The Yavapai Ranch Land Exchange is a unique opportunity to provide northern Arizona’s cities with lands to meet their municipal and economic needs, protect vital water resources, cluster planned development onto already-impacted lands where cities have planned for growth, and to preserve large tracts of forest and wildlife habitat for future generations. This trade will also protect a vital watershed above the Verde Valley.

Flagstaff Benefits - The proposed Yavapai Ranch Land exchange will provide the City of Flagstaff with land to fulfill important components of its Regional Land Use and Transportation Plan. The City will have the opportunity to acquire land to:

• Expand and improve Pulliam Airport with federal grant monies, and ensure quality air service and connectivity for tourists and business travelers.
• Provide additional land for the airport business park to accommodate light industry and other companies that will diversify the region’s employment base.
• Develop a new City park, recreational areas, and public works yard.
• Obtain ownership of land on which the City water treatment plant is located.
• Provide land for affordable housing.

Williams Benefits – Williams will have the opportunity to acquire 950 acres for its comprehensive water program, airport expansion and tourism.

• Comprehensive water program
•   current and new well sites
•   water storage tanks
•   drinking water treatment plant
•   wastewater facility
• Airport Improvements
•   Runway extension
•   Commercial and business park
• Elephant Rocks Golf Course
•   Clubhouse
•   Acquire lands for the original nine holes.
• Town Park site

Verde Valley Communities

•	Consolidation of current Yavapai Ranch lands into Forest Service ownership will protect approximately 25,000 acres from future development above the Verde Valley, a reduction of 8,500 to 10,000 homes that could have been built in the Verde watershed.
•	The newly privatized lands will help these communities accommodate growth and provide new tax revenues.
•	Development on the Verde parcels would be subject to the new Camp Verde and Cottonwood Declarations for water use restrictions, water source limitations and water conservation measures, and the Clarkdale General Plan.
•	Camp Verde will have the opportunity to:
	•	Acquire land along the General Crook Highway for view shed protection.
	•	The Town and Fire District would have the opportunity to acquire land for an emergency center fire station and urgent care facility with close proximity to the freeway for quick response.
	•	A planned retail/commercial development along I-17 would add to the tax base.
•	Clarkdale and Cottonwood will benefit by having new lands in their tax base and housing market diversification.
	•	Residential and commercial development on land conveyed to Yavapai Ranch would honor existing zoning density and meet water conservation and use restrictions that are projected to be the model for future developments.
	•	Development would adhere to the new Cottonwood Water Declaration and the Clarkdale General Plan.