Northern Arizona National Forest Land Exchange Act of 2003

This bill authorizes a large-scale land exchange between the federal government and private entities to consolidate land ownership in the Prescott, Coconino, and Kaibab National Forests in Arizona. Under the proposal, the U.S. Forest Service would transfer approximately 15,000 acres of federal land to the Yavapai Ranch Limited Partnership in exchange for roughly 35,000 acres of private land to be added to the National Forest System.

For local residents, the bill is designed to improve forest management and protect the watershed of the Verde River by placing environmentally sensitive lands under federal protection. Additionally, the bill requires portions of the newly private land to be conveyed to the cities of Flagstaff, Williams, and Camp Verde to support municipal needs, while also establishing conservation easements to limit water usage and future development in the Verde Valley.