Final Assessment Report of Social and Economic Conditions, Trends, and Risks to Sustainability Volume II
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United States Department of Agriculture Final Assessment Report of Social and Economic Conditions, Trends, and Risks to Sustainability Volume II Tonto National Forest, Arizona Forest Service Tonto National Forest March 2017 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. Note: We make every effort to create documents that are accessible to individuals of all abilities; however, limitations with our word processing programs may prevent some parts of this document from being readable by computer-assisted reading devices. If you need assistance with this document, please contact the Tonto National Forest at (602) 225-5200. Cover Photo: Roosevelt Lake Final Assessment Report, Volume II Tonto National Forest For Information Contact: Tonto National Forest Forest Plan Revision Team 2324 East McDowell Road Phoenix, AZ 85006 Phone: (602) 225-5200 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/tontoplan Abstract: The Final Assessment Report presents and evaluates existing information about relevant economic, social, and cultural conditions, trends, and risks to sustainability and their relationship to the 1985 Tonto National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (forest plan), within the context of the broader landscape. Contributors: Current Tonto National Forest Employees • Bailey, David – Forest GIS Coordinator • Bedson, Kelly – Assistant North Zone Range Conservationist • Belsky, Kenna – Forest Planner and Forest Plan Revision Lead • Casillas, Andy - TEUI Supervisory Soil Scientist • Copeland, Marina – (Intern) Hydrologist • Crawford, Chris – Forest Engineer • Gill, Curt – (Arizona Game & Fish Department) Fisheries Biologist • Germick, Steve – Archeologist • Graham, Helen – Deputy Fire Staff Officer • Hill, Kris – Forest Archeologist • Dr. Hoem-Neher, Tammy – Fisheries Biologist • Hoffman, Rebecca – Public Services Staff Officer • Holderman, Jill – Forest Wildlife Biologist • Jones, Kimber – Forest Landscape Architect • Leonard, Jeff – Vegetation Forester • Loomis, Grant – Forest Hydrologist • Loomis, Tyler – (Conservation Legacy Intern) Wildlife Specialist • Madera, Robert – Botanist, Forest Plan Revision Ecological Lead • McEntarffer, Mark – Special Uses Program Manager and Realty Specialist • McFeely, Megan – (Intern) TEUI • Mundy, Chandler – Range Program Manager • Nez, Nanebah – Tribal Relations Program Manager • Dr. Nicholas, Ryan – Riparian Ecologist • Olson, Jay – Wildlife Biologist, Forest Plan Revision Wildlife Lead i • Pike, Tammy – Natural Resource Specialist • Ringle, Patty – Silviculturist • Rumpza, Beth – Assistant Forest Planner • Sampson, Judd – Forest Geologist • Schuster, Greg – Forest Recreation Planner • Tattersall, Kitty – Forester • Thomas, Anne – Forest NEPA Coordinator • Williams, Frank – GIS Specialist • Yonovitz, Maureen – TEUI Soil Scientist • Yost, Tyna – South Zone NEPA Coordinator Contributors: Contract Support • Barrett, Chris – (Adaptive Management Services) GIS Support • Hyde, Peter – (Applied EnviroSolutions, Inc.) Air Quality Support • Valentine, Stephanie – (Integrated Resources) Recreation/Designated Areas Support • Waltz, Kristen – (TEAMS Enterprise) Economic Contribution Analysis • York, Judy and Leslie Horsch – (TEAMS Enterprise) Writer/Editor Support Contributors: Regionally Produced Reports • Carbon Stock Assessment for Vegetation and Soils • Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment (CCVA) • History of Insects and Disease Contributors: Previous Tonto National Forest Employees • Alcaraz, Taylor – (Conservation Legacy Intern) Outreach Coordinator • Born, Ken – Forest Planner and Forest Plan Revision Lead • Brown, Chris – Forest Planner and Forest Plan Revision Lead • Conrath, Karen – Forest Geologist • Denton, Chuck – Forest Ecosystems Group Leader • Dugan, Meggan – (Conservation Legacy Intern) Forest Plan Revision GIS/Ecology • Dunn, Greg – North Zone Wildlife Biologist • Gillis, Jenna – GIS Specialist • Hart, Bill – Forest Fuels Management Officer • Mason, Lynn – Hydrologist • Northam, Ed – Forest Plan Revision Ecological Lead • Scarpelli, Taylor – (Conservation Legacy Intern) Outreach Coordinator • Smith, Estella – TEUI Soil Scientist • Sullivan, Michael – Archeologist • Veerman, Beck – (Intern) Hydrologist • Vizcarra, Bea – Forest Plan Revision Wildlife Lead • Wood, Scott – Archeologist A special thanks to all who supported the plan revision efforts and those who plan to do so moving forward. Tonto National Forest Final Assessment Report – ii Contents Chapter 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 Structure ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Assessment Area ......................................................................................................................... 2 Chapter 2. Social and Economic Conditions ............................................................................... 4 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 4 Assessment Methodology and Topics ......................................................................................... 4 Demographic Patterns and Trends ............................................................................................... 5 Economic Characteristics and Vitality ...................................................................................... 23 Community Relationships ......................................................................................................... 47 Chapter 3. Ecosystem Services ................................................................................................... 55 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 55 Ecosystem Services Framework ................................................................................................ 55 Key Ecosystem Services ............................................................................................................ 56 Chapter 4. Multiple Uses ............................................................................................................ 67 Rangeland Resources ................................................................................................................. 67 Timber and Forest Products ....................................................................................................... 77 Watersheds and Water Resources .............................................................................................. 83 Fish, Wildlife, and Plants .......................................................................................................... 95 Chapter 5. Recreation ............................................................................................................... 110 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 110 Sustainable Recreation ............................................................................................................ 110 Economic Sustainability .......................................................................................................... 112 Social Sustainability ................................................................................................................ 115 Environmental Sustainability .................................................................................................. 118 Recreation Settings, Opportunities, and Access .....................................................................