The U.S. Forest Service is hosting a community meeting for the proposed Yavapai-Apache Nation Federal Land Exchange on Wednesday, Jan. 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Phillip England Center for the Performing Arts at 210 Lincoln Road.
The Prescott, Coconino, Kaibab and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests have begun the National Environmental Policy Act review process for a proposed land exchange with the Yavapai-Apache Nation. A draft environmental assessment is also available for public comment and review.
The proposed land exchange involves approximately 4,782 acres of inholdings within the National Forest System owned by the Yavapai-Apache Nation. The Y-AN aims to exchange six parcels of land in four different national forests, which are already surrounded by National Forest System lands, for around 3,201 acres of federal land, most of which is contiguous with the Y-AN’s existing land in and near Camp Verde. Most of these parcels are urban-interface land.
In June 2022, the Camp Verde Town Council and Y-AN council signed an intergovernmental agreement that described how the Y-AN will manage the land after the exchange. The agreement stated that the Y-AN and town of Camp Verde will share their future development plans and consult each other over any concerns. The agreement also addressed a tax sharing agreement between the Y-AN and the Town of Camp Verde.
A message from Y-AN Tribal Council Chairwoman Tanya Lewis on the Y-AN website stated, “Land is the foundation of almost all economic and social activity of the YavapaiApache Nation. It is necessary for housing, commercial activity, infrastructure, water resources, agriculture, industrial development, open spaces and countless other uses.”
The Y-AN’s reservation lands currently include approximately 1,800 acres in the communities of Middle Verde, Lower Verde, Tunlii, Rimrock and Clarkdale.
“For decades, this relatively small land base has been inadequate for our growing population’s economic and social needs,” Lewis said. “It is why in the early 1990s, our Nation began acquiring privately owned parcels of land within various national forests in Arizona. The hope has always been to exchange those lands for Forest Service lands adjacent to the Nation’s reservation lands.”
At the open house community meeting agency leadership, resource specialists and subject matter experts will be on hand to answer questions and to give instructions on submitting comments.
What lands are being exchanged?
Federal Forest Service Lands: 3,196.18
- Montezuma Parcels (NF1-NF4) – Parcel Description (Link) and Map (PDF)
- Lower 260 (NF5) Parcel Description (Link) and Map (PDF)
- Upper 260 Parcels (NF6) – Parcel Description (Link) and Map (PDF)
- Middle Verde Parcels (NF7-NF9) – Parcel Description (Link) and Map (PDF)
- Cedar Ridge Parcel (NF10) – Parcel Description (Link) and Map (PDF)
Non-Federal Yavapai-Apache Nation fee-owned inholding lands: 4,780.35 acres
- Red Mountain at Yavapai Ranch Six Sections Parcel (YAN1) – Parcel Description (Link) and Map (PDF)
- Johnston Ranch Parcel (YAN2) – Parcel Description (Link) and Map (PDF)
- Pinedale Parcel (YAN3) – Parcel Description (Link) and Map (PDF)
- Laurel Leaf Parcel (YAN4) – Parcel Description (Link) and Map (PDF)
- Heber Parcel (YAN 5) – Parcel Description (Link) and Map (PDF)
- Williams Parcel (YAN 6) – Parcel Description (Link) and Map (PDF)
