The U.S. Forest Service and Yavapai-Apache Nation hosted a community open house on their proposed land swap on Wednesday, Jan. 17, at the Phillip England Center for the Performing Arts.
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.
The Y-AN has over 2,700 members and their reservation lands currently consist of approximately 1,800 acres in the communities of Middle Verde, Lower Verde, Tunlii, Rimrock and Clarkdale. Y-AN Chairwoman Tanya Lewis explained that the Yavapai and Apache peoples had an original homeland of extensive range.
“We are resilient people,” Lewis said. “This is our home. Were good stewards of the land. We are good stewards to the water and we have been good neighbors to all of our communities.”
Lewis said that the Y-AN has been working on this land exchange since the mid-1990s, when the Nation purchased the first parcels with the intent to swap them. The first land exchange proposal was presented by the Y-AN to the USFS in 1996.
In early 2023, the Y-AN submitted an updated land exchange proposal to the USFS and notice letters were sent out to adjacent property owners, tribes and government officials.
“This has been a very long stride moving forward,” Lewis said. She observed that there aren’t homes available for tribal members who want to move back to their homeland as well as a lack of homes for children, who have to be placed on a long housing waiting list. She added that the nation has a growing economy as well as growing families who need places to live. They also plan to keep some land in its natural state.
Lewis said that the land exchange will benefit both the Nation and the town of Camp Verde as well as the greater Verde Valley. She clarified that the nation will pay taxes to the town for any businesses that may be established on the exchanged land, and that the swap will allow outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy more wilderness lands.
The transfer of the Upper Verde River watershed land parcels will provide improved recreational access for outdoor recreational activities and hunting, and having the land controlled by the Forest Service will allow for enhanced protective measures for wildlife.
Resource specialists, display tables, maps and information booths were available during the open house. USFS staff also collected written comments. A 45-day public comment period will be followed by a 45-day Forest Service objection period and an objection resolution meeting. Residents can submit comments electronically through the Forest Service’s website.
Both parties plan to enter into a binding exchange agreement and close the exchange during the third or fourth quarter of 2024. Federal parcels will be placed into trust status by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and added to the Nation’s reservation following the close of the exchange.
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)
