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The Open Space Element
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The Open Space Element addresses the conservation of the Town's open space and recreation resources in a manner that is in concert with its future development patterns and economic potential. It contains goals, policies, and objectives to provide the conservation of open space in a manner that is beneficial to Eagar and its residents. Click here for a map of the Open Space Element.

Wildlife in the planning area includes that typical of grassland, mixed woodland, and montane riparian plant communities. Common species are expected to include coyote (Canis latrans), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), prairie dog (Cynomys gunnison/), thirteen-lined ground

squirrel (Spermophilus tridecemlineautus), smaller rodents, and grassland bird species such as sparrows and meadowlarks. Juniper woodlands provide habitat for additional bird species, such as Scrub Jays, Western Bluebirds, and Plain Titmice. The Little Colorado River provides habitat for aquatic, semi-aquatic, and riparian species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes.

No special wildlife habitat areas have been identified within the planning area, although some special interest bird species are known to occur or potentially occur. The Bobolink is a grassland bird species that occurs in the northern Great Plains. It generally does not breed in the western United States, but there are records of these birds breeding in wet meadows along the Little

Colorado River just west of Eagar. There are other species that occur in the general vicinity, although not necessarily within the planning area. They include Bald Eagles at Becker Lake, Mexican Spotted Owls on the Apache National Forest, and Gray Catbirds and Southwestern

Willow Flycatchers at Winema Ranch just north of Springerville. The Greer-Eagar-Springerville vicinity is one of the only areas where Gray Catbirds breed in the state, or for that matter in the Southwest, primarily in dense riparian vegetation along the Little Colorado River. Wildlife viewing areas in the vicinity include the Springerville Marsh Wildlife Area (waterfowl and shorebirds), the Winema Ranch Wildlife Area (riparian birds), Becker Lake (waterfowl and birds of prey), and Nelson Reservoir (waterfowl). This part of the state supports a diverse assemblage of habitat types. Plains grassland, wetland, aquatic, pinyon-juniper woodland, pine forest, and mixed­conifer forest can all be found within a 5-mile radius of downtown Eagar.

There are several federally-listed and proposed species that have possible habitat in the planning area, or that are known to occur downstream of the planning area. All except one species are associated with aquatic and riparian habitats. There is possible habitat for the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher along the Little Colorado River and possibly other perennial streams in the planning area. This species is known from areas along the Little Colorado River both upstream and downstream of the planning area. The threatened Apache trout may occur in the Little Colorado River in the planning area. However, it is stocked as a game species upstream of planning area at Sheeps Crossing, and downstream at Becker Lake. Federally­threatened Bald Eagles nest at Becker Lake near Springerville. The threatened Little Colorado River Spinedace, a small native fish, occurs in the Little Colorado River below Springerville and in Nutrioso Creek below Nelson Reservoir. There are also records of this species from the Little Colorado River in the planning area, although it is not known whether it currently occurs in this reach. The proposed threatened Chiricahua leopard frog potentially occurs in the Little Colorado River or other surface waters in the planning area. The proposed threatened Mountain Plover has been recorded as breeding in grassland areas near Springerville. There are no records of this species in the Eagar area, but it has potential to occur in grassland plant communities.

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Fee-based recreation activities, which include skiing, hunting and fishing, are available on the Apache Indian Reservation. Figure 6 documents existing open spaces, parks and trails within the Town.

In addition to undeveloped and fee-based recreation activities, the Town provides formal recreation facilities. These include Ramsey and Amity Parks, the Round Valley swimming pool, and the Round Valley Recreation Center. The facilities are managed by the Eagar Parks and Recreation Department, which also manages the Town cemetery. A privately owned public golf course is located on Central Avenue. The Round Valley Recreation Center is owned by the Arizona State Land Department.

The Town currently provides 245 acres of developed parks and open spaces per 1,000 population. This is well within the range of standards recommended by the National Parks and Recreation Association. In addition, the Town is surrounded by public lands that offer a variety of cultural, trail, open space, and other recreation activities. The 2010 population of Eagar is projected to be 5,499. With no increase in the Town open space inventory and implementation of this Plan, approximately 180.29 acres of parks and open spaces per 1,000 will be available to Eagar residents in 2010.

Developed parks and recreation facilities include Ramsey Park, which consists of 1.8 acres of developed land and 4.2 acres of undeveloped land, Amity Park, which consists of 1 acre of developed land, and the Round Valley Recreation Center, which is on 16.69 acres of land leased from the Arizona State Land Department. All of the Town parks facilities include sports fields, play areas, and parking. The Recreation Center is fully funded and managed by the Town. There are 80 acres of undeveloped land, currently owned by Arizona Game and Fish Department located near the intersection of 26 Bar Road and S_hool Bus Road. The Town is considering working with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to use this land for a public park. If the Town is successful in obtaining this site for use as a public park, the amount of public and private parks and open spaces will increase.

The undeveloped open space adjacent to the Little Colorado River and its tributaries and flood plains is 985.46 acres. It is privately owned. The State Trust land at the east side of Town is 303.83 acres of undeveloped open space that is currently leased for grazing. The total undeveloped open space is 1289.29 acres.

The proposed Highway 180 trailhead provides access from the Town to the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest. Another trailhead is located east of Ponderosa Street and also provides Forest access.

The Town and the surrounding area also offer cultural opportunities such as historic and prehistoric sites. Petroglyphs are found along the Little Colorado River and its tributaries. Canals built by Mormon settlers are still visible and intact, and original settler homes and homesites are marked. Nearby Casa Malpais provides additional prehistoric resources.

Riparian and aquatic habitats along the Little Colorado River as well as regional bio-diversity are tremendous opportunities for eco-tourism. Bird-watching is a popular and growing pastime and can generate substantial local revenues. The diversity of habitats, the local occurrence of special interest bird species, and established wildlife viewing areas in the vicinity all improve the potential for this revenue source.

Other recreation opportunities not currently offered and afforded by Eagar's geographical location, unique setting, and moderate climate include outdoor recreation events such as regional sports tournaments, mountain bike races, road bike races, birding symposia, and other types of conferences. These events can boost local revenues and promote Eagar as a tourist destination.

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· There is adequate open space to accommodate the projected population growth for the Town.
· All of the Town’s developed recreation facilities, with the exception of the golf course, are east of Main Street. As the Town continues to grow, more developed parks on the west side of Town and in other developing areas will be needed.
· Ramsey Park is a partially developed community park. As more seasonal and full-time residents use the park, additional facilities may be needed.

· Two trails within the Apache Sitgreaves Forests originate in Eagar. These origination points should be marked should be marked and conserved. Connections to Town non-motorized trails should be provided.
· Habitat supporting several unique species of birds is located along the Colorado River, in the 100-year floodplain. These areas are generally unknown, unprotected, and need to be recognized as an economic or open space resource for the Town.
· The Town does not have a connected trail system that links its open space, cultural, and developed recreation resources.

· The Town does not have in-place development policies that will result in the provision and maintenance of parks and trails and the conservation of open spaces.

· Portions of the Little Colorado River floodplain are likely to support wetlands regulated under Section 404 of the Clear Water Act. Placement of fill or dredged material within wetlands or other waters of the United States (i.e., perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral streams and impoundments thereof) is subject to permitting requirements under Section 404 and is regulated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The occurrence of wetlands is probably not limited only to areas with Shay soils; other portions of the Little Colorado River floodplain, particularly adjacent to the active channel, and other portions of the planning area may also support wetlands.
· The location of floodplains may affect proposed uses in the planning area. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) floodplains occur along the Little Colorado River. Developed uses within 100-year floodplains will require floodplain use permits.
· Developed land uses within the Little Colorado River floodplain area will continue to be limited by soils, wetlands, and possible effects on listed species. The opportunity therefore exists for riparian enhancement of the Little Colorado River reach in the planning area, development of low-impact nature viewing areas or trails, and associated development of businesses targeting eco-tourism, such as bed-and-breakfast lodging, restaurants, mountain bike rental shops.
· Possible habitat occurs in the planning area and known habitat occurs in the vicinity of the planning area for several federally-listed and proposed species. Planned development in the floodplain of the Little Colorado River may require consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under Sections 7 or 10(a) for possible effects on aquatic, semi-aquatic, and riparian species that may occur in the planning area or that may be indirectly affected by downstream impacts. One upland species, the Mountain Plover, may also affect planning. However, this species is not known in the planning area and is unlikely to occur. Possible consultation requirements may be avoided by completion of surveys for this species in appropriate habitat.

        Policy: Work with the Round Valley High School to provide tourist and recreation opportunities. An example would be a western or extreme sports film festival, held in the high school theater.
        Policy: Provide on-street bicycle lanes on School Bus Road, River Road,      Policy: Work with businesses along Main Street to provide benches and attractive areas to sit and walk.
        Policy: Work with Northland Pioneer College to provide personal enrichment classes that focus on the study and appreciation of the natural resources of Eagar. An example would be a class that studies birds in their natural habitat.

    Objective: Establish a network of multi-modal trails that connect the Eagar parks with recreation activities and USDA Forest Service trails.
        Policy: Negotiate conservation easements to enable the establishment of trails along the Little Colorado River.
        Policy: Partner with the USDA Forest Service and other agencies to preserve open space for recreation activities.
        Policy: Place interpretive signs along trails to educate users about the values of the natural resources and how they can be preserved.

    Objective: Protect and enhance important or sensitive plant and wildlife communities.
        Policy: Prohibit development in the 100-year floodplain and in areas that support sensitive wetland and riparian plant and wildlife communities. Buffer floodplain areas with low-impact uses, such as very low density residential, agricultural, or recreational uses and parks.
        Policy: Develop a trails system in public open space and floodplain areas to control human access to these areas and protect natural resource values. Within floodplains, trails should be constructed outside the riparian zone and outside of wetlands areas to avoid impacts to these resources and allow their natural reestablishment.
        Policy: Create wildlife habitat by developing aquatic and wetlands habitats at wastewater treatment facilities.
        Policy: Limit development in woodland and forested portions of the planning area to maintain a diversity of plant communities and to preserve the existing natural setting. Larger commercial and residential development should take place in open grassland areas that predominate the planning area and support most of the developed uses.  Development in woodland and forested areas should be limited to single family residences or small commercial facilities with building envelopes.
        Policy: Protect native grassland and other native plant communities by developing and requiring native seed mixes for revegetation of disturbed areas.

    Objective: Improve park facilities to provide a variety of recreation services.
        Policy: Fund improvements for upgrades to public park facilities.
        Policy: Establish a new park north of 26 Bar Ranch Road and west of School Bus Road.

    Objective: Promote Eagar’s natural resources in a manner that encourages their wise use and conservation.
        Policy: Work with the Audubon Society to promote Eagar as a good location for birding.
        Policy: Work with the Arizona State Committee on Trails to identify regional trails and connect them to Eagar.
        Policy: Work with the Springerville-Eagar Regional Chamber of Commerce and the United States Forest Service and other entities to use Eagar as a good base of operation for hiking, mountain biking, camping, and other outdoor-oriented recreation.
        Policy: Consider working with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to sponsor fishing, birding, or other similar types of recreation events to make others aware of Eagar’s diverse open spaces and natural resources.
        Policy: Consider working with the Arizona State Committee on Trails, the State Historic Preservation Office and other entities to make others aware of Eagar’s trails, historic sites, bike paths, and proximity to the National Forest.
        Policy: Procure land from the Arizona Game and Fish Department for public recreation use.

    Objective: Preserve the Little Colorado River and its tributaries and associated floodplains as open space.
        Policy: Use conservation easements or other land use mechanisms to protect the Little Colorado River, its tributaries and associated 100-year floodplains, and other cultural resources and natural areas.

Copyright © 2005 The Town of Eagar, Arizona
Updated 1-5-05
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