Sedona News – To address growing concerns and changing conditions regarding motorized recreation in the Sedona area, the Greater Sedona Recreation Collaborative (GSRC) has issued a report to local, state, and
federal land managers and jurisdictions.
The report (Proposed Strategies for Motorized Visitor Use Management in the Greater Sedona Area)
addresses three main motorized recreation challenges: 1) high volume of use and recreational
demand; 2) limited physical infrastructure and sensitive environments; and 3) inappropriate or
illegal user behavior. The report also includes consensus-driven proposed strategies to address
these challenges including setting speed limits, issuing permits, route engineering, improving
signage/barriers, increasing enforcement, robust education programs, and continued voluntary
efforts.
“After extensive research, analysis, and discussion, the GSRC Working Group developed a set of strategies
to address the complex multi-jurisdictional issues facing the Sedona area. We feel these proposed
strategies are well thought out, and if implemented by the land managers will greatly lessen the negative
impact of motorized recreation in our area”, said Craig Swanson, member of the Motorized Working
Group.
The GSRC was co-convened in 2022 by the Coconino National Forest, the City of Sedona, Arizona
State Parks and Trails, Yavapai County, and Arizona Game and Fish to partner with and solicit input
from key partners on a range of recreation concerns. Southwest Decision Resources was chosen to
facilitate this collaborative process. Based on early feedback from interviews with local stakeholders,
the facilitation team and Co-Conveners chose to first focus on motorized recreation. A balanced
group of key partners was convened to form the Motorized Recreation Working Group including
local residents in geographies within or adjacent to common motorized recreation areas;
non-governmental recreation groups; stewardship and environmental organizations; ranching
permittees, local law enforcement, and the Red Rock OHV Conservation Crew (RROCC) members, a
group of motorized recreation business owners (see below Working Group representation).
The Working Group dove into identifying issues and exploring possible courses of action. After over
a year of extensive research, data gathering, discussion, and consensus-based deliberation, the
Working Group has arrived at a set of proposed strategies to address many of the concerns
surrounding motorized recreation in and around the Sedona area. Consensus was achieved when
“everyone generally agreed, and could live with the decision”. Most strategies received full
consensus while others have close to full consensus.
“The consensus process was challenging with so many differing views on managing recreation. While the
Working Group didn’t always agree on a particular issue, with so many perspectives we were able to get to
a full consensus on a lot of strategies being proposed”, said Nena Barlow, member of the Motorized
Working Group.
The Co-Convening entities that participated in the process provided technical and legal guidance
where appropriate, but they did not participate in any consensus discussions to best allow the
Working Group to share their priorities and ideas on strategies. Now, the Co-Conveners will consider
the Working Group’s proposed strategies for potential implementation and continue to partner with
the Working Group for implementation as appropriate.
The full report titled Proposed Strategies for Motorized Visitor Use Management in the Greater
Sedona Area can be viewed at www.greatersedonarecreation.com. In addition, the public is invited
to learn more about this effort in a set of upcoming public events, also listed on the website.
Released by the GSRC Motorized Recreation Working Group:
Amanda Maxwell, Sedona Westerners
Annie Glickstein, Friends of the Forest
Becki Ross, Windmill Mountain Ranch
Carl Jackson, Broken Arrow Resident
Craig Swanson, Keep Sedona Beautiful
DeAnna Bindley, Bear Mountain Resident
Heather Klomparens, Verde Front Trails Working Group, Yavapai County Community Health
Janet Johnson, Bear Mountain Resident
John Fitzgibbons, Pink Jeep, Red Rock OHV Conservation Crew
Kelley Malek, Sedona Westerners
Kevin Adams
Matt Caldwell, Red Rock OHV Conservation Crew, Tread Lightly!
Melissa Pontikes, Friends of the Forest
Nena Barlow, Red Rock OHV Conservation Crew, Barlow Adventures
Pandora Harris, Schnebly Hill Resident
Pete Sanders, Sedona Metaphysical Association
Stephanie Giesbrecht, Backcountry Horsemen, Verde Front Trails Working Group
Tim Angus, Red Rock OHV Conservation Crew, Outback ATV