This dataset depicts the boundaries of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM's) National Monuments (NMs) and National Conservation Areas (NCAs) in Arizona as part of the National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) data standards. The NLCS NM NCA dataset also depicts similar land designations such as Cooperative Management and Protection Areas, Forest Reserves, and Outstanding Natural areas.

The NLCS NM NCA dataset is in progress as of April 30, 2019. Only the Gila Box Riparian NCA has completed the process of legal description, map creation, certification, and submittal to Congress. The remaining NMs and NCAs are awaiting the draft of legal descriptions. As legal descriptions are finalized and certified, the NLCS dataset may require updating to ensure that the spatial footprints of the NM and NCA boundary data match their respective legal descriptions. Once the boundaries are confirmed, no further changes to the NM/NCA boundary data should be made. Boundary changes can only be made through an amendment to the legal description and direct notification to Congress.

The Antiquities Act of 1906 grants the President authority to designate national monuments in order to protect “objects of historic or scientific interest.” NCAs and similarly designated lands are designated by Congress to conserve, protect, enhance, and manage public lands for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. In June 2000, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) responded to growing concern over the loss of open space by creating the NLCS. The NLCS brings into a single system some of the BLM's premier designations. By putting these lands into an organized system, the BLM hopes to increase public awareness of the scientific, cultural, educational, ecological, and other values of these NM/NCA boundaries.

The Public Law (P.L.) 101-628 established Gila Box Riparian NCA; P.L. 106-538 established the Las Cienegas NCA (also Sonoita Valley Acquisition Planning District), and P.L. 100-696 established San Pedro Riparian NCA. Each of these laws required the BLM to file boundary legal descriptions and maps to Congress for each NCA. As of April 30, 2019, only the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area has completed legal description, map depiction, certification, and submission to Congress. All other NM/NCA have gone through review by Arizona field offices. Draft maps have been completed and are awaiting legal descriptions to be drafted with the exception of the Grand Canyon-Parashant NM. All proposed boundaries are included in this dataset. When legal descriptions are finalized and certified, minor updates may be necessary to ensure that the geospatial depiction of the NM/NCA boundary data matches the legal descriptions, after which no further changes to the geospatial NM/NCA boundary data should be made.

The standards, format and language for the legal descriptions and boundary maps were developed during regular meetings of the NLCS Coordinator, geospatial specialists and the Cadastral Surveyors regarding Arizona NLCS data. Guidance was provided from Congressional required maps and legal boundary descriptions for the NLCS Designation Manual 6120 (March, 2010). Established through Presidential Proclamation, there is no requirement for BLM to file boundary legal descriptions or maps with Congress for the National Monument. However, the NLCS Coordinator and Cadastral Survey Chief decided that it was prudent to extend the boundary process to NMs.