Preliminary Draft Land Management Plan for the Gila National Forest Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, and Sierra Counties, New Mexico
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United States Department of Agriculture Preliminary Draft Land Management Plan for the Gila National Forest Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, and Sierra Counties, New Mexico U.S. Forest Service Southwestern Region March 2018 Cover Photo: Woodland Park 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. Preliminary Draft Land Management Plan for the Gila National Forest Responsible Official: Adam Mendonca, Forest Supervisor Gila National Forest For more information: Gila National Forest Plan Revision Team 3005 E. Camino del Bosque, Silver City, NM 88061 Phone: 575-388-8280 Email: [email protected] Website: http://go.usa.gov/h88k Preliminary Draft Land Management Plan for the Gila National Forest i Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 Chapter 2: Background ................................................................................................................................. 3 A Description of the Gila National Forest ................................................................................................. 3 Plan Components, Land Areas, Suitability of Lands and Other Content .................................................. 6 Chapter 3: Forest-Wide Plan Direction ....................................................................................................... 11 Ecosystems and Watersheds .................................................................................................................. 11 Background and Description ............................................................................................................... 11 All Upland Ecological Response Units ................................................................................................. 15 Forested Ecological Response Units ................................................................................................... 20 Woodland Ecological Response Units ................................................................................................. 41 Shrubland Ecological Response Units ................................................................................................. 50 Grassland Ecological Response Units .................................................................................................. 52 Soils ..................................................................................................................................................... 55 Water Quality ...................................................................................................................................... 59 Watershed ........................................................................................................................................... 61 Riparian and Aquatic Ecosystems ....................................................................................................... 66 Cliffs and Rocky Features .................................................................................................................... 74 Caves and Abandoned Mine Lands (AMLs) ......................................................................................... 76 Wildlife, Fish and Plants ...................................................................................................................... 79 Rare and Endemic Plant and Animal Species and Habitats ................................................................ 84 Nonnative Invasive Species ................................................................................................................. 86 Air Quality ........................................................................................................................................... 91 Social, Cultural, and Economic Sustainability and Multiple Uses ........................................................... 95 Community Relationships ................................................................................................................... 96 Tribal Importance and Use .................................................................................................................. 98 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................................ 100 Wildland Fire and Fuels Management .............................................................................................. 103 Water Uses ........................................................................................................................................ 109 Livestock Grazing .............................................................................................................................. 112 Timber, Forest and Botanical Products ............................................................................................. 116 Lands ................................................................................................................................................. 122 Preliminary Draft Land Management Plan for the Gila National Forest ii Special Uses (Lands) .......................................................................................................................... 126 Minerals ............................................................................................................................................ 128 Roads ................................................................................................................................................. 134 Facilities............................................................................................................................................. 137 Sustainable Recreation ..................................................................................................................... 139 Special Uses (Recreation) .................................................................................................................. 146 Scenic Character ................................................................................................................................ 148 Trails .................................................................................................................................................. 151 Managing in the Face of Change and Uncertainty ................................................................................ 157 Chapter 4: Designated and Management Area Plan Direction ................................................................. 162 Designated Areas .................................................................................................................................. 162 Wilderness ........................................................................................................................................ 162 Wilderness Study Areas .................................................................................................................... 171 Inventoried Roadless Areas .............................................................................................................. 172 Research Natural Areas ..................................................................................................................... 174 Continental Divide National Scenic Trail ........................................................................................... 176 National Recreation Trails ................................................................................................................. 179 National Scenic Byways ....................................................................................................................