/haleyhills.htm

www.waywardmuse.com