The Agua Fria Basin, located in the west central part of the planning area is 1,263 square miles in area.  Geographic features and principal communities are shown on Figure 5.1-1.  The basin is characterized by mid-elevation mountain ranges and mesas. Vegetation types include Arizona upland Sonoran desertscrub, semidesert grassland, interior chaparral, montane conifer forests and Great Basin conifer woodland. (see Figure 5.0-10) Riparian vegetation is found along the Agua Fria River including mixed broadleaf and cottonwood/willow.

Principal geographic features shown on Figure 5.1-1 are:

• Agua Fria River running north to south through the center of the basin

• Numerous creeks that flow into the Agua Fria River including Castle Creek, Humbug Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Black Canyon Creek, Squaw Creek, Turkey Creek, Silver Creek, Sycamore Creek, Yellow Jacket Creek and Ash Creek

• Horsethief Basin southeast of Crown King

• Black Mesa along Interstate 17 west of Perry Mesa

• Big Bug Mesa on the western basin boundary northwest of Mayer

• Buckhorn Mountains in the southwestern and the New River Mountains in the southeastern portions of the basin

• Bradshaw Mountains west of Interstate 17, which contain the highest point in the basin, Mt. Union at 7,528 feet

• The lowest point in the basin is about 3,700 feet along the Agua Fria River