County hears proposal to hold conservation easement for Date Creek Ranch; staff to return with consent-item paperwork

Yavapai County staff and representatives from the Knight family and Central Arizona Land Trust briefed the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 7 about a proposal for the county to hold a conservation easement on Date Creek Ranch, an approximately 646-acre property north of Wickenburg.

Rebecca Ruffner, representing the owners, said the ranch sits at the Mojave–Sonoran Desert interface and supports restored riparian habitat, beaver and reintroduced fish, and extensive bird life. She told the board the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) awarded a Forest Legacy Program grant of $1,100,000 to purchase development rights, and DFFM requires that a governmental entity hold the conservation easement the program funds.

Ruffner outlined monitoring responsibilities and baseline documentation; she said the landowner currently contracts Rugged Lands Consulting (Chris Lohman) to conduct monitoring and estimated county compliance overhead at under $1,000 annually. Board members asked about trespass and off‑road-vehicle damage; Ruffner said the family maintains locked gates, daily presence and coordinated monitoring and that Game and Fish monitors adjacent protected areas.

County staff (board office) said they would manage annual reporting and recommended contracting monitoring services through county management if the county becomes the easement holder. The board gave staff direction to return with the easement for formal placement on a future consent agenda if no objections are identified.

No final easement execution occurred at the Jan. 7 meeting; staff will return with the required documents and recommended county responsibilities.