Sonoran Desert Heritage

The Sonoran Institute has been involved in western Maricopa County conservation efforts since 2007 and in partnership with Arizona Wilderness Coalition, Arizona Wildlife Federation, and The Wilderness Society has developed the Sonoran Desert Heritage (SDH) campaign. The goal of the SDH campaign is to build upon the Arizona Desert Wilderness Act of 1990 in western Maricopa County by permanently protecting Arizona's Sonoran Desert, which teems with natural, cultural, recreation, and economic benefits. 

• Designation of two new National Conservation Areas (NCAs)
• Protection of new wilderness areas within the Sonoran Desert National Monument
• Creation of new Special Management Areas

National Conservation Areas

Belmont-Harquahala Mountains proposed National Conservation Area encompasses three existing wilderness areas: Harquahala Mountains, Hummingbird Springs, and Big Horn Mountains. Also included in this proposed NCA are several new wilderness areas including, Harquahala Mountains Addition, Hummingbird Springs Addition, Hummingbird Plain, Belmont Mountains East, and Belmont Mountains West. When complete, this proposed NCA will protect 300,500 acres of vital wildlife corridors, stunning landscapes, rare ecosystems, and botanical diversity while increasing the value of adjacent lands and continuing to allow the activities recreational users have long enjoyed.

Gila Bend Mountains proposed National Conservation Area encompasses the existing Signal Mountain and Woolsey Peak wilderness areas and seeks to add an additional nine wilderness areas. Those areas are: Columbus Peak, Cortez Peak, Dixie Peak, East Clanton Hills, Face Mountain, Red Rock Canyon, Saddle Mountain, Woolsey Peak Additions, and  Yellow Medicine Butte. The NCA will total 546,600 acres of land that is home to significant Sonoran Desert wildlife and amazingly adaptive plants given the high temperatures and minimal rainfall.

Sonoran Desert National Monument

The addition of new wilderness areas within the existing Sonoran Desert National Monument (SDNM) is a central component to the Sonoran Desert Heritage campaign. The proposed Butterfield Stage Memorial wilderness area would protect cultural objects and ecological values in the monument area while still providing public access. Margie's Peak proposed wilderness area would add 14,700 acres to the SDNM and protect native Sonoran desert plant communities and help sustain viable populations of sensitive wildlife such as bighorn sheep and Sonoran desert tortoise. Sand Tank Mountains proposed area consists of Sand Tanks East and Sand Tanks West – a total of 106,300 acres. Situated about seven miles southeast of Gila Bend, the Sand Tanks are one of the remaining crown jewels of the Sonoran Desert. Wilderness designation offers long term protection for both wildlife and recreation opportunities in this area while minimizing the footprint of motorized use.

Special Management Areas

Congress can designate an area as a Special Management Area (SMA) to ensure that it remains in public ownership to protect prominent and valuable scenic, recreation, or wildlife resources. Generally, lands within an SMA are not subject to specific federal public land laws and are managed to protect the identified resources and minimize user conflicts. The Sonoran Desert Heritage campaign aims to add the following two areas as SMAs: Hieroglyphic Mountains and Rainbow Valley Wildlife Linkage.

Visit the Sonoran Desert Heritage website which features the most up-to-date proposal areas and acreages, an interactive map, and the opportunity to get involved in the process.