The Regional Open Space Strategy Study Area There are two project boundaries for the Regional Open Space Strategy – one socio-political and the other ecological. The logic for this is simple: while decision-making spheres, policies, and populations are defined by distinct lines on a map, these lines are nonexistent to plants, animals, water, and ecological processes. Some ROSS opportunities are realized through policy, necessitating the sociopolitical boundary (e.g. land trades) while others (e.g. wildlife connectivity) necessitate expansion and cooperation beyond County lines. The socio-political boundary for the ROSS is defined as Maricopa County. Maricopa County spans more than 5.9 million acres in Central Arizona and is home to more than 4 million people. It is currently the fourth most populous county in the United States, and larger by population than 24 states. In 2016, Maricopa County was named the fastest growing county in the United States.1 The ecological boundary for the ROSS extends slightly beyond Maricopa County to encompass relevant watersheds and high-integrity habitat as defined by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI). This boundary will ensure that the region is able to tackle issues of wildlife connectivity, water resources, climate change, invasive species management, and restoration at scales that are ecologically meaningful.
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