Land and Resource Management Plan for the Kaibab National Forest Coconino, Yavapai, and Mojave Counties, Arizona

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Land and Resource Management Plan for the Kaibab National Forest Coconino, Yavapai, and Mojave Counties, Arizona Southwestern Region United States Department of Agriculture MB-R3-07-17 Forest Service February 2014 Land and Resource Management Plan for the Kaibab National Forest Coconino, Yavapai, and Mojave Counties, Arizona Cover: collage of four images―Kanab Wilderness, Abert squirrel, Ponderosa pine, and aspen. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Printed on recycled paper – February 2014 Land and Resource Management Plan for the Kaibab National Forest Coconino, Yavapai, and Mojave Counties, Arizona Responsible Official: Calvin Joyner, Regional Forester 333 Broadway Blvd., SE Albuquerque, NM 87102 (505) 842-3292 For more information, contact: Michael R. Williams, Forest Supervisor, or Ariel Leonard, Forest Planner Kaibab NF Supervisor’s Office 800 S. 6th Street Williams, AZ 86046 (928) 635-8200 [email protected] Copies of this plan and supporting material may be accessed at:http://fs.usda.gov/goto/kaibab/plan_revision Administrative changes to this Plan were made after the Record of Decision was signed on 02/03/2014. These changes were made in accordance with the 2012 Planning Rule (36 CFR 219.13). Details of plan changes are listed starting on page vi. Land and Resource Management Plan for the Kaibab National Forest (Corrected May 2015) i Content Chapter 1. Introduction ................................................................................................... 1 Plan Area ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Roles and Contributions of the Kaibab National Forest .............................................................. 2 Summary of the Analysis of the Management Situation ............................................................ 3 Plan Purpose and Framework ...................................................................................................... 4 Plan Development ....................................................................................................................... 4 Plan Content ................................................................................................................................ 5 Plan Components ..................................................................................................................... 5 Other Content .......................................................................................................................... 6 Plan Concepts .............................................................................................................................. 6 Plan Organization ........................................................................................................................ 8 Plan Consistency ......................................................................................................................... 9 Plan Implementation .................................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 2. Forestwide Desired Conditions and Strategies ........................................ 11 Forest Resources ........................................................................................................................ 11 Major Vegetation Community Types ...................................................................................... 11 Pinyon-juniper Communities ........................................................................................... 11 Ponderosa Pine Forests ..................................................................................................... 16 Mixed Conifer Forests ...................................................................................................... 21 Frequent Fire Mixed Conifer Forests .......................................................................... 21 Mesic Mixed Conifer/Spruce Fir Forests .................................................................... 24 Aspen ................................................................................................................................ 27 Standards for Vegetation Management in All Forested Communities ........................... 30 Guidelines for Vegetation Management in All Forested Communities ......................... 30 Guidelines for Activities following Large-scale Disturbance Events ........................... 32 Sagebrush Shrublands ...................................................................................................... 33 Grassland Communities ................................................................................................... 35 Montane/Subalpine Grasslands ................................................................................... 37 Colorado Plateau/Great Basin Grasslands ................................................................... 37 Semi-desert Grasslands ............................................................................................... 38 Desert Communities ......................................................................................................... 39 Gambel Oak Shrublands ................................................................................................... 40 Wetland/Cienega .............................................................................................................. 41 Cottonwood-Willow Riparian Forest ............................................................................... 42 Soils and Watersheds............................................................................................................. 43 Natural Waters ...................................................................................................................... 49 Constructed Waters ................................................................................................................ 47 Wildlife .................................................................................................................................. 49 Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species ................................................................... 51 Rare and Narrow Endemic Species ....................................................................................... 52 Nonnative Invasive Species ................................................................................................... 53 Air Quality ............................................................................................................................. 54 Caves, Karst, and Mines ........................................................................................................ 56 Cliffs and Rocky Features ..................................................................................................... 58 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................ 59 Traditional Cultural Properties .............................................................................................. 61 Land and Resource Management Plan for the Kaibab National Forest iii Forest Uses, Goods, and Services .............................................................................................. 62 Recreation and Scenery ......................................................................................................... 62 Traditional and Cultural Uses ................................................................................................ 67 Livestock Grazing ................................................................................................................. 68 Forestry and Forest Products ................................................................................................. 70 Wildland Fire Management ................................................................................................... 72 Transportation and Forest Access .......................................................................................... 76 Potable Water......................................................................................................................... 78 Lands ..................................................................................................................................... 78 Special Uses .......................................................................................................................... 79 Recreation Special Uses ................................................................................................... 79 Communication and Electronic Sites ..............................................................................
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