COMPATIBILITY DETERMINATION USE: Rock Climbing REFUGE NAME: Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (NWR, refuge) ESTABLISHING and ACQUISITION AUTHORITIES: Executive Order 8039, 25 January 1939: established Kofa Game Range from public lands as co- managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Public Law 94-223, 1976: amendment to the National Wildlife Refuge Administration Act (P.L. 94-223) awarded sole jurisdiction to the Service and changed the name to Kofa NWR. The Wilderness Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1131, Public Law 101-628, 1990: designated 547,719 acres of Kofa NWR as wilderness. Overall acreage at Kofa has increased through multiple purchases bringing the total refuge acreage to its current 666,640.94 acres. REFUGE PURPOSE: Kofa NWR was established from public lands on January 25, 1939, by Executive Order 8039 and was “reserved and set apart for the conservation and development of natural wildlife resources.” A primary concern was desert bighorn sheep. The Service and BLM managed the Kofa Game Range (as it was originally known) jointly until February 27, 1976. At that time an amendment to the National Wildlife Refuge Administration Act (P.L. 94-223) awarded sole jurisdiction to the Service and changed the name to Kofa NWR. The Wilderness Act of 1964, as amended, established the National Wilderness Preservation System and mandates that wilderness areas be administered for the use and enjoyment of the American people in such a manner as will leave them unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as wilderness. Congress designated 547,719 acres or over 80 percent of Kofa NWR, as wilderness through the 1990 Arizona Desert Wilderness Act. For refuges that encompass Congressionally-designated wilderness, the purposes of the Wilderness Act are additional purposes of the wilderness portion of that refuge (603 FW 2 2.6). NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM MISSION: “The mission of the Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans” (National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law 105-57). DESCRIPTION OF USE: What is the use? Rock climbing activities for the purpose of this compatibility determination (CD) include technical rock climbing (including sport climbing, traditional climbing, and free climbing) rappelling, and any climbing activities that require specialized equipment such as ropes, harnesses, and anchors. Kofa NWR is not considered a climber’s destination due to the Compatibility Determination for Rock Climbing on Kofa National Wildlife Refuge 1 geological composition of the rocks, though rock climbing has occurred in some areas of the refuge. Rock climbing is not a priority wildlife-dependent recreational use within the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System) under the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 6688dd-668ee) and the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-57). Where is the use conducted? The geology of the Kofa Mountains and Castle Dome Mountains include volcanic strata with basalt caps. Most of the rock formations on the refuge are loose, crumbly, include volcanic crags, and are not considered the preferred rock type for rock climbing. In the past, rock climbing has been permitted throughout the refuge, although most areas are not suitable. Rock climbing activities appear to have focused on Signal Peak via Palm Canyon and Squaw Peak, Castle Dome, and the entrance area to Kofa Queen Canyon. These areas are also prime desert bighorn sheep habitat. When is the use conducted? Access to the refuge is not restricted, and the use has been conducted at any time although rock climbing is typically conducted during daylight hours and in the cooler seasons (fall, winter, and spring). The winter and spring are peak lambing seasons for desert bighorn sheep, so there is the potential for conflict between climbers and sheep. How is the use conducted? Kofa NWR was established specifically for the recovery of desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis mexicana) populations due to concerns about declining populations in the early 1900s (USDOI 1996). Although populations have increased over the decades, there can be stochastic and cumulative events that can result in significant declines over a short time period, as discussed later in this document. Based on a thorough assessment of effects of rock climbing, along with increasing cumulative recreational uses on the refuge and that rock climbing is not a wildlife-dependent recreational activity, we are re-evaluating the compatibility of rock climbing on Kofa NWR and find it a non-compatible use. Why is the use being proposed? Rock climbing was formerly found compatible in 1996 during the development of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge & New Water Mountains Wilderness Interagency Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (USDOI 1996), by restricting the use of permanent anchors and prohibiting the marking of travel routes. The 1996 document supported technical rock climbing as an existing use in the planning area as authorized by 43 CFR 8560.1-2 and 50 CFR 25.21. This use is being re-evaluated to determine if it continues to remain a compatible use that will not materially interfere with or detract from the fulfillment of the Refuge System mission or the purpose of the refuge. AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES: No Kofa NWR employees are assigned specifically to manage compatible recreational refuge uses. The refuge shares its two federal wildlife officers with two other refuges in the Southwest Arizona NWR Complex and has limited personnel to monitor the impacts of recreational uses and enforce compliance with rules and regulations for those uses. Compatibility Determination for Rock Climbing on Kofa National Wildlife Refuge 2 ANTICIPATED IMPACTS OF THE USE: Short- and Long-term Impacts: Effects on Soils and Vegetation Impacts associated with rock climbing activity include soil erosion and removal of vegetation, primarily from climbers seeking foot access to a rock climbing route. Potential habitat damage from rock climbing includes reduction in abundance of vegetation, which is slow-growing and slow to regenerate in this arid desert habitat. Use of permanent climbing anchors (pitons, bolts) is also an environmental concern, particularly in wilderness, with possible impacts including aesthetic degradation as well as effects on the rock itself. Effects on Wildlife Most areas on Kofa NWR are not suitable for rock climbing due to crumbling or unstable rock formations. Rock climbing activities have been primarily focused on few areas including Signal Peak/Palm Canyon, Squaw Peak, Castle Dome, and the entrance to Kofa Queen Canyon. Rock climbers on Kofa NWR are likely to encounter and disturb desert bighorn sheep as they use the same steep terrain and some of the most rugged areas on the refuge. Rock climbing allows access into steep terrain otherwise not accessible, resulting in disturbance of areas most likely to be lambing and escape habitat for desert bighorn sheep. Papouchis et al. (2001) found that people on foot caused the most severe responses in desert bighorn sheep (animals fled in 61 percent of encounters), followed by vehicles (17 percent fled) and mountain bikers (6 percent fled) apparently, because people walking were more likely to be in unpredictable locations and often directly approached sheep. The most likely impact from rock climbers is to desert bighorn sheep in lambing areas between December and March when most lambing occurs. A five-year study (Eustis 1962) found that 84 percent of the ewes and 93 percent of the lambs were seen in the upper third of the Kofa Mountains during lambing seasons. Human disturbance of ewes in lambing areas may cause ewes to abandon these areas for less optimal habitat, which could negatively affect lamb production and survival. A study conducted from 1977 to 1984 documented strong reactions (immediate running, leaving area and not returning) from Kofa sheep in response to one or two people (Smith et al. 1986). The effects of rock climbing, which primarily coincides with lambing season in lambing areas, has the potential to negatively impact sheep populations on the refuge. Another likely impact to refuge fauna is nest disturbance to breeding birds by rock climbers between the months of February and May when cliff dwelling birds such as peregrine falcons and golden eagles are caring for young. A particularly sensitive time is when birds are incubating eggs. If the parent birds are scared off the nest, the eggs will cool, and the embryo may die (Deeming and Ferguson 1991). Effects on Threatened and Endangered Species Sonoran pronghorn (Antilocapra americana sonoriensis) were reintroduced to Kofa NWR in 2011, and are part of a nonessential experimental population and are listed as threatened within Compatibility Determination for Rock Climbing on Kofa National Wildlife Refuge 3 the boundaries of the refuge. Sonoran pronghorn are now free-ranging on Kofa NWR and adjacent lands. Sonoran pronghorn use primarily flat open terrain, gentle slopes and hills, and washes (Hervert et al. 2005). One threat to Sonoran pronghorn is human disturbance (USFWS 2016). The presence of humans has the potential to affect the physiology, behavior, and ultimately, populations of Sonoran pronghorn. Behavioral responses to human disturbance can include running away and changes to activity budgets (such as increased vigilance). It has been documented that human presence can disturb animals, causing them to unnecessarily expend energy avoiding people or increase the likelihood of fatal encounters with humans (Kerley et al. 2002). There is a minimal potential to encounter Sonoran pronghorn while rock climbing; but because climbers use steep mountain habitat while Sonoran pronghorn prefer flat open terrain, there is potential for encounters while accessing rock climbing areas in vehicles or on foot.