(map by Curt Bradley)

This was designated by the Bureau of Land Management because of the extraordinary biodiversity of that location. The highest number of lizard species for any comparably sized area in North America are found there. Working with New Mexico Wild we’ve submitted a letter of concern to the Las Cruces office of BLM to put them on notice that we expect:  

• the agency to uphold their RNA protections and to keep the extraordinary biological values of Antelope Pass a priority under their own Resource Management Plan  
• full disclosure of documents moving forward should Almadex apply for further hard rock exploration or file a Plan of Operations  
• BLM to facilitate a robust and comprehensive public involvement process, bringing all stakeholders to the table, if and when the NEPA process begins

Read our letter to the BLM

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CRC has formally requested that the Arizona Game and Fish Department fulfill its legal obligation to protect this unique 560-acre enclave just a few miles from Portal. The May family had the foresight to create a wildlife sanctuary in the middle of Round Valley just off of Foothills Rd in 1941! Renowned game rangers Ralph Morrow and Kimrod Murphy were responsible for caretaking this property, but in recent times the department has shown little interest in maintaining the fences. As a result, cattle are damaging both the range and water source there.

Read our letter to the Director of AZGFD and State Attorney General     

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Originally totaling over 200 miles of hiking routes, these trails range from short connectors to longer, more rugged routes and include iconic paths like the Crest Trail (#270) that traverse the high ridges of the range. In the past, the system provided connectivity between the many Chiricahua canyons and peaks. Today we find perhaps half of the original trails in acceptable condition.

The Chiricahua Regional Council through its Stewardship Program is committed to preserving and improving what’s left of this extraordinary system. We’re striving to restore and recreate connectivity that existed historically.
CRC and its partners made real gains toward improving trail conditions in the Chiricahua mountains this field season. April brought the Chiricahua Wilderness Trail Crew to work in the West Turkey Creek area. The western slope trails of Rock Creek (#259), Saulsbury (#263) and Rattlesnake (#275), received much needed attention. The focus then shifted to the east side of the range and to Price Canyon Trail (#224). Members of the local hiking group assisted John Sumner and his able sawyers.

Later in the spring, a Sierra Club service group made further improvements to (#224).

In late spring, the Chiricahua Regional Council partnered with the Friends of Cave Creek Canyon to fully fund a week of work on the Crest Trail by Wild Arizona.

As the season turned to the hot summer months, the Youth Conservation Corps took up residence in Rucker Canyon, that great complex of rock, chasm, and Madrean woodland. The group was supervised by Wild Arizona. Outreach to local and tribal communities for recruitment of these young adults was funded by CRC. The heat was oppressive, but they were able to escape to higher elevation and do tread reconstruction along several segments of the Crest Trail (#270).

Despite interruptions to the flow of recreation funds at the Coronado National Forest earlier in the year, money eventually became available. In particular, the RAC (Resource Advisory Committee) played a large part in turning the situation around. This led to the hiring of Wild Arizona’s trail crew who returned to pour more of their skilled labor into our trail system. Not only did they re-bench segments of the Crest Trail, but in September they built a rerouted section of the Rucker Canyon Trail (#222). We encourage everyone to experience this amazing new addition. Following on this work was another visit from John Sumner and the Wilderness Trail Crew who removed over 100 logs from #222.

Education:
Backcountry Preparedness Workshop
Following our Heritage Days participation, CRC and FoCCC hosted a backcountry preparedness workshop on September 21st, led by Education Coordinator Margaret Wilch and CRC’s Dirk Sigler this educational initiative attracted 15 participants and provided essential safety training for outdoor enthusiasts. Follow-up workshops are planned for later this fall, demonstrating our commitment to ongoing community education.

Exotic Invasive Species Management
The CRC continued its critical work addressing invasive species threats to our ecosystem. Through our partnership with Wild Arizona these ongoing efforts have successfully treated non-native invasive plants, including Tree of Heaven and other problematic species along Cave Creek. This work is essential for maintaining the ecological integrity of our mountain ecosystems. Planned for November is a workshop open to the public in Paradise, AZ to train in methods of eradicating exotic plant species. Wild Arizona’s Jonathan Patt will be the trainer. This is a co-sponsored event with Friends of Cave Creek Canyon

Partnerships and Collaborations
Throughout this period CRC strengthened key partnerships with:
• Friends of Cave Creek Canyon- Joint trail projects and educational initiatives
• Wild Arizona- Multiple project collaboration on the trail system and non-native invasive species removal
• Coronado National Forest- Youth Conservation Corps program- Mentorship and recruitment support
• National Forest Foundation- Partner grant funding for trail development
• Local tribal communities- Cultural outreach and collaborative planning

Looking Forward
The CRC’s accomplishments during this period demonstrate our multi-faceted approach to conservation through trail stewardship, community education, invasive species management, and collaborative partnerships. Our work continues to build bridges between conservation science, community engagement, and cultural heritage preservation in the Chiricahua Mountains.

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Proposed McNeal feedlot raises concerns; Locals fear stench, water consumption

A proposed feedlot in McNeal is raising serious concerns among local residents who fear it will adversely impact their homes through stench, water consumption, and other potential issues.
According to a letter sent out to area property owners on May 9 by Elfrida resident Ramon Bojorquez, he is proposing to seek permits for the construction and operation of a feedlot situated on 1,052 acres of land just south of the intersection of Davis Rd. and U.S. Route 191.
Under Cochise County code, such a feedlot would require a special use permit, which requires notification of surrounding property owners and a period of public input and hearings before the Cochise County Planning and Zoning Commission.
The proposed feedlot would also be situated in the heart of the Douglas groundwater Active Management Area (DAMA). Creation of DAMA by local ballot initiative in 2022 was a response to rapidly diminishing groundwater resources– which was largely attributed to production of feed for other cattle feedlots and dairy operations throughout the Sulphur Springs Valley.
Since Bojorquez sent out his letter advising area property owners of hisplans, residents have banded together– creating a website in opposition to the proposed lot and registering their concerns with the Cochise County Planning and Zoning Division and District 2 Supervisor Kathleen Gomez.
According to Cochise County Planner Matthew Taylor, he has received a substantial amount of correspondence from concerned community membersin response to the proposed feedlot. Conversely, he said he has not received any correspondence from area residents in favor of the feedlot’s construction.
“We have received about 25 responses in the last five or six days. None of them have been favorable,” said Taylor. “The majority of them have citedwater concerns as well as odors.”
According to county officials, Bojorquez has not yet submitted any permit applications or cite plan.

Supervisor dismissive of residents’ concerns
Gomez, for her part, seems dismissive of public concern. A Republican, Gomez was elected to her first term on the Cochise County Board of Supervisors in November. She has been an outspoken advocate of the expanded Douglas Port of Entry, slated for construction about 18 miles south of the proposed McNeal feedlot. This expanded port of entry will rely heavily on U.S. Route 191, and Gomez is a proponent of long-dormant plansto widen U.S. Route 191 into a major trade corridor.
“I think there is a lot of emotion and reaction to a feedlot but I do not know enough about the project yet. I plan to investigate the pros and cons of the feed lot. Who is behind it and if it is up to 1000 cattle or less,” [sic] said Gomez in an email to Cochise Regional News. “I would encourage you to find out as much info as you can before reacting to the negativity of the concept. Will it use more water possibly, but we do not have the answers if we do not know exactly how the feed lot would be used. Feed lots are considered abetter approach to cattle than grazing. Again, people divided on both sides,but I want solutions and not just the negative aspect. We need economic development and the people who have been here for generations cant be dismissed vs those who have retired here.” [sic] “There must be an informed public so an industry that has been here for decades has a chance to survive. From the email I have seen, and there has been a lot, they are using the same information to the period. I just feel that there is misinformation out there,” added Gomez, speaking of concerned community members who have written her in opposition to the lot.
Regarding these concerns voiced by her constituents, Gomez went on to state: “I have [been] finding it more and more bewildering that people are buying land that is zoned for [agricultural use] and then want to rezone and get upset of neighboring lots being used as it is zoned for.”
The new District 2 supervisor seems, however, to miss the boat in her dismissal of constituent concerns.
While much of the land in the area of the feedlot is zoned for “rural” use(typically “RU-4,” which means rural use, minimum of four acres), this is not necessarily an agricultural designation; lands that are rurally designated maybe used for many purposes– including both agricultural and residential use.
Furthermore, Arizona law governing the Douglas Groundwater Basin Active Management Area designates commercial feedlots as an “industrial” use of groundwater resources– not an agricultural use.
And, finally, Cochise County regulations (which you’d hope Gomez would be familiar with) requires a
“special use” permit for a commercial feedlot such as the one Bojorquez wishes to build.
County code recognizes that this is not a standard use of land in Cochise County, because of “unique characteristics and oftentimes high potential to adversely impact surrounding properties”–hence the need for a “special use” permit. Gomez did not respond to questions from CRN, asking whether she has discussed the feedlot with Bojorquez or any other involved party.

Mystery of the feedlot
At least for the time being, the issue of this proposed feedlot seems shrouded in mystery. Bojorquez has not yet submitted any plans or proposals to the county– and even ownership of the property he has identified as the site of the feedlot is not clear.
In his May 9 letter to area property owners, Bojorquez identified two adjacent parcels of land as the future site of the proposed feedlot. According to the Cochise County Assessor’s Office, both of these parcels are held in trust by Pioneer Title Agency. No information regarding the members or beneficiaries of this trust are available to the public through county records.
Pioneer Title agency declined to provide any information to Cochise Regional News relating to the ownership of this trust or property. According to Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) records, Bojorquez is a principal of three active Arizona corporations: White Water Creek Pecan FarmLLC, Las Tres Rosas Cattle Company LLC (formerly Las Tres Rosas DairyProducts), and Tres Rosas Maakov Cattle LLC.
Both the pecan farm and Las Tres Rosas Cattle, according to records, are companies Bojorquez has owned for several years– dating back to at least 2017. Tres Rosas Maakov Cattle, on the other hand, was incorporated just a fewdays ago. According to ACC records, Tres Rosas Maakov Cattle was incorporated on May 23. It has three corporate members: Nicolas Reynoso Carmelo, Maakov Cattle LLC, and Ramon Bojorquez.
Reynoso Carmelo is a Hermosillo, Sonora-based businessman who has been ranked among the top business leaders of that Mexican state by some trade publications focused on that area.
According to ACC records, Reynoso Carmelo is also a corporate member and manager of Maakov Cattle, LLC– which, as stated above, is also a principal of Tres Rosas Maakov Cattle, LLC.
According to ACC records, Reynoso Carmelo reserved the business name”Maakov” in September 2024 and is corporate manager or member of severalArizona domestic corporations sharing the “Maakov” name. These include:Maakov Snacks, Maakov Real Estate, Maakov Holdings, and Maakov Cattle.
While ACC records demonstrate that these “Maakov” Arizona corporate entities are represented by a Tucson-based statutory agent, records also demonstrate that all of their corporate members and managers are based in Hermosillo, Sonora.
According to the “Maakov” website, Reynoso Carmelo is chief executive officer of “Maakov,” which consists of several “divisions,” focusing on thingslike pecan production, cattle production, snack foods, and “raising mule deep for hunting experiences.”
On February 1, President Donald Trump imposed a 25-percent tariff on all goods imported to the United States from Mexico. This marked the outset of a series of tariffs and tariff postponements that have wrought a fair amount of uncertainty and chaos for Mexican businesses seeking to import goods to the United States.
It is not known if there is a relation to Trump’s tariff policy, but it is worth noting that, according to ACC records, Reynoso Carmelo and another Hermosillo-based associate incorporated Maakov Cattle in Arizona on February 20– a few weeks following Trump’s initial tariff salvo.
Review of corporate records for Tres Rosas Maakov Cattle LLC (the entity created in partnership between Elfrida’s Ramon Bojorquez, Nicolas Reynoso Carmelo and Maakov Cattle LLC on May 23) demonstrates that Bojorquez is the sole U.S.-domiciled human principal of that partnership.
[Note: Maakov Cattle LLC is listed as a corporate principal of the Bojorquez/Maakov partnership. It is a domestic Arizona corporation, though all of its principals, including Reynoso Carmelo, are based in Sonora.]
Bojorquez, thus far, has been the sole public face of the proposed McNeal feedlot. Bojorquez did not respond to repeated requests for comment and written questions from Cochise Regional News concerning his plans for this proposed feedlot. Among questions not responded to were several seeking information on the role– if any– of Maakov in the proposed McNeal feedlot. Bojorquez also did not respond to questions asking whether the proposed feedlot or his partnership with Maakov Cattle has any relation to current U.S.trade policy.
Neither Nicolas Reynoso Carmelo or Maakov Chief Commercial Officer Santiago Reynoso responded to written questions submitted by CRN. Among questions not responded to were several seeking information on the role– if any– of Maakov in the proposed McNeal feedlot. These Maakov corporate officers also did not respond to questions asking whether the proposed feedlot or their partnership with Bojorquez has any relation to current U.S.trade policy.
Numerous attempts to submit written questions to Maakov CEO Nicolas Reynoso Carmelo using the email address provided on the Maakov website were met with delivery failure notifications.
If you have questions or concerns, or would like to take part in public hearings concerning the proposed McNeal feedlot, contact the Cochise County Planning and Zoning Commission or Development Services.
Beau Hodai, Cochise Regional News— May 28, 2025

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This is not your typical Thursday hike report. Seven local hikers did hike on Thursday, doing excellent trail work on the Ida Peak Trail. But this was a small piece of what has been going on for the last 10 days. In the 1990’s John Sumner began leading Sierra Club work trips in the Chiricahuas. Folks could spend a hefty sum to come here and do hard trail work for a week. Eventually John decided that he could do these trips without the Sierra Club. No one would have to pay a fee and folks could bring their own food. Several trail workers from these early Sierra Club trips have stuck with John and return to the Chiricahua Mountains with him year after year to do trail work. John himself lives in Houston and you might question why he shows up here twice a year with a trail crew. He simply loves the Chiricahuas because he grew up here and was the best friend of Ted Troller’s brother. John graduated from Douglas High School and is retired as a geologist for a Houston oil company.

During the past 10 days, John’s team consisted of 11 individuals, including Nizhoni Baldwin from Wild Arizona and Zac Ribbing from the U.S. Forest Service. But the story doesn’t end here. Our local hikers added nine more trail workers. We were never all together at the same time, but people came and went, following their own schedule. John Sumner, and some of his crew, were the constants, remaining in the field for all 10 days!

I apologize if I missed anyone or didn’t get all the details quite right. This was a massive undertaking, both the doing and the summarizing!

People

John’s Crew: John Sumner (Houston), Jody (NY), Rachel and Moses (LA), Jane and Bill (Tucson), Jean (Berkeley), Steve (Tucson), John #2 (Houston), Nizhoni (Phoenix) and Zac (Sierra Vista). Local Hikers: Dirk, Peter, Eskild, Carol, Elaine, Al, Sheila, Elly, and William (Richmond, VA).

Six local hikers plus the two Johns, taken at Barfoot Park. John, William, Elly, Carol, John S., Peter, Sheila and Al.

John, in blue, with one local hiker and three members of his trail crew, taken at Rustler Park. Jody, Nizhoni, Eskild, John and Jean.

Zac, a Sierra Vista U.S. Forest Service employee who is as knowledgeable about trail work as anyone. Doesn’t he look like he belongs right where he is?

Places and Celebrations

April 7 – 10: West Turkey Creek camp, Saulsbury and Rattlesnake Trails

April 11- 15: Price Canyon camp, Price Canyon Trail. Price Canyon stew prepared by John

April 16: Rustler Park camp, Crest, Greenhouse and Centella/Bear Wallow Trails. Three Sister Stew, fry bread and Navajo tea, prepared by Nizhoni, sharing her heritage

April 17: Ida Peak trail, dinner for 15 at the Portal Store

Camp at Rustler Park. Nizhoni and Jody

An improved Price Canyon Trail. What a mess it was/is. One day 12 people worked all day and managed to clear .4 mile. But overall more than two miles got cleared. At times Elaine and Al acted as scouts to flag the sometimes difficult to find trail so that the sawyers knew where to work.

Not all our efforts were successful. In Price Canyon John decided that with 12 people we could move a MASSIVE log that was about 18 feet long. We could not. My very favorite part of trail work is moving huge sections of logs off the trail with leg strength, as indicated above.

A mess of a spot along the Ida Peak Trail. Here you see hikers in March crossing a blown out ravine with considerable difficulty, and sawyers on Thursday trying to get that big tree out of there. They did. They improved the trail too. Note the wedges used. Saws get stuck in logs and need WD-40 (or equivalent) plus the wedges and sometimes some lifting. There is much strategizing at times.

Tools

All professionals have their lingo and trail workers are no exception. Most of the work here is in the wilderness area and hand saws must be used. There are a variety of tools that are used almost daily. Our very talented sawyer and artist, Jody, produces a new piece of art for us each year. Two are below; one shows some common tools. The tools, starting at the left and rotating clockwise, are asymmetric crosscut saw, Pulaski, axe, symmetric crosscut saw, Corona pruning saw, lopping shears. Also used are shovels, McLeods (look it up) and more.

These mountain trails are much loved — and in need of tremendous amounts of work. We thank all, from far and near, who contributed their exemplary efforts during the last 10 days. Sometimes it is very good to be very tired. For next week, April 24, meet at 8:00 a.m. AZ and 9:00 a.m. NM at the Silver Peak Trailhead and we’ll head up high, where it will be cooler.

Happy trails!

Report by Carol

Photos by Carol, Eskild and Peter

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Delay in EIS release date

This week, Peaceful Chiricahua Skies was informed by the US Air Force (USAF) that the date for the release of the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be moved out a year to the spring of 2026. When the final EIS is released, the USAF does not plan a comment period.

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The Chiricahua Regional Council expresses profound concern over recent federal staffing reductions threatening our vital trail maintenance partnerships. Nationwide 3,400 workers have been abruptly fired. This represents 10% of US Forest Service personnel and the disturbing part is that the firings are disproportionately affecting Recreation staff. A troubling feature of the current Washington administration’s assault on the Forest Service is an instruction to staff that they may not even communicate with their partners. In other words a gag order.

A similar reduction of National Parks Service personnel (see attached article) has already led to access problems for the public. But that pales in comparison to what’s happening at the US Forest Service. It is our position that the manner in which this has been implemented is illicit and we are advocating for a reversal of these cuts.

The force reductions at the USFS are having a direct impact already. The Douglas District which administers the Coronado National Forests within the Chiricahua and Peloncillo mountains is down to a skeleton crew. Several planned projects representing years of collaborative work between our organization, the communities in the region, other nonprofits, and federal agencies have been postponed. These partnerships have been the most effective tool for maintaining access to the public land in our region. In fact all of Southeast Arizona is being affected. Our trail system will continue to degrade if this situation doesn’t improve.

We urge members to contact their representatives expressing support for the dedicated public servants who administer our public lands. These professionals are stewards of America’s natural heritage and deserve our advocacy during this challenging time. We urge immediate reconsideration of these cuts to preserve both our natural heritage and the community relationships that sustain it. Protect our public lands!

**Contact Information:**

Senator Ruben Gallego
Russell Senate Office Building
2 Constitution Avenue NE
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4521

Senator Mark Kelly
Russell Senate Office Building
2 Constitution Avenue NE
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2235

https://www.npca.org/articles/7076-parks-group-warns-of-dismantling-of-the-national-park-service

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This is a very special place and the Center for Biological Diversity is taking the lead on a lawsuit to prevent an access road into John Long. The CRC is a co-plaintiff in this lawsuit together with some other organizations. Another aspect to John Long is the petition to the regional forester in Albuquerque to create a Zoological Botanical Area in the John Long Canyon drainage and to call it Izęę’ Bich’ilwozh `Medicine Canyon’. See more here: https://biologicaldiversity.org/programs/public_lands/pdfs/ZBA-Petition-Final-PDF.pdf

Let’s hope for the best on both initiatives!

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