Table Mesa Recreation Management Zone, Recreation and Travel Management Plan ...

219 Pages·2010·4.31 MB·English

T M R M Z
ABLE ESA ECREATION ANAGEMENT ONE
R T M P
ECREATION AND RAVEL ANAGEMENT LAN
&
E A
NVIRONMENTAL SSESSMENT

DOI-BLM-AZ-PDO-2009-022-EA

PREPARED BY:
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
PHOENIX DISTRICT OFFICE
HASSAYAMPA FIELD OFFICE
PHOENIX, ARIZONA
JUNE 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Planning Area Location ......................................................................................................... 2
1.2 Inventories ............................................................................................................................. 4
1.2.1 Route Inventory and Evaluation ....................................................................................... 4
1.2.2 Target Shooting Site Inventory and Evaluation ............................................................... 4
1.3 Benefits Based Recreation Management ............................................................................ 4
1.4 Scoping & Public Participation .............................................................................................. 5
1.5 Issues & Concerns .................................................................................................................. 8
1.6 Proposals Considered in the Planning Process .................................................................... 9
1.7 Conformance ....................................................................................................................... 12
1.7.1 Land Use Plan ................................................................................................................... 12
1.7.2 Other Laws, Regulations, Policies & Program Guidance ............................................... 15
1.8 Purpose and Need for the Plan and Decision to be Made ............................................... 16
2 Proposed Action and Alternatives ............................................................................................. 16
2.1 Proposed Recreation and Travel Management Plan ........................................................ 16
2.1.1 Routes ............................................................................................................................... 17
2.1.2 Technical Vehicle Sites .................................................................................................... 29
2.1.3 Facilities ............................................................................................................................ 29
2.1.4 Recreational Target Shooting ......................................................................................... 34
2.1.5 Natural areas .................................................................................................................... 35
2.1.6 Land Owner Access / Access Needed ............................................................................. 37
2.1.7 Plan Implementation ....................................................................................................... 38
2.1.8 Standard Operating Procedures ..................................................................................... 50
2.2 No Action Alternative .......................................................................................................... 56
2.3 Alternatives Considered but not Analyzed Further .......................................................... 58
3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ...................................................... 63
3.1 Air Quality ............................................................................................................................ 65
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3.1.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................... 65
3.1.2 Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................ 66
3.2 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................... 66
3.2.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................... 67
3.2.2 Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................ 68
3.3 Fish and Wildlife Habitat ..................................................................................................... 70
3.3.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................... 70
3.3.2 Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................ 70
3.4 Lands & Realty ..................................................................................................................... 71
3.4.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................... 71
3.4.2 Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................ 72
3.5 Livestock Grazing ................................................................................................................. 72
3.5.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................... 72
3.5.2 Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................ 73
3.6 Minerals ............................................................................................................................... 73
3.6.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................... 73
3.6.2 Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................ 74
3.7 Public Safety ......................................................................................................................... 75
3.7.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................... 75
3.7.2 Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................ 75
3.8 Recreation (Tom) ................................................................................................................. 76
3.8.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................... 76
3.8.2 Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................ 76
3.9 Riparian Areas and Wetlands ............................................................................................. 77
3.9.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................... 77
3.9.2 Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................ 77
3.10 Socioeconomic Resources................................................................................................... 78
3.10.1 Affected Environment ................................................................................................. 78
3.10.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................... 78
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3.11 Soil Resources ...................................................................................................................... 79
3.11.1 Affected Environment ................................................................................................. 79
3.11.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................... 79
3.12 Special Designations – National Trails ............................................................................... 80
3.12.1 Affected Environment ................................................................................................. 80
3.12.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................... 80
3.13 Special Status Species ......................................................................................................... 81
3.13.1 Affected Environment ................................................................................................. 81
3.13.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................... 81
3.14 Transportation and Access.................................................................................................. 83
3.14.1 Affected Environment ................................................................................................. 83
3.14.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................... 84
3.15 Water Resources ................................................................................................................. 85
3.15.1 Affected Environment ................................................................................................. 85
3.15.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................... 85
3.16 Vegetative Communities ..................................................................................................... 86
3.16.1 Affected Environment ................................................................................................. 86
3.16.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................... 86
3.17 Visual Resources .................................................................................................................. 87
3.17.1 Affected Environment ................................................................................................. 87
3.17.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................... 88
4 Tribes, Individuals, and Agencies Consulted ............................................................................. 89
5 List of Preparers .......................................................................................................................... 90
6 Works Cited ................................................................................................................................. 91
Appendix A: Recreational Target Shooting Land Use Plan Conformance ......................................... 1
Appendix B: Shooting Site Rapid Assessment Inventory ................................................................... 5
Appendix C: Arizona Resource Advisory Council (RAC) OHV Guidelines ......................................... 8
Appendix D: Public Meeting Notes .................................................................................................... 19
Appendix E: Route Designations Table & Maps ............................................................................... 49
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Appendix F: Visual Resource Inventory ...........................................................................................106
Appendix G: Desert Tortoise Policy and Mitigation .......................................................................115

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