The San Rafael Basin is a small, 229 square mile basin in the southwest corner of the planning area.  Geographic features and principal communities are shown on Figure 3.12-1.   The sparsely populated basin is characterized by a high-elevation mountain range, a valley and plains and Great Basin grassland and madrean evergreen woodland vegetation. (see Figure 3.0-9)  Riparian vegetation includes cottonwood/willow and strand along the Santa Cruz River.

Principal geographic features shown on Figure 3.12-1 are:

• The Santa Cruz River east of Lochiel

• Parker Canyon west of Sunnyside

• Huachuca Mountains along the eastern basin boundary, which include the highest point in the basin about 9,400 feet

• The lowest point at 4,600 feet at Lochiel where the Santa Cruz River exits the basin

• Not indicated on Figure 3.12-1 is the San Rafael Valley flanking the Santa Cruz River

Click to view Figure 3.12-1 San Rafael Basin Geographic Features

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