 Meeting Administration and Objectives  The Partnership  Understanding the Study Area  What We Heard  Alternatives to be Evaluated  Participant Discussion  Next Steps  Adjourn to Open House

 Pagers and Cell Phones  Restrooms  Meeting Breaks–You’re not glued to your seat!  Critique ideas, not people… show respect for the views of others  Ask honest questions- make clear comments

 Avoid Side Conversations  Listen with an open mind  Focus on functional, constructive comments  Thirty second soapbox?   Communicate effectively by actively listening  Enjoy our time together

 Introduce the Partners & the NEPA Process  Present the Alternatives to be Evaluated for the Environmental Assessment (EA)  Take comments or questions related to the study area and/or the Proposed Alternative  Understand the Next Steps and How You Can Continue to Provide Input

Reclamation Reclamation’s Role in this Project Land Owner of Lake Pleasant Regional Park Maricopa County operates the Park under the Recreational Management Agreement of 1990 Reclamation must approve the Recreation Management Plan, triggering NEPA The NEPA Process (National Environmental Policy Act)

 Lake Pleasant Regional Park is surrounded by BLM, Arizona State Trust Land, and private land.  Management actions taken within Lake Pleasant Regional Park potentially affect adjacent lands.  The goal is seamless recreational opportunities for you.  “Partners” approach first used in developing the Agua Fria Conservation Area Management Plan.

The Partnership Reclamation Bureau of Land Management Prescott National Forest Arizona State Land Department Arizona Game & Fish Dept Yavapai County Planning Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Dept Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office City of Peoria

Your input is essential to the NEPA Process As land managers, we are responsible for balancing recreation with protection of sensitive resources. Public Input

Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Department Manage Lake Pleasant Regional Park (LPRP) Lake Pleasant Master Plan Completed in 1995 – 4 years of multi-agency planning and extensive public input. Master Plan determined: A Conservation Area is Limited access and development which will preserve riparian areas. These areas will have Class III or Class IV accessibility. Class III – Facility access requires assistance from staff or companion. Terrain is rugged. Class IV – Facility is not accessible due to rough terrain. Increased Use Advanced Area Planning

Bureau of Land Management Castle Hot Springs Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) Black Canyon SRMA (motorized and non-motorized)  Table Mesa Recreation Area  Black Canyon National Recreation Trail (corridor)  Wickenburg-Lake Pleasant Regional Park-Black Canyon Trail Corridor  Open space scenic & visual  High quality trail system Hells Canyon Wilderness Maricopa Co. Trail System Humbug Mining  Resource protection  Legal public access

Bureau of Land Management Designate roads and trails Identify long-distance corridors Emphasize recreational opportunities Connect to LPRP and other recreational areas Castle Hot Springs SRMA Key Decisions

Understanding the Study Area

Study Area – Land Ownership

Study Area – Sensitive Habitat

Study Area – Wildlife Corridors

Study Area – Tortoise Habitat

Study Area – Bald Eagle Closure

 A desire to recreate in the area and have some type of “legal” access to the water  A desire to have more connectivity in trails, and to long-term routes (i.e., Wickenburg, Table Mesa)  A desire to keep the area somewhat primitive in nature  All comments were compiled and considered for alternative analysis

 Current Legal Routes –BLM inventoried routes (2001), and Park Castle Hot Springs and Cow Creek roads  Conservation – BLM conservation concept and implement Park 1995 Master Plan  Proposed Management Plan – Balance recreation and protect sensitive areas

 Receive Public Comments by July 22nd  Review Public Comments and Evaluate Alternatives for Consideration  Draft the Environmental Assessment (EA)  EA Available Tentatively late 2011/early 2012 – for public comment

 By Mail: Bureau of Reclamation, 6150 W Thunderbird Rd, Glendale, AZ, , ATTN: PXAO-1500/NLP  By  For Info: Sandra Eto, Reclamation –