Forest Plan Revision Overview
The Forest Plan is the comprehensive document guiding management for all resources on the National Forest for the next 15 years or more
An opportunity for your knowledge and suggestions to be heard and shape the Forest’s future management
Policy requires that forest plans be revised periodically. The Forest and surrounding areas have experienced significant changes since 1986 when the existing plan was approved.
THREE PHASES 1.Assessment (1.5 years) 2.Plan Revision (~3 years) 3.Implementation and Monitoring (15+ years)
How can you help? Be an active stakeholder in developing a future vision for the forest
Your input will help develop plan direction that will provide for a healthy, diverse, and productive Forest in addition to the many benefits and uses desired by local communities and visitors of today and future generations.
For more information, please visit our website http://go.usa.gov/h88k Gila National Forest - Forest Plan Revision
Road Map Dates are anticipated and subject to change
Assessment
Initial Stakeholder Forest Plan Revision Steps Engagement Needs for Initial Change Plan Communication and Identified outreach and Develop Draft Plan Public Review of Selection of Preferred Implementation Notice of Collaboration Plan engagement and Monitoring Draft Plan/DEIS Alternative and Monitoring Intent (NOI) Program to Initiate Science Synthesis Assessment Response to BA/BE and Consultation with US Assessment Report Publicly Develop Comments and Fish and Wildlife Existing Conditions Available Alternatives Adjustments to Service and Trend Analysis Plan/DEIS Notice of Objection Period NOI to Initiate NEPA process Final Plan/EIS and Record of Decision
= Milestone NEPA Review Process
• Tribal consultation • Workshops to • Public availability of Community Meetings identify key • Meetings/workshops • Final EIS and Final Plan Public review Collaborative Work Sessions issues to receive feedback • and beginning of of biennial Organization Meetings • Online • Online engagement • objection period monitoring • Community Events engagement • Online engagement evaluation • Online engagement
Opportunities for Public Engagement
2015 2016 We are here 2017 2018 2019 What is the assessment? • Evaluates existing information about ecological, social, and economic conditions, trends, and any risks to sustainability. • Uses the best available science, local information, national perspectives, and native knowledge. • Helps everyone understand both existing and predicted future conditions. • Recently released the draft assessment report for feedback. • Report includes your input from earlier meetings. • Your feedback is most useful if submitted before November 15 • Meeting posters capture some of the highlights of the assessment report. • The trends and conditions identified in the assessment will help determine the current plan’s need for change and aid in the development of the revised plan.
Assessment Community meeting in Truth or Consequences What we heard from you… Assessment Input • From the community meetings and web-based outreach, we received over 200 pages of assessment input • Helped make the draft assessment report more representative of the land, people, and uses and culture of the area • Input incorporated throughout the draft assessment report • Each chapter has a section on stakeholder input received
Examples of your input from previous community meetings:
“Grasslands are in poor condition. Cooperative effort to restore grassland (agencies & land owners) will benefit cows and grazing wildlife.” –Quemado participant
“…increased tree stand densities that has increased fire frequency and intensity and post fire flooding and water quality degradation.” –Glenwood participant
“Ranching, logging, mining & recreation – important to families, schools, community. Needs to Assessment Community meeting in Reserve be important to management agency, FS.” -Reserve participant
“Maintenance of campgrounds, trails, roads, etc. declining” –Mimbres participant
“Use the volunteer system to support forest plan. What needs to happen – use us. Fieldwork, monitoring, local support.” –Truth or Consequences participant
“Fire needs to continue to be a natural process in the forest.” –Silver City participant What is a Need-for-Change Statement?
• Need-for-change statements broadly recommend how to change the 1986 Forest Plan. • They are a bridge between the assessment findings and what will be in our revised Plan. • The overarching question to be answered in developing needs-for-change statements is: What current plan direction needs to be revised (added, modified, or deleted) to address the conditions, trends, and most importantly risks identified in the assessment report? • Areas identified as not moving in the right direction form the basis for need-for-change statements. If the current Forest Plan addresses an issue well and is moving in right direction, there is no need-for-change. • Provides focus for the second phase of planning and development of the revised plan. • Draft need-for-change document released in October. • We want this to be a collaborative set of needs for change. • Input forms available to comment on draft needs-for-change statements as well as writing your own. • Your input is most useful if submitted before November 30. Needs for change common to all program areas There is a need… • to reevaluate plan components based on new science, methods, and technologies. • to include management approaches throughout the plan as appropriate that consider the capacity of local infrastructure, contractors and markets when planning towards desired conditions. • to include plan guidance that will allow flexibility for fluctuations in Forest budgets over the life of the plan. • for removing components that are redundant with existing laws, regulations and Forest Service policy. These should be incorporated by specific reference only, which will allow the plan to be up to date with the most recent versions without amendments. • to reevaluate the number, arrangement, and boundaries related to current forest plan management areas, and base new ones on ecological boundaries such as Ecological Response Units • to include plan direction that provides for adaptive management. There is also a need for plan components to be more strategic than prescriptive and for increased usage of management approaches based on best available science and monitoring. • for a monitoring program that tracks progress toward desired conditions and allows for a responsive adaptive management program with available resources and uses updated Photo by Dustin Myers terminology and methodologies especially for air quality, facilities, fire/fuels, lands, timber, and wilderness monitoring elements. Assessment Topic Current Conditions and Trends Key Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainability
Here’s why (Key issues, challenges, opportunities)
KEY TO POSTERS
Needs For Change
Gunnison’s prairie dog Ecological Response Units of the Gila National Forest ECOLOGICAL RESPONSE UNITS (ERUS) Gila NF Ecological Response Units What are Ecological Response Units (ERUs)? Forest ERUs - 5 Riparian ERUs - 11 Mixed Conifer Frequent Ponderosa Pine/ • Successful land management planning Woodland ERUs - 5 Ponderosa Pine Forest Fire Forest Evergreen Oak Forest Grassland ERUs - 3 is based on dividing the landscape Shrubland ERUs - 1 Into meaningful units. Mixed Conifer w/ • To facilitate analysis and planning in Aspen Forest Spruce-Fir Forest Piñon-Juniper Woodland The Southwest, the Forest Service has developed a framework of
Ecosystem types referred to as Piñon-Juniper Madrean Piñon-Oak Ecological Response Units or ERUs. Grass Woodland Juniper Grass Woodland Woodland • All major ecosystems in the Southwest are represented in this framework. Pinon-Juniper/ Mountain Mahogany Montane/Subalpine • The suite of vegetation classes that make up Evergreen Shrub Woodland Mixed Shrubland Grasslands TOTAL UPLAND ERU TOTAL RIPARIAN ERU AREA ON FOREST AREA ON FOREST any given ERU share similar disturbance dynamics, UPLAND ERUS RIPARIAN ERUS PERCENT PERCENT ACRES ACRES plant species dominants, and theoretical succession OF GILA NF OF GILA NF FORESTS sequences (potential vegetation). COTTONWOOD GROUP Great Basin/Colorado Narrowleaf Ponderosa Pine Forest 630,280 19.3 Narrowleaf Cottonwood/Shrub 22,681 0.71 Plateau Grasslands Semi-desert Grassland Cottonwood/Shrub Mixed Conifer Frequent Fire 396,244 12.1 Sycamore-Fremont Cottonwood 6,427 0.20 • The focus is primarily on Forest Service System Ponderosa Pine-Evergreen Oak 378,156 11.6 Fremont Cottonwood/Shrub 2,059 0.06 Mixed Conifer w/ Aspen 73,934 2.3 lands. Attempts have been made to characterize Fremont Cottonwood/Oak 85 0.003 Spruce-Fire Forest 23,779 0.7
ERUs for all lands in Arizona and New Mexico to help WOODLANDS DESERT WILLOW GROUP Sycamore-Fremont Fremont Narrowleaf Desert Willow facilitate cooperative landscape analysis and Pinon-Juniper Woodland 848,440 25.9 Desert Willow 8,929 0.278 Cottonwood Cottonwood/Shrub Cottonwood/Shrub Pinon-Juniper Grass 291,649 8.9 MONTANE-CONIFER WILLOW GROUP planning. Juniper Grass 114,396 3.5 Arizona Alder-Willow 3,222 0.100
Madrean Pinon-Oak 17,361 0.5 Willow-Thinleaf Alder 1,054 0.033 Pinon-Juniper/Evergreen Shrub 10,678 0.3 Ponderosa Pine/Willow 862 0.027 SHRUBLAND ERUs are Used to Define Historic/Reference Conditions within Upper Montane/Conifer-Willow 670 0.021 Arizona Alder-Willow Willow-Thinleaf Alder Ponderosa Pine/Willow Mountain Mahogany Mixed 166,488 5.1 a Mapping Unit by Integrating: WETLAND (CIENEGA) GROUP GRASSLANDS Herbaceous/Wetland Riparian 2,484 0.077 Site potential (soil properties, geology, geomorphology, Montane/Subalpine 113,785 3.5 • WALNUT-EVERGREEN TREE GROUP Colorado Plateau/Great Basin 89,186 2.7 aspect, slope, climate variables, geographic location) Arizona Walnut 1,655 0.052 Semi-desert 55,988 1.7 Upper Montane TOTAL ACRES 3,210,364 98.1 Total Acres 54,128 1.686 Conifer/Willow Herbaceous Wetland Arizona Walnut • Fire regime (historic and contemporary) PERCENT PROPORTION OF EACH SERAL STATE MIXED CONIFER FREQUENT FIRE FOREST SERAL SIMILARITY • Non-fire disturbance regimes (drought, insects and disease, SERAL STATE STRUCTURE, COMPOSITION AND COVER CLASS GILA NF StateState A A StateState B B StateState F F StateState C C StateState G G STATES REFERENCE VALUES TO CURRENT EARLYEARLY-SERAL-SERAL: (S: TATES(STATESA, A,N) N) DESCRIPTION EARLYEARLY-SERAL-SERAL: (S: TATE(STATEB)B) EARLYEARLY-SERAL-SERAL: (S: TATE(STATEF)F) CONDITION REFERENCE DominatedDominated by by grass, grass, forb, forb, MIDMID-SERAL-SERAL: (S: TATE(STATEC)C) MIDMID-SERAL-SERAL: (S: TATE(STATEG)G) CONDITION flooding, wind events) DominatedDominated by by DominatedDominated by by shrubs,shrubs, and and sparsely sparsely DominatedDominated by by small small size size (≥ (≥5” 5” DominatedDominated by by small small size size CONDITION seedling/saplingseedling/sapling size size (< (<5” 5” seedling/saplingseedling/sapling size size trees trees vegetated,vegetated, or or recently recently & <& 10”< 10” dbh) dbh) trees trees with with open open treestrees with with open open woody woody dbh*)dbh) treestrees withwith openopen (≥(≥ 10%10% & withwith closed closed (> (>30%) 30%) woody woody EARLY-SERAL: Grass, forb, shrubs, and sparsely vegetated or burnedburned with with very very open open (< (< woodywoody canopy canopy cover cover canopycanopy cover cover & ≤≤ 30%) 30%) woody woody canopy canopy cover cover canopycanopy cover cover recently burned with very open (< 10%) woody canopy cover, Neighboring vegetation communities 10%)10%) woody woody canopy canopy cover cover A, B, F, N 20 14 14 • and seedling/sapling size (< 5” dbh) trees with open (≥ 10% & ≤ 30%) or closed (< 30%) woody canopy cover MID-SERAL: Small size (≥ 5” & < 10” dbh) trees with open • Structure and compositional representation C 10 4 4 State J State K State H State L State I woody canopy cover LATE-SERAL: (STATE J) LATE-SERAL: (STATE K) LATE-SERAL: (STATE H) LATE-SERAL: (STATE L) LATE-SERAL: (STATE M) Dominated by medium to LATE-SERAL: (STATE I) LATE-SERAL: Medium to very large size (≥ 10” dbh) trees, Dominated by very large (≥ Dominated by medium to Dominated by medium to Dominated by very large size large (≥ 10” & < 20” dbh) size Dominated by very large size 20” dbh) size trees, uneven- large size trees, single- large size trees, uneven-aged trees, uneven-aged (multi- D, E single storied with open woody canopy cover (occurs on 0 7 0 • Seral state sequence (successional dynamics) trees, uneven-aged (multi- trees, single-storied with aged (multi-storied) with storied with closed woody (multi-storied) with closed storied) with closed woody contemporary landscapes, historically rare/localized) storied) with open woody closed woody canopy cover open woody canopy cover canopy cover woody canopy cover canopy cover canopy cover G MID-SERAL: Small size trees with closed woody canopy cover 5 10 5 Reference (Historical) Conditions versus Existing (Current) LATE-SERAL: Medium to very large size trees, single-storied or Graphic Depictions of H, I, L, M 5 57 5 uneven-aged (multi-storied) with closed woody canopy cover Conditions = Level of Departure Vegetation States within State D State E LATE-SERAL: (STATE D) LATE-SERAL: (STATE E) * dbh = Diameter measured LATE-SERAL: Medium to very large size trees, uneven-aged the MIXED CONIFER Dominated by medium to Dominated by very large size at Breast Height (4 ½ ft.) J, K 60 7 7 large size trees, single (multi-storied) with open woody canopy cover trees, single storied with FREQUENT FIRE FOREST storied with open canopy open canopy cover (occurs Total 100 100 36 cover (occurs on USDA FS (U.S. Department of Agriculture - Forest Service). 2015 (May). Ecological Response Units of the Gila on contemporary landscapes, ERU contemporary landscapes, MIXED CONIFER FREQUENT FIRE FOREST ERU DEPARTURE INDEX RATING FROM REFERENCE CONDITION = National Forest (in draft). Southwestern Region. Albuquerque, NM. 76 pp. historically rare/localized) historically rare/localized) 100 - ∑ SIMILARITY VALUES: GILA NF = (100-36) = 64% = MODERATE DEPARTURE FORESTED VEGETATION TYPES FOUND ON THE GILA NATIONAL FOREST
CURRENT CONDITIONS AND 100-YEAR TRENDS IN KEY CHALLENGES TO ECOLOGICAL RISK TO ECOLOGICAL NEED FOR CHANGE: RELATION TO HISTORICAL CONDITIONS SUSTAINABILITY OF FORESTS SUSTAINABILITY BASED ON HISTORIC CONDITIONS AS BASELINE REFERENCE SIGNIFICANCE OF TO DEVELOP desired conditions regarding vegetation structure, composition, and function, Environmental conditions that infer ecological sustainability. that will promote ecological restoration, support resiliency and sustainability and minimize Historical conditions are often used as a baseline represented by risks to ecosystem integrity and wildlife habitat. the historic range of variation for a particular Forest Type, prior DEPARTURE AND TREND to Euro-American settlement and under the current climatic period. Historical conditions may not necessarily represent CURRENT 100-YEARS† TO RE-EVALUATE current plan direction regarding old growth forest based on the assessment desired conditions. findings regarding vegetation structure, composition, and function within the forested Reference conditions PONDEROSA PINE FOREST PONDEROSA PINE FOREST types. Vegetation structure has shifted from large to very-large size trees to a and current conditions preponderance of small to medium size trees. are based on potential risk due to legacy vegetation seral state H H of past management or TO DEVELOP desired conditions, that reflect the restoration and maintenance of native overstory structure. (91%) (86%) departure due to ongoing herbaceous vegetation productivity, limits woody species infill and non-native invasive See seral state plant establishment, in all forested types. structure graphics Dense tree growth activities below. Current Departureǂ is High with interlocking Fire is recognized as an integral ecological process within the forest systems. See the Fire 100-Year Trend is Static in Relation canopies creating the Poster for more information on the plan need for change necessary for restoration and circa 1900 to Reference Conditions maintenance of the sustainability of these forested communities. MIXED CONIFER “fuel ladder effect” MIXED CONIFER FREQUENT FREQUENT FIRE FIRE potential risk due to legacy of past management or M M (64%) (65%) departure due to ongoing Past fire suppression and historic activities livestock grazing practices, that Current Departure is Moderate are no longer in place, have 100-Year Trend is Static in Relation contributed to departure from to Reference Conditions the natural range of variation in PONDEROSA PINE- most ecosystems on the Gila NF PONDEROSA PINE- EVERGREEN OAK by disrupting characteristic EVERGREEN OAK Small to medium size tree thicket ecological processes, such as fire risk addressed; continue Low intensity surface fires for and natural vegetation succession. Other factors contributing to departure current management M M include: historic logging and fuelwood harvesting practices that removed the thinning, fuels reduction and (58%) (50%) largest and most fire resistant trees; roads and trails that fragment the understory vegetation restoration landscape and impede the spread of frequent, low-severity fire; drought; Current Departure is Moderate climate change; and uncharacteristic extents of stand replacement fire such as 100-Year Trend is Toward Reference those experienced during the 2012 Whitewater Baldy Complex and 2013 Silver Conditions Fire. MIXED CONIFER MIXED CONIFER w/ ASPEN W/ ASPEN potential risk due to legacy of past management or departure due to ongoing M M (49%) (47%) activities
Current Departure is Moderate 100-Year Trend is Static in Relation to Reference Conditions 2012 Whitewater Baldy Complex 2013 Silver Fire SPRUCE-FIR FOREST SPRUCE-FIR FOREST Percent potential for high risk Forested Types Acres Very large, multi-resource damaging fires (soils, vegetation, watershed, of Gila NF wildlife, etc.) are non-typical for ponderosa pine, ponderosa pine- Ponderosa Pine Forest 630,280 19.6 M H (47%) (72%) evergreen oak and dry mixed conifer forests on the Gila NF Mixed Conifer Frequent Fire 396,244 12.1 Ponderosa Pine-Evergreen Oak 378,156 11.6 Current Departure is Moderate Mixed Conifer w/ Aspen 73,934 2.3 100-Year Trend is Away from Spruce-Fir Forest 23,779 0.7 Reference Conditions † Based on current management and fire activity ǂ Departure is the relative difference between Total Forests 1,502,393 46.8 existing and an historic reference condition
EARLY-SERAL EARLY-SERAL MID-SERAL
EARLY-SERAL: Grass, Forb and Shrub EARLY-SERAL: Seedling and Sapling MID-SERAL: Small Size (≥ 5” & < 10” Dominated with Open (< 10%) Size (< 5” dbh*) Tree Dominated with dbh) Tree Dominated with Open (≤ Woody Canopy Cover Open (≤ 30%) Woody Canopy Cover 30%) Woody Canopy Cover
Ponderosa Pine Forest * dbh = Diameter Vegetation measured at Breast Seral State Height (4 ½ ft.) LATE-SERAL LATE-SERAL Promote and maintain aspen Overstory LATE-SERAL: Medium Size (≥ 10” & < LATE-SERAL: Large to Very-large Size Structure 20” dbh)Tree Dominated with Open (≤ (≥ 20” dbh) Tree Dominated with Open INCREASING RISK 30%) Woody Canopy Cover (≤ 30%) Woody Canopy Cover Some of the consequences of stand replacement fires WOODLAND VEGETATION TYPES FOUND ON THE GILA NATIONAL FOREST
CURRENT CONDITIONS AND 100-YEAR TRENDS IN KEY CHALLENGES TO ECOLOGICAL RISK TO ECOLOGICAL NEED FOR CHANGE RELATION TO HISTORICAL CONDITIONS SUSTAINABILITY OF WOODLANDS SUSTAINABILITY BASED ON HISTORIC CONDITIONS Legacy issues related to the disruption of natural ecological processes by historic IGNIFICANCE OF EPARTURE NEED TO DEVELOP desired conditions regarding vegetation structure (seral state AS BASELINE REFERENCE CURRENT 100-Years† management, including reductions in fire frequency and/or changes in fire severity have S D proportion), composition, and function, as well as objectives, standards, guidelines and Environmental contributed to increasing woodland stand densities of small to medium size trees. management approaches that will promote ecological restoration, support resilience and conditions that infer Grazing activities with unintended consequences during the 19th- and early- to mid-20th- PIÑON-JUNIPER AND TREND sustainability, and minimize risks to ecosystem integrity. ecological sustainability. WOODLAND centuries limited fine fuels (i.e. grasses and forbs) that typically carried frequent low- PIÑON-JUNIPER WOODLAND Historical conditions are severity fire. Fragmentation or the construction of road and trail systems also impede often used as a baseline the spread of frequent, low-severity wildfires across the landscape. Along with early- to potential for high risk NEED TO RE-EVALUATE current plan direction regarding old growth forest and woodland circa 1920* represented by the mid-20th-century fire suppression activities, these changes contributed to shifts in based on the assessment findings regarding seral state proportions within the forested historic range of M M species composition, changes in fuel types, distribution, vertical and lateral continuity and woodland types. Seral state dominance has shifted from large to very-large size trees (36%) (50%) variation for a particular and overall increases in fuel loading uncharacteristic of historic conditions. The to a preponderance of small to medium size trees. Woodland Type, prior to increased density of small to medium size trees as a result of the infill of canopy gaps by Euro-American tree and shrubs has also reduced the density, vigor and productivity of herbaceous EED TO PDATE settlement and under the Current Departure‡ is Moderate N U current direction, develop desired conditions, standards and guidelines understory plants in woodlands. These changes and the variable degrees of departure that promote the restoration and maintenance of native herbaceous vegetation (i.e. current climatic period. 100-Year Trend is Away from are reflected in the seral state proportion, mean patch size, coarse woody debris and grasses and forbs) productivity, limits woody species encroachment/infill and non-native Historical conditions may Reference Conditions ecological status (i.e. species composition) analyses in the assessment report. These not necessarily represent circa 2005* invasive plant establishment, in all vegetation types. departures from the historic fire regime contribute to increased risk of larger, higher PIÑON-JUNIPER GRASS desired conditions. Reference conditions and current conditions PIÑON-JUNIPER GRASS severity fire. are based on vegetation seral state overstory structure. See seral potential risk due to legacy of past Fire is recognized as an integral ecological process within the woodland systems. See the state structure graphics below. management or departure due to Fire Poster for more information on the plan need for change necessary for restoration M M and maintenance of the sustainability of these woodland communities. (39%) (35%) ongoing activities
Current Departure is Moderate 100-Year Trend is Static in Relation to Reference Conditions JUNIPER-GRASS JUNIPER GRASS potential risk
L M (29%) Climate and Drought: Severe drought stressed and insect killed woodlands; piñon die- (59%) off in New Mexico was nearly 7 times higher than juniper mortality.
Current Departure is Low Productive herbaceous 100-Year Trend is Away from understory vegetation Reference Conditions MADREAN PIÑON-OAK MADREAN PIÑON-OAK potential risk L (19%) H (90%)
Current Departure is Low 100-Year Trend is Away from Reference Conditions PIÑON-JUNIPER/ PIÑON-JUNIPER/EVERGREEN EVERGREEN SHRUB SHRUB potential risk Percent of Woodland Types Acres Gila NF M M (50%) (55%) Piñon-Juniper Woodland 848,440 26.4 Drought and insect mortality, and increased stand densities has led to more uncharacteristic fire severity in the piñon-juniper woodland types Piñon-Juniper Grass 291,649 9.1 Current Departure is Moderate Juniper-Grass 114,396 3.6 100-Year Trend is Static in Relation to Madrean Piñon-Oak 17,361 0.5 Reference Conditions Piñon-Juniper/Evergreen † Based on current management and fire activity 10,678 0.3 ǂ Departure is the relative difference between existing Shrub and an historic reference condition * Comparison photos from the Lloyd family & Lesley Total Woodlands 1,282,524 39.9 Morris
MID-SERAL: Combination of EARLY-SERAL: Grass, Forb and Shrub Seedling/Sapling Size (< 5” drc*) Tree LATE-SERAL: Medium to Very Large Dominated with Open (≤ 30%) or Closed (> Dominated with Open (< 10%) Woody Size (≥ 10” drc) Tree Dominated with 30%) Woody Canopy Cover; and Small Size (≥ Canopy Cover 5” & < 10” drc) Tree Dominated with Open (≤ Open (≤ 30%) Woody Canopy Cover 30%) Woody Canopy Cover Burning and thinning to promote herbaceous understory vegetation recovery
Piñon- Juniper Woodland * drc = Diameter Vegetation measured at the Root Crown (ground level) Seral State LATE-SERAL LATE-SERAL MID-SERAL: Small Size (< 10” drc) Tree LATE-SERAL: Medium to Very Large Legacy effects of past livestock, fire management, and landscape scale tree INCREASING RISK Overstory Dominated with Closed (> 30%) Woody Size (≥ 10” drc) Tree Dominated with removal: homogenization of vegetation composition, age-class and structure Structure Canopy Cover Closed (> 30%) Woody Canopy Cover GRASSLAND VEGETATION TYPES FOUND ON THE GILA NATIONAL FOREST
CURRENT CONDITIONS AND 100-YEAR TRENDS IN KEY CHALLENGES TO ECOLOGICAL RISK TO ECOLOGICAL NEED FOR CHANGE RELATION TO HISTORICAL CONDITIONS SUSTAINABILITY SUSTAINABILITY BASED ON HISTORIC CONDITIONS AS BASELINE Declines in herbaceous cover due to historical livestock SIGNIFICANCE OF 1. NEED TO DEVELOP desired conditions regarding vegetation REFERENCE grazing in concert with the disruption of the natural fire structure (seral state proportion), composition, and function, as Environmental conditions that infer ecological DEPARTURE AND TREND sustainability. Historical conditions are often regime has been cited in a number of studies as the well as objectives, standards, guidelines and management used as a baseline represented by the historic primary factors for the increase in woody species (tree range of variation for a particular Grassland approaches that will promote ecological restoration, support Type, prior to Euro-American settlement and and shrub) densities within grasslands. Currently: 35% of resilience and sustainability, and minimize risks to ecosystem circa 1910* circa 1988* under the current climatic period. Historical conditions may not necessarily represent the Montane/Subalpine; 61% of the Colorado integrity. desired conditions. Reference conditions and Plateau/Great Basin; and 96% of the Semi-desert current conditions are based on vegetation seral grasslands are dominated by woody species. 2. NEED TO UPDATE current direction, develop desired conditions, state overstory structure. standards and guidelines that promote the restoration and Increased woody species densities not only raise the risk Current 100-Years† maintenance of native herbaceous vegetation (i.e. grasses and of uncharacteristic wildfires, but intensifies competition forbs) productivity, limits woody species encroachment/infill and circa 1904** between plants for limited water, nutrients, sunlight and non-native invasive plant establishment, in all three grasslands. MONTANE/SUBALPINE space. In turn, greater competition leads to increased MONTANE/ SUBALPINE GRASSLANDS stress, especially during periods of extended drought. GRASSLANDS Fire is recognized as an integral ecological process within the potential for high risk Stress makes the entire plant community more grassland systems. See the Fire Poster for more information on the plan need for change necessary for restoration and M M susceptible to outbreaks of insects, pathogens, disease (41%) (56%) maintenance of the sustainability of these grassland circa 1997** and invasion by non-native species. communities. Current Departure‡ is Moderate Water stressed plants are more likely to die at lower fire 100-Year Trend is Away from severities than they would if they were not stressed. Reference Conditions COLORADO PLATEAU/ Related concerns are the homogenization of the COLORADO PLATEAU/GREAT GREAT BASIN vegetation. The diversity of native plants contributes to BASIN GRASSLANDS GRASSLANDS the maintenance and enhancement of above- and potential risk due to legacy of past management or departure belowground biological interactions that keep ecological due to ongoing activities interactions intact. Disruptions in plant diversity by loss H H (68%) (74%) of native species and shifts in species composition within these grasslands and the threat to native species posed Current Departure is High by non-native invasive species that spread in response to Restoring 100-Year Trend is Away from human activities create a host of issues related to grasslands Reference Conditions ecosystem health. though woody SEMI-DESERT SEMI-DESERT GRASSLAND plant removal GRASSLAND potential risk due to legacy of past management or departure Montane/Subalpine due to ongoing activities
H H with woody encroachment (96%) (94%)
Current Departure is High 100-Year Trend is Static in Relation Colorado Plateau/Great Basin Grasslands to Reference Conditions Montane/Subalpine Grasslands
Colorado Plateau/Great Basin Percent with woody encroachment Grassland Types Acres of Gila NF Montane/Subalpine 113,785 3.5 Colorado Plateau/Great Colorado Plateau/Great Basin with 89,186 2.8 Basin erosion due to lack of herbaceous cover Semi-desert Grassland Semi-desert 55,988 1.7 Semi-desert grassland site dominated Semi-desert by non-native weeping lovegrass with lack of herbaceous cover Total Grasslands 258,959 8.0
† Based on current management and fire activity ǂ Departure is the relative difference between existing and an historic reference condition INCREASING RISK * Bahre, C.J.; and M.L. Shelton. 1993. Historic vegetation change, mesquite increases, and climate in southeastern Arizona. Journal of Biogeography 20(5): 489-504. ** Archer, S.; and L. Howery. 2009. Grasslands or shrubland? The School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. 5 pp. Fire Sustainability: Key Challenges and Opportunities Natural Ecological Process Historic Historic Fire Current Average Severity Current Fire • Weather Patterns, Drought and Upland Average Fire Fire is a natural ecological process Fire Return Severity Climate Change and an integral part of many Ecological Frequency ecosystems. Characteristic wildfire Interval Departure Response Unit (Years) • Adequate Fine Fuels frequency, severity, extent and (Years) patterns depend on vegetation type from Historic and are influenced by a multitude of • Long-Term Monitoring factors including site-specific forest High structure, landscape characteristics • Air Quality/Smoke Management and climatic conditions. 200 to 400 Severity/Stand Historical Photo of Fire Suppression Hand Crew Spruce-Fir Forest Replacement 17 Low Firefighter and Public Safety are the • Declining Budgets Relationships between past fire 100 to 200 Mixed Severity primary considerations of fire suppression policy and historic High management in determining livestock grazing practices Severity/Stand the course of action or contributed to altered fuel Mixed Conifer Low 50 to 150 Replacement 24 inaction for any given fire. characteristics in many vegetation with Aspen types. Fire suppression contributed and Mixed to increases in woody vegetation Severity Partnerships and and fuel loading. Historic livestock are grazing practices reduced fine fuels 9 to 22 Low Severity Stakeholder Support Moderate: critical to implementing prescribed fire and and contributed to increases in Mixed Conifer- Tyrone, Fort Bayard and Whiskey Creek Less frequent 16 Severity has accelerating the Gila NF’s fire program in woody vegetation as a result of Frequent Fire Mixed Severity Volunteer Fire Departments Partnered with the Increased the face of declining budgets altered competition dynamics than 9 to 22 Gila NF to implement the Silver City Ranger Historical Photo of Helicopter Suppression District’s 2016 Cameron Creek Prescribed Fire between woody and herbaceous Ponderosa Pine species. 0 to 35 Low Severity 40 Low Forest The Gila NF became one of the first Effects from any one fire are rarely national forests to begin using fire Supported a Grass as a restoration tool in the mid to range of fire Dominated all positive, or all negative late 1970s. Since 1977, over 1,400 regimes Understory = wildfires have been managed on depending on Low Severity Ponderosa Pine- Low more than 565,000 acres. Over the whether or not 36 last two decades, the Forest has Evergreen Oak averaged 11,326 acres of prescribed the understory Shrub fire per year. was Dominated predominantly Understory = Acres are not necessarily contiguous and many prescribed or natural fires may have grass or shrub Mixed Severity burned the same piece of ground more than 35 to 200 years 2015 Meekins 1 Prescribed Fire, Wilderness once. Actual acres of fire are greater than the Ranger District amounts reported above as most records with some High Large extents of stand prior to 1984 have not been entered into the subtypes Severity/Stand High: Severity database and are hardcopy only. PJ Woodland 144 replacement fire in areas exhibiting little Replacement has Decreased important for snowpack There have been approximately following the 2012 Ponderosa Pine Forest in McKenna Park 2,502 wildfires where suppression to no natural Whitewater Baldy Complex Downcutting in Silver Creek following September 2016: Recent wildfires include 2016 Fire increase potential McKenna, 2012 Whitewater Baldy Complex, 2011 has been the management goal. fire the 2012 Whitewater Baldy Complex sublimation and evaporation Fire Miller, 2010 Horse and 2003 Dry Lakes Fires These fires have burned over a PJ Evergreen High: Severity 35 to 200 Mixed Severity 429 million acres. 884 of these fires and Shrub has Decreased half of these acres burned between Needs For Change 2011 and 2013. Madrean Piñon- Low 35 to 200 Mixed Severity 633 There is a need to update current plan direction to allow for an Oak Woodland integrated resource approach to increase flexibility for Large fires within this time frame 0 to 35 Low Severity Low restoration and maintenance of fire as an ecological process in include the 2012 Whitewater Baldy PJ Grass 154 Complex Fire and 2013 Silver Fire fire adapted ecosystems while addressing public safety and which contributed to mean patch Low to Moderate health concerns, especially in the Wildland Urban Interface. size and seral state proportion Juniper Grass 0 to 35 >1,000 Low Severity departures in Spruce Fir-Forest and There is a need for plan direction that recognizes the natural Mixed Conifer with Aspen. Although High Mountain processes of fire (e.g., natural fire regimes) and their use as stand replacement fire is 2012 Whitewater Baldy Complex Fire Severity/Stand High: Severity near Sheridan Mountain Mahogany Mixed 0 to 35 32 management tools to help achieve desired conditions characteristic of these systems, the Replacement has Decreased extents were uncharacteristic. Shrubland appropriate to each vegetation type across the landscape.
Colorado Plateau- High: Severity There is a need for plan direction that allows managers the Fire in Riparian Ecosystems Great Basin 0 to 35 High Severity 564 has Decreased flexibility to manage naturally ignited fires to meet resource With few exceptions, the current scientific understanding is that natural fire Grassland objectives based on weather and site-specific conditions. These frequency and severity are less in riparian areas than surrounding uplands. Fires Montane Moderate: actions may include the use of fire to reduce excess fuels, occur less often and at lower severity due to higher relative humidity and fuel and Subalpine 0 to 35 High Severity 33 Severity has moderate the risk of future uncharacteristic fires, improve soil moisture. Effects depend on the relationships between fire frequency, severity and timing, climatic conditions, vegetation community composition and landscape Grasslands Decreased wildlife and range habitat, and improve watershed and overall characteristics. Moderate: forest health Semi-Desert Severity has 0 to 35 High Severity 760 Riparian species experience mortality even with low severity fire. Willows are the Grassland Decreased There is a need to update the plan to address vegetation only riparian species on the Gila NF that have been observed to re-sprout after fire structure within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) since these with any reliability. areas will have different desired conditions than non-WUI areas to encourage lower fuel loading and fire behavior. Soil
Soil Resources on the Gila NF Current Upland Soil Conditions Sustainability: Key Challenges and
Alfisols are also fertile Satisfactory: Indicators signify that soil Opportunities Mollisols are soils, but less so than function is being sustained. Ability of naturally highly Mollisols. They occur Stability soil to maintain resource values and Function productive soils. within most sustain outputs is high. They occur in all Ecological Response Ecological Unit but are most Impaired: Indicators signify a reduction Response Units. often found in forest of soil function. Ability of soil to 6’4” ~85% of the Forest. types. ~6% of the function properly has been reduced Forest Soil and/or there exists an increased Condition vulnerability to degradation. Historic overgrazing on the Forest Nutrient Unsatisfactory: Indicators signify a Entisols are relatively Hydrologic Cycling loss of soil function has occurred. young soils with little Function • Legacy issues related to fire Function Inability of soil to maintain resource development as they suppression and livestock values, sustain outputs, and recover occur in landscape grazing from impacts settings where erosion and deposition is • Drought and climate change happening faster than the 18% 4% rate of soil formation. 17% • Large extents of stand 36% Entisols are common in 17 replacement fire Vertisols and Inceptisols are % the Forest’s Riparian areas Hillslope failure and Mollisols with more developed 46% • Monitoring with very high natural 83% 79 pedestalled rock in vertic properties productivity. Where they than Entisols as untreated monitoring plots % on the 2013 Silver Fire are also naturally occur in upland settings, they occur on All current and future • Partners and Volunteers productive soils. young, but more productivity is much The status of soil functions in MIXED The status of soil functions in SPRUCE-FIR management actions and Their high clay stable landforms. lower. ~2% of the Forest CONIFER-FREQUENT FIRE FOREST (LEFT) AND MIXED CONIFER inactions pose both content makes Productivity is challenges and are driven by management activities that them more highly variable. WITH ASPEN (RIGHT) are driven by extents opportunities to the soil reduce vegetative groundcover, primarily susceptible to They are of stand replacement fire. Natural instability is resource compaction which primarily found related to mechanical thinning and fire. also a factor. decreases on rhyolite within Natural instability is also a factor. productivity. ~<1% TIME forest types. ~7% of the Forest of the Forest 26% 33% 30% 47% 40% 34% LIVING 57% 16% CLIMATE 56% ORGANISMS 20% 30% Photo credit: Morgan Varner From Joint Fire USFS Adaptive Management Services Enterprise 10% Science “Chewing the Landscape: Masticated Team and Joint Fire Science Red Mountain Fuelbeds Pose Novel Challenges” Mastication Study, Sequoia National Forest PARENT The status of soil functions in PJ WOODLAND (LEFT), http://www.fs.fed.us/adaptivemanagement/projects_ MATERIAL TOPOGRAPHY 28% PJ GRASS (CENTER) AND JUNIPER GRASS main_red_mtn_mastication.php (RIGHT) are driven by the legacy of historic livestock 56% Soil is non-renewable resource due to the slow rate of soil 16% grazing management including erosional processes, shifts in vegetative community composition and compaction. formation in the climate of the Southwestern United States Current management has allowed for improvement but where it has been estimated that it can take between 300 and Soil profile images taken from “The Twelve Orders of Soil Taxonomy” poster by the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service slows recovery rates. Natural instability is also a factor available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/edu/?cid=nrcs142p2_053588 The status of soil functions in 1000 years to form an inch of soil. PONDEROSA PINE FOREST with the strongest influence in PJ Woodland. (TOP) AND PONDEROSA PINE EVERGREEN OAK (BOTTOM) 42% Terrestrial Ecological Unit Inventory are driven by the same factors Needs For Change described for Mixed Conifer- 58% Frequent Fire and the woodland 100% Conditions under types. Natural instability is a factor, There is a need to update plan direction Classifies ecological Climate ecological site but less so than Mixed Conifer- The status of soil functions in PJ EVERGREEN to restore, maintain and sustainably types and maps Frequent Fire and PJ Woodland. potential are those SHRUB (LEFT) AND MADREAN PIÑON-OAK ecological units to that exist at the latest manage soil condition interpret ecological successional stage, WOODLAND (RIGHT) are driven by the same factors site potential and or steady-stable-state described for the other woodland types but limitations current ecosystem as reflected by stable, associated with the amount and distribution of data characteristics drivers and available to describe conditions increase uncertainty functioning climate- 100% 3% soil-vegetation 16% 15% 16% systems. The status of soil functions in No monitoring 49% MOUNTAIN MAHOGANY data compatible 48% with the MIXED SHRUBLAND only 69% 84% Terrestrial reflects this type where it occurs in Ecological Unit the Burro Mountains due to the Inventory is available data. Legacy issues related The status of soil functions in COLORADO available to to historic livestock grazing are PLATEAU-GREAT BASIN GRASSLAND (LEFT), assess trends particularly strong in this area of the MONTANE SUBALPINE GRASSLANDS Forest and granitic parent materials (CENTER) AND SEMI-DESERT GRASSLAND Soil Vegetation are less resilient than many others. Natural instability is also a factor. (RIGHT) are driven by same factors described for the woodland types. The influence of natural instability on the status soil functions in the grassland types is limited. Climate, Climate Change and Vulnerability
Vulnerability is also summarized by watershed, but these ratings are not accompanied Climate is a Primary Ecosystem Driver Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment by uncertainty ratings. Although riparian systems were not specifically analyzed, some • The Forest Service Southwestern Region and the Rocky Mountain Research Station developed inferences can be made related to their vulnerability based on the watershed summary Climate, or the average weather, is the primary ecosystem driver. It largely the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment (CCVA) for the Gila NF in 2015. determines the timing, quantity, duration and distribution of available water and Percent of ERU by Subwatershed influences all ecological processes and ecosystem characteristics including the • This is an ecosystem-based vulnerability assessment for all major upland ecosystems based Vulnerability Rating potential natural vegetation community, natural rates of soil formation and loss, on the anticipated effects of climate change. fire regimes and patterns of insects and disease. Ecological Moderate High Very High • Four vulnerability categories are reported: low, moderate, high and very high. Drought Response Unit • Vulnerability categories are accompanied by uncertainty categories to account for differences Droughts are normal and recurrent climatic features. Drought impacts can include in the predictions of climate models. These categories are low, moderate and high. Arizona Alder-Willow 48 52 0 but are not limited to reduced streamflow; reduced water quantity and reliability of upland water sources; reduced vigor, growth, regeneration and resilience of • Essentially, the assessment describes the relative susceptibility of an ecological type Arizona Walnut 89 11 0 riparian species; reduced canopy cover, vigor, growth and seed production in conversion. For example, the conversion of Mixed Conifer Frequent Fire type to a Gambel oak grasses, reduced vegetative groundcover and decreased fuel moisture. Cascading shrubland type. 68 32 0 effects include increased risk of insect and/or disease outbreak, wildfire, erosion, Desert Willow sedimentation and downward trends in rangeland condition 94 6 0 ERU Fremont 15 Cottonwood-Shrub Southern Desert Southwestern Mountains ERU Acres Percent CCVA CCVA on the Gila of Gila Vulnerability Uncertainty Herbaceous Wetland 93 7 0 ERU Name NF NF Rating Rating 10 Walnut-Ponderosa 100 0 0 Pine Spruce-Fir Forest 23,779 1 Very High Low Narrowleaf 77 23 0 5 Cottonwood-Shrub
(PDSI) Mixed Conifer- Moderate to 367,209 11 Moderate Ponderosa Pine- 100 0 0 Frequent Fire High Willow 0 Mixed Conifer with Moderate to Low to Sycamore-Fremont 75 25 0 51,908 2 Aspen Very High Moderate Cottonwood
-5 Upper Montane 74 26 0 Palmer Drought Severity Index Ponderosa Pine Moderate to 630,294 19 Moderate Forest High Conifer-Willow Ponderosa Pine Willow-Thinleaf 56 44 0 -10 378,157 12 Moderate Moderate Alder 1 11 21 31 41 51 61 71 81 91 101 111 Evergreen Oak Negative Values Indicate Drought Years Mountain At the six USGS streamflow gages on Forest streams, average streamflow has Low to Mahogany Mixed 166,488 5 Moderate decreased in the winter and spring months, peak snowmelt runoff is occurring earlier Moderate and the snowmelt runoff period is decreasing as illustrated below by the Gila River Climate Change is a Ecosystem Stressor Shrubland near Gila gage data. These changes are consistent with climate change projections and have enormous ecological and socioeconomic implications. In the Southwest, climate modelers agree a drying trend will continue, with temperature being a stronger driver than precipitation. Temperature increases are expected to increase Madrean Piñon- Low to 17,361 1 Moderate 350 3.5
evaporation such that an overall decrease in available moisture remains likely, even if Oak Woodland Moderate F) precipitation increases. The greatest warming is expected to occur in winter. Climate ° change is also projected to increase the frequency, severity and duration of droughts. Low to PJ Woodland 848,447 26 Moderate 300 3 While the region is expected to get drier, it is likely to see larger, more destructive flooding Moderate events as rising temperatures may increase storm intensity, duration, or both. 250 2.5 PJ Evergreen 63 10,679 <1 Not Assessed Not Assessed Shrub 200 2 61 PJ Grass 291,647 9 Moderate Moderate
Moderate to 150 1.5 (IN) PRECIPITATION 59 Juniper Grass 114,396 3 Moderate High 57 100 1
Montane Subalpine Moderate to AVERAGE Southern Desert 113,806 3 Moderate 55 Southwestern Mountains Grassland High 50 0.5 Southern Desert Period of Record Average Semidesert Low to
Fahrenheit) 53 Southern Mountains Period of Record Average 55,993 2 Moderate 0 0 Moderate Grassland ( TEMPERATURE AND (CFS) STREAMFLOW AVERAGE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 51 Colorado Plateau 49 Great Basin 89,033 3 Moderate Moderate Pre-1990 Flow 1990-2014 Flow 2000-2014 Flow
( Degrees Grassland 47 Pre-1990 Precip 1990-2014 Precip 2000-2014 Precip Gila NF Uplands Pre-1990 Temp 1990-2014 Temp 2000-2014 Temp Average Annual Temperature Annual Temperature Average 3,159,197 97 Moderate Moderate 45 Total 1 11 21 31 41 51 61 71 81 91 101 111 Mean Monthly Precipitation, Temperature and Streamflow Metrics for the Gila River Gage near Gila Water
Water Resources on the Gila NF Current Streamflow Conditions and Sustainability: Key Challenges and Trends Opportunities 957 miles of perennial streams • Drought and Climate Percent Change in Annual Streamflow Change 546 miles of intermittent streams Characteristics Between Pre-1990 Gila Gage Data and Post 2000 Gage Data Some of these stream miles Cliff • Watershed and Reserve near Mogollon Gila River River Gila River Gila Glenwood River near River near River Creek near Creek at Mimbres at support wetlands Streamflow Riparian Condition near Redrock near Characteristic San Francisco San Francisco San Mimbres River River Mimbres • All gages demonstrate drying Mean trends to varying degrees Source of water for downstream Water Demand and Annual -56% -16% -13% -3% -8% -35% • uses, local communities, Future Development recreation, and wildlife habitat Flow • Some gages indicate increased Median variability in flow while others demonstrate decreased variability San Francisco River upstream from Annual -36% -7% -33% -6% -8% -35% • Fire confluence with Big Dry Creek Flow • In general, this means less water is High available annually to support • Road Density, Flow -100% +77% +193% +50% +<1% -15% terrestrial, riparian, and aquatic Maintenance and 918 mapped springs / seeps Days habitat and wildlife and Proximity to Water Gila River between Murdock’s Hole and Grapevine Low Flow downstream uses, and less Not all are perennial Campground Days +184% -42% +51% -81% +38% +299% predictability of timing, duration and magnitude of flows 2,718 acres of wetlands not associated with streams Changes in Streambed Elevation have the potential to Sources of water and centers of high 80 3.5 dry the system by altering the productivity, wildlife activity and Mimbres River at Mimbres Example 70 3 connections between surface and biological diversity of Monthly Climatic and Streamflow 60 groundwater. Characteristics over the Period of 2.5 Wetland/Riparian Habitat Restoration Record (1979-2012) 50 Project at Vigil Springs 2 In New Mexico, the use of water occurring 40 as natural waters, constructed • Average Streamflow has 1.5 F) 30 ° waterbodies and groundwater is declared decreased in the winter and ( Forest management has no ability to Incised Perennial Stream and 1 public and subject to appropriation for spring months 20 control or influence cycles of drought, Disconnected Wet Meadow within the beneficial use. Water allocation, Luna Restoration Project Currently in 0.5 (in)Precipitation Average climate change, water allocation or construction of infrastructure and use is • Peak snowmelt runoff is 10 the Planning Phase occurring earlier water use, but should look for authorized and administered by the State 0 0 of New Mexico. In New Mexico, beneficial • Peak snowmelt runoff period 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 opportunities to: uses of water include: is decreasing Average Streamflow (cfs) and Temperature (cfs) Streamflowand Temperature Average • Domestic Use • Duration of late spring-early • Enhance adaptation by anticipating and planning for disturbances from summer low flow periods are Pre-1990 Flow 1990-2012 Flow 2000-2012 Flow intense storms • Livestock and Wildlife Watering increasing Pre-1990 Precip 1990-2012 Precip 2000-2012 Precip • Reduce watershed vulnerability by restoring and maintaining resilient • Irrigation Pre-1990 Temp 1990-2012 Temp 2000-2012 Temp ecosystems • Prospecting and Mining Jones Tank July 2013 • Increase water conservation and plan for reductions in upland water • Construction of public works, supplies highways and roads Current Surface Water Quality Conditions and Trends
Current Groundwater Conditions and Green indicates 0-33% of Needs For Change subwatersheds contain Trends streams listed by the state of New Mexico as Impaired OR There is a need to update plan direction Groundwater recharge rates are have been identified by the Gila naturally slow but are expected NF for other water quality for the sustainable management of to decline due to: concerns water resources • Altered snowpack characteristics resulting from Yellow indicates 34-66% of large contiguous areas of subwatersheds contain stand-replacement fire streams listed by the state of New Mexico as Impaired OR • Increases in temperature, have been identified by the Gila evaporation and sublimation NF for other water quality • Reductions in precipitation concerns falling as snow Photo courtesy of Kristina Deem Red indicates >66% of • Increases in frequency, Snowpack in the Mogollon Mountains subwatersheds contain severity and duration of streams listed by the state of drought Groundwater quality data is lacking; New Mexico as Impaired OR isolated issues or concerns exist where historic have been identified by the Gila mines, landfills, septic systems or leaky NF for other water quality concerns underground fuel tanks occur near or on the Forest Photo courtesy of Kristina Deem Available information is not suitable Little Cherry Creek to assess trend Watershed
Gila NF Watersheds Current Watershed Conditions Sustainability: Key Challenges and
Watersheds are a topographically defined area Overall Subwatershed Condition Opportunities that drains to a single point in a stream or river Functioning Properly system • Drought and Climate Change Watersheds are cataloged using a hierarchical Functioning at Risk system developed by the United States • Water Demand Geological Survey Impaired Function Road Density, Maintenance There are six levels of hydrologic units of which • the Gila NF Assessment considers three These classifications reflect an weighted and Proximity to Water average of all 12 indicators • Legacy Issues Related to • Subbasins (4th level) Not all indicators are given the same weight Fire Suppression and Livestock Management Subwatersheds that are Functioning Properly overall, may have some indicators that are Cumulative Effects of All Functioning at Risk or Impaired Function • • Watersheds (5th level) Current and Future Gila NF Subwatersheds that are Functioning at Risk Management Actions or Subbasins or Impaired Function overall, may have some Inactions indicators that are Functioning Properly Stand-Replacement Fire in Spruce-Fir Forest of the Upper Whitewater Creek Subwatershed; • Subwatersheds (6th level) • Partners and Volunteers No data appropriate for assessing trend in While Stand Replacement Fire is Characteristic of watershed condition is available this System, the Extents Experienced in Recent Upper Gila Years is Uncharacteristic. Subbasin The classification is public and online at Fire represents both a Watersheds http://apps.fs.fed.us/nfs/nrm/wcatt/WCFMapvie challenge and an wer/ opportunity to Indicator ratings summarized by watershed (5th level) watershed resiliency and 14% sustainability depending on the 20% 24% 41% frequency, pattern, severity, and extent of 28% 19% 58% 62% 35% those severities that occur.
Water Quantity: Changes to the Water Quality: Waters listed Aquatic Habitat: Resilient and sustainable Headwaters East natural flow regime resulting Impaired by the state of New Fragmentation, large woody watersheds are from water diversions, controls Mexico and those that are not but debris, and channel shape supported by fire when it Fork Gila River or significant wildfire evidence of water quality and function is allowed to fulfill its problems exists Watershed role as a natural 17% ecological process 20% 11% 26% Subwatersheds 38% specific to the 40% ecosystems within a 57% watershed 20% 49% Watershed Recovery Following the 2013 Silver Fire in the Black Range Roads and Trails: Changes Aquatic Biota: Distribution, Riparian/Wetland Vegetation: to hydrologic and sediment Needs For Change Watershed Condition Classification structure and density of Function and condition of native regimes due to density, native and non-native fauna riparian vegetation along streams, location, distribution and 3 Condition Classes waterbodies and wetlands maintenance There is a need to update plan direction to restore, maintain and 23% 6% 8% 32% 11% sustainably manage watershed condition • Functioning Properly 19% 46% • Functioning at Risk 75% 77% • Impaired Function Soil Condition: Extent of alteration to natural soil Fire Regime or Wildfire Effects: Forest Cover: Potential for condition Potential for altered hydrologic altered hydrologic and 12 indicator model and sediment regimes due to 1% sediment regimes because of departures from the historical fire loss of forest cover 1. Water Quality regime or significant wildfire 2. Water Quantity 6% 1% 3. Aquatic Habitat 23% 4. Aquatic Biota 99% 5. Riparian/Wetland Vegetation 70% 6. Soil Conditions 99% 7. Roads and Trails (Motorized) Forest Health: Forest 8. Fire Regime or Wildfire Effects mortality impacts to 9. Forest Cover hydrologic and soil function Rangeland Vegetation The technical guide is public and online at Terrestrial Invasive Species: 10. Forest Health due to native and invasive Condition: Impacts to soil and http://www.fs.fed.us/sites/default/files/legacy_fil Potential impacts to soil, 11. Terrestrial Invasive Species pests, insect, and disease water relative to vegetative es/media/types/publication/field_pdf/watershed vegetation and water resource _classification_guide2011FS978_0.pdf 12. Rangeland Vegetation Condition outbreaks and air pollution health of rangelands Gattons Park 1 Prescribed Fire Spring 2016 Wilderness Ranger District Riparian Ecosystems
Gila NF Riparian Ecological Response Units Current Riparian Conditions Sustainability: Key to Table: Key Challenges and Opportunities ND = No Data L = Within Historic Range Of Variability • Drought and Climate Change M = Moderate Departure from Historic Range of Variability H = High Departure from Historic Range of Variability • Water Diversions or Controls
Key Ecosystem Characteristic Departure from • Invasive Species Historic Range of Variability • Watershed Condition
Ecological Response Unit and • Fire Management Riparian Groups • Roads and Trails Function Photo courtesy of Kristina Deem User-created road along the San Francisco River near the San Francisco Hot Springs • Herbivory
Fall Colors Along the Gila River Riparian Corridor Function Seral Seral State Proportion Ecological Status Vegetative Groundcover Vegetation and Condition Shape Channel and Frequency Flood • Cottonwood Group M M M M M M There is a great deal of Inventory and monitoring Narrowleaf Cottonwood/Shrub M L M M M M interest in the health and Percent of Sycamore-Fremont Cottonwood M M M M M H resilience of the Forest’s riparian ecosystems. The Riparian Fremont Cottonwood/Shrub M M M M M M Ecological Response Unit Acres Forest’s relationships with Total Fremont Cottonwood-Oak M ND ND M M M Partners, Montane-Conifer Willow Group M H H M H M Volunteers and Arizona Alder-Willow 2,893 5 Arizona Alder-Willow M H H M H M Arizona Walnut 1,176 2 Willow-Thinleaf Alder M H H M H M other Desert Willow 11,157 20 Ponderosa Pine/Willow M ND ND M M M Stakeholders hold Upper Montane Conifer/Willow M M H M H M Fremont Cottonwood-Shrub or Oak 2,882 5 many current and future Stream Channel Downcutting in Silver Creek Wetland (Cieñega) Group potential opportunities to Following the 2012 Whitewater Baldy Herbaceous Riparian L M-H H M M-H H support riparian health and Complex Fire and Extreme Precipitation Event in 2013 Herbaceous Wetland 2,841 5 Walnut-Evergreen Tree Group M L L M M L resilience. Walnut-Ponderosa Pine 367 <1 Arizona Walnut M L L M M L Walnut/Ponderosa Pine M ND ND M M L Narrowleaf Cottonwood-Shrub 24,870 43 Desert Willow Group Ponderosa Pine-Willow 846 15 Desert Willow M M L M L L Sycamore-Fremont Cottonwood 9,454 16
Upper Montane Conifer-Willow 636 1 Willow-Thinleaf Alder 963 2 Gila NF Total 58,085 100
NMDOT and Gila NF 2016 Partnership: Riparian Plantings on the West Fork Gila River near Post-Fire Flooding Change Detection the Gila Cliff Dwellings
Successful Riparian Restoration Project at the Gila Bird Area along the Gila River Ecological Response Unit Observable Change (% Area) Arizona Alder-Willow 66 Arizona Walnut 3 Desert Willow 6 Post-Fire and Flooding Recover of Willows along Whitewater Creek Fremont Cottonwood- 3 Shrub Herbaceous Wetland 5 Walnut-Ponderosa Pine 0 Narrowleaf Cottonwood- 24 Shrub Just prior to restoration 12 years after restoration Ponderosa Pine-Willow 1 (May 1996) (August 2008) Sycamore-Fremont 24 The Meadow along the Middle The Meadow along the Middle Cottonwood Fork Gila River in 2011 Fork Gila River 2014 Upper Montane Conifer- 30 Saltcedar Treatments along the Gila River Needs For Change Willow Significant changes in riparian species canopy Approximately 19% of the Forest’s riparian acres cover, and hydrologic and sediment regimes Willow-Thinleaf Alder 77 are currently excluded from livestock grazing to resulting from post-fire flooding events are Area Weighted Forest Total 25 improve riparian and aquatic habitat conditions, There is a need to update plan direction to inventory, detectable by comparing pre- and post- including much of the San Francisco and Gila restore, maintain and sustainably manage riparian satellite imagery. Rivers. 15% of riparian acres occur in wilderness or wilderness study areas and additional acres are areas, including those associated with springs, seeps located within closed allotments and wetlands At-Risk Species
Current Conditions and Trends Challenges/Opportunities Risk
63 There is substantial concern about at-risk Drought is a natural reoccurring climatic feature that species capability for long-term persistence 61 decreases water availability. on the Gila National Forest.
59
57 Southern Desert 55 Southwestern Mountains
Fahrenheit) Southern Desert Period of Record Average 53 Southern Mountains Period of Record Average
51
( Degrees ( Degrees 49
Mexican spotted owl Annual Temperature Average Gila Trout 47 Photo courtesy of Dustin Myers.
61 At-risk species on Gila NF 45 1 11 21 31 41 51 61 71 81 91 101 111 Vegetation/Habitat Departure 47 Species of Conservation Concern (SCC): Low = green, Moderate = yellow, High = red 0-33% 34-66% 67-100% 26 invertebrates Climate Change GILA NATIONAL FOREST 17 plants is a threat expected to have 100-YEAR ECOLOGICAL RESPONSE UNITS CURRENT MODELING PERIOD 2 mammals cascading effects due to increases in the frequency, DEPARTURE DEPARTURE 1 fish severity and duration of drought. This could lead to Ponderosa Pine Forest 91 86 1 bird decreased stream flow, warmer water, changes in Ponderosa Pine-Evergreen Oak 58 50 vegetation types through drying out of sites, which could Mixed Conifer Frequent Fire 64 65 14 Threatened, Endangered, Proposed or lead to the isolation of populations. Mixed Conifer w/ Aspen 49 47 Experimental, non-essential: Spruce-Fir Forest 47 72 Piñon-Juniper Woodland 36 50 7 fish Piñon-Juniper Grass 39 35 3 birds Juniper Grass 29 59 2 reptiles Madrean Piñon-Oak 19 90 1 mammal Saltcedar Tree-of-heaven Piñon-Juniper/Evergreen Shrub 50 55 1 amphibian Mountain Mahogany Mixed Shrubland 64 61 Invasive Species Montane/Subalpine Grasslands 41 56 Colorado Plateau/Great Basin Grasslands 68 74 can hybridize, prey upon, or outcompete native Semi-desert Grassland 96 94 species for resources (e.g. crayfish, saltcedar, Cottonwood Group (CWG1) 45 no data and Tree-of-heaven). Desert Willow Group (DWG2) 35 no data Montane/-Conifer Willow Group (MCWG3) 44 no data Wetland (cienega) Group (WET4) 15 no data Walnut-Evergreen Tree Group (WET5) 49 no data 1 CWG = Cottonwood Group: Narrowleaf cottonwood/shrub; Sycamore-Fremont cottonwood; Fremont 2 DWG = Desert Willow Group: Desert willow 3 MCWG = Montane-Conifer/Willow Group: Arizona alder-willow; Willow-thinleaf alder; Ponderosa Collecting/Overexploitation 4 WEG = Walnut-Evergreen Tree Group: Arizona walnut 5 can be a serious threat to populations that WET = Wetland (cienega) Group: Herbaceous/wetland riparian with no data (nd) are sufficiently low, easily accessible, and Species Risk highly desirable. is determined by identifying threats to Uncharacteristic Wildfire species and their key ecosystem has the potential to dramatically change vegetation Crayfish characteristics, as well as species Gila woodpecker types through drying out of systems. population trends, distribution, and abundance. Needs For Change There is a need to update plan direction to provide for conservation and recovery of federally recognized species, as well as maintain viable populations of species of conservation concern and other native species.
There is a need to provide plan direction that allows for managing Disease toward terrestrial, riparian and aquatic has the potential to eliminate habitat and population connectivity for species populations from wide species movement across the Yellow lady’s-slipper 2013 Silver Fire areas (e.g. Sylvatic plague) Gunnison’s prairie dog landscape; and restoring the range of native species. Hunting/Fishing/Wildlife Viewing Current Conditions and Trends Challenges/Opportunities for Sustainability
Drought is a natural reoccurring climatic feature that Infrastructure has deteriorated in some Hunting decreases water availability, presenting a challenge to instances. There is an opportunity to improve recreational fishing. facilities through maintenance. • Culturally, hunting and fishing have been important activities and long standing traditions on the Forest. • Hunting and fishing contribute importantly to the social and economic sustainability of southwestern New Mexico. • The table below shows total number of jobs, income, and taxes statewide and by county from Mule deer hunting, trapping, and fishing in 2013. Local, State & Habitat Stamp Program Location Jobs Labor Income Federal Taxes The Gila NF has been receiving an average of $115,000 per New Mexico 7,936 $267,920,790 $106,493,369 year from New Mexico Department of Game and Fish for Uncharacteristic Wildfire Catron County 259 $3,703,806 $2,675,882 development and maintenance of water sources, road Snow Lake boat ramp maintenance access, fencing, and aquatic and terrestrial habitat has the potential to dramatically alter habitat types for a Grant County 187 $4,760,746 $2,514,814 Photo courtesy of Matt Schultz improvements (e.g. trick tank below). variety of wildlife species. Post-fire flooding can negatively Hidalgo County 21 $502,401 $278,245 impact recreational fishing opportunities through ash, debris, and sediment impacts to streams, but can also Sierra County 153 $3,370,197 $1,506,065 Partnerships provide an opportunity for native Gila trout reintroduction. Four County Total 620 $12,337,150 $6,975,006 have been utilized as part of the Habitat (Southwick Associates 2014) Stamp Program to help develop and implement projects on the Forest. A variety Fishing of partners have been involved including Sierra Club, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, Trout Black Mesa Trick Tank Unlimited, Mule Deer Foundation, and New 2013 Silver Fire Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Outfitting/Guiding Photo courtesy of Ellen Brown • The Gila NF is known for its trophy animals, Fish Barriers particularly elk, which attract hunters from all over the have been constructed to protect and restore native species. Non- Photo courtesy of Dustin Myers country. This has provided opportunities for a number native species occurring below the barriers still provide recreational of commercial outfitter/guides to operate on the Gila opportunities. NF under a special use permit. Sportsmen participation and expenditures • On the Gila National Forest, an average of 139 statewide and by county by activity in 2013. permits are issued to outfitters and guides per year. Economic Economic Economic Location Hunters Trappers Anglers Based on Forest Service annual revenue collected, it Value Value Value is estimated that an average $2,159,000 in gross New Mexico 86,384 $342,368,654 1,639 $3,493,874 160,311 $267,717,023 revenue is generated annually from outfitter and guide Catron County 12,406 $15,018,759 109 $71,283 7,328 $1,841,330 activities on the Forest. No. of Reported Grant County 6,802 $8,902,764 161 $114,044 10,141 $6,452,871 Fiscal Year Permits Revenue Invasive Species can hybridize, prey upon, or outcompete Hidalgo County 2,281 $1,619,381 29 $16,107 153 $112,231 2010 131 2,188,274.00 native species for resources, as well as Willow Creek fish barrier Sierra County 5,329 $4,357,758 29 $16,090 14,983 $8,073,156 Photo courtesy of Andy Dean, USFWS 2011 143 2,159,373.67 become vectors for disease spread (e.g. Four County 26,818 $29,898,662 328 $217,524 32,605 $16,479,588 2012 132 2,357,139.33 Chytrid). Fish Stocking Total Since 2008, sterile rainbow trout and channel catfish are stocked (Southwick Associates 2014) 2013 128 1,778,180.33 only in the lakes within the Gila NF. Certain streams are now stocked 2014 131 2,350,166.00 Wildlife Watching with Gila trout or Chihuahua chub to promote native fish recovery. 2015 125 2,118,501.33 In 2011, 566,000 people participated in wildlife watching activities. Wildlife watchers spent $327 million in the Average 139 2,158,605.78 state of New Mexico on equipment and travel.
Bullfrog
Western tanager Rocky Mountain elk USFWS photo/ J. Galvez Social, Cultural, and Economic Conditions Current Demographic Key Challenges/Opportunities for Sustainability Conditions and Trends The Gila NF offers a unique setting in terms of history, diversity, and economic conditions. The Gila NF continues to play a prominent role in the long- standing traditions and uses of the area.
Reopening ceremony for the Catwalk
Building Relationships with Communities The Forest is an integral part of many of the Partnerships Herd going to market near Pinos Altos (1928) local communities it serves. Building There is a desire for more partnerships amongst West Fork of the Gila River community relationships is vital in forest the Forest Service, local governments, state and Traditional Uses management that meets the needs of its other federal agencies, communities, and Restoring and Sustaining Healthy Ecosystems Healthy ecosystems significantly contribute to the social and Providing for traditional uses has been a part of forest users in addition to providing healthy stakeholder groups especially in times of economic benefits people obtain from the Forest. Restoration of management on the Gila NF since its inception in the ecosystems. declining budgets. forests, grasslands, and watersheds has broad agreement, offers early 1900s. These uses are still important in the Economic Contributions potential economic benefits to local communities, and is a Forest’s social and economic landscape and include The Gila NF is a significant contributor to local potential foundation for future collaboration with stakeholders activities such as grazing, firewood gathering, plant economies. Overall, the Forest contributes over throughout the area. collecting, timber harvesting, and hunting and fishing. 981 jobs and $28.7 million to the local economies.
In addition to serving the local population, the Gila Labor NF also offers visitors who travel to the region a Program Area Employment Income Needs For Change Recreation 71 $2,666,000 unique experience in culture, vast scenic landscapes, Grazing 434 $5,579,000 and activities such as hunting and backpacking. Timber 8 $314,000 There is a need to better recognize and enhance the Forest’s Minerals 0 $0 role in contributing to local economies through recreation Community meeting in Mimbres There is strong attachment to the land by area Payments to 69 $1,487,000 and tourism, timber and forest products, livestock grazing, Counties and other multiple-use related activities and products while residents and visitors. Forest Service 400 $18,654,000 Community Outreach and Expenditures Involvement balancing these uses with available resource capacity and The current social environment includes: Total 981 $28,700,000 emerging opportunities. Note: The economic contribution analysis considers only the market transactions Community outreach and involvement is necessary • a multi-cultural heritage that result from activities on the Gila NF., and does not include the numerous for public participation in the management of their There is a need to include management approaches • traditional use economies transitioning to include non-market social and economic values are associated with the Forest. national forest, the Gila National Forest. throughout the plan as appropriate that utilize collaboration tourism and amenity uses with stakeholders, partnerships and volunteer opportunities • an outdoor lifestyle as a management option to promote movement toward • a changing population mix with an increased desired conditions. This includes management approaches presence of retirees and other newcomers that encourage working with neighboring land managers to • average household income tends to be lower implement projects at a scale that improves landscape scale compared to New Mexico and the nation connectivity across mixed ownerships where natural • younger people are leaving the area in search of systems, such as watersheds and wildlife corridors, span jobs which are limited in the area multiple administrative boundaries. • a strong local environmental presence • some polarized natural resource issues that have There is a need for management approaches that can created social tensions From Grant County CWPP strategically leverage and streamline processes for engaging • The area’s population is expected to be relatively partners and volunteers during project implementation and Remoteness Wildland Urban Interface constant for the next two decades monitoring. One of the biggest economic challenges of Six percent of the homes found within the counties in the immediate area is their Understanding the unique characteristics, trends, four county area are located in the Wildland There is a need for management approaches that emphasize remoteness, especially the long distance to history, and challenges of the area communities is an Urban Interface. The Gila NF has planned and public education about the Gila NF’s diverse ecological, markets. However, isolation may have some important consideration for public land managers implemented many projects to reduce the social, and economic resources, the multiple-use sustained advantages in terms of slower pace of life and working to meet the needs of the public. potential undesirable effects of wildfires yield philosophy, public laws and regulations, and affordable housing. Other economic within these areas (e.g., prescribed burning management strategies. challenges include changes in market demands and mechanical treatments to reduce fuels). and regulations. Rangelands
Current Conditions and Trends Key Challenges/Opportunities to Sustainability
Gila NF Range Niche Environmental Disturbances The Gila National Forest administers one of the largest grazing Fire effects programs in the Southwest Region. Ranching historically has Climate change and associated drought which limits been a part of the base traditional social and economic available water sources for livestock structure of the surrounding counties. Many members of Conifer encroachment in open grassland areas these rural communities have historical ties to ranching, and many families continue in this profession for livelihood and for Invasive species introduction & establishment culture and traditions to pass down to future generations.
2.6 million acres under livestock grazing permits
138 active and 3 closed grazing allotments Woody encroachment into grasslands 1910-1960 Dry stocktank grazing on the Gila NF was Saltcedar East Fork Gila River Management Challenges reduced by 64% Wildfire can provide long term benefits to maintaining Permitted & Authorized Head Months Silver Fire Burning through Wright's Cabin the ecological integrity of grasslands and preventing Forest Service began administering grazing allotments in 1899 woody species encroachment. Volunteer Trail Work Fire management activities pose short-term Fluctuations in authorized use reflect non-use for resource management challenges as the herbaceous vegetation concerns due to drought and/or personal convenience providing forage is also the resource providing the fine
Permitted & Authorized Head Months by Year fuels necessary to carry fire. There is also a need to (2005 - 2015) rest areas from grazing after fire to provide for watershed and forage recovery, resulting in the need to 300,000 find other pastures or allotments to graze. 250,000 High Intensity Fire Approaching Bull thistle 200,000 Developed Recreation Site The need to move livestock due to the presence of 150,000 species listed as threatened or endangered present Head Months 100,000 Saltcedar treatment East Fork Gila River 50,000 similar management challenges, especially Mexican 0 wolf-livestock conflicts. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Year Competition for forage between livestock and elk is an Series1 Series2 ongoing concern for livestock producers. Note: Head month (HM) is a month’s use and occupancy of rangeland by one weaned or adult cow, bull, steer, heifer, horse, burro, or mule, or five sheep or five goats. Head months are used for grazing fee calculation and collection purposes.
Grazing plays an important role in the local area economy. The Gila Tree of heaven National Forest grazing program contributes approximately 434 Risk jobs, $5.5 million in labor income, and $34 million in total output to Issues affecting rangeland sustainability are the four-county area. concerning for many communities adjacent to Conditions of Rangelands Spotted knapweed the Forest for whom ranching is a way of life. Future management that focuses on the After decades of grazing, rangeland conditions on the Forest Range Developments restoration and maintenance of ecological have improved substantially. integrity is needed to address these Some developments are non-functional due to lack of maintenance The majority of rangeland is in fair condition with stable to sustainability issues. upward trends. New developments resulting from range analysis contribute to There are areas of good and poor condition range. better distribution of livestock and provide water for wildlife. More than half of surveyed riparian areas are Properly Functioning. There are surveyed riparian areas Functioning At Risk and a Needs For Change small percentage Non-Functional. There is a need to update plan direction for livestock management that incorporates increased flexibility in order to restore and Popular Developed Recreation maintain ecological integrity of rangelands. Site at Quemado Lake Litter at Developed Recreation Site Timber and Special Forest Products
Important Resources on the Gila NF Contributions of Timber and Special Forest Products to Ecological Sustainability Plant products are important resources available from the Gila NF including: • Firewood is a source of heat for the homes of many people within • The Forest has increased the number of forestry treatments it the area. implements, to improve forest health, reduce potential for uncharacteristic • Lumber, posts, poles, and traditional building materials (e.g., latillas wildfire, and make forest products more available. and vigas) are culturally and economically important. • Special forest products (e.g., Christmas trees and • Prescribed cutting methods used to accomplish restoration objectives transplants/wildings) place more emphasis on developing diversity in forest structure, age classes, and species composition. This approach generally includes selective cutting methods paired with prescribed burning.
• Uneven-aged forest conditions, promoted by current management, are Post harvest on Black Timber Sale Reserve Ranger District Current Conditions and Trends of Forested considered more resilient to natural disturbance, and thus more Areas sustainable. • Current tree growth rates are commonly slow, and stand vigor is declining as competition for water, nutrients, and growing space has increased as a • Out of 3.3 million acres on the Gila NF, nearly 2.8 million acres (84%) result of higher tree density. are considered to be forested, of which about 432,361 acres (13%) • Thinning promotes vigor by reducing competition and removing less are designated as suitable for timber production under the existing vigorous individuals. Forest Plan.
• As a result of the 1996 Regional guidance for northern goshawk habitat and Mexican spotted owl recovery, the forestry program shifted emphasis from even-aged to uneven-aged forest management. Impacts of Timber Harvest on Ecological • Wood products are currently a byproduct of other management objectives, such as improving functionality of watersheds across Integrity and Species Diversity large landscapes, rather than a primary objective. Post harvest on Deer Timber Sale Reserve Ranger District • A new mill in Reserve can handle more capacity and a wider range of • Past management activities have altered stand structure, composition, material, resulting in a dramatic increase in the number of acres and fire occurrence patterns. treated mechanically and the volume of material removed from the Forest. The Forest also provides material to several portable saw • Some ponderosa pine and dry mixed conifer stands are overly dense, mills in the region as needed. have an overabundance of shade tolerant species, and are often even- aged and multi-storied. • The timber base largely draws from the Ponderosa Pine-Evergreen Oak, Ponderosa Pine Forest and Mixed Conifer-Frequent Fire • Timber management activities target restoration of forest and woodland Ecological Response Units. These systems are currently vulnerable ecosystem structure, composition and function. to uncharacteristic wildfire and a variety of insects and diseases. • Short-term negative impacts to forest soils and hydrology can be Large scale disturbance could potentially affect the availability of expected from timber management activities. These effects are typically timber resources on the Forest. mitigated by limiting operations to slopes under 40%, and limiting the extent of disturbance and proximity to riparian and/or other sensitive areas.
• Long-term benefits to ecosystem resilience, disturbance regimes, Thinning within Reserve WUI (Rancho Grande) biodiversity, hydrologic function, wood product availability, aesthetics and recreation can outweigh short-term negative impacts. Trends Driving Supply and Demand of Timber and Special Forest Products • Supply and demand for timber is driven by regional, national, or global forces. Needs For Change • Local drivers are smaller in scope and scale, and generally have only minor effects on the overall market for timber and lumber products. There is a need to update plan direction based on results of a new timber suitability analysis. • In addition to supplying the mill, demand for woody material from the Forest is largely driven by firewood needs. The demand for firewood There is a need to update plan direction so that restoration efforts by communities has remained stable to slightly increasing over the allow for commercial and non-commercial products to be available to last five years, primarily due to higher cost of natural gas and propane the public. delivery versus the availability of wood in close proximity to the Prescribed Burn in Burro Mountains communities the Gila NF serves. Recreation
Gila NF Recreation Niche Key Threats to Sustainability Risk Environmental Disturbances Fostering Greater Connection between From wilderness to western heritage, visitors to the Gila National Forest have the opportunity to ‘find Flooding affecting developed recreation sites and trails People and Nature The ability of the Gila NF to continue Climate change increasing long term severe droughts themselves’ in the wildness of the forest. The Continue to utilize volunteers, conservation to provide quality recreation essence of the Gila is the freedom to explore vast which limits available water sources for hikers and affects organizations, partners, and agreements to opportunities that meet the needs of expanses of backcountry. Heritage and cultural water levels in streams and lakes accomplish quality work and look for ways to increase the public while protecting natural connections allow local communities, Native Insects and disease increasing tree mortality Americans, and recreationists to establish long-term the utilization of these important resources resource values for future generations Damages from fires bonds with the forest. Traditional gathering of forest Develop a unified Forest-wide interpretative and is at risk of being unsustainable. products and hunting bring visitors from near and far. Vegetation encroachment and erosion on trails in burned environmental education program Rivers and lakes, uncommon in the Southwest, areas provide relief from heat across the forest. Increase youth engagement to promote the importance of environmental stewardship Current Conditions and Trends Increase community involvement within the recreation program The majority of developed recreation facilities are in good condition. A large percentage of trails are in poor condition. Dispersed recreation sites vary in condition with popular areas being impacted by overuse. Due to budget limitations, the Gila NF has more recreation facilities and infrastructure than it can currently maintain. Public demand for recreation on the Gila NF is currently being met with the majority of user conflicts limited to specific areas. Silver Fire Burning through Wright's Cabin Railroad Canyon Campground and Scenic character on the Gila NF is natural appearing Trailhead which is meeting the intent of scenery management.
Volunteers Working on Black Range Crest Trail Needs For Change
Flooding Damage at Kingston Silver Fire Approaching Emory There is a need for plan direction to address the Campground Pass Vista long-term sustainability, changing trends in Deferred Maintenance Challenges services, and intended use of recreation Deferred maintenance of developed recreation facilities infrastructure, trails, and facilities. is valued at $437,547. There is a need to provide guidance for Total annual operations and maintenance costs of Popular Developed Recreation management of recreation activities and recreation developed facilities is $1,347,408. Site at Quemado Lake permitted special uses that occur in areas Unsustainable trail system due to more miles of trail sensitive or at risk of resource degradation due 1,927 miles of trails than can be maintained with over 60% budget decrease to high visitation. . since 2012. 1734 miles non-motorized There is a need to include plan direction to . 193 miles motorized Some recreation facilities and trails were poorly implement management approaches to anticipate 182 developed recreation sites designed and located which increases maintenance cost demand and minimize conflicts between uses. . 105 trailheads, etc. and environmental impacts . 35 campgrounds There is a need to update existing plan direction Conservation Corps Crew Completing Work on Trails and guidance to emphasize the importance of . 5 picnic areas Damaged by the Whitewater Baldy Complex Fire scenery and recreation opportunity effects when 135 recreation special use permits planning projects across all Forest program . 112 outfitter & guide Impacts to Program Management areas. . 8 recreation events Overuse of popular developed sites while many remote . 8 commercial filming, etc. There is a need to provide plan direction for cave developed sites are underutilized management since this is not addressed in the Visitation Trends Increased vandalism and littering current Forest Plan. Data from 2006 and 2011 National Visitor Increased budget constraints along with limited Encroaching Vegetation There is a need to update plan direction for Use Monitoring Surveys Trail Reconstruction within personnel on Trails the Silver Fire Increased competition for popular camp locations in administration of the special uses program to be Increased visitation - 514,000 visitors in 2011, 69% aligned with current National, Regional, and increase from 2006 wilderness areas amongst outfitter and guides Forest policy direction. Trend in recreation activities from developed sites to Changes in visitor use levels and trends in desired dispersed recreation recreation opportunities There is a need to provide plan direction to balance consideration of special uses requests Hiking, hunting, and viewing natural features are the Limited Forest-wide standards and strategies in managing special use permits, trails, developed with impacts to natural resources, wilderness most popular activities character, and other forest users. Increased trends of local visitation (people living within recreation sites, caves, and designated areas which 50 miles of the Forest) affects consistency Increased visitation by individuals 60+ years old and decreased visitation by individuals less than 30 years Litter at Developed Recreation Cave Inventory old Site Designated Areas Current Designations Key Challenges to Sustainability of Designated Areas:
Designated areas are specific areas or features within the plan area that have been given a Wilderness Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers permanent designation to maintain its unique character or purpose. There are no congressionally designated Wild & Scenic Congressionally Designated Areas The three congressionally designated wilderness areas on the Forest are managed to protect wilderness character. Rivers, but the Forest Plan provides direction to identify • Three wilderness areas Challenges to sustaining wilderness character include: and protect eligible wild & scenic rivers for outstandingly • Two wilderness study areas remarkable values. Challenges include: Impacts to air quality and associated loss of visibility Catwalk National Recreation Trail • One national scenic trail User-developed motorized routes within river corridors Agency Administratively Designated Areas Military aircraft overflights Recreational mining activity Noxious weeds and invasive, non-native species • 29 inventoried roadless areas Drought Eight listed eligible wild and scenic rivers Utility development near wilderness boundary • Uncharacteristic wildfires One established, and four proposed, research natural areas The ecological effects of climate change • Post-wildfire flooding and erosion • Two national scenic byways Noxious weeds and invasive, non-native species • Three national recreation trails Deteriorating trail conditions Trail of the Mountain Spirits Management of outfitter/guides program • Six species that have designated critical habitat National Scenic Byway User-created motorized routes and motorized incursions Wilderness Study Areas
There are two congressionally designated wilderness study areas, managed to protect their wilderness characteristics. Challenges are similar to Wilderness, but include localized issues such as: Illegal firewood gathering within Hell Hole Trail in the Sawyers Peak Inventoried Roadless Area Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Motorized use impacts to riparian Vandalism to Trailhead Signage affected by post-fi re erosion, Saltcedar infestations with potential ecological impacts zone of the Gila River for a National Recreation Trail tread loss, and vegetation within Lower San Francisco River encroachment Inventoried Roadless Areas Research Natural Areas Inventoried Roadless Areas were established under the Research natural areas maintain natural conditions for 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Challenges to biological diversity conservation, non-manipulative sustaining Roadless values include: research, monitoring, and education. Challenges to sustaining research natural area qualities include: Noxious weeds and invasive, non-native species Trail of the Mountain Spirits Potential upstream water development projects National Scenic Byway, Hikers on the Continental User-created motorized routes and accompanying Gallinas Canyon Divide National Scenic Trail motorized incursions Existence of trails within a research natural area The presence of noxious weeds and invasive, non- Continental Divide National Scenic Trail native species are unknown, but may pose an additional threat The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail traverses the Rocky Mountains for 3,100 miles, including 254 miles of Hazardous trail National Scenic Byways conditions warning the Gila National Forest. Challenges to sustainability of sign, Sawyers Peak inventoried roadless the Trail are similar to other non-motorized trails: There are two national scenic byways on the Forest. area Illegal motorized use Challenges to scenic byways are similar to scenic character Effects of wildfires and floods issues throughout the Forest: Rain Creek Trail, Gila Wilderness Vandalism and theft of trail signs Natural disturbances such as insect epidemics and User created trails without proper design and erosion uncharacteristic wildfires control, in locations susceptible to resource damage New construction or updated facilities should meet the visual quality objectives National Recreation Trails National recreation trails recognize exemplary trails of Needs For Change local and regional significance. The Gila contains the Catwalk, Sawmill Wagon Road, and Woodhaul Wagon There is a need to update plan direction for managing existing Road National Recreation Trails. Challenges are similar to or potential new designated areas to maintain desired character and values unique to each area. Catwalk National Recreation Trail entering Aldo Leopold the Continental Divide and other non-motorized trails Trail near Glenwood, N.M. Wilderness Boundary Photo There is a need to update plan direction for the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.
There is a need to update plan direction for determination of s here and implementation of wilderness use capacities for permitted outfitter/guide use within designated wilderness to allow for changing conditions and to align with current National, Vandalism/theft Section of Powerhouse Trail completely of trail signage, Trail damaged by post wildfire flooding and Regional, and Forest policy direction. View across Lower Gila River inventoried roadless area to washed away by a flooding event Gila Wilderness debris flows, Little Dry Creek, Gila Wilderness Turkey Creek recommended research natural area Infrastructure
Current Conditions and Trends Key Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainability Risk Major Access Routes Environmental Impacts The ability of the Forest to continue to maintain current facilities and infrastructure Flooding damages to infrastructure Deep snow may cause periodic road closures is at risk of being unsustainable. This could Heavy rain events combined with high use on system roads Impacts from fire events create: result in closure of infrastructure (i.e., causes a need for additional maintenance Increased threat of post-fire flooding with large debris motorized roads, administrative facilities, and Seasonal weather patterns limit when and where maintenance flows campgrounds) and reduced access, Unimproved Stream Crossing can occur Damage to structures and infrastructure recreation services, and enjoyment by the public. Deterioration of infrastructure (i.e., roads and utilities) could result in damage to the Forest.
Bridge on Forest Road 150
Forest Transportation System Facility in Poor Condition 3,334 miles of designated system roads 12 road bridges; 11 of which have been in service for 50 years Damage to State Highway from Large Flood Consequences of Reduced Budgets Damages from Post-Fire Flooding or more Event Eight bridges are scheduled for replacement or Associated with Infrastructure rehabilitation as funding becomes available Reduced ability to fully maintain system roads Bridges are inspected every two years increases deferred maintenance Six airstrips on the Forest receive semi-regular maintenance, Prioritizing facilities maintenance may decrease the two are managed by special use permit condition rating of lower priority facilities Current plans for existing water systems are to Ecological, Social, and Facilities correct issues and maintain a good condition rating; Economic Impacts There are six ranger district offices, one is combined with the installation of any new water systems is discouraged Infrastructure that is properly designed, supervisors office – all but two are agency owned It is likely that some infrastructure will deteriorate integrated within the landscape, and well There are several work centers and administrative facilities throughout the Forest beyond repair, forcing decisions to consolidate and/or maintained will contribute to sustainability There are many remote range cabins and barns that are decommission Implementation of the Travel Management owned by the Forest and are maintained by permittees Rule will reduce cross country travel and Flooding Damage to Remote Roads There are ten active lookout towers Post-Fire Flooding user created roads reducing resource damage Limited funding for maintenance could Increased Deferred Maintenance result in site and infrastructure closures Financial constraints that limit full maintenance increases the amount of deferred maintenance with negative economic and social impacts An estimate of deferred maintenance for Forest system roads is $272,265,429 Roads that become impassable can Deferred maintenance of administrative facilities is valued at over $7.3 million dollars increase user created roads Hillsboro Peak Lookout Tower and Cabins Replacement of 17 vault toilets in poor condition is estimated to cost $680,000 Deferred maintenance of septic/wastewater systems on the Forest is estimated at $300,000 Administrative Facilities Condition Rating Number of Ranger District Good Fair Poor Structures Supervisor’s Office 50 24 7 19 Black Range 43 15 3 25 Quemado 43 22 5 16 Needs For Change Glenwood 35 14 3 18 Wilderness 35 16 2 17 Reserve 43 19 6 18 Silver City 15 8 1 6 There is a need for plan direction to TOTAL 264 118 27 119 ensure sustainable infrastructure (e.g., * For information on recreation facilities and trails – see recreation poster roads, trails, recreation and Other Infrastructure and Systems administrative facilities, range There are 15 drinking water systems which range from good developments, maintenance, etc.). Deferred Maintenance Work to poor in condition. However, each drinking water system Older Vault Toilet in Need of Replacement at Post-Fire Flooding Rehabilitation on Monument Park Cabin must meet water quality standards and receives regular Kingston Campground Work at Kingston Campground There is a need to provide plan direction testing to ensure standards are being met. for prioritized maintenance of the Gila’s Wastewater systems managed by the Forest include vault Opportunities to Reduce Maintenance Cost National Forest System roads. toilets, septic systems, and one lagoon with condition ratings Reduce overall footprint of facilities and consolidate resources in order to reduce maintenance costs ranging from good to poor There are a variety of utility distribution systems owned and Utilize leases for specialized facilities or locations (Grant County Airport, Black Range District, Silver City District/Supervisors Office) There is a need to update plan direction maintained by public utilities or private companies that are Share facilities and coordinate on improvements with different agencies (National Park Service, New Mexico Game and Fish Dept.) for decommissioning of closed roads. administered under special use permits to share maintenance costs Range and wildlife developments can be found across the Upgrading the current radio communication system reducing the amount of needed maintenance Forest and are typically maintained with help from permittees Continue to utilize special use permittees to complete regular maintenance on infrastructure associated with their permit and partners Cultural & Historic Resources Trends, Vision & Management Tularosa Petroglyphs Fostering Greater Connection between People and Nature
Contemporary uses of cultural resource and characteristics of the Gila National Forest by Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo-American traditional communities are critical to maintaining the identity of these communities Archaeological sites contain a wealth of information for scientific researchers, including information Scorpion Cliff Dwelling regarding ecological conditions and changes over the past twelve millennia, and human successes and Cultural Resources failures in coping with these changes Archaeology helps connect people to the landscape Needs For Change through their sympathetic imagination of the lives and 12,000 years of occupation and use There is a need for updating plan direction to 84% of sites associated with prehistoric life ways of its inhabitants through time Cultural tourism is a significant component of the stabilize, preserve, interpret, and protect historic and occupation(s) Site after Wallow Fire (2011) sensitive properties (e.g., archaeological sites, historic regional economy Post-A.D. 1600 occupations at approximately structures, and traditional cultural properties). 16% of sites Volunteers and partnerships with research institutions Site Conditions & Trends (e.g., universities) further research and stewardship Approximately 6,200 recorded sites There is a need for plan direction that recognizes the Water erosion is most prevalent impact observed at of our cultural resources Approximately 580,000 acres inventoried (17.1% inherent value and preservation of Native American sites, impacting nearly 1/3 of all cultural resources of Forest) traditional cultural properties and sacred sites, as well Construction disturbance (including road construction, Only 12% of Forest inventoried to current as non-Native American traditional cultural land development, mining, and logging) observed at standards UNLV Students & Volunteers Excavating Elk Ridge Pueblo properties, while maintaining the anonymity of such 1/5 of all sites Inventory primarily associated with projects (e.g., sites where appropriate. timber sales and prescribed burns) Bioturbation (including impacts from cattle, rodents, and other wildlife), impacts approximately 17% of sites Site densities as high as 1 site per 12 acres in There is a need for desired conditions in the plan that Vandalism (including looting, defacement, and arson) some areas address the alignment of heritage resource noted at approximately 16% of sites 7 sites listed on the National Register of Historic management objectives (the management of historic Climate change poses an increased threat to sites, Places (NRHP) properties and landscapes, sacred sites, particularly in the form of uncharacteristic fire events 40% of sites have been evaluated for NRHP contemporary uses) with other resource management and increased erosion eligibility objectives (particularly but not limited to ecosystem Of evaluated sites, approximately 50% are restoration). eligible to the NRHP Nine interpretive sites on the Gila National Forest Partnerships focus on Cultural Resources
NMSU Students & Volunteers Excavating South Diamond Pueblo Prehistoric Puebloan room block with heavy fuel loading (A) and after fuel reduction treatments (B)
…A Shared Heritage Archaeological sites within the Gila National Forest are a record of historic process and events important to the identity of local communities, the state of New Mexico, the region, and the Nation. Ground penetrating radar work with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science assessing erosion concerns at a site in the Burro Mogollon Baldy Lookout Tower Mountains (left) and a pot eroding into a drainage on the Reserve Litter at Developed Recreation Site Ranger District (right). Areas of Tribal Importance
Traditional Uses Condition and Vision Needs for Change
Environmental and cultural conditions are influencing tribal use of the Forest. However, within these challenges there is also room for optimism. Despite being located a distance from tribal populations, programs are being established (by tribes with Forest participation) which bring youth onto the Forest to reconnect with traditional lands. Landscape restoration provides an opportunity for tribes and the Forest Service to work together towards common goals. The Forest strives to build and strengthen relationships Mogollon Mountains with tribes and hear and incorporate tribal The Zuni Cultural Resource Advisory Team and GNF staff Eagle Peak input into a broad range of activities. visiting a rock art site on the Gila National Forest Lands managed by the Gila National Forest have been There is a need to update plan direction used, and continue to be used, by many tribes for a Consultation on giving consideration to the value and variety of traditional cultural and religious activities. Over Conditions and Trends importance of areas that may be identified time, these activities have included, but are not limited to: The Gila National Forest routinely consults with 10 as a sacred site or part of an important collection of plants, stone, minerals, pigments, feathers, Changes in land ownership has and can restrict or federally recognized tribes that are based in New cultural landscape by tribes soil, catching eagles, hunting game, and conducting eliminate access to culturally significant locations Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Texas. These tribes religious pilgrimages to place offerings and to visit shrines Degradation of forest health and watershed conditions include: the Pueblos of Acoma, Laguna, Zuni, Ysleta Del There is a need for management and springs. is of concern to tribes and offers an opportunity to Sur Pueblo, the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, the San approaches that include opportunities for work together on landscape scale restoration projects Carlos Apache Tribe, the Ft. Sill Apache Tribe, the integrating forest management with tribal Places and properties valued and used by the tribes for a Climate change can lead to environmental degradation Mescalero Apache Tribe, and the White Mountain Apache needs through shared stewardship. variety of purposes have been identified on every District that has the potential to change the character of Tribe. of the Gila National Forest. Properties can possess sacred places and the availability of traditionally used traditional cultural or religious significance for a number resources of reasons. Some of these reasons include locations with Forests, with large land bases, may prove somewhat long-standing cultural use, locations of buried human more resilient to climate change and National Forests remains repatriated under NAGPRA, locations where may become increasingly important sources of forest ceremonial objects have been retired, locations of products for tribes contemporary ceremonies, and locations where specific Changing technology and energy development has the forest products are gathered for ceremonial use. Some potential to affect areas of tribal importance through a locations such as shrines, springs, caves, and resource variety of activities, such as the development of collection areas have long-standing and ongoing historical, communication sites, mineral exploration and Partnerships cultural, and religious significance. extraction, and construction and maintenance of transmission or utility corridors In addition to specific noted locations, peaks and entire Visual and disruptive activities can interfere with mountain ranges are frequently regarded as sacred, and traditional and religious practices viewed as an integral part of a tribe’s cultural landscape. With population growth and expanding recreational Multiple peaks on the Forest have been identified as use, conflicts between traditional practitioners and sacred to one or more tribes. Many have place names other Forest visitors could increase tied to tribes’ oral traditions. Cultural and traditional use Development of private inholdings and land adjacent to of specific mountains is ongoing, dictated by the cycle of the Forest can affect characteristics significant to tribes cultural activities.
Existing information regarding sacred sites is based on Strategic Vision published sources as well as the results of project-level consultation conducted by the Forest. To date, The U.S. Forest Service Tribal Relations Strategic Plan approximately 30 locations of cultural and religious (2010) outlines three basic goals around Tribal Rights, significance have been identified Forest-wide. Partnerships and Program Development: American Indian and Alaska Native Rights: Ensure the Tularosa Apache Creek agency redeems its trust responsibility and protects American Indian and Alaska Native reserved rights as they pertain to Forest Service programs, projects, and policies. Partnerships: Leverage partnerships to maximize mutual success. Program Development: Promote integration and utility of the Tribal Relations Program throughout the agency. Next Steps
• Your feedback on the draft assessment report is most useful if received before November 15 • Your input on the draft needs-for-change statements is most useful if received before November 30 • You can submit feedback using the provided forms and dropping off in the comments box this evening, or take forms home and email, mail, or drop off at one of the District Offices • The Forest will consider feedback and revise these draft documents before finalizing Then… Publish a notice of intent to revise the forest plan in the Federal Register, which will begin the next phase of the planning process.
Thank you for your participation and for your future engagement in developing the revised Gila Forest Plan
For more information, please visit our website at http://go.usa.gov/h88k