The Bureau of Land Management sustains the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. BLM/NM/PL-12-10-1610 Rio Puerco Resource Management Draft Plan & Environmental Impact Statement Volume I August 2012 United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Albuquerque District Rio Puerco Field Office TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION ................................................................ 1-1 1.1 Introduction and Background ...................................................................................... 1-1 1.1.1 Historical Overview ............................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1.2 Description of the Planning Area ........................................................................................... 1-2 1.1.3 Ecoregions of the Planning Area ........................................................................................... 1-2 1.1.4 Land Ownership in the Planning Area ................................................................................... 1-6 1.2 Purpose of and Need for the Resource Management Plan Revision ........................... 1-6 1.2.1 Purpose of the RMP Revision ................................................................................................ 1-7 1.2.2 Need for Revising the Existing Plan ...................................................................................... 1-8 1.3 Decision Framework .................................................................................................... 1-8 1.3.1 Planning Issues ....................................................................................................................... 1-9 1.3.2 Planning Criteria ................................................................................................................... 1-14 1.3.3 Relevant Statutes, Limitations, and Guidelines ................................................................... 1-15 1.3.4 Other Related Plans .............................................................................................................. 1-16 1.4 The Planning Process ................................................................................................. 1-16 1.4.1 Steps in the Process .............................................................................................................. 1-16 1.4.2 Resource Management Plan Implementation ...................................................................... 1-18 2 PROPOSED ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Description of Alternatives .......................................................................................... 2-2 2.1.1 Brief Summary and Highlights of the Proposed Alternatives ............................................... 2-4 2.1.2 Travel Management ................................................................................................................ 2-5 2.1.3 Recreation and Visitor Services ............................................................................................. 2-5 2.1.4 Mineral Resources .................................................................................................................. 2-6 2.1.5 Special Designations .............................................................................................................. 2-9 2.1.6 Proposed ACECs .................................................................................................................... 2-9 2.1.7 Visual Resource Management.............................................................................................. 2-10 2.1.8 Lands and Realty .................................................................................................................. 2-11 2.2 Proposed Alternatives ................................................................................................ 2-12 2.2.1 Air Resources ....................................................................................................................... 2-12 2.2.2 Cave and Karst Resources .................................................................................................... 2-13 2.2.3 Cultural Resources................................................................................................................ 2-16 2.2.4 Fire Management .................................................................................................................. 2-23 2.2.5 Forests and Woodlands ........................................................................................................ 2-25 2.2.6 Health and Safety ................................................................................................................. 2-29 2.2.7 Lands and Realty .................................................................................................................. 2-30 2.2.8 Lands with Wilderness Characteristics ................................................................................ 2-38 2.2.9 Livestock Grazing ................................................................................................................ 2-40 2.2.10 Mineral Resources ............................................................................................................... 2-45 2.2.11 Paleontological Resources ................................................................................................... 2-54 2.2.12 Recreation and Visitor Services .......................................................................................... 2-56 2.2.13 Renewable Energy ............................................................................................................... 2-73 2.2.14 Riparian Resources .............................................................................................................. 2-76 2.2.15 Soil and Water Resources.................................................................................................... 2-80 2.2.16 Special Designations ........................................................................................................... 2-81 2.2.17 Special Status Species ....................................................................................................... 2-123 2.2.18 Travel Management ........................................................................................................... 2-128 2.2.19 Vegetative Communities ................................................................................................... 2-132 2.2.20 Visual Resource Management ........................................................................................... 2-135 2.2.21 Wild and Scenic Rivers ..................................................................................................... 2-135 2.2.22 Wildlife and Fisheries Resources ...................................................................................... 2-139 2.3 Summary of Impacts ................................................................................................ 2-144 2.4 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis ............................ 2-192 2.4.1 No Grazing Alternative ...................................................................................................... 2-192 2.4.2 Wild Horse Preserve, Sanctuary, State Park, or Herd Management Area Alternative ..... 2-193 2.4.3 Placitas ACEC .................................................................................................................... 2-193 2.4.4 Las Huertas Creek Wild and Scenic River Special Designation ....................................... 2-195 3 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT .................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 3-1 3.1 Air Resources ............................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1 Air Quality .............................................................................................................................. 3-1 3.1.2 Clean Air Act Protection Classes ........................................................................................... 3-2 3.1.3 Climate .................................................................................................................................... 3-2 3.1.4 Climate Change ...................................................................................................................... 3-4 3.2 Cave and Karst Resources ........................................................................................... 3-5 3.3 Cultural Resources ....................................................................................................... 3-7 3.3.1 Cultural History of the Planning Area ................................................................................... 3-7 3.3.2 Current Condition ................................................................................................................... 3-9 3.3.3 Indicators ................................................................................................................................ 3-9 3.3.4 Trails, Roads and Railroads ................................................................................................