[AZ-Observing] Re: Observing in Arizona -- State Trust Land

There are additional issues regarding permitted use of the land in the 
Vekol Valley area.
(1)  Some of the area in the Vekol Valley is now part of the new Sonoran 
Desert National Monument (est. in 2001), and MAY be under jurisdiction 
of a federal agency (probably the Bureau of Land Management, BLM).
(2)  The area has been used for cattle grazing for many years -- the 
rancher or cattle company probably still maintains grazing permits on 
some or all of the land.  Typically, a rancher or cattle company will 
maintain cattle grazing permits on ALTERNATE sections of land, in a 
checkerboard pattern.
(3)  Additionally, portions of the land may also be divided into 
multiple jurisdictions -- U.S. Forest Service or U.S. Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) controlling the National Monument lands and the cattle 
grazing permits; possible other Federal agencies (such as the Dept. of 
Defense, DoD, FAA, NOAA, EPA, etc); Arizona State (State Trust Land) or 
Arizona State Parks; as well as an Indian reservation or private 
ownership.  (I believe the DoD, and Indian ownership can be ruled out in 
the case of the Vekol Valley, down to the south end where a fence 
indicates the boundary of the Tono'Odham  Indian reservation to the 
south.)  Several of these jurisdictions may grant only certain classes 
of use; for instance, private land may be POSTED and thus off limits to 
hunting or fishing, and other unauthorized uses (without permission).

In many cases, use may be permitted just by contacting the appropriate 
agency or owner and seeking authorization.  A user would need to start 
from the EXACT LOCATION of interest and work back using maps, GPS, etc. 
to determine WHICH agency has PRESENT jurisdiction, then the issue of 
user privileges and any applicable registration, permits, licenses 
(camping, hunting, fishing, etc.) and/or any applicable fees could be 
established.

It is my opinion that no clear-cut ruling or regulation has been 
established in Arizona regarding overnight land use for OTHER than 
camping, hiking, fishing, or hunting, generally speaking   Just what 
category (nighttime) Astronomy falls into is unclear, at least to me.  
(So the issue of licenses or fees is not established.)

The State Trust permits mentioned by  Joe Larkin, below, would only 
apply IF the land is actually controlled by the State of Arizona, NOT by 
another agency (such as BLM, Forest Service, etc.)

To mention several other situations of interest:
EVAC, as an incorporated body in Arizona, applied for and was granted a 
State Land Use Permit for a site near Florence Junction (for the use of 
its members).  The Florence Junction site is not presently used, at 
least on a frequent basis, as EVAC has more recently made arrangements 
with the AZ State Park Service for use of the Boyce-Thompson Arboreteum 
facilities.  (Boyce-Thompson is a State Park facility.)

SAC, being an unincorporated club, has typically made use of County Park 
facilities, or other locations, typically north or west of Phoenix, 
sometimes with informal agreements with the land owners.

The Smithsonian Institution - Whipple Observatory -  some years ago 
established an "Astronomers Overlook" in the Santa Rita foothills on the 
access road to the Observatory on top of Mt. Hopkins.

The Tucson Amateur Astronomers Assn. has established a leased 
Observatory facility (TIMPE) on a site in the Tucson Parks west of the 
mountains (near the Old Tucson and Desert Museum facilities).

The U.S. Natl. Monument ranger(s) (the authority responsible for the 
Sonoran Desert  National Monument) have been made aware of the Astronomy 
(and other RV users) activities in the Vekol Valley area, and according 
to Gerry Rattley, they are in favor of such uses.  There is a well-used 
trailhead and hiking trail further to the southeast near a small peak 
(TableTop Mountian). IMHO, it might be of interest to the various 
parties to make further inquiries about the Sonoran Desert Natl. 
Monument development plans, towards the concept of establishing a "dark 
zone" and possible dedicated observing facilities.

Here are some URLs regarding the Sonoran Desert National Monument, the 
TableTop Wilderness and the TableTop Mountain Trail :
http://www.recreation.gov/detail.cfm?ID=(3110)
Map of the Sonoran Desert National Monument (BLM web pages)
http://www.az.blm.gov/rec/tabletop.htm
Other web resources and information:
http://www.tucsonaudubon.org/conservation/sdnm.htm
http://arizona.sierraclub.org/monuments/sonoran/sonoran-rec-5.html
http://clinton5.nara.gov/textonly/library/hot_releases/January_17_2001_16.html

(The above OPINIONS are offered as sources of information only:  I have 
no affiliation with any of the agencies or oragnizations noted, and have 
NO desire to discuss pros and cons of these organizations or their 
respective activities!):

Gene Lucas, SAC and EVAC member
Fountain Hills, AZ

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