CONSERVATION: ARIZONA LAND AND WATER TRUST PROTECTS NEARLY 2,500 ACRES OF HISTORIC BABACOMARI RANCH
“We believe the open space, agriculturally productive rangelands, abundant wildlife and habitat should be improved and never diminished.” -Ben Brophy ARTICLE FROM LIZ PETTERSON
T
ucson, Ariz. — Arizona Land and Water Trust recently partnered with owners of the Babacomari Ranch to permanently protect 2,488 acres of the historic cattle ranch. Conservation of this ranch sustains its rich historical and cultural legacy, preserves habitat for wildlife and ensures the land will remain a working landscape for generations to come. “The Brophy family is determined to maintain the incredibly resource-rich Babacomari Ranch for generations to come,” said Ben Brophy, part-owner of the Babacomari Ranch. “We believe the open space, agriculturally productive rangelands, abundant wildlife and habitat should be improved and never diminished. Our family is grateful for the leadership PG. 40 :: SPRING 2020
of Arizona Land and Water Trust in protecting working ranches and assisting families like ours to meet our stewardship aspirations.” The roughly 28,000-acre Babacomari Ranch is located in the Sonoita region south of Tucson and was established originally through a Mexican Land Grant in 1832. In 1935, Frank Cullen Brophy acquired the property, becoming the third owner of the historic ranch. The ranch has been a family-owned and operated cattle ranch ever since. Babacomari’s exceptionally scenic western landscape includes rolling desert grasslands and woodlands with views of distant mountain ranges in nearly every direction. “We are extremely proud to be partnering with the Brophy family to
honor and secure their longtime heritage in the region and protect the extraordinary landscapes, abundant wildlife, water resources and rich rangelands that are found on the Babacomari Ranch,” said Liz Petterson, Executive Director of the Trust. The ranch is an important wildlife migratory corridor linking the Mustang and Huachuca Mountains. The surrounding landscape is proposed critical habitat for the jaguar and potential habitat for pronghorn antelope, Chiricahua leopard frog and other sensitive species, thanks to the Trust’s larger conservation efforts in the region. The property also includes rare Cienega wetlands and miles of cottonwood-lined riparian ecosystems along the Babocomari Creek, a tributary of the San Pedro River.
