Arizona trust land is managed differently than federal land.
Only 15 percent of land in Arizona is privately owned, with the remainder consisting of Native American reservations, public lands and state trust land. Unlike public land, which is managed for the benefit of all residents, Arizona state trust land is managed exclusively for the benefit of the state's schools, prisons and hospitals.
The Arizona State Land Department generates revenue on more than 9 million acres of state trust land by leasing it out for commercial development or for natural resource uses such as mining and ranching.
History
The origins of Arizona state trust land lie in territorial days, when an Act of Congress designated portions of every township for the benefit of the common schools. Other public institutions and more land were added to this charter in 1910 and 1929. At this time, state trust land totaled 10.9 million acres. Since then, some has been sold for the benefit of its trustees, with 9,228,787 acres now remaining.
The State Land Department was formally established by the State Land Code in 1915.
Mission
The mission of the Arizona State Land Department is to manage state trust lands to provide maximum revenue for its beneficiaries. This means that public and recreational use is restricted, and commercial use is emphasized. According to its mission statement, the department also works to increase productivity by encouraging environmental stewardship of trust lands, to improve customer service, to improve internal and external communication and to increase the agency's analytical capabilities.
Beneficiaries
State trust land is managed for the benefit of 14 trustees: Common Schools (K-12); Legislative, Executive and Judicial Buildings; State Hospital Grant; Miners' Hospital; Miners' 1929; State Charitable; Penal and Reformatory Institutions; Penitentiary Grant; Normal Schools Grant; Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges; Military Institutes Grant; School of Mines Grant; University Land Code; University of Arizona; and School for the Deaf and Blind.
Roughly 87 percent of trust lands are held on behalf of the common schools, which receive 90 percent of trust revenue.
Uses
Although the Land Department is authorized to generate revenue by selling state trust land, it typically prefers to generate revenue over the long-term by leasing it instead.
The majority of state trust land is leased for grazing purposes. State trust lands are also leased for urban uses in the Tucson and Phoenix metropolitan areas, for timber uses near Flagstaff and for agricultural uses near Yuma. Other uses include mining and military operations.
Public Access
All public users of state trust lands must first acquire a recreational permit and pay a fee. Licensed hunters and fishers actively pursuing in-season fish or game are exempt from this requirement. Other exemptions are made for certain permitted archaeological activities.
Holders of recreational permits are permitted to engage in hiking, picnicking horseback riding, bird watching, bicycling, sightseeing and photography, and may camp for up to 14 days per year. Land leased for agricultural, mining, commercial or military use is not available for recreation.
Tags: trust land, state trust, trust lands, Land Department, State Land