Western Land Group, Inc. 

Public Lands Specialists

 

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Western Land Group Completes
Diamond Point Land Exchange

Over forty years ago, under a program to encourage public use of the nation’s forests, the U.S. Forest Service issued permits to private individuals to form associations of summer recreation residences and build cabins on National Forest land.  Nowadays, these summer cabin associations look exactly like private subdivisions, complete with roads, driveways, water systems, and other improvements associated with the residences, many of which are occupied year-round.

Throughout the country, the Forest Service has determined it is no longer in the public’s interest to manage land subject to these permits and has sought opportunities to trade such permitted land for private land that will better complement the Forest.  In September 2004, Western Land Group closed just such an exchange call the Diamond Point Land Exchange in the Tonto National Forest of Arizona.

In the Diamond Point transaction, which was enabled by H.R. 622, Act of December 19, 2003 (Public Law No. 108-190), the Diamond Point Summer Homes Association acquired 108 acres of federal land which have been occupied by the Association’s 45 residential cabins since the 1950’s.  This federal land, located about 8 miles northeast of Payson, Arizona, was specifically identified in the Tonto National Forest Management Plan for disposal. 

In exchange, the Forest Service received the 495-acre Q Ranch, representing the third and final transaction necessary for the United States to obtain a major inholding in the Tonto National Forest.  The Q Ranch is located 8 miles east of Young, Arizona.  Because the Q Ranch acquisition was of such significant public interest, and because the owner of the Ranch had listed it for sale on the private market, The Conservation Fund, a national leader in land protection, agreed to purchase the property and option it to the Association for use in the land exchange. 

The exchange proposal enjoyed broad support and literally no opposition throughout the process. The Diamond Point Land Exchange transferred land of limited public use and enjoyment to the Association in exchange for private lands that greatly increase management efficiency and enhance public access, use and enjoyment of the surrounding National Forest.

For more information about this land exchange, please contact Tim Wohlgenant at Western Land Group, Inc. (twohlgenant@westernlandgroup.com)