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Coronado National Forest Potential Wilderness Area Evaluation Report

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Coronado National Forest Potential Wilderness Area Evaluation Report United States Department of Agriculture Coronado National Forest Potential Wilderness Area Evaluation Report Forest Service Southwestern Region Coronado National Forest July 2017 Potential Wilderness Area Evaluation Report In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. Coronado National Forest i Potential Wilderness Area Evaluation Report Contents Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 Identification of Potential Wilderness ........................................................................................ 1 Evaluation of Potential Wilderness ............................................................................................ 2 Public Involvement and Alternative Development .................................................................... 4 Recommendation of Potential Wilderness ................................................................................. 5 Chapter 2: Individual Potential Wilderness Area Evaluations ................................................. 7 Dragoon ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Chiricahua Addition South (formerly Chiricahua Addition) ................................................... 15 Ku Chish (formerly North Chiricahua) .................................................................................... 22 Bunk Robinson WSA ............................................................................................................... 29 Whitmire Canyon WSA ........................................................................................................... 36 Devil’s Kitchen ........................................................................................................................ 43 Skeleton Canyon ...................................................................................................................... 50 Deer Creek ............................................................................................................................... 57 Chiricahua Addition West ........................................................................................................ 64 Chiricahua Addition North ....................................................................................................... 71 Jhus Canyon ............................................................................................................................. 79 Tumacacori ............................................................................................................................... 86 Mount Wrightson Addition ...................................................................................................... 94 Pajarita Addition West ........................................................................................................... 101 Pajarita Addition East ............................................................................................................ 108 Cobre ...................................................................................................................................... 115 Pajarito ................................................................................................................................... 122 Mount Fagan .......................................................................................................................... 129 Happy Jack ............................................................................................................................. 136 Whetstone ............................................................................................................................... 143 Mount Washington ................................................................................................................. 150 Canelo .................................................................................................................................... 158 Winchester .............................................................................................................................. 165 Galiuro Addition .................................................................................................................... 172 Mount Graham WSA ............................................................................................................. 179 Santa Teresa Addition North .................................................................................................. 188 Santa Teresa Addition South .................................................................................................. 195 Mount Graham Addition ........................................................................................................ 202 Samaniego Ridge ................................................................................................................... 210 East Catalina ........................................................................................................................... 218 Little Rincon ........................................................................................................................... 226 Chapter 3: Effects of Recommendation .................................................................................. 233 General Recommended Wilderness Direction ....................................................................... 233 Effects Common to All Recommended Wilderness Areas .................................................... 234 Unique Potential Wilderness Areas ........................................................................................ 237 Other Potential Wilderness Areas .......................................................................................... 245 List of Preparers ........................................................................................................................ 248 Appendix A – Potential Wilderness Area Overall Ratings .................................................... 250 Appendix B - Capability Rating Criteria ................................................................................ 251 ii Coronado National Forest Potential Wilderness Area Evaluation Report Appendix C - Availability Rating Criteria .............................................................................. 254 Appendix D – Need Assessment Factors.................................................................................. 256 Appendix E – Capability Rating Matrix ................................................................................. 259 Appendix F – Availability Rating Matrix ............................................................................... 262 Appendix G – Need Assessment Matrix .................................................................................. 264 Appendix H – Potential Wilderness Areas within Ecosystem Management Areas ............. 265 Appendix I – Total Threatened, Endangered, Sensitive, and Highly Vulnerable Species per Potential Wilderness Area ........................................................................................................ 266 Appendix J – Areas Excluded from Further Evaluation ....................................................... 268 Map 1: Dragoon Ecosystem Management Area ..................................................................... 269 Map 2: Chiricahua Ecosystem Management Area ................................................................. 270 Map 3: Peloncillo Ecosystem Management Area ................................................................... 271 Map 4:
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