United States Department of Agriculture Draft Land Management Plan Carson National Forest Rio Arriba, Taos, Mora, and Colfax Counties, New Mexico Forest Service Southwestern Region MB-R3-02-09 July 2019 Carson National Forest Title Page: Photo credit – Kathy DeLucas. 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. El USDA es un proveedor, empleador y prestamista que ofrece igualdad de oportunidad. Draft Land Management Plan Carson National Forest Responsible Official: James Duran, Forest Supervisor Carson National Forest 208 Cruz Alta Road Taos, NM 87571 For additional Information: Peter Rich, Forest Planner Telephone: (575) 758-6277 E-mail: [email protected] This page intentionally blank. Contents CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 PLAN AREA ............................................................................................................................................... 1 Geographic Context .............................................................................................................................................. 1 Historical Context ................................................................................................................................................. 2 Distinctive Roles and Contributions ..................................................................................................................... 4 PURPOSE OF THE PLAN .............................................................................................................................. 6 NEED FOR CHANGING THE 1986 PLAN ...................................................................................................... 7 Terrestrial Ecosystems and Habitat ...................................................................................................................... 7 Watersheds and Water .......................................................................................................................................... 8 Multiple Uses and Human Influences ................................................................................................................... 8 PLAN FRAMEWORK ................................................................................................................................. 10 Plan Organization ............................................................................................................................................... 10 Plan Components ................................................................................................................................................ 10 Other Required Plan Content ............................................................................................................................. 14 Adaptive Planning and Monitoring ..................................................................................................................... 14 Use of Best Available Scientific Information ...................................................................................................... 15 Plan Concepts ..................................................................................................................................................... 15 Interrelationships of Plan Content ...................................................................................................................... 18 CONSISTENCY OF PROJECTS WITH THE PLAN.......................................................................................... 19 PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ......................................................................................................................... 21 Transition to Plan Implementation ..................................................................................................................... 22 CHAPTER 2. FORESTWIDE PLAN COMPONENTS ........................................................................ 23 ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY AND DIVERSITY OF PLANT AND ANIMAL COMMUNITIES ..................... 23 Vegetation (VEG) ................................................................................................................................................ 24 Alpine and Tundra (VEG-ALP)........................................................................................................................... 29 Montane and Subalpine Grasslands (VEG-MSG) .............................................................................................. 31 Bristlecone Pine (VEG-BP) ................................................................................................................................ 34 Spruce Fir Forest (VEG-SFF) ............................................................................................................................ 35 Aspen (VEG-ASP) ............................................................................................................................................... 38 Mixed Conifer with Aspen (VEG-MCW) ............................................................................................................. 41 Mixed Conifer with Frequent Fire (VEG-MCD) ................................................................................................ 44 Ponderosa Pine Forest (VEG-PPF) ................................................................................................................... 48 Piñon-Juniper Woodland (VEG-PJO) ................................................................................................................ 52 Piñon-Juniper Sagebrush (VEG-PJS) ................................................................................................................. 55 Sagebrush (VEG-SAGE) ..................................................................................................................................... 59 Soil Resources (SL) ............................................................................................................................................. 61 Watersheds and Water (WSW) ............................................................................................................................ 63 Riparian Management Zones (WSW-RMZ) ........................................................................................................ 66 Streams (WSW-RMZ-STM) ................................................................................................................................. 69 Waterbodies (WSW-RMZ-WB) ............................................................................................................................ 71 Springs and Seeps (WSW-RMZ-SNS) .................................................................................................................. 72 Wetland Riparian (WSW-RMZ-WR) ................................................................................................................... 74 Forest and Shrub Riparian (WSW-RMZ-FSR) .................................................................................................... 76 Caves and Abandoned Mines (CAM) .................................................................................................................. 80 Cliffs and Rocky Features (CRF) ........................................................................................................................ 82 Wildlife, Fish, and Plants (WFP) ........................................................................................................................ 84 Nonnative Invasive Species (NIS) ......................................................................................................................