Sedona AZ (February 13, 2013) – In a VOC community shared Letter to the SedonaEye.com editor, Heather Provencio of the U.S. Forest Service, also representing an ADOT joint decision, denies a local group request that a Village of Oak Creek gateway median on Arizona State Highway 179 be landscaped and cultivated with other than native vegetation:
From: Provencio, Heather C -FS
To: Gail Shaw Simpson
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2013 8:01 AM
Subject: RE: Gateway Weeds Again
Hi Gail,
I apologize for being so slow in getting back to you. I have reached out not only to District staff but also to our Supervisor’s office in Flagstaff and to ADOT and we’ve been doing some informal polling of folks who come to our visitor center. While I was impressed with your presentation and it was obvious you were striving hard to find common ground with the FS and ADOT, I’m sorry to say that after reaching out to numerous other folks, I am not in favor of your proposal, but instead interested in continuing to cultivate those plants that are most desirable for the median.
Sedona red rock scenic area along Village of Oak Creek SR 179
The existing vegetated median is in compliance with both the Scenic Corridor Management Plan and the Forest Plan. The vegetation softens the appearance of the constructed curb and gutter while providing a visual barrier between the travel lanes. The median is narrow in response to the topography of the cut rock bank and Jacks Wash and was not a result of lack of funding during the construction process. The landscape on National Forest is, and should, be different than what travelers will see in the Village of Oak Creek.
The Forest Service priorities for the corridor haven’t changed. There has been a substantial investment in native seeding in the corridor. Seeding is a dynamic process and it will likely take years for plants to establish and transition. However, we can recognize the absence of tumbleweed which was a concern for your group right after construction was completed.
The Visitor Center gets lots of positive comments and questions when the penstemon are blooming. The flowers provide nectar for humming birds and butterflies and the dead standing stalks provide a perch and winter seed source for birds. The grasses planted in the corridor are conceptually in their full glory from an aesthetics standpoint in the winter then they’ve turned brown and are blowing in the breeze.
There’s not a notable reason from the FS perspective to trigger action or reason to change the vegetated median along the 179 corridor. When considering projects to support in the corridor, there are other priorities for Forest Service staff to invest time and energy on that will provide a broader benefit to visitors to the corridor. A trimmed and tidy landscape is not an appropriate landscape objective for Forest Service land.
ADOT has told us that they strive for self sustaining vegetative cover for areas in the Right of Way with in the natural settings. They discourage any mowing that is not required for numerous reasons.
Vegetation is dynamic responding to rainfall amounts, frequency and seasons. The seeding that was done during the last year we would not expect to see germination and establishment until this spring and a noticeable effect one year from now. They told us they could not support going with weed barrier and a rock treatment that takes continual maintenance.
I’m sure this news is disappointing. I do appreciate how much time and energy your group has put into this and we are fortunate to have residents who care so much about Forest Service land. I believe in time, folks will be pleased with the natural appearance. I think the Sedona section is filling in nicely and that is due in large part to letting nature take its course. If you have any questions, please let me know.
-Heather
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Uniformed Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) enforce federal laws and regulations governing National Forest Lands and resources. LEOs also enforce some or all state laws on National Forest Lands. As part of that mission, LEOs carry firearms, defensive equipment, make arrests, execute search warrants, complete reports and testify in court. They establish a regular and recurring presence on a vast amount of public lands, roads, and recreation sites. The primary focus of their jobs is the protection of natural resources, protection of Forest Service employees and the protection of visitors. To cover the vast and varied terrain under their jurisdiction, they use Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors, special service SUVs, horses, K-9 units, helicopters, snowmobiles, dirt bikes and boats.
the local forest service has smart people working for it – native is the only choice
I appreciate citizen involvement and respect it quite a lot but citizens need to remember when involvement crosses the line from helpfulness to outright inteference and occasional outrageousness.
Why is it that these well-meaning folks can sit in wine/whine meetings and at desks pontificating and bemoaning and writing letters to officials much longer than it takes to pull a handful of weeds they don’t like? When did petitioning the government to do what they can do more efficiently and better become an option? When did a few weeds in a median become worth hours of government acknowledgement of private citizens petitions for action?
You folks live in a desert. Visitors expect it to look like a desert. Thank you for being active citizens and watching out for your area but do go find something worthwhile to do. Maybe these nice folks can write letters asking your HOA’s to do more than wine/whine meetings and find something worthwhile to do like volunteering in local schools or hospitals?
Getting involved in your communities does not mean begging government to do what you can do for yourselves. Government is a good tool but it is not a shovel.
And on another note — your news is fun to read, informative. Keep my subscription active. DMD
We need to remember we live in a desert. It’s time Villagers elected new representatives around here.