Chapter 3. Management Areas Introduction to Management Areas Management areas are areas that have similar management intent and a common management strategy that are more specific than forestwide guidance provided in Chapter 2. This direction does not substitute for or repeat forestwide direction, but rather provides additional direction for the applicable area. In the event that a plan decision in this section and the forestwide component in another section conflict, the more restrictive plan decision generally prevails. A project or activity-level evaluation, however, may be required to resolve the conflict; generally, however, the more restrictive plan decision prevails. Some management areas are special areas that have been designated by Congress or an office of the Executive Branch. They are managed to protect the special features or character for which they were designated and must be managed in accordance with relevant law, regulation, and policy and any area- specific management plan, such as the Verde River Comprehensive River Management Plan. Because of the complication of carrying forward direction from the previous forest plan there are two management areas that overlay the Sedona-Oak Creek Management Area (MA). The Oak Creek Canyon and House Mountain-Lowlands MAs are both subject to direction for the Sedona-Oak Creek MA and have unique direction that applies only to these overlay areas. In addition, there are several guidelines in the Sedona-Oak Creek MA to which the House Mountain-Lowlands MA is an exception. Scenery desired conditions (desired landscape character) for wilderness and wild and scenic rivers is described in the MA direction. For other management areas, see the Landscape Character Zones for this direction. Management area categories have been identified and are listed in the table below. Several of the management areas are designated special areas, such as wilderness. These are places that have been designated by statute or through past administrative process because of their unique or special characteristics. In addition, there are two categories of preliminary administrative recommendations that occur as separate management areas (recommended research natural areas and recommended wilderness). Those areas recommended for designation are managed to protect their special characteristics until a decision on the designation is made. Designated Special Areas All Designated Wilderness Areas General Description for All Designated Wilderness Areas There are 10 existing wilderness areas on the Coconino National Forest. This plan provides direction for 8 of them. Direction for the Kendrick and Mazatzal Wilderness areas is provided in the Kaibab and Tonto National Forests’ plans, respectively. The Coconino NF’s plan contains direction for the Sycamore Wilderness which also lies within the Prescott and Kaibab National Forests. Coconino National Forest Draft Land Management Plan – February 2011 1 Chapter 3. Management Areas Note for public review: The Coconino National Forest will be creating a draft of Wilderness Opportunity Spectrum for the Draft Plan and EIS. If you would like to comment on how the settings below apply to an existing wilderness area that you are familiar with, please send those to the Plan Revision Team during this comment period: Pristine- The area is characterized as an extensive, unmodified, natural environment. Natural processes and conditions have not been measurably affected by the actions of users. The area will be managed as free as possible from the influences of human activity. Terrain and vegetation allow extensive and challenging cross-country travel. Primitive - The area is characterized by an essentially unmodified, natural environment. Concentrations of Visitors are low and evidence of human use is minimal. The area has high opportunity for isolation, solitude, exploration, risk, and challenge. Semi-primitive – The area is characterized by a predominantly unmodified environment of at least moderate size. System trails and campsites are present and there is evidence of other uses. A minimum of on-site controls and restrictions are implemented to protect physical, biological, and social resources. Some facilities may be present to reduce visitor impact. Transition - The area is characterized by a predominantly unmodified environment; however, the concentrations of visitors may be moderate to high at various times. The area is characterized as having a large number of day users who are often mixed with overnight and long-distance travelers on trails near trailheads and wilderness boundaries. Desired Conditions for All Designated Wilderness Areas Wilderness and recommended wilderness areas provide their full range of social and ecological benefits. Wilderness Recreation Trail and trailhead development emphasizes wilderness recreation and watershed condition while maintaining wilderness resource values. Key wilderness trailheads provide sanitation, orientation, and interpretation to wilderness visitors. Directional guidance and information on minimum impact and archaeological site etiquette is provided at wilderness access points. Loop hikes are expanded in wilderness to encourage low-impact day use, where possible. Wilderness-dependent recreation opportunities such as backpacking, horse packing and hunter guiding are ongoing where these activities are consistent with resource and opportunity setting objectives. New structural improvements necessary for proper management and/or protection of the wilderness resource are rare. High-traffic roadside facilities that provide a gateway to wilderness areas or vistas of wilderness inform and educate visitors about wilderness. Permanent damage to the resource is limited by distributing visitor use in wilderness by permit system or other methods where such damage is evident. Existing signs and facilities are maintained where public safety and resource protection require it. Places within existing wilderness that have inconsistencies with the wildernesses primitive character, such as at Bell Rock, West Fork, Boynton Canyon, Kachina Peaks and some places near private land retain wilderness values to the extent possible. Infrastructure in these places are more developed and signs and carrins may be more frequent than normally associated with wilderness management in order to protect visitor experience and resources. In areas where the desired condition is a Pristine or Primitive wilderness opportunity, these types of developments do not exist. 2 Coconino National Forest Draft Land Management Plan – February 2011 Chapter 3. Management Areas Special use permits issued in wilderness provided for activities that facilitate the protection of wilderness character. These permitted activities do not interfere with the challenging and self-reliant recreation of other wilderness visitors and do not cause widespread impacts to wilderness character. Wilderness Education Educational material and information is provided at all wilderness trailhead access points including information about the variety of trails and experiences available in nearby wilderness areas and information about personal safety, leave-no-trace etiquette, and pertinent regulations. Educational materials encourage widespread understanding of the philosophy of wilderness and support for its natural and social benefits. They also provide information to help users be prepared with appropriate equipment and information. Visitors learn about sensitive ecological features, know their responsibility, and act in a way that protects ecological systems. Ecological Management of Wilderness Areas Ecosystems within wilderness are functioning within their historic range of variability. Ecological conditions trend towards the desired conditions for the respective vegetation types within each wilderness. Disturbances, including fire and flooding, are able to play their natural role in vegetative succession, while accounting for public health and safety concerns. (See the appropriate Vegetation Types and Forestwide Ecological Direction for more information). Ecological conditions trend towards the desired conditions for the respective ecological resource within each wilderness. Invasive exotic plants and animals do not occur at levels that disrupt ecological functioning. Plants used for traditional medicine and cultural purposes thrive here. Objectives for All Designated Wilderness Areas Rehabilitate to natural conditions at least XX damaged wilderness campsite(s) every XX years. Standards for All Designated Wilderness Areas In wilderness, group size limit is 12 persons and livestock (combined) per group. Generally, do not permit commercial activity in wilderness areas, unless the activity is wilderness- dependent and the activity cannot be conducted/replicated outside of wilderness. This would include activities by organizational groups and/or training classes. Guidelines for All Designated Wilderness Areas Large group activities (75 or more people), such as races and social gatherings, should not occur in wilderness unless they are specifically for the purpose of wilderness-based education and are designed to protect wilderness resources. Signing in wilderness should be limited to those that are essential for resource protection and user safety. Signing and parking for wilderness access should concentrate parking in designated locations. Casual wilderness use resulting from roadside parking along the highway should be discouraged. Damaged parking sites should be restored using erosion control