Following up on its 2009 underwriting to construct portions of the Arizona Trail through Las Colinas passage, Rosemont Copper has agreed to underwrite all costs necessary to relocate a 10.6-mile portion of the trail to avoid impacts from the mine. Rosemont will provide the Arizona Trail Association (ATA) up to $650,000 to complete the reroute and associated projects.
“The trail reroute will give hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians scenic views to the east over the grasslands and rolling hills of the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area toward the Whetstone Mountains while minimizing any negative views to the west,” said Fred Gaudet, the ATA’s Vice President of Trail Operations.
The trail will retain National Scenic Trail values and will meet standards for sustainability. The money will fund important trail projects, including the development of two trailheads at Oak Tree Canyon and the intersection of Highway 83 and Hidden Valley Ranch Road; one replacement water source approved by Coronado National Forest Service biologists and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; signage; and gates, barriers and fences to protect the trail from off-highway vehicle traffic.
“Everyone is very concerned about protecting the Arizona National Scenic Trail,” said Matthew Nelson, Executive Director of the ATA. “Both the U.S. Forest Service and Rosemont Copper have demonstrated their commitment to not only minimizing impacts to the trail, but improving it for present and future generations.”
The Arizona Trail is a non-motorized 800+ mile continuous trail crossing Arizona from Mexico to Utah. In 2009, the Arizona Trail was designated as a National Scenic Trail.