United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Coronado National Forest Southwestern Region Draft Land and Resource MB-R3-05-7 October 2013 Management Plan Cochise, Graham, Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz Counties, Arizona, and Hidalgo County, New Mexico 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. Front cover photos (clockwise from upper left): Meadow Valley in the Huachuca Ecosystem Management Area; saguaros in the Galiuro Mountains; deer herd; aspen on Mt. Lemmon; Riggs Lake; Dragoon Mountains; Santa Rita Mountains “sky island”; San Rafael grasslands; historic building in Cave Creek Canyon; golden columbine flowers; and camping at Rose Canyon Campground. Printed on recycled paper • October 2013 Draft Land and Resource Management Plan Coronado National Forest Cochise, Graham, Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz Counties, Arizona Hidalgo County, New Mexico Responsible Official: Regional Forester Southwestern Region 333 Broadway Boulevard, SE Albuquerque, NM 87102 (505) 842-3292 For Information Contact: Forest Planner Coronado National Forest 300 West Congress, FB 42 Tucson, AZ 85701 (520) 388-8300 TTY 711 [email protected] Contents Chapter 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 Purpose of the Land and Resource Management Plan ............................................................................ 1 Overview, Roles, and Contributions of the Coronado National Forest .................................................. 1 Summary of the Analysis of the Management Situation ........................................................................ 6 Forest Plan Content .............................................................................................................................. 11 Implementation of the Forest Plan ........................................................................................................ 14 Changes to the Forest Plan ................................................................................................................... 14 Forest Plan Maps .................................................................................................................................. 15 Forest Plan Organization ...................................................................................................................... 16 Chapter 2. Forestwide Management ........................................................................................... 17 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 17 Response to Climate Change ................................................................................................................ 17 Vegetation Communities ...................................................................................................................... 20 Biophysical Features ............................................................................................................................. 53 Natural Water Sources .......................................................................................................................... 56 Constructed Waters............................................................................................................................... 58 Soil ........................................................................................................................................................ 60 Air ......................................................................................................................................................... 60 Animals and Rare Plants ....................................................................................................................... 62 Invasive Species ................................................................................................................................... 66 Forest Products ..................................................................................................................................... 67 Minerals ................................................................................................................................................ 68 Public Access ........................................................................................................................................ 70 Motorized Transportation System ........................................................................................................ 71 Recreation ............................................................................................................................................. 74 Scenery ................................................................................................................................................. 78 Special Uses .......................................................................................................................................... 81 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................................ 84 Tribal Relations .................................................................................................................................... 86 Range Management .............................................................................................................................. 87 Land Ownership Adjustments and Boundary Management ................................................................. 90 Chapter 3. Management Areas ................................................................................................... 95 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 95 Land Use Zones .................................................................................................................................... 95 Designated Wilderness Areas ............................................................................................................. 100 Recommended Wilderness Areas and Wilderness Study Areas ........................................................ 116 Eligible Wild, Scenic, and Recreational Rivers .................................................................................. 117 Research Natural Areas, Botanical, Zoological, and Other Special Areas ......................................... 120 Arizona National Scenic Trail ............................................................................................................ 122 Chapter 4. Geographic Areas .................................................................................................... 125 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 125 Douglas Ranger District ..................................................................................................................... 125 Nogales Ranger District ...................................................................................................................... 135 Sierra Vista Ranger District ................................................................................................................ 143 Safford Ranger District ....................................................................................................................... 149 Santa Catalina Ranger District ............................................................................................................ 161 Chapter 5. Suitability ................................................................................................................. 167 Suitability of Uses and Special Use Permits ....................................................................................... 167 Grazing Capability and Suitability ..................................................................................................... 167 Timber Suitability ............................................................................................................................... 170 Coronado National Forest Draft Land and Resource Management Plan i Contents Chapter 6. Monitoring and Evaluation .................................................................................... 175 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 175