Coronado National Forest Potential Wilderness Area Evaluation Report

DRAFT Coronado National Forest Potential Wilderness Area Evaluation Report 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 for 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, Office 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. Potential Wilderness 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: Potential Wilderness Area Reports .......................................................................... 8 Dragoon ...................................................................................................................................... 8 Chiricahua Addition South (formerly Chiricahua Addition) ................................................... 16 Ku Chish (formerly North Chiricahua) .................................................................................... 23 Bunk Robinson WSA ............................................................................................................... 30 Whitmire Canyon WSA ........................................................................................................... 37 Devil’s Kitchen ........................................................................................................................ 44 Skeleton Canyon ...................................................................................................................... 51 Deer Creek ............................................................................................................................... 58 Chiricahua Addition West ........................................................................................................ 65 Chiricahua Addition North ....................................................................................................... 72 Jhus Canyon ............................................................................................................................. 80 Tumacacori ............................................................................................................................... 87 Mount Wrightson Addition ...................................................................................................... 95 Pajarita Addition West ........................................................................................................... 103 Pajarita Addition East ............................................................................................................ 111 Cobre ...................................................................................................................................... 119 Pajarito ................................................................................................................................... 127 Mount Fagan .......................................................................................................................... 135 Happy Jack ............................................................................................................................. 142 Whetstone ............................................................................................................................... 149 Mount Washington ................................................................................................................. 157 Canelo .................................................................................................................................... 165 Winchester .............................................................................................................................. 172 Galiuro Addition .................................................................................................................... 179 Mount Graham WSA ............................................................................................................. 187 Santa Teresa Addition North .................................................................................................. 196 Santa Teresa Addition South .................................................................................................. 203 Mount Graham Addition ........................................................................................................ 210 Samaniego Ridge ................................................................................................................... 218 East Catalina ........................................................................................................................... 226 Little Rincon ........................................................................................................................... 234 Chapter 3: Effects of Recommendation .................................................................................. 241 General Recommended Wilderness Direction ....................................................................... 241 Effects Common to All Recommended Wilderness Areas .................................................... 242 Unique Potential Wilderness Areas ........................................................................................ 245 Other Potential Wilderness Areas .......................................................................................... 253 List of Preparers ........................................................................................................................ 256 Appendix A – Potential Wilderness Area Overall Ratings .................................................... 258 Appendix B - Capability Rating Criteria ................................................................................ 259 Coronado National Forest i Potential Wilderness Evaluation Report Appendix C - Availability Rating Criteria .............................................................................. 262 Appendix D – Need Assessment Factors.................................................................................. 264 Appendix E – Capability Rating Matrix ................................................................................. 267 Appendix F – Availability Rating Matrix ............................................................................... 270 Appendix G – Need Assessment Matrix .................................................................................. 272 Appendix H – Potential Wilderness Areas within Ecosystem Management Areas ............. 273 Appendix I – Total Threatened, Endangered, Sensitive, and Highly Vulnerable Species per Potential Wilderness Area ........................................................................................................ 274 Appendix J – Areas Excluded from Further Evaluation ....................................................... 276 Map 1: Dragoon Ecosystem Management Area ..................................................................... 277 Map 2: Chiricahua Ecosystem Management Area ................................................................. 278 Map 3: Peloncillo Ecosystem Management Area ................................................................... 279 Map 4: Tumacacori Ecosystem Management Area ............................................................... 280 Map 5: Santa Rita Ecosystem Management Area .................................................................. 281 Map 6: Huachuca Ecosystem Management Area ................................................................... 282 Map 7: Whetstone Ecosystem Management Area .................................................................. 283 Map 8: Santa Teresa Ecosystem Management Area .............................................................. 284 Map 9: Pinaleño Ecosystem Management Area ..................................................................... 285 Map 10: Galiuro Ecosystem Management Area ..................................................................... 286 Map 11: Winchester Ecosystem Management Area .............................................................. 287 Map 12: Santa Catalina Ecosystem Management Area ......................................................... 288 ii Coronado National Forest Potential Wilderness Evaluation Report Chapter 1: Introduction

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