[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 126 (Friday, September 24, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1954-E1955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      INTRODUCTION OF THE LAS CIENEGAS NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA 
                       ESTABLISHMENT ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM KOLBE

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 24, 1999

  Mr. KOLBE. Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to introduce legislation 
creating the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area (Las

[[Page E1955]]

Cienegas National Conservation Area Establishment Act of 1999). Las 
Cienegas is Spanish for marshes or bogs. In the Southwest desert, water 
is a treasured commodity. A cienega is even more precious and rare. 
This essential resource--water--is becoming increasingly difficult to 
manage because of the changes we see in the region. This legislation 
takes a large step to provide positive management. It establishes a 
national conservation area in the Cienega Creek and Babocomari River 
watersheds located in southern Arizona. The NCA will conserve, protect, 
and enhance various resources and values while allowing environmentally 
responsible and sustainable livestock grazing and recreation.
  Congressionally designated National Conservation areas (NCAs) have 
developed through the years as a method to protect and manage special 
areas that do not fit neatly into a traditional designation, such as 
wilderness. The NCA designation allows for flexible and creative 
management strategies for a resource area, while a designation of 
wilderness mandates a management structure set out in law. Therefore, 
an NCA is useful when there is a need to accomplish two objectives: (1) 
permanence to a management strategy, which is usually a compromise by 
all the stakeholders; and (2) flexibility to stipulate special 
management practices.
  In 1995, the Sonoita Valley Planning Partnership (SVPP) was formed to 
work on public lands issues in the Empire-Cienega Resources 
Conservation Area, which the BLM established in 1988. The Partnership 
is comprised of various stakeholders, such as hiking clubs, 
conservation organizations, grazing and mining interests, off-highway 
vehicle clubs, mountain bike clubs, as well as Federal, State, and 
county governments. The SVPP has developed a collaborative management 
plan for these lands, and an NCA designation would give this plan's 
objectives permanence and assure implementation.
  The Las Cienegas National Conservation Area Establishment Act would 
save a large tract of land significant for preserving a cross-section 
of plants and wildlife. The NCA would provide corridors for animal 
movements that are necessary for the long-term viability of important 
species. Two of southern Arizona's perennial streams, the Cienega Creek 
and the Babocomari River, would be protected, ensuring a long-term, 
sustainable riparian area. However, the NCA designation also retains 
these lands for human use. Ranching and recreation are integral parts 
of this conservation area, and the proposed legislations states this 
clearly.

  The core of this NCA designation is the management plan, which must 
be based on the SVPP land use management plan. The plan will include 
several key elements: A program for interpretation and public 
education; a proposal for needed administrative and public facilities; 
a cultural resources management strategy prepared in consultation with 
the Arizona State Historic Preservation Officer; a wildlife management 
strategy prepared in consultation with Arizona's Game and Fish 
Department; a production livestock grazing management strategy drafted 
in consultation with the State Land department; a strategy for 
recreation management including motorized and nonmotorized recreation, 
formulated in consultation with the State; and a cave resources 
management strategy.
  Another key component of the proposed legislation is the acquisition 
of land. This proposal reaffirms the principle of maintaining private 
property in Arizona, currently only 17.7 percent of the State, while 
providing the flexibility needed to include state lands in management 
strategies. Under this proposed bill, private land can be acquired only 
through donation, exchange, or conservation easements. To further 
ensure that Arizona's privately held lands will not be diminished, the 
proposed legislation specifically states that an exchange must not 
``reduce the tax base within the State of Arizona.'' In addition, 
conservation easements are given a priority, and any activity related 
to private lands must be done with the consent of the owner.
  This bill has been drafted by the people who live and work in this 
area, and I am honored to introduce this bill for them and for future 
generations of Arizonans. The Las Cienegas National Conservation Area 
Establishment Act is proof positive that people with seemingly 
different objectives can work together and find a large expanse of 
common ground. This bill supported by ranchers and environmentalists, 
both understanding that they want the same thing--a beautiful and 
vibrant southern Arizona.

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