By Bob Rothrock, Sedona Resident
(July 27, 2015)
A Sedona Verde Valley Red Rock National Monument could be very good for our region. It would only include lands already under federal (Forest Service) control. Sedona’s private lands would not be part of the Monument. Cottonwood, Camp Verde and Clarkdale would become gateway communities. The resulting increase in tourism would provide a significant economic boost.
National Monument designation would end land trades within its boundaries. This would preserve the unique landscapes, habitats and antiquities in this area. It would also end the sprawl development that has made travel through Sedona challenging.
A national monument will also improve the Forest Service’s ability to be stewards of “we the people’s” lands. Increased funding from federal and private sources will allow monitoring of usage and prevent destruction. This will certainly be an improvement over the present policy, which has resulted in closing to the public areas or activities that are difficult to manage.
For more information please visit redrocknationalmonument.org
16 Comments
This resident is reserving judgment until ALL details are made public.
Oh goody. More fees. More laws. More restrictions.
Do we really need this designation — in addition to Red Rock Ranger District Amendment 12 ?
I’ve been trying to research this, but the answers are not forth-coming.
We have to ask: How much government control do we need/want in Sedona?
There is a movement to oppose the National Monument designation for the Verde Valley. For those of you who have not kept up with this, the “Keep Sedona Beautiful” group, which includes a couple of Sedona city council members, is trying to designate the area from Clarkdale in the west to I-17, including some water areas east of I-17, as a “national monument”. They are in a big giant hurry, trying to get this designation signed. WHY?
They go to DC this MONTH to push it through. This smells like an Agenda 21 water and land grab. They are trying to market this as a way for home prices to go up and to get more visitors to Sedona. However, will values go up if the access to utilities is interrupted? We can’t handle the traffic we already have – the answer to that, says the mayor, is that at least we have a beautiful view while we sit in traffic for hours while more and more tourists pour into Sedona.
The monument designation will make for more rules, more fees, more red tape. Can anyone answer these questions?
1. If an earthquake takes down utility poles (& we have thousands of them going across this area) or if a water source is interrupted, will we be able to have them repaired? Or will we have to fight for years, similar to the Tombstone water situation – because they wouldn’t allow heavy equipment in the area where the repair was needed.
2. I understand that there will not be any additional roads with this status. Does that also mean that current roads won’t be repaved anymore, either?
3. As a photographer, does this mean that I can’t even take a photo in this area without getting an expensive permit? That cuts down the competition really fast.
4. Since they want to get rid of the parking areas at the trails and just use shuttles, that means that the locals can’t visit those areas after scheduled hours, either? Or are we going to have 24 hour shuttles to get around? Who is going to pay for all these shuttles when we couldn’t even afford to keep the trolley going?
5. What reimbursement do we get for our property if the utilities go away for any reason and they refuse to allow repair? Will eminent domain give us Sedona values – or will they use “national average” values, which probably won’t pay off most of the mortgages in the area?
6. They say that water rights will stay the same. Well, yes and no. Maybe senior and junior rights will prevail. However, having the feds in charge would put another layer into the mix. They would have senior rights, current senior rights would be junior to them, and current junior rights would be beneath that….???? I can’t afford to wash clothes in Evian or Perrier.
7. They said that federal rights would be for surface water. So, does that mean I can’t collect water on my property? Does anyone know if all of the affected cities get their water totally from underground?
8. They say this will keep the feds from mining here. No, it won’t. Congress can overturn the designation, if their pockets are sufficiently lined.
While the proposal will not specifically include shuttles in Sedona (which is expected to be part of the ultimate management plan which they are working on), they will almost have to be put into place somehow to manage the additional traffic. Currently the shuttle areas discussed involve the same areas that they previously discussed in the Sedona plans for the future. People would leave their vehicles in large parking lots in Flagstaff, south of the VOC, and west of Sedona and take shuttles to visit the area. This has the potential to make a lot of money for people who run the shuttles, as they could accept payoffs from the commercial places that they will be willing to stop.
If this action were more public and everyone’s concerns & questions were answered, perhaps a limited designation would be positive. However, the way that this is happening is not positive, it’s Orwellian. A rushed, half-baked proposal is not the answer.
Think about it.
J.J —
There are so many inaccuracies in your response to the National Monument — Have you spent any time on the KSB website regarding the National Monument? Have you attended any meetings? Have you spoken with the committee that has taken the time to research the advantages of a National Monument here?
Please be a responsible writer and check your facts. Otherwise your tirade incites others — And we certainly do not need anymore of that in Sedona —
Thank you —
PS How come you do not use your name when you write something with so much authority? It would be the responsible thing to do–
Christine – sorry to advise you but the KSB website is not the be all and tell all correct information on both sides of the issue.
and, Christine when you insult all of us by saying “Please be a responsible writer and check your facts. Otherwise your tirade incites others — And we certainly do not need anymore of that in…” I would ask You to become responsible and check your facts. and if any of my words incites others? Yippee!!! that only means that people are thinking on their own and not taking your and your husbands words.
Ok, I can see that this is a forum for venting — not for responsible comments.
Go for it — keep ranting —
At least I am not afraid to use my whole name and of course got slapped for it —
Christine Adams – if you for one minute actually believe that All the facts – all the pro’s and Con’s – have be shown on the KSB website or at any Council meeting…..well I do challenge you on that concept.
Have you or your husband ever looked at the opposite side of the issue so you both can find the middle? Dare I easily say that is a big No?
I find your assumption that if we don’t agree with you both and KSB and Tom O’H then we are not ” a responsible writer”. You say ” and check your facts. Otherwise your tirade incites others — And we certainly do not need anymore of that in Sedona —”
Christine and Rob: what our community needs is a full dialogue of tirades and information instead of a one way street of volume given by KSB and you and others.
Am truly amazed that you actually have the temerity to say that anyone who disagrees with you falls into your below comment.
“Ok, I can see that this is a forum for venting — not for responsible comments.”
Do you two not remember the last time the majority of citizens disagreed with a council vote? Those same people are just sitting in the background and waiting.
Yep, it is now time to incite the registered voters.
@ Bob Rothrock,
The 160,000 acre Sedona-Verde Valley National Monument designation (almost entirely surrounding the Sedona City Limits and the VOC town limits) will, purportedly, increase tourism many fold over the tourism-caused traffic congestion we now suffer in Sedona and the VOC. Can you imagine what it will be like once Obama issues his Executive Order, without any local citizen input in a Congressional debate or other public deliberation whatsoever as required under the U.S. Antiquities Act of 1906, to create this designation? Furthermore, Sedonans and Verde Valley residents will run the risk of being barred, at federal will, with no public complaints having any force or effect should such a debarment occur, from accessing and enjoying the proposed National Monument designated area as we did theretofore.
This land, that surrounds us, is now under the land management of the U.S. Forest Service which has done a stellar job. As a National Monument it will be under the absolute unchallengeable ownership CONTROL of the federal government’s BLM (Bureau of Land Management which is notorious for ejecting citizens by force from lands under their control). Conterminously, and also without local input or Congressional deliberation on the subject, the President has stated he will issue an Executive Order, while ignoring the Antiquities Act, to seize another 1,700,000 acres near the rim of the Grand Canyon but not in the canyon. How clear is it what the true intention is behind the Administration’s strong-arm threat to impose these National Monument designations, of such massive size, in northern Arizona without the input of the residents of northern Arizona?
The textbook example cited of what I speak of is the 1996 decision by President Clinton to designate nearly 2,000,000 acres of land in Utah as a national monument. Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) said Clinton’s decision to create the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was made without any advance notice, and was announced by Clinton during a pre-election tour of the west. The most vocal national opposition group to this federal ploy is called DEMOCRATS Against UN Agenda 21 @
http://www.democratsagainstunagenda21.com/
Rosa Koire, a liberal Democrat, is a leader of this opposition group. Read it, if you truly want to understand who and what is behind this movement to create a National Monument under absolute unchallengeable rule of the BLM that will engulf Sedona and the VOC.
Finally, in a meager effort to somewhat comply with the Antiquities Act, the City of Sedona has asked for the engagement of Sedona citizen’s on this issue. You can do that by going to this not so well known link:
http://engagesedona.mysidewalk.com/?dialog=connect.
Sedona and the Verde Valley are already under the protection of the federal government and funding for the NM is shaky at best considering the lack funds and currently approved yet unfunded projects.
The continued stonewall of concerned area residents is not helping the NM. This needs to be a community discussion not a self selected group of people who think they know what is best for everyone else.
This boat won’t float!
Since the 160,000 acre Sedona Verde Valley Red Rock National Monument designation will, purportedly, increase tourism many fold over the tourism-caused traffic congestion we now suffer in Sedona and the VOC, can you imagine what it will be like once Obama issues his Executive Order, without any Congressional debate or deliberation whatsoever, to create this designation? Furthermore, Flagstaff, Sedonans and Verde Valley residents will run the risk of increasing access restrictions at federal will as has happened in other areas in the western states that have recently been designated NATIONAL MONUMENTS.
Can you imagine the traffic in Sedona, with our TWO roads and no bypass (a 27 year discussion that has gone nowhere) with “Sedona Verde Valley Red Rock National Monument” appearing on every search engine on the planet being viewed by travelers visiting from afar?
In addition, a major land grab is also underway driven by the Sierra Club to tie up 1.7 MILLION acres around the Grand Canyon, the Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument. Local cities are up in arms and some state land would be surrounded by the “MONUMENT” restricting access to the state just like what is happening in Utah. More on that on our website.
NATIONAL MONUMENTS are under the direction of the Department of the Interior (monuments and national parks). The Forest Service operates under the Department of Agriculture. Although Agriculture has overall authority over the Forest Service, Interior is the primary director with their rules and regulations which are substantially stricter than from Agriculture. If you think we will have the same access as we do now…over time, forget about it.
The “Authority” for this and other designations is the 1906 Antiquities Act, another piece of legislation that has not been reviewed in 99 YEARS that has outlived is usefulness and needs to be re-written.
THIS IS SECTION 2 OF THE ACT. Please note that monuments and the definition of the land size is SPECIFICALLY defined below as…”the limits of which in all cases shall be confined to the smallest area compatible with proper care and management of the objects to be protected.”
160,000 acres, 1.7 MILLION acres is NOT in step with the act. The Act is being misused.
Complete Section 2 of the Act:
The President of the United States is authorized, in his discretion, to declare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated upon the lands owned or controlled by the Government of the United States to be national monuments, and may reserve as a part thereof parcels of land, the limits of which in all cases shall be confined to the smallest area compat- ible with proper care and management of the objects to be protected. When such objects are situated upon a tract covered by a bona fide unperfected claim or held in private ownership, the tract, or so much thereof as may be neces- sary for the proper care and management of the object, may be relinquished to the Government, and the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to accept the relinquish- ment of such tracts in [sic] behalf of the Government of the United States.
No further extension or establishment of national monu- ments in Wyoming may be undertaken except by express authorization of Congress.
When you open the link below, click on the large red “Vote No” icon to register your vote. Your vote will be sent to our Congressional Representatives and Senators. There is a lot of information and detail to be viewed.
Information is continuously being updated on the site.
Arizona Liberty Home
http://www.arizonaliberty.us
We are dedicated to the enhancement of Arizona and the furthering of a positive experience of local residents and their guests in our National Forest and Wilderness areas.
We don’t need another Monument. This just gives the government more control.
We don’t need more laws or more fees..
Haven’t been able to get any answers not even when I went to the meeting in Cottonwood.. The guy who presented it just wouldn’t listen to or answer the question in a proper manner.. He was just interested in getting this document to this president before he got out of office. What is up with that..
I think they should let the people vote on this..
J.H.
to Christine: Hello. I speak with authority? Wow. Thanks for the compliment. I remain anon. Thanks for asking.
J. Rick Normand, Susan Amon, Michael Schroeder, J H all have excellent posts and I hope you take the time to read them. We are waking up to the corruption, greed, and bad manners that cause the despondency pervasive in our lives today. Come on – this is SEDONA = one of the most beautiful places on earth. Start acting like it.
JJ
I just tried to submit a comment in response to Mike S. Once I hit Submit – the site went down and I could not submit. What?
You have a copy of my e-mail letter to each of the Sedona city council members. Why haven’t you published it to your readers as I suggested you do ?
John Roberts
Mr. Roberts, I don’t think I received your email letter. Would you please re-submit to Staff@Sedona.biz?
Thanks for the oped, Bob. You’re right. National Monument designation will be good for Sedona, the surrounding community and for businesses. It will not add to traffic. Our expanding population and the great work of the Chamber are already taking care of increasing traffic in Sedona. It will not lead to more government control. It will just simplify it and make permanent the protections of our valuable natural areas which is not guaranteed with Amendment 12. The letters against this effort are full of misinformation.
Please visit redrocknationalmonument.org and read through the great information on the site, including the FAQs. There is no hidden agenda here. It is not related to any other issue than protecting what makes the Sedona area so special. The site is excellent, and the people who pulled the information together are your friends and neighbors who, like you, care about our communities and our quality of life.
This is what I tried to post on August 4th.
Christine Adams – if you for one minute actually believe that All the facts – all the pro’s and Con’s – have be shown on the KSB website or at any Council meeting…..well I do challenge you on that concept.
Have you or your husband ever looked at the opposite side of the issue so you both can find the middle? Dare I easily say that is a big No?
I find your assumption that if we don’t agree with you both and KSB and Tom O’H then we are not ” a responsible writer”. You say ” and check your facts. Otherwise your tirade incites others — And we certainly do not need anymore of that in Sedona —”
Christine and Rob: what our community needs is a full dialogue of tirades and information instead of a one way street of volume given by KSB and you and others.
Am truly amazed that you actually have the temerity to say that anyone who disagrees with you falls into your below comment.
“Ok, I can see that this is a forum for venting — not for responsible comments.”
Do you two not remember the last time the majority of citizens disagreed with a council vote? Those same people are just sitting in the background and waiting.
Yep, it is now time to incite the registered voters.