Trespassing at Florence Military Reservation, whether intentional or unintentional, is a
safety concern. There are 14 firing ranges on FMR and the public can be put at risk if they
were to accidentally enter a range or other training area during active training
operations. Trespassing can also be a potential concern for malicious threats to military
personnel and assets.
The northern portion of Florence Military Reservation is part of a Special Land Use Permit
between AZARNG and ASLD that allows FMR exclusive use of the land for 22 days of the
year. During the remainder of the year, local ranchers use the land for cattle grazing as
part of three separate grazing leases. Some cattle have been observed on Florence
Military Reservation. Cattle trespass can disrupt training events and create safety
concerns for soldiers. When the owners retrieve their livestock, they are also trespassing
onto AZARNG managed land, sometimes without notice to AZARNG personnel.
Off‐highway vehicle use can have a number of encroachment impacts on an installation.
The primary concern being when an OHV strays onto military operations areas. This can
interrupt training activities, lead to injury or loss of life and property. Two OHV trails near
FMR have been proposed in the 2007 Pinal County Open Space and Trails Master Plan.
The Plan includes a proposed OHV trail that follows State Route (SR) 79 and connects to a
second proposed trail that cuts through the northern portion of the installation. The
proposed trail that cuts through the northern portion of the installation is a small
segment of the Great Western Trail that traverses 4,455 miles from Mexico to Canada.
Any implementation of the SR 79 OHV trail or the Great Western Trail should be
coordinated with the AZARNG to minimize encroachment issues.
The Pinal County Open Space and Trails Master Plan has designated the entirety of FMR
as restricted use open space on the Final Master Plan Map. Restricted use open space
areas allow limited access to the public for recreational purposes due to the land
manager’s operational activities. It is the land manager’s responsibility to secure the area
and provide notifications and signage for the public when the property is not available for
public use.
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Compatibility Assessment