The Del Rio Springs Ranch is a critical 1,000 acres of land located in the Town of Chino Valley at the Verde River’s headwaters, about 20 miles north of Prescott. The program featured Michael Patrick, a Senior Project Manager for the Trust for Public Land, a national Non-Government Organization that facilitates the transfer of private land into public ownership for parks and open space. He discussed the proposed state park at the headwaters of the Verde River. Michael has successfully completed many projects along the Verde River, including transferring Packard Ranch and Rio Verde Ranch into the Prescott National Forest.  You can also see the slides shown from this link.

Trust for Public Land  and numerous partners are working with the Town, Yavapai County, Del Rio Springs Ranch Advisory Group and other partners to acquire and preserve the ranch. The land will be used for a variety of public benefits, including protection for water and river, new outdoor recreation opportunities and historical preservation and interpretation, all of great importance for the region and the State of Arizona. 

The project will reduce the amount of housing built right over the Verde River aquifer and the sensitive Del Rio springs area, with an estimated 350 acre-ft of water savings per year in the Prescott Active Management Area by reducing 1,400 homes planned for the property. (Development for the Town is planned, however, on land retained by the seller on the west side of highway.)

Sullivan Lake is considered to be mile zero of the Verde River. The lake property will connect to the Upper Verde Wildlife Management Area, owned by Arizona Game and Fish. This will result in the entire first 25 miles of the Verde River being entirely in public ownership (from Sullivan Lake to AZGFD Wildlife Area to the Prescott NF), thereby maximizing wildlife management opportunities for migratory birds, federally listed fish and other species of greatest conservation need. The partners anticipate restoring the cottonwood gallery that historically was at Sullivan Lake and creating a small nature preserve and community gathering place, in addition to trailhead and parking for the north end of the Peavine Trail.

The Town of Chino Valley is considering that a small part of the property could be used for a new regional wastewater treatment plant that will be needed for future regional growth, with an ideal site being the Sullivan Lake area. Effluent from the plant could be used for a constructed wetlands project, enhancing the nature-based tourism and environmental benefits in the area, and as a source of water recharge for the Verde River.