Web site
Layout:
Text:
Home page blurb
This huge lot offers it all – privacy without isolation, biological diversity, views
Lot description
The diversity of habitats that characterizes this naturalist’s (***nature lover’s?***) dream lot is truly remarkable. While most lots in the Portal area encompass only one or two habitat types, this lot has them all. There are at least 6 distinct habitat types within its borders,
The views from the lot include the ‘classic’ view of Cave Creek Canyon, with its remarkable buttresses framing the distant summit of Chiricahua Peak. The views are actually better than those seen from locations farther up the canyon – in addition to the breath-taking views to the west, you have a 360o panorama that includes the spectacular Peloncillo Mountains to the east, and the whole of the San Simon Valley.
The combination of large size (22.4 acres), location spanning Cave Creek, and pristine, undeveloped state, make it unique, the last lot of its kind in the Portal area.
Biota description
· General
The diversity of habitat types found on this lot means that it’s suitable not only for the plant and animal species that occupy the surrounding desert flats (cottonwood(?), mesquite, creosote bush, cactus (including at least 10 individuals of the rare and spectacular night-blooming cereus***put a link to a photo/description*** that perfumes the entire lot with its fragrance during May nights), vermillion flycatchers, Curve-billed thrashers, roadrunners, Gambel’s quail, ***), but also for many species normally found only in Cave Creek Canyon at higher elevations (sycamore, Arizona cypress, walnut, acorn woodpeckers, several warbler species, ***). The availability of water attracts a diversity of wildlife
· Animals
***
· Plants
There are a large number of readily identifiable plant communities on the lot
Photo Page:
How many photos should I have?
360o scenic views
· Should these be panoramas?
· Include ‘detail’ photos of scenic views taken at 135 mm.
Photos of:
· Each habitat type
· Cave Creek
· Details of riparian habitat
· Details of area around home site
· Views from home site
· Plants, animals
· Gates, fencing, etc.
Thumbnails Page
How to group the thumbnails?
· Location
· ‘Type’ – scenery, habitat, etc.
Should there be some explanatory text for each thumbnail? – probably not.
Individual Photos Pages
Each photo should have a description of what it shows
Include an aerial photo to indicate location/direction of the photo
Notes:
· Home page needs to load quickly, contain links to:
o Photos
§ Photos should be accompanied by a keyed map, showing where photos were taken & what they show.
o Detailed description
o
· Should have a classic Chiricahua view photo on the home page
o What about a map? – not on the front page
· Should have a detailed lot description accessible from home page
o General
§ General dimensions – roughly 1000’ on a side
· The escarpment roughly divides the lot 60:40 along a SW to NE diagonal
§ ** different habitats: sand patch (SE corner), typical streamside, thick grass clump (seep), tarbush/acacia, creosote, mesquite, acacia thicket (great for wildlife)
· SE corner – sandy, lots of desert willow and Bacharis.
· Riparian area – classic Chiricahua-area streamside habitat
o Cave Creek flows, depending on precipitation, 6-10 months of the year
o Classic Chiricahua riparian habitat – many large sycamores, Arizona cypress, a few walnuts,
o A portion of the north flood zone remains moist much of year – could be converted into a permanent pool to attract wildlife.
· The flats contain three major biomes
o Creosote stand
o Mesquite
o Tarbush/acacia
· SW ½ acre
o Dense acacia thicket – perfect for wildlife
o Animals – I’ve seen during only about 15 days spent on the lot:
§ Bobcats
§ ??Weasels
§ Javelina
§ Mule deer
§ Coyotes
§ Grey fox
§ Cottontails and jackrabbits
§ Kangaroo rats
§ Skunk***
§ Casual observation has yielded 79 species of birds to date.
· A number of these are migratory or transient, but a little work to the seep area would create a permanent pond that would increase the number of resident species significantly.
§ 15 species of reptiles & amphibians
§ ***
o Plants
§ I’ve identified more than ** species
§ Night-blooming Cereus
§ Many large sycamores,
· Distances to:
o Portal store – 1½ miles
o Rodeo, San Simon
· Mention utilities, inspected and approved by AZ ‘Environmental Office’ for septic
· How to deal with
o Posting a price
§ 22.4 acres ´ $15K per acre = $336K à ask $335K
§
$1000/acre / Price10 / 224
10.5 / 235
11 / 246
11.5 / 257
12 / 268
12.5 / 280
13 / 291
13.5 / 302
14 / 313
14.5 / 324
15 / 336
15.5 / 347
16 / 358
§ Should I mention that I’d prefer to sell it as a unit?
o Contacting me – put this on the home page
· Description of biota could be on another page linked from Lot Description and home pages
· Where to advertise?
o Chat rooms?
§ Would need to get permission of site manager
o Newspapers
o Birding journals
o
· Aerial photo?
· Fencing keeps cattle out, but native animals have no problem getting in and out.
o 85% of the lot boundary is fenced with 3- or 4-strand barbed wire fencing
o The lot to the east is completely fenced, so my lot is effectively 100% fenced.
· No well, phone, utilities are within ¼ mile.
· Nearest neighbors ( ¼ - ½ mile away) are obscured by terrain and natural vegetation, but are readily accessible. All the solitude you want, without being isolated.
· Mention amateur astronomy development?
·
Aerial Photograph
· Cave Creek is depicted by the thick solid blue line, with a thinner dashed blue line depicting a smaller side-channel that also contains running water in season.
· The dotted line that enters the lot at the lower left (near the lot’s corner) and roughly parallels the course of Cave Creek depicts the 10¢ high escarpment that separates the desert scrub habitat from the riparian habitat.
· The large sycamores, Arizona Cypress, and walnut trees can be seen as dark patches along Cave Creek an in the SE quadrant of the lot.
· The lot to the south and east of Cave Creek is a loosely stabilized sand habitat.
· Roads, including Foothills Drive, are depicted by solid black lines.
· The thin black dashed line depicts the course of the arroyo that drains most of the lot.