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Red Rock Rural Community Association
PO Box 3086 Sedona, AZ 86340 |
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NEXT MEETING: RRRCA MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR Sept. 7, at 219 Disney Lane at 3pm.
On Thursday, Sept. 25 at 6 pm at the Red Rock Loop Fire Station, Chip Davis, County Supervisor, will meet with the members of RRRCA. Please join us with your questions specific to the Red Rock Loop Road area. We are asking attendees to bring finger foods to share at that meeting.
is taking action to Maintain Sedona's Rural Lifestyle and Environment The rural character of the Red Rock Loop residential area, the drinking water supply and the water quality of Oak Creek are being threatened. In the past year the RRRCA was instrumental in spearheading a movement to question, research and take action to protect our rural area against development that will negatively impact the environment of the Red Rock Loop area. This movement coalesced a twenty-five year tradition of neighborhood action to uphold the rural nature of our beautiful valley. Historically, this area was the home of a few old homesteads, which have gradually been divided into small subdivisions and private parcels. Located along the state-protected Oak Creek, a designated "Unique and Scenic Waterway," with shallow-perched drinking water aquifers that can easily be contaminated through the fragile geological strata that exist here, our concerns are justified that uncontrolled or ill-planned development will destroy the environment we all care for and love. For this reason the RRRCA took steps in 2006 to engage independent environmental consultants, engineers, professors, researchers and legal counsel to help the residents of the Red Rock Loop area and Sedona understand the impact of real estate developments in our vulnerable environment. The RRRCA has forged alliances with numerous local community groups and environmental groups such as the Sierra Club, Don't Waste Arizona, Inc., the Audubon Society and the Center for Biodiversity. This journey has taken us through a bureaucratic quagmire of local, state and federal jurisdictions. In the process we have created working relationships with the AZ Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), Army Corps of Engineers, AZ Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and Northern Arizona University. Through our efforts we have helped notify and educate the Sedona area residents about environmental issues involving the Bella Terra Development which is planned for the Red Rock Loop Road. Sedona residents have responded by demanding three ADEQ public hearings/meetings, which drew an unprecedented 250-300 people each to question the proposed ADEQ Aquifer Protection Permit application of Bella Terra on Oak Creek. Although ADEQ has granted an aquifer protection permit, that action is being appealed by the Sierra Club and the RRRCA. Evidence has also been given to the Army Corps of Engineers that jurisdictional waters of the United States have been impacted at Bella Terra, which violates section 404 of the Clean Water Act. RRRCA's questions and the depositions by its consultants at the ADEQ hearings have inspired and empowered residents to voice their concerns at other public meetings. Developers are now more mindful of the impact they have on the environment, as they know that Sedona area residents will hold them accountable to be good stewards of the environment. RRRCA's actions have taken energy, time and money: costs shouldered by a few members of the RRRCA. Today we are asking you to help cover some of the financial costs by making a tax-deductible donation to Don't Waste Arizona, Inc., an Arizona nonprofit IRS § 501(c)(3) corporation and mark it c/o RRRCA Environmental Fund. Send your donation to RRRCA, PO Box 3086, Sedona, AZ 86340. Help us to continue in our efforts to defend and protect this beautiful and cherished land that we all call home.
Please click here to download a registration/donation formClick the name below to send an e-mail
Sam Braun, President
Fund raising: Birgit Loewenstein, Norm Hanson, Carl Romanik, Shelly Fournier By clicking on the items below you can view reports.
Revised Aquifer Protection Permit proposal by Bella Terra
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