Tumacácori National Historical Park: Natural Resource Condition Assessment

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Tumacácori National Historical Park: Natural Resource Condition Assessment National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Tumacácori National Historical Park Natural Resource Condition Assessment Natural Resource Report NPS/SODN/NRR—2019/1965 ON THE COVER View of Tumacácori National Historical Park. Photo Credit: © Lauren Hillquist. Tumacácori National Historical Park Natural Resource Condition Assessment Natural Resource Report NPS/SODN/NRR—2019/1965 Prepared by Lisa Baril1, Kimberly Struthers1, Andy Hubbard2, Anna Mateljak2, Deborah Angell2, and Mark Brunson1 1Department of Environment & Society Utah State University 5215 Old Main Hill Logan, UT 84322-5215 2 Sonoran Desert Network National Park Service 12661 E. Broadway Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85748 Edited by Kimberly Struthers and Lisa Baril August 2019 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate comprehensive information and analysis about natural resources and related topics concerning lands managed by the National Park Service. The series supports the advancement of science, informed decision-making, and the achievement of the National Park Service mission. The series also provides a forum for presenting more lengthy results that may not be accepted by publications with page limitations. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This report received informal peer review, which was provided by subject-matter experts who were not directly involved in the collection, analysis, or reporting of the data. The level and extent of peer review was based on the importance of report content or its potentially controversial or precedent-setting nature. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. This report is available in digital format from the Natural Resource Condition Assessment Program website and the Natural Resource Publications Management website. If you have difficulty accessing information in this publication, particularly if using assistive technology, please email [email protected]. Please cite this publication as: Baril, L., K. Struthers, A. Hubbard, A. Mateljak, D. Angell, and M. Brunson. 2019. Tumacácori National Historical Park: Natural resource condition assessment. Natural Resource Report NPS/SODN/NRR—2019/1965. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 311/156590, August 2019 ii Contents Page Figures ................................................................................................................................................... vi Tables .................................................................................................................................................. vii Appendices .................................................................................................................................................... x Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... xi Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................... xii NRCA Background Information .................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction and Resource Setting ............................................................................................................... 4 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Enabling Legislation/Executive Orders ....................................................................................................................................... 4 Geographic Setting .................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Visitation Statistics ................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Natural Resources ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 Ecological Units and Watersheds .............................................................................................................................................. 7 Resource Descriptions .............................................................................................................................................................. 8 Resource Issues Overview ...................................................................................................................................................... 10 Resource Stewardship .............................................................................................................................................. 11 Management Directives and Planning Guidance..................................................................................................................... 11 Status of Supporting Science ................................................................................................................................................ 12 Study Scoping and Design .......................................................................................................................... 13 Preliminary Scoping ................................................................................................................................................. 13 Study Design ............................................................................................................................................................. 13 Indicator Framework, Focal Study Resources and Indicators.................................................................................................... 13 Reporting Areas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 14 General Approach and Methods ............................................................................................................................................ 16 Natural Resource Conditions ....................................................................................................................... 18 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................................................. 19 Background and Importance .................................................................................................................................................. 19 Data and Methods ................................................................................................................................................................. 21 Reference Conditions ............................................................................................................................................................. 23 Condition and Trend .............................................................................................................................................................. 24 Overall Condition, Threats, and Data Gaps ............................................................................................................................. 30 Sources of Expertise ............................................................................................................................................................... 31 Hydrology .................................................................................................................................................................. 32 Background and Importance .................................................................................................................................................. 32 Data and Methods ................................................................................................................................................................. 32 Reference Conditions ............................................................................................................................................................. 35 Condition and Trend .............................................................................................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • DGM-13 Report(PDF)
    Surficial Geology and Geologic Hazards of the Amado-Tubac area, Santa Cruz and Pima Counties, Arizona Amado and Tubac 7.5’ Quadrangles by Ann Youberg and Walter R. Helmick Arizona Geological Survey Digital Geologic Map 13 November, 2001 Arizona Geological Survey 416 W. Congress, Tucson, AZ 85701 Includes 17 pages of text and two 1:24,000 scale geologic maps Research supported by the Arizona Geological Survey and U.S. Geological Survey, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, under USGS award number #00HQAG0149. INTRODUCTION This report and accompanying maps describe the surficial geology, geomorphology, and geologic hazards of the rapidly developing Amado-Tubac area, south of the Green Valley area. The mapping covers the Amado and Tubac 7 1/2’ quadrangles (Figure 1). The map area is in unincorporated Santa Cruz and southern Pima Counties. It includes much of the southern part of the upper Santa Cruz Valley, between the Santa Rita Mountains on the east and the Tumacacori Mountains on the west. There are several potentially conflicting land use issues in the area covered by these maps. The Santa Rita and Tumacacori mountain ranges are public lands owned by the U.S. Forest Service. Several large ranches are located within the mapping area and are interspersed with state trust lands. Urbanization has occurred, and continues to occur, along the Santa Cruz River and around the communities of Arivaca Junction, Tubac, and Rio Rico, just south of the map area. Many areas of the Santa Rita piedmont have been subdivided and prepared for development, although development remains sparse. This report is intended to enhance our understanding of the surficial geology of the Amado-Tubac area and to aid in assessing and understanding geologic hazards in this area.
    [Show full text]
  • Tumacacori Potential Wilderness Area Evaluation [PW-05-03-D2-001]
    Tumacacori Potential Wilderness Evaluation Report Tumacacori Potential Wilderness Area Evaluation [PW-05-03-D2-001] Area Overview Size and Location: The Tumacacori Potential Wilderness Area (PWA) encompasses 37,330 acres. This area is located in the Tumacacori and Atacosa Mountains, which are part of the Nogales Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest in southeastern Arizona (see Map 4 at the end of this document). The Tumacacori PWA is overlapped by 30,305 acres of the Tumacacori Inventoried Roadless Area, comprising 81 percent of the PWA. Vicinity, Surroundings and Access: The Tumacacori Potential Wilderness Area is approximately 50 miles southeast of Tucson, Arizona. The Tumacacori PWA is centrally located within the mountain range and encompasses an area from Sardina and Tumacacori Peaks at the northern end to Ruby Road at the southern end and from the El Paso Natural Gas Line on the eastern side to Arivaca Lake on its western side. The PWA is adjacent to the Pajarita Wilderness Area, Arivaca Lake and Peña Blanca Lake. Both Pena Blanca and Arivaca Lakes are managed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Interstate 19 (I-19) connects the Tucson metropolitan area to the City of Nogales and the incorporated community of Sahuarita. The unincorporated communities of Green Valley, Arivaca Junction-Amado, Tubac, Tumacacori-Carmen and Rio Rico, Arizona and Sonora, Mexico are within close proximity to the eastern side of the Tumacacori Mountains and the PWA. State Highway 289 provides access from I-19 across private and National Forest System lands into the Tumacacori Ecosystem Management Area to Peña Blanca Lake and Ruby Road (NFS Road 39).
    [Show full text]
  • Clay Mineralogy of the Willcox Playa and Its Drainage Basin, Cochise County, Arizona
    Clay mineralogy of the Willcox Playa and its drainage basin, Cochise County, Arizona Item Type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Pipkin, Bernard W. Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 09/10/2021 08:05:33 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/565620 CLAY MINERALOGY OF THE WILLCOX PLAYA AND ITS DRAINAGE BASIN, COCHISE COUNTY, ARIZONA Bernard W/ Pipkin A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 1964 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATE COLLEGE I hereby recommend that this dissertation prepared under my direction by Bernard W. Pipkin entitled MClay Mineralogy of the Willcox Playa and its Drainage Basin, Cochise County, Arizona'* be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. _____________ ss e/tat ion Director DateFa7^ / After inspection of the dissertation, the following members of the Final Examination Committee concur in its approval and recommend its acceptance:* ♦This approval and acceptance is contingent on the candidate's adequate performance and defense of this dissertation at the final oral examina­ tion. The inclusion of this sheet bound into the library copy of the dissertation is evidence of satisfactory performance at the final ex­ amination.
    [Show full text]
  • Conservation Action Alert
    Conservation Action Alert Tell Southline to Steer Clear of Sensitive Wildlife Habitats Like the Willcox Playa/Cochise Lakes Globally Important Bird Area SUMMARY Southline Transmission, LLC, proposes to construct, operate, and maintain a high-voltage power line in two segments totaling approximately 360 miles – spanning federal, state and private lands. Southline would provide capacity for an additional 1,000 megawatts of electricity. Unfortunately, the route the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has chosen as the ―preferred alternative‖ in the project’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement would negatively impact numerous sensitive wildlife habitats, including the Willcox Playa Globally Important Bird Area. Tucson Audubon is encouraging the BLM and the project proponents to consider alternatives that would avoid and minimize negative impacts to sensitive wildlife habitats. BACKGROUND Southline Transmission, LLC proposes to construct a 360 mile transmission line with two distinct segments. The first segment would be a new double circuit 345-kilovolt transmission line from a substation in Afton, New Mexico (south of Las Cruces), to a substation in Apache, Arizona (south of Willcox). The second segment would upgrade and rebuild approximately 130 miles of existing transmission lines between the Apache substation and the Saguaro substation northwest of Tucson. In theory, the 1,000 megawats added capacity could increase grid reliability and increase the electrical system’s ability to receive and transmit new sources of locally produced energy.
    [Show full text]
  • Southeast Arizona, USA 29Th December 2019 - 11Th January 2020
    Southeast Arizona, USA 29th December 2019 - 11th January 2020 By Samuel Perfect Bird Taxonomy for this trip report follows the IOC World Bird List (v 9.2) Site info and abbreviations: Map of SE Arizona including codes for each site mentioned in the text Twin Hills Estates, Tucson (THE) 32.227400, -111.059838 The estate is by private access only. However, there is a trail (Painted Hills Trailhead) at 32.227668, - 111.038959 which offers much the same diversity in a less built up environment. The land in the surrounding area tends to be private with multiple “no trespassing” signs so much of the birding had to be confined to the road or trails. Nevertheless, the environment is largely left to nature and even the gardens incorporate the natural flora, most notably the saguaro cacti. The urban environment hosts Northern Mockingbird, Mourning Dove and House Finch in abundance whilst the trail and rural environments included desert specialities such as Cactus Wren, Phainopepla, Black-throated Sparrow and Gila Woodpecker. Saguaro National Park, Picture Rocks (SNP) 32.254136, -111.197316 Although we remained in the car for much of our visit as we completed the “Loop Drive” we did manage to soak in much of the scenery of the park set in the West Rincon Mountain District and the impressive extent of the cactus forest. Several smaller trails do border the main driving loop, so it was possible to explore further afield where we chose to stop. There is little evidence of human influence besides the roads and trails with the main exception being the visitor centre (see coordinates).
    [Show full text]
  • Summits on the Air – ARM for the USA (W7A
    Summits on the Air – ARM for the U.S.A (W7A - Arizona) Summits on the Air U.S.A. (W7A - Arizona) Association Reference Manual Document Reference S53.1 Issue number 5.0 Date of issue 31-October 2020 Participation start date 01-Aug 2010 Authorized Date: 31-October 2020 Association Manager Pete Scola, WA7JTM Summits-on-the-Air an original concept by G3WGV and developed with G3CWI Notice “Summits on the Air” SOTA and the SOTA logo are trademarks of the Programme. This document is copyright of the Programme. All other trademarks and copyrights referenced herein are acknowledged. Document S53.1 Page 1 of 15 Summits on the Air – ARM for the U.S.A (W7A - Arizona) TABLE OF CONTENTS CHANGE CONTROL....................................................................................................................................... 3 DISCLAIMER................................................................................................................................................. 4 1 ASSOCIATION REFERENCE DATA ........................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Program Derivation ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 1.2 General Information ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Final Ascent
    [Show full text]
  • United States Department of the Interior U.S
    United States Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103 Phoenix, Arizona 85021-4951 Telephone: (602) 242-0210 FAX: (602) 242-2513 In Reply Refer To: AESO/SE 22410-2008-F-0051 02-21-03-F-366 02-21-98-F-399-R2 02-21-98-F-399-R1 February 29, 2007 Ms. Jeanine A. Derby USDA, Forest Service Coronado National Forest, Supervisor’s Office 300 West Congress Tucson, Arizona 85701 Dear Ms. Derby: We received your October 22, 2007, request for reinitiation of formal consultation regarding the effects of re-authorizing ongoing and long-term grazing on the Rough Mountain, Willie Rose, West Whitetail, East Whitetail, and Cochise Head allotments in the Chiricahua Mountains, Douglas Ranger District, to the endangered lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris curasoae yerbabuenae) (LLNB) in accordance with section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (Act). You also requested our concurrence that the proposed action may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect, the threatened Chiricahua leopard frog (Rana chiricahuensis), the endangered jaguar (Panthera onca), and the threatened Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida) and its critical habitat. We concur with your determinations for these three species. Our reasons for these concurrences are documented in Appendix A. The five allotments are located in the Chiricahua EMA in the following watersheds: San Simon Creek: Willcox Playa: Cochise Head West Whitetail East Whitetail Rough Mountain Willie Rose The species listed above were most recently addressed in the October 24, 2002, Final Biological and Conference Opinion on Continuation of Livestock Grazing on the Coronado National Forest (02-21-98-F-0399-R1) (U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Coronado National Forest
    CORONADO NATIONAL FOREST FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN Reviewed and Updated by _/s/ Chris Stetson ___________ Date __5/18/10 __________ Coronado Fire Management Plan Interagency Federal fire policy requires that every area with burnable vegetation must have a Fire Management Plan (FMP). This FMP provides information concerning the fire process for the Coronado National Forest and compiles guidance from existing sources such as but not limited to, the Coronado National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP), national policy, and national and regional directives. The potential consequences to firefighter and public safety and welfare, natural and cultural resources, and values to be protected help determine the management response to wildfire. Firefighter and public safety are the first consideration and are always the priority during every response to wildfire. The following chapters discuss broad forest and specific Fire Management Unit (FMU) characteristics and guidance. Chapter 1 introduces the area covered by the FMP, includes a map of the Coronado National Forest, addresses the agencies involved, and states why the forest is developing the FMP. Chapter 2 establishes the link between higher-level planning documents, legislation, and policies and the actions described in FMP. Chapter 3 articulates specific goals, objectives, standards, guidelines, and/or desired future condition(s), as established in the forest’s LRMP, which apply to all the forest’s FMUs and those that are unique to the forest’s individual FMUs. Page 1 of 30 Coronado Fire Management Plan Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION The Coronado National Forest developed this FMP as a decision support tool to help fire personnel and decision makers determine the response to an unplanned ignition.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management
    U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Keystone Peak Prescribed Burn Environmental Assessment DOI-BLM-AZ-G020-2015-0009-EA 1 Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 8 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................................................. 8 1.2 Purpose and Need .................................................................................................................................... 9 1.3 Decision to be Made .............................................................................................................................. 11 1.4 Conformance with Land Use Plan .......................................................................................................... 11 1.5 Scoping and Issues ................................................................................................................................ 12 1.5.1 Internal Scoping ................................................................................................................................ 12 1.5.2 External Scoping ............................................................................................................................... 12 1.5.3 Issues Identified ................................................................................................................................ 12 2 DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Archeological Findings of the Battle of Apache Pass, Fort Bowie National Historic Site Non-Sensitive Version
    National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Resource Stewardship and Science Archeological Findings of the Battle of Apache Pass, Fort Bowie National Historic Site Non-Sensitive Version Natural Resource Report NPS/FOBO/NRR—2016/1361 ON THIS PAGE Photograph (looking southeast) of Section K, Southeast First Fort Hill, where many cannonball fragments were recorded. Photograph courtesy National Park Service. ON THE COVER Top photograph, taken by William Bell, shows Apache Pass and the battle site in 1867 (courtesy of William A. Bell Photographs Collection, #10027488, History Colorado). Center photograph shows the breastworks as digitized from close range photogrammatic orthophoto (courtesy NPS SOAR Office). Lower photograph shows intact cannonball found in Section A. Photograph courtesy National Park Service. Archeological Findings of the Battle of Apache Pass, Fort Bowie National Historic Site Non-sensitive Version Natural Resource Report NPS/FOBO/NRR—2016/1361 Larry Ludwig National Park Service Fort Bowie National Historic Site 3327 Old Fort Bowie Road Bowie, AZ 85605 December 2016 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate comprehensive information and analysis about natural resources and related topics concerning lands managed by the National Park Service.
    [Show full text]
  • Critical Habitat Proposal
    Billing Code 4310-55-P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 [Docket No. FWS–R2–ES–2012–0042] [4500030114] RIN 1018-AX13 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Jaguar AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate 1 2 critical habitat for the jaguar (Panthera onca) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, we propose to designate as critical habitat approximately 339,220 hectares (838,232 acres) in Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise Counties, Arizona, and Hidalgo County, New Mexico. DATES: We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before [INSERT DATE 60 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. We must receive requests for public hearings, in writing, at the address shown in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by [INSERT DATE 45 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods: (1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the Search field, enter Docket No. FWS–R2–ES–2012– 0042, which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then click on the Search button. You may submit a comment by clicking on “Comment Now!” (2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R2–ES–2012–0042; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042–PDM; Arlington, VA 22203.
    [Show full text]
  • Coronado National Forest Potential Wilderness Area Evaluation Report
    United States Department of Agriculture Coronado National Forest Potential Wilderness Area Evaluation Report Forest Service Southwestern Region Coronado National Forest July 2017 Potential Wilderness Area Evaluation Report 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.
    [Show full text]