Addressing Infrastructure in Recreational Revival

Outlining the utility infrastructure needs in Hawley Lake Recreational Area, Arizona

Project Summary

Community: White Mountain Apache Tribe in
Hawley Lake, AZ

Technical Assistance: Infrastructure Assessment
Former Use: Deteriorating Vacation Cabins
Future Use: Restored Vacation Cabins

Hawley Lake Recreational Area is a beautiful, densely
wooded lakeside vacation spot with over 100 cabins
owned and operated by the White Mountain Apache
Tribe (WMAT) Community Development Corporation
(CDC). Only some of the cabins host tourists in the
summer because many of the units are in various
stages of blight and disrepair. To capitalize on the
largely untapped tourism market available at Hawley
Lake, the Tribe plans to demolish the damaged cabins
and renovate the units that are salvageable.
Additionally, through its ongoing master planning
efforts, the Tribe is also discussing other potential
redevelopment opportunities, including an RV park,
"glamping" infrastructure, new cabins, or a new lodge.
Revitalizing the Hawley Lake area will increase tourism
and boost the Tribe's revenue from recreational
activities.

The Community's Challenge

Before deciding on the future of the Hawley Lake
Recreational Area, the Tribe first needed to understand
the existing utility infrastructure at the site and what
utility improvements are needed before committing to a
path forward.

EPA's Land Revitalization Technical Assistance

In 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) Land Revitalization Program provided contractor
technical assistance to develop an infrastructure
assessment of the Hawley Lake area. The assessment
included reviewing documentation, visiting the site, and
creating an inventory of the existing utility
infrastructure, including water supply, sanitation
systems, stormwater systems, electric power,
telecommunications, and public roads. The assessment
recommended potential upgrades, provided high-level
cost estimates, and documented potential funding
sources for improvements. The report also visualized
the utilities via GIS maps and use of an online Viewer
Map tool. With the information gleaned from this utility
infrastructure report, WMAT can move forward with
decisions on the future of Hawley Lake armed with a
better understanding of needed utility improvements.

A Map of Hawley Lake Water Lines

For more information, contact Jose Garcia, EPA
Region 9 Brownfields Program, at

qarcia.iose@epa.gov.

SEPA

United States	Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization

Environmental Protection

Agency	560-F-22-040


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