About
the GSRC
Background
The prolonged growth in volume of motorized and non-motorized recreational use in the greater Sedona area (i.e., the City of Sedona and surrounding national forest) as well as population growth in the surrounding areas (e.g., the Phoenix metropolitan area) has prompted active conversations within the community and among partners.
Currently, issues that have been identified range from cultural and natural resource protection; residential impacts; economic and social impacts; and education and enforcement needs. Recreational use and impacts cross jurisdictional boundaries, further complicating these issues.
Local land managers/agencies and governments recognize the cross-jurisdictional complexity of recreation management and understand that management strategies implemented in one area may impact other areas or stakeholders (e.g., prompt users to disperse to other areas). Key jurisdictions and decision-makers in the area include City of Sedona, Yavapai County, Coconino County, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Arizona State Parks and Trails, Arizona State Lands Departments, and the USDA Forest Service (Coconino National Forest-Red Rock Ranger District) among others. Therefore, to best address these issues, it is vital to pursue an inclusive, collaborative, and comprehensive public/private process.
The goal of the collaborative process is to actively engage interested partners in a space of shared learning and collaborative problem solving, and work together to develop viable input for land management strategies to address impacts and better manage recreation in the greater Sedona area.
Partners have identified motorized recreation as the first priority effort for collaborative engagement. The collaborative will expand it's focus to address additional efforts in the future.
What is the purpose?
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Identify and better understand key issues and impacts related to recreational use in the greater Sedona area
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Provide input on viable solutions for maintaining diverse recreation opportunities while reducing negative impacts of:
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Off highway vehicle (OHV) recreation and related impacts (e.g., natural and cultural resources, social-economic, residential, air quality, etc.)
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Dispersed camping
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Overuse of trails and related impacts (going off trails, waste, etc)
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Vehicle traffic and related impacts
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Who is involved?
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State and federal land managers and local jurisdictions, including the City of Sedona, Coconino National Forest, Yavapai County, Arizona State Parks and Trails, and AZ Game and Fish Department
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Community partners including neighborhoods adjacent to the National Forest, local businesses, recreation groups, other interested community members, and more.
Roles and Responsibilities
Co-convener Team:
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Works with the facilitation team to develop strategies for engaging partners and the public in obtaining trail project information
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Identifies potential shared-funding opportunities
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Works with all entities to bring public awareness to the effort
Working Groups:
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Develop and provide input on short-term, mid-term, and long-term strategies for addressing a variety of outdoor recreation challenges in the greater Sedona area, including strategies that better mitigate, manage, and maintain sustainable outdoor recreation.
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As a first step, the GSRC will be focused on motorized recreation challenges and strategies.
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Interested Public:
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Attends public workshops at key points in the process.
Facilitation:
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Southwest Decision Resources, a third-party independent facilitation team, is providing the process design and facilitation support to the collaborative planning effort.
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Provide a platform for learning, analysis, and discussion that strives for solution-oriented contributions to recreation management and planning.
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The team strives for a balanced and inclusive process that is solution oriented.