LOCATION: Wickenburg Council Chambers

DATE: June 3, 1999

PARTICIPANTS: See attached list

SUBJECT: US 93, Wickenburg – Santa Maria River

The meeting convened at 1:00 p.m. Don Smith began the meeting by discussing the study corridor, the purpose of the study, and the purpose of the agency scoping meeting. He reviewed the Phase 1 study and provided a detailed review of the Phase 2 study process. He noted that a public information meeting presenting the corridor recommendations would likely be scheduled for October 1999 and a second public meeting presenting the study alignments and Draft EA would likely be scheduled for April 2000. After reviewing the major issues of concern outlined in the meeting handout, Mr. Smith opened the floor to the agency representatives to express their concerns regarding Phase 2 of the study. The following issues and concerns were expressed:

• Visual impacts of the southwest bypass on Vulture Peak trail.
• Potential impacts of the southwest bypass on the planned Vulture Peak Special Recreation Area, located near Vulture Peak west of the existing US 60/SR 74 intersection and south of US 60. Planning for this has progressed for four years and should be finalized this year. This is a potential Section 4(f) consideration.
• Disruption of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails for local recreational uses on BLM-managed lands.
• Potential impacts of a four-lane divided highway on the planned Red Top Mountain Trail located east of the proposed northeast bypass.
• Potential impacts on Class II Sonoran Desert Tortoise habitat located along the southwest bypass corridor would require mitigation. The mitigation would include compensation for the displaced land.
• Southwestern Willow Flycatcher habitat in the Hassayampa River Preserve.
• Cactus ferruginous pygmy owls.
• Riparian habitat along the Hassayampa River and major washes in the study corridor.

• Historic mines are found on both sides of US 93 around Wickenburg.
• Prehistoric sites are located on the east side of US 93. There is Hopi interest in these sites.

Note: The dividing line between the Phoenix and Kingman BLM jurisdictions is located near the Santa Maria River. Kingman BLM land is located west of existing US 93 just south of the Santa Maria River.

• Visual impacts on designated scenic highway: corten weathered steel guardrail, stained concrete structures, slope treatment, rock staining, rock sculpting, etc.
• Coordination with Western Area Power Administration regarding potential conflicts with power lines that cross the current alignment near the Santa Maria River.
• Use of materials sites and staging areas on BLM land. A BLM/FHWA programmatic EA is under development regarding federal mineral rights on Kingman BLM land; eventually this will be a statewide agreement.
• Wildlife crossing locations need to be identified and accommodated in developing design alternatives. This will require coordination with the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
• Bat surveys at existing structures on BLM land will be required to detect roosting areas.
• Maintenance of current access to public lands.
• BLM land parcels south of the Santa Maria River are designated for retention rather than disposal.
• Two grazing allotments are present on the BLM land near the Santa Maria River. Ms. Bailey provided addresses and contacts for the lessees to Mr. Wilbrink. The dividing line between the two allotments (the Santa Maria and the DG Ranch) is located at the division of Township 11N and 12N along the existing alignment.
• Must consider plant salvaging.

• Off-bridge mitigation is preferred for replacing bat roosting areas instead of placing bat abodes on structures, which creates maintenance problems.

• Subsurface federal mining rights on State Land need to be considered.
• Consistency with general land use plans should be considered along the bypass.
• Assistance for grazing lessees, such as providing fencing during construction, should be considered.
• Interested in joining the ID Team due to the large area of State Land that will be impacted. Mr. Smith invited Mr. Rodgers to the June 10 ID Team meeting.

• Access control on State Land.
• Access to Vulture Mine Road with the western bypass corridor. The State Land Department intends to partake in this discussion and is concerned that people think the issue has already been settled.
• Physical improvements (e.g. corrals, barns, etc.) on State Land belong to the grazing lessees and will require compensation if they are impacted by the highway improvements.

• Maintenance of access to grazing allotments on State Lands.
• Potential sale of State Land at US 60 or Vulture Mine Road interchanges.

• More information is needed on the location of mining claims from BLM.
• Joyce Bailey indicated that pre-1955 claims have more stringent rights; post-1955 claims are less difficult to deal with because they must be active (i.e. submit annual assessment) to retain rights. The State Department of Mines was recommended as a source for information on recent State Land mining claims.

• Stated that the Town had provided a list of issues and concerns to the Study Team at an earlier date (see attached).
• Interested in a short-term solution to the traffic problems in downtown Wickenburg.
• Wants to avoid new communities developing at bypass interchanges.
• Corridor avoidance of airport runway protection zones for expansion in future.
• Possible utility conflicts may occur along Constellation Road if the northeast bypass route is selected.
• Minimize the length of highway turned back to Town maintenance.

• Desire to retain compact character of Wickenburg community.
• Impacts on future regional land use – avoid development at bypass interchanges. Need to work with State Lands on potential controls for future development along the highway.
• Visual impact – the roadway should blend into the surrounding areas.
• Wants to avoid returning the existing roadway or interim improvements to Town maintenance.
• Air quality.
• Equestrian access to trails.
• Wildlife.
• Town is currently preparing an EA for the airport expansion.

• Minimize impact of the northeast bypass on private property and residential areas.

• Wants early involvement and coordination with tribes on TCP issues.
• Concerned about impacts on BLM recreational lands and the potential involvement of Section 4(f) considerations in the study.

• Coordination with Phoenix BLM is needed to explore the possibility of providing a transportation corridor in the plan for the Vulture Peak Special Recreation Area to avoid Section 4(f) problems.

• Access control should be addressed early in the process.
• Wants to limit the number of left and right turns from the roadway through access control to increase safety and operational efficiency.

• No new issues were identified, but encouraged the Study Team to address the issues enumerated by the Town as well as those presented by the Chamber of Commerce at an earlier date (see attached).

• Phoenix BLM will meet with Steve Thomas to discuss a potential transportation corridor through the proposed Vulture Peak Special Recreation Area.
• Phoenix BLM will provide information (e.g. maps, reports) to Sverdrup regarding the planned Red Top Mountain Trail and the Vulture Peak Special Recreation Area.

• Kingman BLM will send a list of contacts for the power company to Sverdrup.

• Phoenix BLM will share computer data on mining claims with Sverdrup.
• Sverdrup will contact the State Department of Mines for a current list of mining claims.
• Sverdrup will send a CAD file of the project area to Mr. Rodgers.

The meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m.

Attendance List

Sheila McCafferty Rights-of-Way Manager, State Land Dept. (602) 542-2648

Gordon Taylor Planning, State Land Dept. (602) 542-2647

Joyce Bailey Realty Specialist, Kingman BLM (520) 692-4428

Angela Mogel Realty Specialist, Phoenix BLM (623) 580-5638

Greg Gamble Central AZ Prog. Mgr., Nature Conservancy (602) 712-0048 x25

Tom Foster ADOT Prescott District Engineer (520) 445-5391 x3213

Larry Doescher ADOT Statewide Program Management (602) 712-7551

Roger Hopt ADOT Prescott District Maint. and Dev. (520) 445-5391 x3211

Ron Hill FHWA Phoenix, Real Estate Officer (602) 379-3722

Jerry Stricklin Town of Wickenburg, Town Planner (520) 684-5451

Steve Thomas FHWA Environmental Program Manager (602) 379-3918

Fred Carpenter Town of Wickenburg, Town Manager (602) 506-1622 x211

Gay Hendin Yavapai County (520) 771-3183

Julie Brooks Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce (520) 684-5479

Harry Reynolds Mayor’s Trans. Committee, Wickenburg (520) 684-9062

Karim Dada ADOT Environmental Planning Section (602) 712-8858

Richard DeBoer ADOT Predesign Studies Section (602) 712-7642

George Wallace ADOT Predesign Studies Section (602) 712-7467

Gordon Rodgers Director, Asset Mgmt., State Land Dept. (602) 542-3114

Laura Nordan Sverdrup Civil (480) 303-9799

Don Smith Sverdrup Civil (480) 303-9799

Berwyn Wilbrink Sverdrup Civil (480) 303-9799

Bert Bertleson Project Manager, Sverdrup Civil (480) 303-9799