Las Cienegas National Conservation Area

Las Cienegas National Conservation Area
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)

Cienega Creek
Map showing the location of Las Cienegas National Conservation Area

Location of Las Cienegas in the United States.

Location Pima and Santa Cruz counties, Arizona, United States
Nearest city Sierra Vista, Arizona
Coordinates 31°46′48″N 110°37′08″W / 31.78°N 110.619°W / 31.78; -110.619Coordinates: 31°46′48″N 110°37′08″W / 31.78°N 110.619°W / 31.78; -110.619
Area 45,000 acres (180 km2)
Established 2000
Governing body Bureau of Land Management
Website Las Cienegas National Conservation Area

The Las Cienegas National Conservation Area is a National Conservation Area of Arizona, located in the transitional zone between the Sonoran Desert and the Chihuahuan Desert.[1]

Description

Once facing an uncertain future that almost certainly included housing and commercial development, today more than 45,000 acres (180 km2) of rolling grasslands and woodlands in Arizona’s Pima and Santa Cruz counties are protected as a National Conservation Area. The region’s rolling grasslands, oak-studded hills that connect several "sky island" mountain ranges, and lush riparian corridors are irresistible to both people and wildlife. Ciénega Creek, with its perennial flow and lush riparian corridor, forms the lifeblood of the NCA and supports a diverse plant and animal community.[2]

Thanks to the efforts of local governments, elected officials and the public, the Empire and Cienega ranches, along with portions of the adjacent Rose Tree and Vera Earl ranches, are now under public ownership and managed by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) under the principles of multiple-use and ecosystem management for future generations to use and enjoy. The BLM has formed a partnership with the nonprofit Empire Ranch Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving the historic buildings and surrounding landscapes.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Las Cienegas National Conservation Area: FY 2011 Annual Manager's Report" (PDF). 2011. Retrieved 2013-12-08.
  2. 1 2 "Las Cienegas NCA - BLM Arizona". United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2014-07-21.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/19/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.