Prepared by:
Reviewed by:
Travel Management Tonto National Forest
Draft Migratory Bird Report
Logan Simpson Design Inc. (Contractor) 51 East 3rd Street, Suite 450
Tempe, AZ 85281
t> 50 / .r .;:<o/r , Ac mg Wildlife Program Lead, Tonto National Forest
Page 2 of 62
Table of Contents Summary ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Alternative A (no action) ...................................................................................................................... 5
Alternative B ......................................................................................................................................... 5
Alternative C ......................................................................................................................................... 5
Alternative D ........................................................................................................................................ 5
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) ..................................................................................................... 6
Summary of Determination of Effects .................................................................................................. 7
Alternative A (no action) ...................................................................................................................... 7
Alternative B ......................................................................................................................................... 7
Alternative C ......................................................................................................................................... 8
Alternative D ......................................................................................................................................... 9
Methodology for Analysis .................................................................................................................................................... 9
Data Limitations and Inaccuracies ...................................................................................................... 10
Description of Actions ......................................................................................................................................................... 11
Alternative A – No Action .................................................................................................................. 11
Alternative B ....................................................................................................................................... 11
Alternative C ....................................................................................................................................... 11
Alternative D ...................................................................................................................................... 11
Species Accounts .................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Cordilleran Flycatcher ........................................................................................................................ 17
Flammulated Owl ............................................................................................................................... 17
Red-faced Warbler .............................................................................................................................. 17
Band-tailed Pigeon .............................................................................................................................. 17
McGillivray’s Warbler ........................................................................................................................ 17
Lewis’ Woodpecker ............................................................................................................................ 17
Gray Flycatcher .................................................................................................................................. 18
Juniper Titmouse ................................................................................................................................ 18
Gray Vireo .......................................................................................................................................... 18
Black-chinned Sparrow....................................................................................................................... 18
Gilded Flicker ..................................................................................................................................... 18
Costa's Hummingbird ......................................................................................................................... 18
Purple Martin ...................................................................................................................................... 18
Phainopepla ......................................................................................................................................... 18
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Bendire’s Thrasher .............................................................................................................................. 18
Canyon Towhee .................................................................................................................................. 18
Yellow Warbler .................................................................................................................................. 18
Western Yellow-Billed Cuckoo .......................................................................................................... 19
Bell's Vireo ......................................................................................................................................... 19
Lucy's Warbler .................................................................................................................................... 19
Yuma Clapper Rail ............................................................................................................................. 19
Golden Eagle ...................................................................................................................................... 19
Grace’s Warbler .................................................................................................................................. 19
Olive Warbler ..................................................................................................................................... 19
Pinion Jay............................................................................................................................................ 19
Black-throated Gray Warbler .............................................................................................................. 19
Swainson’s Hawk ............................................................................................................................... 20
Prairie Falcon ...................................................................................................................................... 20
Peregrine Falcon ................................................................................................................................. 20
Gilded Flicker ..................................................................................................................................... 20
Elf Owl................................................................................................................................................ 20
Gila Woodpecker ................................................................................................................................ 20
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet ........................................................................................................... 20
Common Black-Hawk ........................................................................................................................ 20
Bald Eagle ........................................................................................................................................... 20
Southwestern Willow Flycatcher ........................................................................................................ 21
Important Bird Areas and Overwintering Areas ................................................................................. 21
Effects ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Assumptions of Effects of Vehicle Travel to Migratory Bird Habitats .............................................. 21
Analysis of Effects .............................................................................................................................. 24
Pinyon-juniper Chaparral Species ....................................................................................................... 25
Desert Community Species ................................................................................................................. 27
Semi-desert Grassland Species ........................................................................................................... 30
Ponderosa Pine Mild Species .............................................................................................................. 33
Interior Chaparral Species ................................................................................................................... 36
Pinyon-juniper Grassland Species ...................................................................................................... 39
Mixed Conifer with Aspen Species .................................................................................................... 41
Madrean Encinal Woodland Species .................................................................................................. 44
Cottonwood Willow Riparian Forest Species ..................................................................................... 47
Mixed Broadleaf Deciduous Riparian Forest Species ........................................................................ 49
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Water Species ...................................................................................................................................... 52
Important Bird Areas .......................................................................................................................... 55
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum/Arnett Creek ........................................................................................ 55
Cave Creek Ecosystem........................................................................................................................ 57
Salt and Verde River Riparian System................................................................................................ 59
Literature Cited ...................................................................................................................................................................... 62
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Summary Tonto NF is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to disclose the effects of the motorized
travel management plan in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. In addition, the
agency must consider management impacts to migratory birds to further the purposes of the Migratory
Bird Treaty Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and other laws. The intent of this Migratory Bird
Report is to identify whether unintentional take would occur, and if so, whether such take would have a
measurable negative effect on migratory bird populations from the implementation of the motorized travel
management plan.
There are four travel management alternatives being considered in the EIS. The following summarizes the
potential effects for the migratory bird species of concern from each alternative:
Alternative A (no action) Some unintentional take (bird, eggs, nest) may occur, but this alternative would have no
measurable population effect on migratory bird species of concern.
Some negative effects from routes could occur to Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and their
occupants because the frequency of use may increase over the life of the plan.
The annual effects from an estimated 1,500 permits to remove dead and downed wood and dead
standing juniper/cypress/pine would be spread over approximately 1,345,998 acres.
Alternative B Some unintentional take (birds, eggs, nests) may occur, but this alternative would have no
measurable population effect on migratory bird species of concern.
This alternative would reduce public roads from current baseline conditions, although some
negative effects from routes in IBAs could occur to IBAs and their occupants because the
frequency of use may increase over the life of the plan, this alternative would have a beneficial
effect from the currnet baseline conditions.
The annual effects from an estimated 1,500 permits to remove dead and downed wood and dead
standing juniper/cypress/pine would be spread over approximately 132,568 acres.
Alternative C Some unintentional take (bird, eggs, nest) may occur, but this alternative would have no
measurable population effect on migratory bird species of concern.
This alternative would pemit the use of motorized vehicles for big game retrieval and
dispersed camping and may have a measurable negative effect on migratory bird populations
and habitat quality.
The annual effects from an estimated 1,500 permits to remove dead and downed wood and dead
standing juniper/cypress/pine would be spread over approximately 161,785 acres.
Alternative D Some unintentional take (bird, eggs, nest) may occur, but this alternative would have no
measurable population effect on migratory bird species of concern.
In addition to adding substantial miles of public roads (22 miles) in the Salt Verde IBA,
combined with the current number of roads (12 miles), there could be some negative effects from
routes in the Salt Verde IBA.
The annual effects from an estimated 1,500 permits to remove dead and downed wood and dead
standing juniper/cypress/pine would be spread over approximately 1,345,998 acres.
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Introduction The Tonto National Forest proposes changes to motorized use on roads, trails, and areas to meet
requirements of Executive Order 11644, as amended by Executive Order 11989, and in the Travel
Management Rule regulations (36 Code of Federal Register [CFR] 212, Subpart B). Routes and areas not
designated for motorized use would be prohibited from motorized travel unless authorized under an
exemption in the Travel Management Regulations. This involves amending the Tonto National Forest
Plan to restrict cross-country motorized travel in all nondesignated areas and amending other direction
related to motorized use that does not comply with the Travel Management Rule. Tonto National Forest
(Tonto NF) proposes to designate a system of motorized roads, trails, areas, zones, and corridors within
Tonto NF, Arizona in order to develop a motorized travel management plan.
The Forest Service is legally required to comply with a number of federal laws, regulations, and policy,
including the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (as amended), Executive Order 13186 (migratory birds),
and the Tonto NF Land and Resource Management Plan, 1987 (as amended).Executive Order 13186
(January 10, 2001) requires federal agencies to consider management impacts to migratory birds to
further the purposes of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and other
laws. Federal agencies need to identify whether unintentional take will occur from project
implementation, and if so, whether such take would have a measurable negative effect on migratory bird
populations. Take is defined to mean “… to pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or
attempt to pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect” (50 CFR 10.12). Removal or
destruction of vegetation is not considered a taking.
The Tonto NF is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to disclose the effects of a motorized travel management plan. This
Migratory Bird Report summarizes existing conditions and effects from all the EIS travel management
plan alternatives to migratory bird priority species that may occur or may have habitat within the project
area. The project area is identified as the Tonto NF. This specialist report was developed in consideration
of the best available science and most current Tonto NF data, and the information contained in the report
will be included in the EIS
Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) Executive Order 13186 (January 10, 2001) requires federal agencies to consider management impacts to
migratory birds to further the purposes of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Bald and Golden Eagle
Protection Act, and other laws. Federal agencies need to identify whether unintentional take will occur,
and if so, whether such take would have a measurable negative effect on migratory bird populations. Take
is defined to mean “… to pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or attempt to pursue,
hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect” (50 CFR 10.12). Removal or destruction of vegetation
is not considered a taking. Executive Order 13186 imposes procedural requirements on project level
analyses for migratory birds. The Tonto NF is required to:
evaluate the effects of agency actions and plans on migratory birds, with emphasis on species of
concern;
identify where unintentional take, reasonably attributable to agency action, is having, or is likely
to have, a measurable negative effect on migratory bird populations
The Tonto NF will fulfill these requirements by 1) analyzing and disclosing the project’s effects on Tonto
NF migratory bird species of concern, 2) identifying any Important Bird Areas (IBA) or overwintering
areas that exist within or in proximity to the project area and analyzing and disclosing effects as
appropriate, 3) identifying opportunities to restore or enhance migratory bird habitat or mitigate negative
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project effects and include these activities in the project plan, 4) retaining adequate levels of snags and
dead & downed wood.
Summary of Determination of Effects A summary disclosure of the potential effects that each action alternative could have on migratory birds
including "priority species" and important bird areas that may occur from amendments of the Tonto
National Forest Plan that would be necessary to implement an action alternative is presented below.
Alternative A (no action) Unintentional take (bird, eggs, nest) is highly unlikely to occur at a level that would have a
measurable effect on migratory bird populations or habitat quality. Alternative A is
considered as the baseline for comparison to all action alternatives. Across all PNVTs
Alternative A would have an average road density of 1.16 miles of road open to public
motorized vehicle travel per square mile of MBTA habitat. The relatively low density of
open public roads to MIS habitats suggest that although some level of impact occurs to
migratory birds and habitats wherever motorized vehicle travel is allowed, Alternative A
would have no measurable negative effect on migratory bird species of concern populations
or habitat quality above current baseline conditions.
No effects would occur to IBAs because Alternative A is considered as the current baseline
condition that all action alternatives are compared. Under Alternative A roads and trails open to
public use would remain unchanged from current baseline conditions. Road densities with the
IBAs vary from 0.47 miles of road per square mile of IBA habitat in the Boyce-Thompson
Arboretum/Arnett IBA, to 2.62 miles in the Cave Creek Ecosystem IBA and 4.29 in the Salt and
Verde River Riparian System IBA. Motorized big game retrieval, dispersed camping and
motorized cross country travel is not permitted in any IBA. Fuelwood gathering would be
permitted in the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum/Arnett Creek IBA. Alternative A would have no
measurable negative effect on IBAs above current baseline conditions.
No effects would occur to snags and dead and downed wood because Alternative A is considered
as the baseline for comparison to all action alternatives. Under Alternative A personal wood
gathering and roads and trails open to public use would remain unchanged from current baseline
conditions. Alternative A would have no measurable negative effect on snags and dead and down
wood above current baseline conditions.
Alternative B Unintentional take (bird, eggs, nest) is highly unlikely to occur at a level that would have a
measurable effect on migratory bird populations or habitat quality. Although some level of impact
occurs to migratory birds wherever motorized vehicle travel is allowed, across all PNVTs
Alternative B reduces areas of potential affects by reducing road density in all PNVTs to 0.63
miles of open public road to per square mile of MBTA habitats. Similar to Alternative A,
Alternative B would not allow for motorized big game retrieval, or motorized cross-county travel.
Alternative B would reduce acres of areas available to dispersed camping and fuelwood gathering
from current baseline conditions. Consequently, this alternative would have a beneficial effect on
migratory bird species of concern populations and habitat quality compared to the current
baseline conditions.
Alternative B would have a beneficial effect to IBAs because Alternative B reduces miles of
roads and trails open to public use in all IBAs. Alternative B would reduce road densities within
the IBAs to 0.39 miles of road per square mile of IBA habitat in the Boyce-Thompson
Arboretum/Arnett IBA, to 0.38 miles in the Cave Creek Ecosystem IBA and 1.75 miles in the
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Salt and Verde River Riparian System IBA. Alternative B would not permit motorized big game
retrieval, and motorized cross country travel in any IBA. Alternative B would permit dispersed
camping within a 0.18 designated camping site within the Salt and Verde River Riparian System
IBA. Alternative B would have a beneficial effect on migratory bird species of concern
populations and habitat quality compared to the current baseline conditions.
Alternative B would have a positive effect to snags and dead & downed wood because
Alternative B in all PNVTs would reduce personal use fuelwood gathering an average of 88
percent across all PNVTs. Alternative B would reduce the likelihood of potential impacts to
cavity and snag nesting birds, as permitted access to these areas would be reduced. Alternative B
would have a beneficial effect on snags and down logs forestwide in all PNVTs compared to the
current baseline conditions.
Alternative C Unintentional take (bird, eggs, nest) is highly unlikely to occur that would have a measurable
effects on migratory bird populations or habitat quality. Although some level of impact occurs to
migratory birds wherever motorized vehicle travel is allowed, across all PNVTs Alternative C
reduces areas of potential affects by reducing road density in all PNVTs to 0.86 miles of open
public road per square mile of MBTA habitats reducing dispersed camping by 87 percent and fuel
wood gathering by 90 percent. However, Alternative C would increase motorized big game
retrieval by 83 percent. Consequently, this alternative would have a beneficial effect on migratory
bird species of concern populations and habitat quality compared to the current baseline
conditions.
Some effects would occur to IBAs if Alternative C is implemented. Alternative C does reduce
miles of roads and trails open to public use in all IBAs. Alternative C would reduce road densities
within the IBAs to 0.39 miles of road per square mile of IBA habitat in the Boyce-Thompson
Arboretum/Arnett IBA, to 0.38 miles in the Cave Creek Ecosystem IBA and 1.96 miles in the
Salt and Verde River Riparian System IBA. Alternative C would not permit motorized cross
country travel in any IBA consistent with current baseline conditions. Alternative C would permit
dispersed camping, motorized big game retrieval, in the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum/Arnett
Creek IBA, and limit fuelwood gathering to 140 acres of the 2,583 acre Boyce-Thompson
Arboretum/Arnett Creek IBA available for fuel wood gathering under Alternative A. Alternative
C would result in an 89 percent reduction in these elements from current baseline conditions in
the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum/Arnett Creek IBA. Alternative C would permit motorized big
game retrieval and dispersed camping in the Cave Creek and Salt and Verde River System IBAs.
Areas open to motorized big game retrieval and dispersed camping is currently not permitted.
Alternative C would permit motorized big game retrieval and dispersed camping on 328 acres (24
percent) of Cave Creek IBA acres and 281 acres (21 percent) of the Salt and Verde River
Riparian System IBA acres. Alternative C would not permit fuelwood gathering in the Cave
Creek and Salt and Verde River Riparian System IBAs. Areas open to dispersed camping,
motorized big game retrieval, and fuelwood gathering is less than 10 percent of the Boyce-
Thompson Arboretum/Arnett Creek IBA, 24 percent of the Cave Creek Ecosystem IBA and 21
percent of the Salt and Verde River Riparian System IBA. Some unintentional take could occur in
each IBA, and may have a measurable negative effect on migratory bird populations and habitat
quality within the Cave Creek Ecosystem and Salt and Verde River Riparian System IBAs.
Alternative C would have a positive effect to snags and dead & downed wood because
Alternative C would not permit personal use fuelwood gathering in the Cave Creek Ecosystem
and Salt and Verde River Riparian System IBAs and would decrease areas permitted for
fuelwood gathering by 95 percent from current baseline conditions in the Boyce-Thompson
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Arboretum/Arnett Creek IBA. Alternative C would reduce the likelihood of potential impacts to
cavity and snag nesting birds, as permitted motorized vehicle access to these areas would be
reduced. Alternative C would have a beneficial effect on snags and down logs forestwide in all
PNVTs compared to the current baseline conditions.
Alternative D Unintentional take (bird, eggs, nest) may occur at a level that would have a measurable effect on
migratory bird populations or habitat. Some level of impact occurs to migratory birds wherever
motorized vehicle travel is allowed. Across all PNVTs Alternative D would not increase potential
affects from roads and trails designated for motorized vehicle use due to in all PNVTs permitting
1.11 miles of open public road per square mile of MBTA habitats, similar to current forestwide
baseline conditions. Within all PNVTs Alternative D would permit 2,068,208 acres (194 percent
increase) to motorized big game retrieval, a near threefold increase over current baseline
conditions and would reduce habitat quality for migratory birds. Alternative D would decease
dispersed camping by 52 percent from current baseline conditions and would be the same as
alternative A in permitted personal fuelwood gathering areas. Consequently, this alternative
would have a negative effect on migratory bird species of concern populations and habitat quality
compared to the current baseline conditions.
Some effects would occur to migratory birds and habitat quality in IBAs if Alternative D is
implemented. The density of roads and trails permitted for public use are similar to Alternative A
in the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum/Arnett IBA and Cave Creek Ecosystem IBAs, and reduced
from 103 miles of open roads under current baseline conditions to 71.68 (reduction of 30 percent)
in the Salt and Verde River Riparian IBA. Alternative D would not permit motorized cross
country travel in any IBA consistent with current baseline conditions.
Alternative D would permit 16,114 acres of motorized big game retrieval and dispersed camping
in all IBAs, which is not permitted under current baseline conditions. Alternative D would be
similar to Alternative A permitting 1,345,998 acres available for personal fuel wood gathering
only in the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum/Arnett IBA. Alternative D would not permit personal
fuel wood gathering in the Cave Creek Ecosystem or the Salt and Verde River Riparian System
IBAs. Alternative D would increase areas available for motorized big game retrieval and
dispersed camping. Some unintentional take could occur in each IBA, and may have a measurable
negative effect on migratory bird populations within all IBAs.
Alternative D would not affect snags and dead and down wood because Alternative D would be
the same as Alternative A for permitted personal fuelwood gathering at the current baseline area
and acres. Alternative D would not have a measurable effect to snags and down logs forestwide in
all PNVTs compared to the current baseline conditions.
Methodology for Analysis To determine the species of concern within TNF, migratory bird species were compiled from two sources:
Arizona Partners in Flight (AZPIF; Latta and others 1999) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS; 2008).
Those bird species were selected from three Biological Conservation Regions: 33 (Sonoran & Mojave
Desert), 34 (Sierra Madre Occidental), and 16 (Southern Rockies and Colorado Plateau). Species of
concern were finally determined from those species that occurred on TNF based on the TNF bird
checklist (U.S. Forest Service 2009).
To evaluate the effects of the agency action on particular migratory bird species, the species habitat was
used as a basis for the analysis. Migratory bird species of concern were analyzed if their habitat is within
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the action area. Corman and Wise-Gervais’s (2005) habitat classifications were used and a determination
was made for a species associated habitat by its most common occurrence in 1-4 habitat types. Because
certain species were found in more than one type of habitat, many bird species were classified in multiple
habitat types.
The Forest Service uses five maintenance levels (ML) to classify roads, ranging from ML 1 indicating
intermittent service roads closed to vehicular use, to ML 5, indicating roads that provide a high degree of
user comfort and convenience. ML 3, 4, and 5 roads are those suitable for passenger cars. Some of these
roads are dirt, some are gravel, and some are paved. ML 3, 4, and 5 roads are subject to the Highway
Safety Act; therefore, they generally receive more maintenance than level 1and 2 roads. This report will
refer to passenger car roads (ML 3, 4, and 5 that a typical sedan could drive down) and high clearance
roads (ML 2) that are maintained for high clearance vehicles.
Whenever possible, species-specific habitat and locality data were used for analysis. The recently revised
Forest-specific Geographic Information System (GIS) data were used for riparian and wetland habitat.
Additionally, using species-habitat relationships, data were queried by Potential Natural Vegetation Type
(PNVT) to help with analysis of effects to species’ habitats. Within the Forest boundary, PNVTs were
derived from aggregated Forest Terrestrial Ecosystem Survey (TES) Ecological Units on the Forest and
Southwest Regional Gap Analysis Project (SWReGAP). PNVTs are ecological units based biophysical
settings and depict the potential vegetation type that would dominate a site under historic fire regimes and
biological processes. Avian wildlife habitat within the Tonto National Forest can be divided into 15
wildlife habitat categories based on the Tonto NF’s PNVT layer. These habitat types represent wildlife
habitat that can generally be associated with a particular wildlife species or suite of species (see table 2).
Extent and density of roads by type is derived from the Forest GIS database and reflects the on the ground
road length and design. Forest road miles by road type used in this analysis reflect GIS data processing
that was performed in November 2010. Roads under Forest Service authorization were analyzed as effects
to PNVT; however roads within the Tonto NF not under Forest Service authorization such as federal and
state highways were considered outside the scope of this analysis. Additionally many unauthorized roads
are not digitized into the Forest GIS data layer. It is unknown how many more miles of unauthorized user
created routes are present above those currently identified in the Forest GIS layer, but it is estimated to be
expanding each year due to increased motorized vehicular use on the Forest.
Calculating the miles of designated road or acres of potential affects from motorized vehicle travel within
each PNVT was completed by computing the ratio of miles or acres of areas designated for motorized
vehicle travel by each alternative to the miles or acres permitted for motorized vehicle travel by the No
Action alternative. The resulting ratio provides the amount of change within each PNVT.
Data Limitations and Inaccuracies The PNVT analysis was originally conducted during an analysis conducted in 2010 as a basis for the
initial NEPA process as part of the preparation of an Environmental Assessment. After initiating
compliance with the Travel Management Rule under an EA, the Tonto NF determined that the level of
significance reached a point that environmental analysis for travel management under an EIS would be
more appropriate. During the continuing analyses there may have been assumptions made that are not
fully documented and embedded in all analyses in the PNVT and species data layers. For instance in not
all locations do the boundaries of the PNVT layer match the forest boundary data layer. Additionally
during the analysis timeline riparian areas, water bodies, and perennial streams layers have been updated.
As the acreage and boundaries of these vegetation types shifted, ecotones between adjacent upland
vegetation types did not reflect this realignment in all cases. As an example the revised acres of riparian
habitat and original acres of upland habitat may not match acres of riparian or upland habitat dependent
avian species utilized in previous analyses. However, the data reviewed and utilized in this analysis is the
best available data the Tonto NF has currently. GIS data and habitat modeling conducted for this analysis
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is a representation of what is actually occurring on the ground and as such, there is always the likelihood
of error.
Description of Actions The four travel management plan alternatives from the EIS being analyzed in this Migratory Bird Report
are described as follows:
Alternative A – No Action The NEPA requires the no action alternative to be included as a baseline for comparison to all action
alternatives. This alternative proposes no change to the existing management of motorized travel on the
Tonto NF. Current management plans would continue to guide management of the project area. No
changes would be made to the current National Forest transportation system. The Travel Management
Rule would not be implemented and no Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) would be produced.
Alternative B Alternative B was developed in response to public comments during the NEPA scoping process. It would
include approximately 2,367 miles of roads for decommissioning which would designate the fewest miles
of roads and motorized trails to be open for public use and would propose the most miles of roads for
decommissioning than other alternatives. Alternative B provides approximately 894 miles of designated
roads and 1,666 miles of motorized trails open to public use. It would be the only alternative that would
not allow motor vehicle use for big game retrieval except for those individuals that qualify for the
Arizona Game and Fish Department CHAMP hunting permit, and motor vehicle use for dispersed
camping to designated sites only. This alternative would allow for cross-country travel, up to 300 feet
from both sides of all designated motorized routes, for fuelwood gathering within designated areas.
Alternative C Alternative C is a modification of the proposed action scoped in February 2013. It proposes
approximately 1,290 miles of roads for decommissioning, resulting in approximately 1,340 miles of
designated roads and 2,230 miles of motorized trails open to public use. This alternative would prohibit
cross-country motorized travel except in eight proposed OHV areas totaling approximately 6,791 acres. It
would also allow motorized access for retrieval of legally harvested elk and bear (totaling approximately
1,293,178 acres), a corridor of 100 feet on both sides of designated roads and motorized trails for
dispersed camping, and a corridor of 300 feet on both sides of designated roads and motorized trails for
personal use fuelwood gathering in permitted areas.
Alternative D Alternative D was developed in response to public comments received on the proposed action and would
provide the highest level of motorized recreation opportunities and access across the forest. This
alternative proposes approximately 194 miles of roads for decommissioning, resulting in approximately
3,347 miles of designated roads and 1,520 miles of motorized trails open to public use. Alternative D
would prohibit cross-country motorized travel except in eight proposed OHV areas totaling approximately
6,791 acres and for the retrieval of legally harvested elk, bear, and deer (totaling approximately 2,248,279
acres). It would also allow motorized access in a corridor of 300 feet on both sides of designated roads
and motorized trails for dispersed camping and for personal use fuelwood gathering in permitted areas.
For comparison purposes, the four alternatives are organized by six analysis factors to help the reader
understand the differences and similarities among them. These elements are:
Roads and Trails Designated for Motor Vehicle use (including inventoried unauthorized user
created routes)
Areas Open to Motorized Cross-country Travel
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Permit Zones
Big Game Retrieval Using Motor Vehicles
Access of Dispersed Camping Using Motor Vehicles
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use Designation1
Table 1: Comparison of Alternatives by Analysis Factor Roads and Trails Designated for Motor Vehicle Use (miles)
Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Roads Open to
Passenger
Vehicles (ML 3-
5)
644.72 353.38 544.47 546.97
Roads Open to
High Clearance
Vehicles (ML 2)
2,307.67 540.13 795.70 2,798.91
Motorized Trails
(Single Track) 0.00 1.12 78.42 102.74
Motorized Trails
(General) 0.00 1,664.95 2,150.94 1,410.72
Open Routes
(ML Unknown) 2006.20 0.00 0.00 0.00
Administrative
Use Only Road
(ML 2 – ML 5)
0.00 144.30 165.79 49.27
Administrative
Use Only 0.00 355.04 398.58 296.54
Motorized Trail
Closed (ML 1) NA* 0.00 0.00 0.00
Decommissioned
Routes NA* 2,367.03 1,289.80 201.22
Open Routes
(ML unknown) 2,006.20 NA* NA* NA*
Unauthorized
(User created) 672.34 0.00 0.00 0.00
Total Open to
Public Miles 4958.58 2559.57 3569.52 4859.34
Total Miles 6510.14 6512.37 6512.37 6512.37
Inventoried Unauthorized (User Created) Routes1 Proposed for Inclusion (Miles)
Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Roads (ML3-
ML5) NA 4.12 4.12 4.77
Roads (ML2) NA 6.45 6.45 131.20
Motorized trails
(Single Track) NA 0.00 72.59 96.22
Motorized trail
(General) NA 0.00 206.71 320.26
1 This element includes a discussion about the use of motor vehicles for fuelwood gathering off of designated roads and motorized trails.
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Administrative
Use Only Road
(ML 2 – ML 5)
NA 10.34 10.75 0.11
Administrative
Use Only
Motorized Trails
NA 29.53 29.53 30.97
Decommissioned
Routes NA 559.31 279.59 21.59
Non-motorized
trails NA 59.11 59.11 63.75
NA NA 3.48 3.48 3.48
Total miles Open
to Public NA 10.58 289.88 552.45
Total Miles NA 50.44 330.16 583.52
Areas Open to Motorized Cross-country Travel
Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Name of Area
(Total acres)
Payson and
Pleasant Valley
Ranger Districts
(703,618)
300 feet both sides
of all designated
roads and trails
within fuelwood
cutting permit
areas
(132,568)
Bartlett Lake (922);
Golf Course (17);
Roosevelt Lake
(4,508); Sycamore
(1,333) four tot Lots
(11)
(6,790)
Same as
Alternative C
(6,790)
Permit Zones (Acres)
Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Name of Area
(Total acres)
Bulldog Canyon
(34,720)
Bulldog Canyon
(34,720); Desert
Vista (33,479);
The Rolls
(24,144); St. Clair
(24,455);
Sycamore (34,127)
(150,925 total)
Bulldog Canyon
(34,720); Desert
Vista (33,479); The
Rolls (24,144); St.
Clair (24,455)
(116,798 total)
Same as
Alternative A
(34,720 total)
Big Game Retrieval Using Motor Vehicles (Acres)
Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Total Acres
Available
(including Width
of Corridor)
(Species Allowed)
703,618
(elk, bear, mule
deer, whitetail
deer)
No motorized big
game retrieval
would be allowed
1,293,178
(1 mile both sides of
all designated
routes)
(elk, bear)
2,068,208
(1 mile both sides
of all designated
routes)
(elk, bear, mule
deer, whitetail
deer)
Access of Dispersed Camping Using Motor Vehicles (Acres)
Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Distance from
Designated Routes
(Total Acres)
Driving off-road
has been
permitted in
northern districts,
prohibited in
southern districts
unless posted
open
(703,618 total)
414 Designated
Sites (Buffered 50
feet from center
point)
(65 total)
100 feet both sides
of all designated
routes
(91,391 total)
300 feet both
sides of all
designated routes
(336,038 total)
Page 14 of 62
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use2
Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Wood Gathering
(Total Acres)
Permitted to
gather wood in
designated
woodcutting
permit areas
(1,345,998 total)
Within 300 feet of
all designated
routes within a
designated
woodcutting
permit areas
(132,568 total)
Within 300 feet of
all designated routes
within designated a
woodcutting permit
areas
(161,785 total)
Same as
Alternative A
(1,345,998 total)
Collection of
Forest Resources
by Tribal Members
Only allowed on
designated routes.
Same as
Alternative A
Same as Alternative
A.
Same as
Alternative A
Need to Amend
Forest Plan
Not necessary Would Require
Forest Plan
Amendment3
Would Require
Forest Plan
Amendment4
Would Require
Forest Plan
Amendment5
*NA =If there is no data for a particular PNVT for either an element or an alternative then there is no action occurring
within that area. 1Since 2007, the Tonto National Forest has collected or received geographic information about unauthorized routes
that are either obvious on the ground or are being used for motorized travel, totaling approximately 672 miles to date. 2 This element includes a discussion about the use of motor vehicles for fuelwood gathering off of designated roads and
motorized trails.
3 The amendment would include striking language allowing cross-country travel on the entire Payson and Pleasant
Valley Ranger Districts and modifying the current Recreation Opportunity Spectrum.
4 Ibid
5 Ibid
Species Accounts The following table shows the migratory bird species of concern that may occur in the project area
because their habitats also are within the activity area.
Table 2: Tonto National Forest Migratory Bird Species of Concern
Species Nest Substrateb Nest type
b Usual nest
height rangeb
(feet)
Nesting
Periodc
Mixed Conifer with Aspen: Douglas fir, white fir, ponderosa pine, often some aspen and
Gambel’s oak occurs in all alternatives
Flycatcher,
Cordillerana
deciduous tree,
cliff, ground cavity 0 to 30 May to Aug
Flycatcher, olive-
sideda
conifer cup 5 to 75 May to Aug
Goshawk,
northerna
conifer,
deciduous tree platform 20 to 60 May to Aug
Kinglet, golden-
crowned conifer pendant 4 to 60 May to Aug
Owl, flammulateda snag cavity no information May to Jul
Owl, Mexican
spotteda
conifer, cliff
cavity,
platform,
scrape
80 May to Sep
Pigeon, band-
taileda
conifer,
deciduous tree platform 6 to 30 May to Sep
Sapsucker, red-
napeda
deciduous tree cavity 10 to 20 May to Jul
Warbler, red-
faceda
ground cup 0 May to Jul
Page 15 of 62
Species Nest Substrateb Nest type
b Usual nest
height rangeb
(feet)
Nesting
Periodc
Mixed Broadleaf Deciduous Riparian Forest: cottonwoods, maple, box elder, alder, willow,
some Gambel’s oak, ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, while fir, and aspen occur in all
alternatives
Beardless-
tyrannulet,
northerna
deciduous tree sphere 4 to 50 Apr to Aug
Black-hawk,
commona
deciduous tree platform 20 to 30 Mar to Aug
Flycatcher,
Cordillerana
deciduous tree,
cliff, ground cavity 0 to 30 May to Aug
Sapsucker, red-
napeda
deciduous tree cavity 10 to 20 May to Jul
Warbler,
MacGillivray’s shrub, ground cup 2 to 3 May to Jul
Warbler, red-
faceda
ground cup 0 May to Jul
Warbler, yellowa shrub, tree cup 1 to 14 Apr to Aug
Ponderosa Pine Mild: primarily pure pine forests occurs in all alternatives
Flycatcher, olive-
sideda
conifer cup 5 to 75 May to Aug
Goshawk,
northerna
conifer,
deciduous tree platform 20 to 60 May to Aug
Owl, flammulateda snag cavity no information May to Jul
Owl, Mexican
spotteda
conifer, cliff
cavity,
platform,
scrape
80 May to Sep
Pigeon, band-
taileda
conifer,
deciduous tree platform 6 to 30 May to Sep
Warbler, Grace'sa conifer cup 20 to 60 May to Aug
Warbler, olivea conifer cup 30 to 65 Apr to Jul
Woodpecker,
Lewis'sa
deciduous tree,
snag cavity 5 to 100 May to Aug
Pinyon-juniper grasslands: occurs in all alternatives
Eagle, bald tree platform 30 to 60 Dec to Jul
Goshawk,
northerna
conifer,
deciduous tree platform 20 to 60 May to Aug
Owl, Mexican
spotteda
conifer, cliff
cavity,
platform,
scrape
80 May to Sep
Flycatcher,
southwestern
willow
shrub,
deciduous tree cup 2 to 10 Jun to Aug
Cuckoo, western
yellow-billed
deciduous tree,
shrub platform 4 to 8 Jun to Sep
Pinyon-juniper Chaparral: Juniper woodlands occur in all alternatives
Eagle, goldena cliff, tree platform 10 to 100+ Mar to Jul
Falcon, peregrinea cliff, tree scrape 50 to 200+ Mar to Jul
Flycatcher, gray shrub cup 2 to 9 May to Aug
Jay, pinyon conifer cup 3 to 26 Apr to Aug
Page 16 of 62
Species Nest Substrateb Nest type
b Usual nest
height rangeb
(feet)
Nesting
Periodc
Titmouse, juniper deciduous tree,
snag cavity 3 to 10 Apr to Jul
Vireo, gray shrub cup 2 to 6 Apr to Aug
Warbler, black-
throated graya
conifer,
deciduous tree cup 5 to 50 Apr to Aug
Madrean Encinal Woodland: Madrean evergreen oaks, juniper, pinyon pine occurs in all
alternatives
Eagle, goldena cliff, tree platform 10 to 100+ Mar to Jul
Warbler, black-
throated graya
conifer,
deciduous tree cup 5 to 50 Apr to Aug
Interior Chaparral: Shrub live oak, manzanita, mountain-mahogany, cliffrose occurs in all
alternatives
Sparrow, black-
chinned shrub cup 1.5 to 3 Apr to Aug
Semiarid grassland: Often with scattered sotol, agaves, burroweed, snakeweed, yucca,
mesquite occurs in all alternatives
Ealge, goldena cliff, tree platform 10 to 100+ Mar to Jul
Hawk, Swainson’s cliff platform 20 to 30 Apr to Aug
Desert communities: palo verde, ironwood, mesquite, catclaw, acacia, saguaro, cholla,
barrel cactus, prickly pear, creosote bush, jojoba, crucifixion thorn occurs in all alternatives
Eagle, goldena cliff, tree platform 10 to 100+ Mar to Jul
Falcon, peregrinea cliff, tree scrape 50 to 200+ Mar to Jul
Falcon, prairie cliff scrape, crevice 30 to 40 Mar to Jun
Flicker, gilded snag cavity 6 to 15 Mar to Jul
Hummingbird,
Costa’sa
shrub cup 3 to 5 Feb to Jul
Martin, purple snag cavity 5+ May to Aug
Owl, elf cactus cavity 15 to 35 Apr to Jul
Phainopeplaa
deciduous tree,
shrub cup 4 to 50 Feb to Aug
Thrasher,
Bendire's shrub cup 2 to 4 Mar to Aug
Towhee, canyon bush, tree cup 4 to 12 Mar to Oct
Woodpecker, Gila cactus,
deciduous tree cavity 15 to 30 Mar to Aug
Vireo, Bell'sa shrub cup 1 to 5 Mar to Sep
Warbler, Lucy’s snag cavity 3 to 11 Apr to Jul
Cottonwood Willow Riparian: Primarily cottonwood, willow, mesquite, tamarisk (salt
cedar), some ash, walnut, and hackberry, occurs in all alternatives
Beardless-
tyrannulet,
northerna
deciduous tree sphere 4 to 50 Apr to Aug
Black-hawk,
commona
deciduous tree platform 20 to 30 Mar to Aug
Cuckoo, western
yellow-billed
deciduous tree,
shrub platform 4 to 8 Jun to Sep
Eagle, bald tree platform 30 to 60 Dec to Jul
Page 17 of 62
Species Nest Substrateb Nest type
b Usual nest
height rangeb
(feet)
Nesting
Periodc
Flycatcher,
southwestern
willow
shrub,
deciduous tree cup 2 to 10 Jun to Aug
Vireo, Bell'sa shrub cup 1 to 5 Mar to Sep
Warbler, yellowa shrub, tree cup 1 to 14
Apr to Aug
Water: bulrush, sedges, pondweeds, cattail, duckweed, saltgrass occurs in all alternatives
Rail, Yuma
clapper ground platform 0 Mar to Aug
a Species occur in other habitat categories also
b Source: Ehrlich and others 1988 c Source: Corman and Wise-Gervais 1995
Cordilleran Flycatcher Cordilleran flycatchers are considered a common summer resident and uncommon transient (Corman and Wise
2005). They are associated with snags and high overstory canopy closure. Stands of old growth ponderosa pine and
closed canopy forest within the project area occur in small patches, on steep slopes, or in pine stringers in small
drainages. Cordilleran flycatchers are considered to be on the increase, but at risk due to concerns about loss of
suitable habitat and habitat components such as snags, downed logs, and loss of closed canopy. Within the project
area, it is expected that this species is static to increasing.
Flammulated Owl These owls nest in old growth coniferous forests including ponderosa pine, pine/oak, and mixed conifer,
where they nest in natural cavities of live trees, snags, and dead limbs or abandoned cavities of flickers
and sapsuckers. Flammulated owls arrive mid-April, with breeding occurring into July. Migration south
occurs from August through October.
Red-faced Warbler This warbler occurs in high elevation riparian areas, usually shaded canyons, where mixed conifer forests
occur in the uplands.
Band-tailed Pigeon The band-tailed pigeon is listed as a priority species in madrean oak woodlands, which on the Tonto NF ,
fall within pinyon-juniper communities. They occur in flocks where they feed on seeds and acorns.
McGillivray’s Warbler This warbler occurs in patches of dense and brushy deciduous riparian areas at higher elevations.
Lewis’ Woodpecker Lewis’ woodpeckers are found in open ponderosa pine (including pine/oak) forests and riparian
woodlands from about 6,200 to 8,900 feet in elevation. They use brushy understories, snags for perching,
and open areas for foraging; all of which is frequently provided in burn areas. Lewis’ woodpeckers nest
in the abandoned cavities of other woodpeckers, in natural cavities, or make their own cavities. They nest
most frequently in ponderosa pine or cottonwood trees. While most Lewis’ woodpeckers are resident
some migrate to lower elevations.
Page 18 of 62
Gray Flycatcher Gray flycatchers primarily occupy pinyon pine and juniper, or ponderosa pine with an open overstory.
These birds may need some ground cover to support insect populations for foraging. Larger taller stands
of sagebrush and greasewood are also used.
Juniper Titmouse The Juniper titmouse inhabits dry open juniper woodlands and feed on seeds and small insects. They are
cavity nesters built of tree bark and grass.
Gray Vireo Gray vireos breed in open and mature juniper woodlands where there is an understory of broadleaf
shrubs. They are insectivorous during the breeding season and frugivorous during the winter. They nest
low in a small tree or shrub and are known hosts to brown-headed cowbirds.
Black-chinned Sparrow This sparrow occurs on arid hillsides with brushy chaparral vegetation.
Gilded Flicker The gilded flicker is found mainly in desert scrub with large amount of cactus. It feeds primarily on ants
and other small insects. It nests primarily in saguaro cactus by digging a hole in its side.
Costa's Hummingbird The Costa's humming bird is found within desert habitats, with brushy foothills and meadows. It nests
primarily in shrubs, building a cup shaped nest.
Purple Martin Montane populations of purple martins typical nest in pine cavities are an uncommon summer resident in
open forested areas (Corman and Wise-Gervais 2005).
Phainopepla The phainopepla is commonly found in riparian, desert, and woodland habitats. It feeds on mistletoe
berries, and small flying insects. It nests in trees made of woven twigs and tree debris commonly placed at
the fork of a branch.
Bendire’s Thrasher This thrasher is found across the state in open habitat from brushy grasslands with scattered mesquite and
yucca, to desert scrub, and even rural areas. Breeding birds were detected in the Verde Valley. In the
south and central portions of Arizona, this species is a resident and much more abundant than in northern
Arizona. They arrive in the north around March to April and nest mainly in mid June, although nesting is
possible later into the monsoon period. Thrashers build stick nests in shrubs, trees, and cacti.
Canyon Towhee The canyon towhee is found in desert scrub and desert riparian areas.
Yellow Warbler The Yellow warbler is found in open woodland and prefers streams and riparian areas where willows
occur. They nest in shrubs and are typically made of bark and grass which are found within ten feet of
ground.
Page 19 of 62
Western Yellow-Billed Cuckoo Western Yellow-billed cuckoo is commonly found in dense wooded areas near wetlands with cottonwood
willows and mesquite present. They primarily eat caterpillars but will sometimes eat a variety of moths if
their primary food source is low. They construct a nest where a branch forks in a bush or small tree but
have known to create nests up to 90 feet above the ground.
Bell's Vireo Bell's vireo is often found in areas with low dense habitat with large amounts of shrubs as well as fields
and chaparral. They feed on insects, primarily insects and spiders. They nest in shrubs, building a cup nest
out of grass and leaves, and decorate the outside of their nest with spider egg nests.
Lucy's Warbler Lucy's warbler is found in mesquite woodlands. They feed on insects such as caterpillars. They are cavity
nesters, often using nests created by verdins.
Yuma Clapper Rail The Yuma clapper rail is a marsh bird found in wetland areas with dense vegetation. They feed primarily
on crayfish, small amphibians and small fish. They nest along the edges of marshes, building a cup nest in
the grasses along wetlands.
Golden Eagle The Golden Eagle can adapt to a variety of habitat types and can be found throughout the world. They can
be found in open areas, with native vegetation and avoid urban and agricultural areas. They nest primarily
on cliffs found in canyons or in high remote areas.
Grace’s Warbler Grace’s warblers primarily occur in ponderosa pine forests, but are occasional found in mixed conifer and
pinyon-juniper woodlands. Grace’s warblers arrive mid to late April, nest mainly in mid-June and mid-
July, with nesting occurring as late as the end of July. These warblers place their compact, cups-like nests
well away from the trunk in the cluster of needles at the end of branches. Their range within Arizona is
mainly along the Mogollon rim, with some occurrences in the northeast, southeast, and northwest portions
of the state.
Olive Warbler Distribution of olive warblers in the state extends along the Mogollon rim but they also occur in south
eastern Arizona. Olive warblers are found primarily in open ponderosa pine forests, including those
forests with a Gambel oak component. They are also found regularly in mixed-conifer forests. In
southeastern Arizona, they occur in madrean pine-oak forests characterized by an overstory of ponderosa
pine with an understory of several species of evergreen oaks and alligator juniper. Sub-communities of
madrean pine-oak occur on the Forest within pinyon-juniper and desertscrub; such exist in Oak Creek
Canyon and Towel Creek. The migratory birds arrive in March to nest and have been heard singing
through July. Cup nests are built in conifers. These birds have been document hosts for brown-headed
cowbirds in Arizona.
Pinion Jay The pinion jay is found in pinion-juniper woodland, scrub oak and chaparral communities. They are
omnivorous feeding primarily on juniper berries and insects. Their nests can be found in trees.
Black-throated Gray Warbler Phillips et al. (1964) described black-throated gray warblers as common summer residents in pinyon pine-
juniper woodlands. This species favors open woodlands and is commonly encountered nesting in pinyon
Page 20 of 62
pine-juniper woodlands. This species is encountered much more frequently in tall stands with a higher
density of mature pinyon pine. During Arizona Breeding Bird Atlas surveys, they were frequently absent
in drier stands primarily composed of juniper (Corman and Wise-Gervais 2005). This species is thought
to be stable or slightly increasing in Arizona.
Swainson’s Hawk These hawks occur in large expanses of open grasslands that may have interspersed shrubs and trees.
They nest in trees such as cottonwoods, acacia, and junipers. They eat a wide variety of items; insects,
reptiles, birds, and small mammals.
Prairie Falcon The prairie falcon occurs in grasslands, shrub-steppe, deserts and open areas and feeds primarily on
ground squirrels and other small mammals. They nest primarily on overhanging cliffs with ledges,
crevices and potholes of canyon walls. Prairie falcons are stable in Arizona with good reproductive
success (Corman and Wise-Gervais 2005).
Peregrine Falcon Peregrine Falcon is found throughout Arizona from the Colorado River Valley to over 9000 feet in
elevation in the White Mountains (Corman and Wise-Gervais 2005) with some being local residents in
Arizona (Rappole 2000) primarily in areas of substantial cliff habitats used for nesting. Peregrine falcons
breed throughout Arizona where sufficient prey is available in proximity to cliff habitats. The Grand
Canyon and Colorado Plateau region of Arizona have the highest concentration of nesting peregrine
falcons. Peregrine falcons occupy pinyon-juniper chaparral and desert communities habitats where an
open expanse is critical for foraging (Glinski 1998, Corman and Wise-Gervais 2005, Rappole 2000).
Although the distribution of peregrine falcons within Arizona has not likely changed in the past century
breeding density has increased. Arizona Game and Fish Department recent estimates suggests there may
be 300 or more occupied breeding areas in Arizona (Corman and Wise-Gervais 2005).
Gilded Flicker The gilded flicker is found mainly in desert scrub with large amount of cactus. It feeds primarily on ants
and other small insects. It nests primarily in saguaro cactus by digging a hole in its side.
Elf Owl The elf owl is found in desert riparian in chaparral. They commonly use nests from abandoned Gila
woodpeckers found in saguaros, sycamores, or cottonwood trees.
Gila Woodpecker The Gila woodpecker is found in desert communities with large cactus and trees for nesting. They mainly
feed on insects, seeds and small lizards.
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet The northern beardless-tyrannulet is found in desert scrub with large amounts of mesquite thickets that
border woodlands.
Common Black-Hawk The common black-hawk is most often found in woodland and riverside woodland habitats. They feed
primarily on aquatic animals such as frogs, small fish, and crayfish.
Bald Eagle The bald eagle is found throughout North America and relies on wetland and water habitat. They nest in
trees and snags and feed primarily on fish, small mammals and other birds.
Page 21 of 62
Southwestern Willow Flycatcher The southwestern willow flycatcher is found in riparian areas that have cottonwoods and tamarisk for
nesting. They feed primarily on insects found in the riparian areas.
Important Bird Areas and Overwintering Areas
There are 3 IBAs located within Tonto NF. They are the Cave Creek IBA, Salt and Verde Riparian
Ecosystem IBA, and the Boyce Thompson Arboretum and Arnett-Queen Creeks IBA. There is also a
designated overwintering area at Roosevelt Lake.
Effects Within the NEPA process, the evaluation of the potential effects of agency actions on migratory birds first
focuses on species of management concern along with their priority habitats and key risk factors.
Evaluation also considers balancing long-term benefits of projects against any short- or long-term adverse
effects when analyzing, disclosing, and mitigating the effects of actions to migratory birds.
This section will describe general potential impacts to migratory birds and describe long-term benefits of
each alternative against any short- or long-term adverse effects of each alternative.
Assumptions of Effects of Vehicle Travel to Migratory Bird Habitats Some level of impact is occurring to wildlife wherever motorized vehicle travel is allowed. Factors such
as habitats and species present, density of species, location of travel in relation to important habitats, time
of year or even time of day, amount of vehicle travel, and a myriad of other factors could apply in
determining what and to what extent impacts are occurring.
Vehicle use can affect migratory birds through; 1) loss of habitat due to conversion of native vegetation to
a particular road/trail surface (paved, gravel, dirt); 2) fragmentation of habitats due to a road and trail
system development; 3) interruption in migratory patterns of avian wildlife to reach breeding habitat or
winter range habitat; and 4) lack of habitat use by avian wildlife due to disturbance caused by vehicle use.
Under any alternative the direct loss of habitat from the conversion of native vegetation to roads and trails
is generally minor. Currently, the Tonto NF has management jurisdiction for approximately 5,000 miles
of system roads spread across the approximate 4,632 square miles of forest system lands. Currently road
density is approximately 1.07 miles of forest road per square mile of forest system lands. While the totals
of direct habitat loss are relatively low, avian wildlife would also avoid using the undisturbed habitat
adjacent to the road due to disturbance while the road is in use.
Each alternative includes “permit zone(s)” which are a discrete area where effects from OHV use could
negatively impact resources, but complete exclusion to the area by OHV use would not be desirable. In a
permit zone, cross-country travel is not allowed. Instead, motorized vehicle users are required to obtain a
permit to access the area, which would have locked gates and barriers restricting non-permitted access.
The potential effects to migratory birds are assessed by the addition or decommissioning of roads within
each specific PNVT within each permit zone in relation to the total miles of designated road within each
permit zone in total with all designated roads. This would not have a singular unique effect due to the
permit zone designation. Currently there is one permit zone on the Tonto NF.
Each alternative allows for some degree of vehicle use for fuelwood gathering for personal use. The
Tonto NF generates 400,000 to 500,000 cubic feet of available dead and down fuelwood. The Tonto NF
allows for the harvest of dead standing juniper and cypress up to 18 inch diameter at the base and dead
Page 22 of 62
standing pine up to 12 inch diameter at 4.5 feet above the ground annually. It is expected that snags and
dead and downed wood would be found mostly in the forested PNVTs.
Available fuelwood is the result of both natural occurring events and Tonto NF management activities.
Natural events or disturbances that result in the creation of fuelwood include but are not limited to
wildfire, insect outbreaks, droughts and heavy snowfalls. These typically occur to varying degrees across
the forest in an extremely random pattern. Areas affected can range from small scattered patches to large
landscape scales. Resulting fuel loads are also extremely variable, ranging from high concentrations of
mortality and breakage to very light and scattered accumulations.
Management activities that generate available fuelwood include prescribed fire, range improvement
cuttings, timber stand improvement cuttings and restoration activities. After these treatments are
completed, slash and associated breakage becomes available for fuelwood gathering. Treatment areas
range in size from 50 to 1,000 acres or more in size. Treatments are usually followed several years later
by prescribed fire to reduce the increased fuel load to more manageable levels reducing the intensity of
the prescribed fire making it easier to manage. Access to fuelwood gathering areas is currently provided
by both system and non-system roads and often extends for great distances away from roads and trails.
Fuelwood gathering during the spring and summer is concentrated near system roads where
concentrations of fuelwood can be seen from the vehicle. Available fuelwood in these areas can quickly
become depleted requiring fuelwood gatherers to scout the surrounding terrain to find wood. As areas
where disturbances have occurred are located, fuelwood gatherers begin to move off roads and trails to
take advantage of these concentrations.
Under Alternatives A and D fuelwood gathering practice would continue, allowing personal use fuelwood
gatherers to spread out across the permitted areas to obtain their wood. Alternatives B and C would
restrict the use of motorized vehicles for fuelwood gathering to within 300 feet on both sides of
designated roads and trails. This can lead to concentrated use in some areas, effectively removing all
available dead and down and dead standing fuelwood. In areas further away from the roads and trails,
concentrations of dead and down fuel would start to accumulate over time, increasing the risk of
uncharacteristically intense fire behavior. Historically, forest system roadsides are mostly cleared of dead
and down fuelwood each year by late August, five months into the nine month season, coinciding with the
primary nesting season of neotropical birds. This analysis assumes that wood cutters will rarely physically
haul wood over 100 feet from a vehicle and frequently use old skid trails or gaps in the forest to work
their vehicles into the forest a considerable distance where they can load wood directly into their vehicles.
While most of the wood cutters that receive a fuelwood permit would stay within 300 feet of designated
routes, the more experienced cutters rarely cut near the road, and regularly venture beyond 300 feet. A
conservative estimate of these wood cutters would be 30 percent of regular permit holders or
approximately 300 individuals.
All alternatives would include some allowances for the use of motorized vehicles for dispersed camping.
Use of motor vehicles off forest system roads to access campsites is a popular activity on the Tonto NF.
In some instances, forest visitors park their vehicles at trailheads or roadside locations and hike to their
camping spots. Others will drive cross-country to their desired camping spot, often with a recreational
vehicle or camping trailer. Frequently-used dispersed campsites, where evidence of past use exists, are
located along both forest system roads and unauthorized routes throughout the Tonto NF.
Currently, the distance traveled from existing roads to frequently-used dispersed campsites can vary
depending on the terrain and proximity to water and shade trees. Based on knowledge from Forest Service
law enforcement officers and Arizona Game and Fish Department Wildlife Managers, most of these
dispersed campsites are within 300 feet of an existing road, including sites on the four ranger districts
where cross-country travel is currently prohibited. On the northern two ranger districts (Payson and
Page 23 of 62
Pleasant Valley), driving cross-country has been permitted regardless of the distance from an existing
road. On the four southern ranger districts (Cave Creek, Globe, Mesa, and Tonto Basin), driving off road
is prohibited unless posted open. Fuelwood gathered for campfires within the immediate areas of
dispersed campsites reduce logs and snags. Prolonged and persistent pedestrian and vehicle presence at
dispersed campsite could reduce grass and shrub understories and prevent natural vegetation regeneration.
Each alternative would include some level of motorized vehicle use for big game retrieval. Within
Motorized Big Game Retrieval corridors, hunters who have legally killed particular game species are
allowed to travel off-road from a designated public route to retrieve their harvest. Several considerations
determine where and how many acres are potentially impacted by motorized big game retrieval: 1) where
hunters are allowed to hunt (game management units), 2) proposed and existing public roads, 3) the
distance hunters would be allowed to drive cross-country to pick-up their harvest, and 4) elk, bear, and
mule deer and whitetail deer habitat within game management units where big game hunts are authorized.
There are portions of seven game management units totaling 2,883,757.87 acres within the Tonto NF. Elk
hunts are permitted in four game management units with open hunting seasons beginning in August with
various specific hunts occurring through December. These game management units are comprised of
2,242458 acres with elk habitat located primarily in the northern portions of the game management units.
Mule deer and whitetail deer hunts occur in all seven game management units with archery hunts
authorized in August and December and firearms seasons occurring in late October through portions of
November and December. It is assumed that deer hunters would hunt in essentially all habitats within the
game management units. Bear hunts are permitted in five game management units comprised of
2,844,394 acres with black bear habitat located primarily in the northern portions of the game
management units. Bear hunts could occur in August through December of each year. AGFD has
estimated the number of annual, motorized harvests for these four big game animals under consideration
for motorized big game retrieval in for each action alternative. These estimates rely on the assumption
that 30percent of successful hunters would use their motor vehicle to retrieve their harvest. Arizona Game
and Fish Department estimates the total number of trips annually would be 193 for elk and 15 for bear,
135 for mule deer and 206 for whitetail deer. The general hunting season for elk, bear, mule deer and
whitetail deer occurs from August to December. Consequently, motorized big game retrieval is not
anticipated to disturb breeding birds, which is generally April through August each year. It is also
anticipated that a hunter would make one to two passes through a route to retrieve big game. One to two
passes is not expected to destroy many annual plants. Webb (1983) found that after a single pass, annual
plants on an OHV route remained intact, but most were destroyed after ten passes. It is expected that
perennial plants are more robust and are likely to also sustain the one to two passes that a hunter would
make to retrieve their harvest. The habitat will likely recover from one to two passes from a motorized
vehicle.
Disturbance related to travel management is largely a result of human intrusion and modification of
existing habitats. Disturbance may be in the form of noise, human presence, or anything that causes
displacement, avoidance, stress or other behavioral responses such as chainsaw noise, gunshots that create
a startle response, consistent intrusions that alter foraging patterns, temporary intrusions that cause
avoidance. It can also include disturbance to habitat features or loss of habitat for some species, such as
occurs when rutting in wet meadows changes hydrology, compacts soils or injures or kills individual
plants or animals. Roads and trails facilitate human access into wildlife habitats. People who use open
routes, habitat adjacent to open routes, and cross-country travel areas could incidentally trample or
dislodge nestlings or eggs of some breeding bird species that nest on the ground or shrubs. Alternatives
that have more closed routes, fewer open routes, and smaller cross-country travel areas are expected to
have less direct impact to migratory birds. Open routes can lead to more fuelwood harvesting, which
could decrease the amount of dead and downed wood affecting cavity nesting habitat and habitat for
raptor prey species. Human presence, and human-created unfamiliar or proximate noise disturbance, may
Page 24 of 62
displace migratory birds from preferred habitats. Resident birds could be exposed to high levels of traffic
noise, visual disturbance from passing vehicles, and the risk of collision with motorized vehicles. Traffic
noise can reduce the distance over which acoustic signals such as song can be detected, an effect known
as acoustic interference or masking (Parris and Schneider 2008). Consequently, less motorized vehicle
use means fewer direct impacts (nesting disturbance, adult, fledgling and egg mortality) and indirect
impacts (habitat degradation due to camping and wood gathering).
Wildlife is directly affected by excessive noise (decibel levels/noise durations well above those of typical
background noise) and other disturbances associated with OHV activities. Disturbance effects range from
physiological impacts—including stress and mortality due to breakage of nest-supporting vegetation,
collapsed burrows, inner ear bleeding, and vehicle-animal collisions—to altered behaviors and population
distribution/dispersal patterns, which can lead to declines in local population size, survivorship, and
productivity (Ouren et al 2007). Additional indirect effects of motorized vehicle travel include habitat
fragmentation. Creating roads and trails (of any kind) diminishes habitat connectivity, increases the
proportion of edge to interior habitat, decreases patch size of habitats including OHV routes, and
represents a principal factor contributing to habitat fragmentation at various scales. Both paved roads and
OHV routes—ranging from 4-lane paved highways to two-track routes less than 3 m (3.3 yards) wide—
that separate once-continuous habitat can disrupt the movement and dispersal of many wildlife species
between and within habitats ((Reed and others1996; Forman and others, 2003 Meffe and Carroll, 1997
Swihart and Slade, 1984; Brody and Pelton, 1989; Yanes and others, 1995; Lovallo and Anderson, 1996;
Clevenger, 1998; Forman and Alexander, 1998; Jackson and Griffen, 1998 as cited in Ouren et al 2007).
The measurement of disturbance impacts to migratory birds resulting from human intrusion is driven by
the frequency and location of human activity. The presence of roads and trails does not necessarily
correspond to the level of recreational human use. For this analysis, the action alternatives with fewer
roads and trails open to motorized use would likely concentrate human disturbance impacts into smaller
areas, which could increase disturbance impacts in those areas (especially in popular camping areas or on
motorized trails) but would decrease disturbance impacts in other areas of the Tonto NF.
In general, those alternatives with more miles of open roads and motorized trails create more opportunity
for adverse impacts to migratory birds from roads. These impacts include human disturbance caused by
noise and physical intrusion. Impacts to hunting may occur due to increased hunter access further into
game habitat on open roads and trails. Harvest of dead log and snags by Forest visitors will increase at
higher road densities.
Designated motorized vehicle use corridors of 300 feet from roads for dispersed camping, big game
retrieval and personal use fuelwood gathering would increase the direct and indirect disturbance and
habitat fragmentation effects of roads, as discussed above. Assuming a relatively constant number of
campers, fewer miles of designated corridors would mean more concentrated areas of camping and a
continued proliferation of dispersed campsites in those areas. More miles of designated corridors would
mean the campers could be more widely dispersed. Therefore, the magnitude of impacts from camping
corridors depends in part on the miles or acres of designated camping corridors under each alternative.
Motorized big-game retrieval corridors would have similar effects as open roads, motorized trails and
open areas including disturbance and intrusion into habitat, possibly reducing areas of secure habitat for
some species.
Analysis of Effects This section focuses on the effects of major changes to designated motorized vehicle travel by alternative
to migratory bird species of concern within each PNVT to five evaluation factors: Roads and Trails
Designated for Motor Vehicle use (including inventoried unauthorized (user created routes); Areas Open
to Motorized Cross-country Travel; Big Game Retrieval Using Motor Vehicles; Access of Dispersed
Page 25 of 62
Camping Using Motor Vehicles and Motorized Vehicle Use for Fuelwood gathering. A summary of
potential affects to migratory bird species of concern from changes in the designated road system for each
alternative and each PNVT is presented below.
Pinyon-juniper Chaparral Species
Table 3: Effects to Pinyon-juniper Chaparral Species by Forest and Alternative Analysis Factor Forest wide Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Roads and trails
open motorized
travel (miles)
964.60
721.47 425.52 616.90
703.87
Areas open to
motorized cross-
country travel
(acres)
814,777.88
271,584.35
NA 0.0 0.0
Big game
retrieval using
motorized
vehicles (acres)
814,777.88
271,584.35
NA 340,423.39 374,607.87
Access of
dispersed
camping using
motorized
vehicles (acres)
814,777.88
271,584.35
609
12,640.21
48,485.13
Additional
information
pertaining to
motor vehicle use
(personal use
fuelwood
gathering) (acres)
814,777.88
329,724.25 23,689.81 31,556.84
329,724.25
Five species are considered migratory bird species of concern birds with priority habitats within pinyon-
juniper woodland PNVT. They include golden eagle, peregrine falcon, gray flycatcher, pinyon jay,
juniper titmouse. gray vireo. and black-throated gray warbler. Approximately 814,777 acres of pinyon-
juniper habitat exists on the Tonto NFs. This represents approximately 27percent of the acreage on the
forest.
Alternative A Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 721.47 miles of roads or 75 percent of the
Tonto NF would continue to be open to motorized travel if this alternative was implemented in pinyon-
juniper chaparral habitat on the forests. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly
increase in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Cross country motorized travel would continue to be authorized forest-
wide on approximately 271,584 acres of pinyon-juniper habitat. Motorized use within or adjacent to
habitat for pinyon-juniper woodland habitat types has the potential to influence behavior, survival,
reproduction and distribution of these species, as well as to alter habitat. The current level of impact is
expected to continue, and possibly increase in the future if demand for public use increases and
Alternative A is implemented.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Big game retrieval would continue to be authorized only in Pleasant
Valley and Payson Ranger Districts on approximately 703,618 acres and is currently allowed in 271,584
Page 26 of 62
acres of pinyon-juniper chaparral habitat type. Alternative A would not alter pinyon-juniper chaparral
habitat open for motorized retrieval of all game species since there would be no change in baseline
conditions of motorized vehicle use for big game retrieval. Current conditions would continue under
Alternative A.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Dispersed camping would continue to be
authorized only in Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts on approximately 703,618 acres and is
currently allowed in 271,584 acres of pinyon-juniper chaparral habitat type. The current level of impact is
expected to continue, and possibly increase in the future if demand for public use increases and
Alternative A is implemented.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be permitted within all permitted fuelwood gathering areas on approximately
329,724 acres of pinyon-juniper chaparral habitat. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and
possibly increase in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented
Alternative B Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 425.52 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 721.47 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in pinyon-juniper habitats on the forests. This alternative would reduce the amount of
roads with the PNVT type by 42 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the PNVT within the
forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Cross country motorized travel would not be allowed under this
alternative.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - MBGR would not be allowed under this alternative.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Currently there is 271,584 acres of dispersed
camping access within pinyon-juniper chaparral habitat types. Under this alternative, access would be
restricted to approximately 6 acres at designated camping sites, reducing the amount of motorized
camping areas to less than 0.01 percent of currently available motorized camping areas.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 329,724 acres to 23,689 acres of pinyon-
juniper chaparral, a reduction of 91percent. This would reduce the likelihood of potential impacts to
cavity and snag nesting birds, as permitted access to these areas is reduced.
Alternative C Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 616.9 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 721.47 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in pinyon-juniper habitats on the forests. This alternative would reduce the amount of
roads within the PNVT type by 15 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the PNVT within
the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, there would be no impact to pinyon-juniper
chaparral habitat types since this PNVT is not represented in OHV areas.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from approximately
271,584 acres to 340,423 acres, an increase of approximately 21 percent within the pinyon-juniper
chaparral habitat type. This alternative would allow hunters to travel up to 1 mile from designated routes
to retrieve elk and bear. Hunting seasons for elk and bear are generally late fall through early winter after
Page 27 of 62
primary nesting season of migratory birds. This may increase the potential for impacts on ground and
shrub nesting birds as the increase of vehicle travel may crush or damage nesting habitat.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, access would be
restricted to approximately 12,640 acres on pinyon-juniper chaparral habitat types. Motorized camping
would be allowed within 100 feet of designated routes. This alternative would reduce motorized camping
areas by approximately 95 percent reducing the likelihood of impacts to ground and shrub nesting birds.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 329,724 acres to 31,557 acres of pinyon-
juniper chaparral, a reduction of 90 percent. This reduces the likelihood of impacts to cavity and snag
nesting birds, as allowed access to these areas is reduced.
Alternative D Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 703.87 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 721.47 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in pinyon-juniper habitats on the forests. This alternative would reduce the amount of
roads with the PNVT type by 3 percent, which would lead to a beneficial effect for the PNVT within the
forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, there would be no impact to pinyon-juniper
chaparral habitat types since this PNVT is not represented in OHV areas.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR is increased from approximately 271,584
acres to 374,608 acres, an increase of 28 percent within the pinyon-juniper chaparral habitat type. This
alternative would allow hunters to travel up to 1 mile from designated routes to retrieve elk, bear, mule
deer, and whitetail deer. Hunting seasons for elk, mule deer, whitetail deer and bear are generally late fall
through early winter after primary nesting season of migratory birds. This alternative may increase the
potential for impacts on ground and shrub nesting bird habitat as the increase of vehicle travel may crush
or damage their nesting habitat while retrieving game.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed
camping sites is restricted to approximately 12,640 acres on pinyon-juniper chaparral habitat types.
Motorized camping would be allowed within 100 feet of all designated routes. This alternative would
reduce motorized camping areas by approximately 95 percent reducing the likelihood of impacts to
ground and shrub nesting birds and nesting habitat.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would stay the same as Alternative A.
Desert Community Species
Table 4: Effects to Desert Community Species by Forest and Alternative Analysis Factor Forest wide Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Roads and trails
open to public
use (Miles)
810.23
581.57 246.49
476.94
520.48
Areas open to
motorized cross-
country travel
(acres)
725,990.92 1,316.76
NA 1,403.92
1,403.92
Big game
retrieval using
motorized
725,990.92 1,316.76
NA 32,665.11
240445.02
Page 28 of 62
Analysis Factor Forest wide Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
vehicles (acres)
Access of
dispersed
camping using
motorized
vehicles (acres)
725,990.92 1,316.76
10.64
10,191.79
36,880.41931
Additional
information
pertaining to
motor vehicle use
(personal use
fuelwood
gathering) (acres)
725,990.92 71,843.67 7,057.36
8,566.65
71,843.67
Eleven species are considered migratory bird species of concern birds with priority habitats within the
desert communities’ PNVT. They include golden eagle, peregrine falcon, prairie falcon, gilded flicker,
Costa's hummingbird, purple martin, elf owl, phainopepla, Bendire's thrasher, canyon towhee, Gila
woodpecker, Bell's vireo, and Lucy's warbler. Approximately 725,990.92 acres of desert communities
habitat exists on the Tonto NFs. This represents approximately 24 percent of the acreage on the forest.
Alternative A Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 581.57 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative continued to be implemented in desert communities habitat. The
current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in the future if demand for public
use increases and Alternative A is implemented
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Cross country motorized travel would continue to be authorized
forests-wide on approximately 1,317.76 acres of desert communities habitat. Motorized use within or
adjacent to habitat for desert communities habitat types has the potential to influence behavior, survival,
reproduction and distribution of these species, as well as to alter habitat. The current level of impact is
expected to continue, and possibly increase in the future if demand for public use increases and
Alternative A is implemented
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be restricted to 1,316.76 acres of
desert communities habitat type and would only be authorized in Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger
Districts. Alternative A would not alter desert communities’ habitat open for motorized retrieval of all
game species since there would be no change in baseline conditions of motorized vehicle use for big
game retrieval. Current conditions would continue under Alternative A.
Access to dispersed camping using motorized vehicles - Dispersed camping would continue to be
authorized only in Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts on approximately 703,618 acres and is
currently allowed in 1,316.76 acres of desert communities’ habitat type. Current conditions would
continue under Alternative A
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering is permitted within all permitted fuelwood gathering areas on approximately
71,843.67 acres of desert communities habitat type. Current conditions would continue under Alternative
A
Alternative B Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 246.49 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 581.57 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in desert communities habitats on the forests. This alternative would reduce the amount
Page 29 of 62
of roads with the PNVT type by 58 percent, which would lead to a beneficial effect for the PNVT within
the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Cross country motorized travel would not be allowed under this
alternative.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - MBGR would not be allowed under this alternative.
Access to dispersed camping using motorized vehicles - Currently there is 1,316.76 acres of dispersed
camping access within desert communities habitat types. Under this alternative, access would be
restricted to approximately 10.64 acres at designated camping sites, and would reduce the amount of
motorized camping areas to less than 0.01 percent of currently available motorized camping areas.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 71,843.67 acres to 7,057.36 acres of desert
communities, a reduction of 91 percent. This would reduce the likelihood of impacts to cavity and snag
nesting birds, as allowed access to these areas would be reduced.
Alternative C Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 476.94 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 581.57 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in desert communities habitats on the forest. This alternative would reduce the amount of
roads with the PNVT type by 18 percent, which would lead to a beneficial effect for the PNVT within the
forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, motorized cross country travel would increase
from approximately from 1,316 acres to 1,403.92 acres, an increase of approximately 7 percent within the
desert communities habitat type. This may increase the potential for impacts on ground and shrub nesting
birds as the increase of vehicle travel may crush or damage their nests while driving cross country.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from approximately
1,316.76 acres to 32,665.11 acres, an increase of approximately 2,381percent within the desert
communities habitat type. Currently, MBGR is restricted to Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts
which includes minimal desert communities habitat. This alternative would allow hunters to travel up to 1
mile from designated routes to retrieve elk and bear within desert communities habitats that were
previously restricted in Alternative A, the current condition. Hunting seasons for elk and bear are
generally late fall through early winter after primary nesting season of migratory birds. This may increase
the potential for impacts on ground and shrub nesting bird habitats as the increase of vehicle travel may
crush or damage their nesting habitat structure while retrieving game.
Access to dispersed camping using motorized vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed
camping using motorized vehicles would be increased from approximately 1,316.76 acres to 10,191.79
acres on desert communities habitat types, an increase of approximately 674 percent. Currently,
motorized camping is restricted to Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts which includes minimal
desert communities habitat. This alternative would increase the likelihood of impacts to ground and shrub
nesting bird habitats which may be impacted while vehicles travel to camping areas along designated
routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 71,843.67 acres to 8,566.65 acres of desert
communities, a reduction of 88 percent. This would lessen the likelihood of impacts to cavity and snag
nesting birds, as allowed access to these areas would be reduced.
Page 30 of 62
Alternative D Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 520.48 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 581.57 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in desert communities habitat on the forest. This alternative would reduce the amount of
roads with the PNVT type by 11 percent, which would reduce vehicle traffic for the PNVT within the
forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, motorized cross country travel would be
increased from approximately from 1,316 acres to 1,403.92 acres, an increase of approximately 7 percent
within the desert communities habitat type. This may increase the potential for impacts on ground and
shrub nesting bird habitats as the increase of vehicle travel may crush or damage their nesting structure
while driving cross country.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from approximately
1,316.76 acres to 240,445.02 acres, an increase of approximately 18,000 percent within the desert
communities habitat type. Currently, MBGR is restricted to Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts
which includes minimal desert communities habitat. This alternative would allow hunters to travel up to 1
mile from designated routes to retrieve elk, mule deer, whitetail deer and bear within desert communities
habitats that were previously restricted in Alternative A, the current condition. Hunting seasons for elk,
deer and bear are generally late fall through early winter after primary nesting season of migratory birds.
This may increase the potential for impacts on ground and shrub nesting bird habitat as the increase of
vehicle travel may crush or damage their nesting habitat structure while retrieving game.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed
camping using motorized vehicles would be increased from approximately 1,316.76 acres to 36,880.42
acres on desert communities habitat types, an increase of approximately 2,700 percent. Currently,
motorized camping is restricted to Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts which includes minimal
desert communities habitat. This alternative would increase the likelihood of impacts to ground and shrub
nesting birds which may be impacted while vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would stay the same as Alternative A.
Semi-desert Grassland Species
Table 5: Effects to Semi-desert Grassland Species by Forest and Alternative Analysis Factor Forest wide Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Roads and trails
open to public
use (Miles)
376.91
277.00 169.77
232.21
274.63
Areas open to
motorized cross-
country travel
(acres)
39,4195.66 9,353.35
NA 0.0 0.0
Big game
retrieval using
motorized
vehicles (acres)
394,195.66 9,353.35
NA 43,468.11
94,612.74
Access of
dispersed
camping using
motorized
vehicles (acres)
394,195.66 9,353.35
4.86
4,835.76
17,154.51
Additional
information
394,195.66 63,352.21
8092.00
9,867.08
63,352.21
Page 31 of 62
Analysis Factor Forest wide Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
pertaining to
motor vehicle use
(personal use
fuelwood
gathering) (acres)
Two species are considered migratory bird species of concern birds with priority habitats within semi-
desert grassland PNVT. They include golden eagle and Swainson's hawk. Approximately 391,195.66
acres of semi-desert grassland habitats exists on the Tonto NFs. This represents approximately 13 percent
of the acreage on the forests.
Alternative A Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 277.00 miles of roads or 73 percent of the
Tonto NF would continue to be open to motorized travel if this alternative was implemented in semi-
desert grassland habitat. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in the
future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Cross country motorized travel would continue to be authorized
forests-wide on approximately 9,353.35 acres of semi-desert grassland habitat. Motorized use within or
adjacent to habitat for semi-desert grassland habitat types has the potential to influence behavior, survival,
reproduction and distribution of these species, as well as to alter habitat. The current level of impact is
expected to continue, and possibly increase in the future if demand for public use increases and
Alternative A is implemented
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be restricted to 9,353.35 acres of
semi-grassland habitat type and would only be authorized in Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts.
This would stay the same as it is the current condition. Alternative A would not alter desert communities’
habitat open for motorized retrieval of all game species since there would be no change in baseline
conditions of motorized vehicle use for big game retrieval. Current conditions would continue under
Alternative A.
Access to dispersed camping using motorized vehicles - Dispersed camping would continue to be
authorized only in Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts on approximately 9,353.35 acres of semi-
desert grassland habitat type. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in
the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented. Current conditions
would continue under Alternative A.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering is permitted within all permitted fuelwood gathering areas on approximately
63,352.21 acres of semi-desert grassland habitat types. Alternative A would not alter desert communities’
habitat open for motorized retrieval of all game species since there would be no change in baseline
conditions of motorized vehicle use for big game retrieval. Current conditions would continue under
Alternative A.
Alternative B Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 169.77 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 277.00 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in semi-desert grasslands habitats on the forests. This alternative reduces the amount of
roads with the PNVT type by 39 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the PNVT within the
forest.
Page 32 of 62
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Cross country motorized travel would not be allowed under this
alternative.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - MBGR would not be allowed under this alternative.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Currently there is 9,353.35 acres of dispersed
camping access within semi-desert grassland habitat types. Under this alternative, access would be
restricted to approximately 4.86 acres at designated camping sites, reducing the amount of motorized
camping areas to less than .01 percent of currently available motorized camping areas.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 63,352.21 acres to 8,092.00 acres semi-desert
grassland, a reduction of 87 percent. This would reduce the likelihood of impacts to cavity and snag
nesting birds, as allowed access to these areas is reduced.
Alternative C Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 232.21 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 277.00 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in semi-desert grassland habitats on the forest. This alternative would reduce the amount
of roads with the PNVT type by 17 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the PNVT within
the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, there would be no impact to semi-desert
grassland habitat types since this PNVT is not represented in OHV areas.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from approximately
9,353.35 acres to 43,468.11 acres, an increase of approximately 364 percent within the semi-desert
grassland habitat types. Currently, MBGR is restricted to Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts
which includes minimal semi-desert grassland habitat. This alternative would allow hunters to travel up to
1 mile from designated routes to retrieve elk and bear within semi-desert grassland habitats that were
previously restricted in Alternative A, the current condition. Hunting seasons for elk and bear are
generally late fall through early winter after primary nesting season of migratory birds. This may increase
the potential for impacts on ground and shrub nesting bird habitats as the increase of vehicle travel may
crush or damage their nesting habitat structure while retrieving game.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed
camping using motorized vehicles would be decreased from approximately 9,353.35 acres to 4,835.76
acres on semi-desert grasslands habitat types, a decrease of approximately 48 percent. Currently,
motorized camping is restricted to Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts which includes minimal
semi-desert grassland habitat. This alternative would decrease the likelihood of impacts to ground and
shrub nesting birds which may be impacted while vehicles travel to camping areas along designated
routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 63,352.21 acres to 9,867.08 acres of semi-
desert grassland, a reduction of 84 percent. This would reduce the likelihood of impacts to cavity and
snag nesting birds, as allowed access to these areas is reduced.
Alternative D Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 274.63 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 277.00 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in semi-desert grassland habitat on the forest. This alternative would reduce the amount
Page 33 of 62
of roads with the PNVT type by approximately 1 percent which would reduce vehicle traffic for the
PNVT within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, there would be no impact to semi-desert
grassland habitat types due to the removal of OHV areas with the PNVT.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from approximately
9,353.35 acres to 94,612.74 acres, an increase of approximately 911 percent within the semi-desert
grassland habitat type. This alternative would allow hunters to travel up to 1 mile from designated routes
to retrieve elk, mule deer, whitetail deer and bear within semi-desert grassland habitats that were
previously restricted in Alternative A, the current condition. Hunting seasons for elk, deer and bear are
generally late fall through early winter after primary nesting season of migratory birds. This may increase
the potential for impacts on ground and shrub nesting bird habitats as the increase of vehicle travel may
crush or damage their nesting habitat structure while retrieving game.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed
camping using motorized vehicles would be increased from approximately 9,353.35 acres to 17,154.51
acres on semi-desert grassland habitat types, an increase of approximately 83 percent. Currently,
motorized camping is restricted to Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts which includes minimal
semi-desert grasslands habitat. This alternative would increase the likelihood of impacts to ground and
shrub nesting birds which may be impacted while vehicles travel to camping areas along designated
routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would stay the same as Alternative A.
Ponderosa Pine Mild Species
Table 6: Effects to Ponderosa Pine Mild Species by Forest and Alternative Analysis Factor Forest wide Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Roads and trails
open to public
use (miles)
2,097.97
1,764.47 857.25
1,317.27
1,725.44
Areas open to
motorized cross-
country travel
(acres)
250,220.91 371,855.52
NA 0.0 0.0
Big game
retrieval using
motorized
vehicles (acres)
250,220.91 371,855.52
NA 388,939.49
402,943.85
Access of
dispersed
camping using
motorized
vehicles (acres)
250220.91 371855.52
24.50
24,495.67
104,934.91
Additional
information
pertaining to
motor vehicle use
(personal use
fuelwood
gathering) (acres)
250,220.91 192,151.48
28,887.13
34,832.02
192,151.48
Eight species are considered migratory bird species of concern and are considered with priority habitats
with ponderosa pine mild PNVT. They include olive-sided flycatcher, northern goshawk, flammulated
Page 34 of 62
owl, Grace's warbler, olive warbler, Lewis' woodpecker, Mexican spotted owl and band-tail pigeon.
Approximately 250,220.91 acres of ponderosa pine mild habitats exists on the Tonto NFs. This represents
approximately 8 percent of the acreage on the forests.
Alternative A Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 1764.47 miles of roads or 84 percent of the
Tonto NF would continue to be open to motorized travel if this alternative was implemented within the
ponderosa pine mild habitat type. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly
increase in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Cross country motorized travel would continue to be authorized
forests-wide on approximately 371,855.52 acres of ponderosa pine mild habitat. Motorized use within or
adjacent to ponderosa pine mild habitat types has the potential to influence behavior, survival,
reproduction and distribution of these species, as well as to alter habitat. The current level of impact is
expected to continue, and possibly increase in the future if demand for public use increases and
Alternative A is implemented
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be restricted to 371,855.52 acres of
ponderosa pine mild habitat type and would only be authorized in Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger
Districts. Current conditions would continue under this Alternative A.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Dispersed camping would continue to be
authorized only in Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts on approximately 371,855.52 acres of
ponderosa pine mild habitat type. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly
increase in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented Current
conditions would continue under this Alternative A.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be allowed within all permitted areas on approximately 192,151.48 acres of
ponderosa pine mild habitat types. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly
increase in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented Current
conditions would continue under this Alternative A.
Alternative B Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 857.25 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 1,764.47 miles of open roads
and motorized trails in ponderosa pine mild habitats on the forests. This alternative would reduce the
amount of roads with the PNVT type by 51 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the PNVT
within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Cross country motorized travel would not be allowed under this
alternative.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - MBGR would not be allowed under this alternative.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Currently there is 371,855.52 acres of
dispersed camping access within ponderosa pine mild habitat types. Under this alternative, access would
be restricted to approximately 24.50 acres that allow a 50 foot buffer from designated camping sites, and
would reduce the amount of motorized camping areas to less than 0.01 percent of currently available
motorized camping areas.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 192,151.48 acres to 28,887.13 acres ponderosa
Page 35 of 62
pine mild habitat, a reduction of 85 percent. This would reduce the likelihood of impacts to cavity and
snag nesting birds, as allowed access to these areas is reduced.
Alternative C Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 1,317.27 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 1,764.47 miles of open roads
and motorized trails in ponderosa pine mild habitats on the forest. This alternative would reduce the
amount of roads with the PNVT type by 25 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the PNVT
within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, there would be no impact to ponderosa pine
mild habitat types since this PNVT is not represented in the OHV areas.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from approximately
371,855.52 acres to 388,939.49 acres, an increase of approximately 5 percent within the ponderosa pine
mild habitat types. This alternative would allow hunters to travel up to 1 mile from designated routes to
retrieve elk and bear within ponderosa pine mild habitats that were previously restricted in Alternative A,
the current condition. Hunting seasons for elk and bear are generally late fall through early winter after
primary nesting season of migratory birds. This may increase the potential for impacts on ground and
shrub nesting bird habitats as the increase of vehicle travel may crush or damage their nesting habitat
structure while retrieving game.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed
camping using motorized vehicles would be decreased from approximately 371,855.52 acres to 24,495.67
acres on ponderosa pine mild habitat types, a decrease of approximately 93 percent. Currently, motorized
camping is restricted to Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts. This alternative would decrease the
likelihood of impacts to ground and shrub nesting birds which may be impacted while vehicles travel to
camping areas along designated routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 192,151.48 acres to 34,832.02 acres of
ponderosa pine mild, a reduction of 82 percent. This would reduce the likelihood of impacts to cavity and
snag nesting birds, as allowed access to these areas is reduced.
Alternative D Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 1,725.44 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 1,764.47 miles of open roads
and motorized trails in ponderosa pine mild habitat on the forest. This alternative would reduce the
amount of roads with the PNVT type by approximately 2 percent which would reduce vehicle traffic for
the PNVT within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, there would be no impact to ponderosa pine
mild habitat types since this PNVT is not represented in OHV areas.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from approximately
371,855.52 acres to 402,943.85 acres, an increase of approximately 8 percent within the ponderosa pine
mild habitat type. This alternative would allow hunters to travel up to 1 mile from designated routes to
retrieve elk, mule deer, whitetail deer and bear within ponderosa pine mild habitats that were previously
restricted in Alternative A, the current condition. Hunting seasons for elk, mule deer, whitetail deer and
bear are generally late fall through early winter after primary nesting season of migratory birds. This may
increase the potential for impacts on ground and shrub nesting bird habitats as the increase of vehicle
travel may crush or damage their nesting habitat structure while retrieving game.
Page 36 of 62
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed
camping using motorized vehicles would be decreased from approximately 371,855.52 acres to
104,934.91 acres on ponderosa pine mild habitat types, a decrease of approximately 71 percent. This
alternative would decrease the likelihood of impacts to ground and shrub nesting birds which may be
impacted while vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would stay the same as Alternative A.
Interior Chaparral Species
Table 7: Effects to Interior Chaparral Species by Forest and Alternative Analysis Factor Forest wide Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Roads and trails
open to public
use (miles)
364.03
210.81 105.32
165.28
210.12
Areas open to
motorized cross-
country travel
(acres)
28,0763.30 8,105.13
NA 0.0 0.0
Big game
retrieval using
motorized
vehicles (acres)
280,763.30 8,105.13
NA 83038.16 93604.62
Access of
dispersed
camping using
motorized
vehicles (acres)
280,763.30 8,105.13
1.00
3,373.60
13,178.38
Additional
information
pertaining to
motor vehicle use
(personal use
fuelwood
gathering) (acres)
280,763.30 60,441.98
4,184.27
5,979.93
60,441.98
One species of bird is considered a migratory bird species of concern with priority habitats within the
interior chaparral habitat PNVT. This is the black-chinned sparrow. The constituent habitat preferred by
the black chinned sparrow is tall dense shrub slopes and ridges of the interior chaparral PNVT.
Approximately 280,763.30 acres of interior chaparral habitats exists on the Tonto NFs. This represents
approximately 9 percent of the acreage on the forests.
Alternative A Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 210.81 miles of roads and trails or 45
percent of the Tonti NF would continue to be open to motorized travel if this alternative was implemented
in interior chaparral habitat on the forests. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and
possibly increase in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Cross country motorized travel would continue to be authorized
forests-wide on approximately 8,105.13 acres interior chaparral habitat. Motorized use within or adjacent
to habitat for interior chaparral habitat types has the potential to influence behavior, survival, reproduction
and distribution of these species, as well as to alter habitat. The current level of impact is expected to
continue, and possibly increase in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is
implemented
Page 37 of 62
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be restricted to 8,105.13 acres of
interior chaparral habitat type and would only be authorized in Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger
Districts. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in the future if
demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Dispersed camping would continue to be
authorized only in Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts on approximately 8,105.13 acres of
interior chaparral habitat type. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase
in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering is permitted within all permitted areas on approximately 60,441.98 acres of interior
chaparral habitat types. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in the
future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented
Alternative B Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 105.32 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 210.81 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in interior chaparral habitats on the forests. This alternative would reduce the amount of
roads with the PNVT type by 50 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the PNVT including
the tall dense shrub slopes and ridges of the interior chaparral of the PNVT preferred by the black chinned
sparrow.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Cross country motorized travel would not be allowed under this
alternative.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - MBGR would not be allowed under this alternative.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Currently there is 8,105.13 acres of dispersed
camping access within interior chaparral habitat types. Under this alternative, access would be restricted
to approximately 1.0 acres that allows a 50 foot buffer from designated camping sites, reducing the
amount of motorized camping areas to less than 0.01percent of currently available motorized camping
areas.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 60,441.98 acres to 4,184.27 acres of interior
chaparral habitat, a reduction of 93 percent. This would reduce the likelihood of impacts to cavity and
snag nesting birds, and would have a beneficial effect to the tall dense shrub slopes and ridges of the
interior chaparral of the PNVT preferred by the black chinned sparrow, as allowed access to these areas is
reduced.
Alternative C Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 165.28 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 210.81 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in interior chaparral habitats on the forest. This alternative would reduce the amount of
roads with the PNVT type by 22 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect to the tall dense shrub
slopes and ridges of the interior chaparral of the PNVT preferred by the black chinned sparrow for the
PNVT within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, there would be no impact to interior chaparral
habitat types since this PNVT is not represented in OHV areas.
Page 38 of 62
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from approximately
8,105.13 acres to 83,038.16 acres, an increase of approximately 925 percent within the interior chaparral
habitat types. This alternative would allow hunters to travel up to 1 mile from designated routes to
retrieve elk and bear within interior chaparral habitats that were previously restricted in Alternative A, the
current condition. Hunting seasons for elk and bear are generally late fall through early winter after
primary nesting season of migratory birds. This may increase the potential for impacts on the tall dense
shrub slopes and ridges of the interior chaparral of the PNVT preferred by the black chinned sparrow, as
the increase of vehicle travel may crush or damage their nesting habitats while retrieving game.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed
camping using motorized vehicles would be decreased from approximately 8,105.13 acres to 3,373.60
acres on interior chaparral habitat types, a decrease of approximately 58 percent. This alternative would
decrease the likelihood of impacts to the tall dense shrub slopes and ridges of the interior chaparral of the
PNVT preferred by the black chinned sparrow and other shrub nesting birds which may be impacted
while vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 60,441.98 acres to 5,979.93 acres of interior
chaparral, a reduction of 90 percent. This would reduce the likelihood of impacts to cavity and snag
nesting birds, and to the tall dense shrub slopes and ridges of the interior chaparral of the PNVT preferred
by the black chinned sparrow as allowed access to these areas is reduced.
Alternative D Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 210.12 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 210.81 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in interior chaparral habitat on the forest. This alternative would reduce the amount of
roads with the PNVT type by less than 1 percent which would have a minimal impact change to the
PNVT within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, there would be no impact to interior chaparral
habitat types since this PNVT is not represented in OHV areas.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from approximately
8,105.13 acres to 93,604.62 acres, an increase of approximately 1,054 percent within the interior
chaparral habitat type. This alternative would allow hunters to travel up to 1 mile from designated routes
to retrieve elk, mule deer, whitetail deer and bear within interior chaparral habitats that were previously
restricted in Alternative A, the current condition. Hunting seasons for elk, mule deer, whitetail deer and
bear are generally late fall through early winter after primary nesting season of migratory birds. This may
increase the potential for impacts to the tall dense shrub slopes and ridges of the interior chaparral of the
PNVT preferred by the black chinned sparrow and other shrub nesting bird habitats as the increase of
vehicle travel may crush or damage their nesting habitats while retrieving game.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed
camping using motorized vehicles would be increased from approximately 8,105.13 acres to 13,178.38
acres on interior chaparral habitat types, an increase of approximately 63 percent. Currently, motorized
camping is restricted to Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts. This alternative would increase the
likelihood of impacts to to the tall dense shrub slopes and ridges of the interior chaparral of the PNVT
preferred by the black chinned sparrow and other shrub nesting birds which may be impacted while
vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would stay the same as Alternative A.
Page 39 of 62
Pinyon-juniper Grassland Species
Table 8: Effects to Pinyon-juniper Grassland Species by Forest and Alternative Analysis Factor Forest wide Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Roads and trails
open to public
use (miles)
361.26
285.74 177.86
268.59
279.68
Areas open to
motorized cross-
country travel
(acres)
20,4136.68 53,,162.35
NA 0.0 0.0
Big game
retrieval using
motorized
vehicles (acres)
20,4136.68 53,162.35
NA 63,069.28 93,521.70
Access of
dispersed
camping using
motorized
vehicles (acres)
20,4136.68 53,162.35
2.30
5,640.58
19,164.07
Additional
information
pertaining to
motor vehicle use
(personal use
fuelwood
gathering) (acres)
20,4136.68 88,257.26
11,215.39
13,950.02
88,257.26
Five species are considered migratory bird species of concern with priority habitats within pinyon-juniper
grassland PNVT. These species include southwestern willow flycatcher, Mexican spotted owl, yellow-
billed cuckoo, northern goshawk, and bald eagle. Approximately 204,136.68 acres of pinyon-juniper
grassland habitats exists on the Tonto NFs. This represents approximately 6 percent of the acreage on the
forests.
Alternative A Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 285.74 miles of roads and trails or 79
percent of Tonto NF would continue to be open to motorized travel if this alternative was implemented in
pinyon-juniper grasslands habitat on the forests. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and
possibly increase in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Cross country motorized travel would continue to be authorized
forests-wide on approximately 53,162.35 acres of pinyon-juniper grasslands habitat. Motorized use within
or adjacent to habitat for pinyon-juniper grasslands habitat types has the potential to influence behavior,
survival, reproduction and distribution of these species, as well as to alter habitat. The current level of
impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in the future if demand for public use increases and
Alternative A is implemented.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be restricted to 53,162.35 acres of
pinyon-juniper grasslands habitat type and would only be authorized in Pleasant Valley and Payson
Ranger Districts. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in the future if
demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Dispersed camping would continue to be
authorized only in Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts on approximately 53,162.35 acres of
pinyon-juniper grasslands habitat type. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly
increase in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Page 40 of 62
Additional information pertaining to motor vehicle use for fuelwood gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering is permitted within all permitted areas on approximately 88,257.26 acres of pinyon-
juniper grasslands habitat types. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase
in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Alternative B Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 177.86 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 285.74 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in pinyon-juniper grasslands habitats on the forests. This alternative would reduce the
amount of roads with the PNVT type by 38 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the PNVT
within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Cross country motorized travel would not be allowed under this
alternative.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - MBGR would not be allowed under this alternative.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Currently there is 53,162.35 acres of dispersed
camping access within pinyon-juniper grasslands habitat types. Under this alternative, access would be
restricted to approximately 2.30 acres that allows a 50 foot buffer from designated camping sites,
reducing the amount of motorized camping areas to less than 0.01percent of currently available motorized
camping areas.
Additional information pertaining to motor vehicle use for fuelwood gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduce from approximately 88,257.26 acres to 11,215.39 acres pinyon-
juniper grasslands, a reduction of 87 percent. This reduces the likelihood of potential impacts to cavity
and snag nesting birds, as allowed access to these areas is reduced.
Alternative C Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 268.59 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 285.74 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in pinyon-juniper grasslands habitat on the forest. This alternative would reduce the
amount of roads with the PNVT type by 6 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the PNVT
within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, there would be no impact to pinyon-juniper
grasslands habitat types since this PNVT is not represented in OHV areas.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from approximately
53,162.35 acres to 63,069.28 acres, an increase of approximately 18 percent within the pinyon-juniper
grasslands habitat types. This alternative would allow hunters to travel up to 1 mile from designated
routes to retrieve elk and bear within pinyon-juniper grasslands habitats that were previously restricted in
Alternative A, the current condition. Hunting seasons for elk and bear are generally late fall through early
winter after primary nesting season of migratory birds. This may increase the potential for impacts on
ground and shrub nesting bird habitats as the increase of vehicle travel may crush or damage their nesting
habitats while retrieving game.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed
camping using motorized vehicles would be decreased from approximately 53,162.35 acres to 5,640.58
acres on pinyon-juniper grasslands habitat types, a decrease of approximately 89 percent. This alternative
would decrease the likelihood of impacts to ground and shrub nesting birds which may be impacted while
vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Page 41 of 62
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 88,257.26 acres to 13,950.02 acres of pinyon-
juniper grasslands, a reduction of 84 percent. This reduces the likelihood of impacts to cavity and snag
nesting birds, as allowed access to these areas is reduced.
Alternative D Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 279.68 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 285.74 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in pinyon-juniper grasslands habitat on the forest. This alternative would reduce the
amount of roads with the PNVT type by approximately 2 percent which would have a minimal effect to
the PNVT within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, there would be no impact to pinyon-juniper
grassland habitat types since this PNVT is not represented in OHV areas.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from approximately
53,162.35 acres to 93,521.70 acres, an increase of approximately 75 percent within the pinyon-juniper
grasslands habitat type. This alternative would allow hunters to travel up to 1 mile from designated routes
to retrieve elk, mule deer, whitetail deer and bear within pinyon-juniper grasslands habitats that were
previously restricted in Alternative A, the current condition. Hunting seasons for elk, mule deer, whitetail
deer and bear are generally late fall through early winter after primary nesting season of migratory birds.
This may increase the potential for impacts on ground and shrub nesting bird habitats as the increase of
vehicle travel may crush or damage their nesting habitats while retrieving game.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed
camping using motorized vehicles would be decreased from approximately 53,162.35 acres to 19,164.07
acres on pinyon-juniper grasslands habitat types, a decrease of approximately 64 percent. Currently,
motorized camping is restricted to Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts. This alternative would
decrease the likelihood of impacts to ground and shrub nesting birds which may be impacted while
vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would stay the same as Alternative A.
Mixed Conifer with Aspen Species
Table 9: Effects to Mixed Conifer with Aspen Species by Forest and Alternative Analysis Factor Forest wide Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Roads and trails
open to public
use (miles)
506.57
286.34 137.91
227.70
257.04
Areas open to
motorized cross-
country travel
(acres)
58385.76
144130.17
NA 0.0 0.0
Big game
retrieval using
motorized
vehicles (acres)
58385.76
144130.17
NA 103095.21
117697.66
Access of
dispersed
camping using
motorized
vehicles (acres)
58385.76
144130.17
0.72
3166.15
14721.38
Additional 58385.76 50305.85 2969.17 3199.41 50305.85
Page 42 of 62
Analysis Factor Forest wide Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
information
pertaining to
motor vehicle use
(personal use
fuelwood
gathering) (acres)
Nine species are considered migratory bird species of concern with priority habitats within the mixed
conifer with aspen habitat. These species include Cordilleran flycatcher, olive-sided flycatcher, northern
goshawk, golden-crowned kinglet, flammuated owl, Mexican spotted owl, band-tailed pigeon, red-naped
sapsucker, and red-faced warbler. Approximately 58,385.76 acres of mixed conifer with aspen habitats
exists on the Tonto NFs. This represents approximately 2 percent of the acreage on the forests.
Alternative A Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 286.34 miles of roads and trails or 56
percent of the Tonto NF would continue to be open to motorized travel if this alternative was
implemented in mixed conifer with aspen habitat on the forests. The current level of impact is expected to
continue, and possibly increase in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is
implemented.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Cross country motorized travel would continue to be authorized
forests-wide on approximately 144,130.17 acres of mixed conifer with aspen habitat. Motorized use
within or adjacent to mixed conifer with aspen habitat types has the potential to influence behavior,
survival, reproduction and distribution of these species, as well as to alter habitat. The current level of
impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in the future if demand for public use increases and
Alternative A is implemented.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be restricted to 144,130.17 acres of
mixed conifer with aspen habitat type and would only be authorized in Pleasant Valley and Payson
Ranger Districts. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in the future if
demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Dispersed camping would continue to be
authorized only in Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts on approximately 144,130.17 acres of
mixed conifer with aspen habitat type. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly
increase in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering is permitted within all permitted areas on approximately 50,305.85 acres of mixed
conifer with aspen habitat types. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly
increase in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Alternative B Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 137.91 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 286.34 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in mixed conifer with aspen habitats on the forests. This alternative would reduce the
amount of roads with the PNVT type by 52 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the PNVT
within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Cross country motorized travel would not be allowed under this
alternative.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - MBGR would not be allowed under this alternative.
Page 43 of 62
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Currently there is 144,130.17 acres of
dispersed camping access within mixed conifer with aspen habitat types. Under this alternative, access
would be restricted to approximately 0.72 acres that allows a 50 foot buffer from designated camping
sites, reducing the amount of motorized camping areas to less than 0.01percent of currently available
motorized camping areas.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 50,305.85 acres to 2,969.17 acres mixed
conifer with aspen, a reduction of 94 percent. This would reduce the likelihood of potential impacts to
cavity and snag nesting birds, as allowed access to these areas is reduced.
Alternative C Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 227.70 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 286.34 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in mixed conifer with aspen habitat on the forest. This alternative would reduce the
amount of roads with the PNVT type by 20 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the PNVT
within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, there would be no impact to mixed conifer with
aspen habitat types since this PNVT is not represented in OHV areas.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be decreased from approximately
144,130.17 acres to 103,095.21 acres, a decrease of approximately 28 percent within the mixed conifer
with aspen habitat types. This alternative would allow hunters to travel up to 1 mile from designated
routes to retrieve elk and bear within mixed conifer with aspen habitats that were previously restricted in
Alternative A, the current condition. Hunting seasons for elk and bear are generally late fall through early
winter after primary nesting season of migratory birds. This may decrease the potential for impacts on
ground and shrub nesting bird habitats as the decrease of vehicle travel may crush or damage their nesting
habitats while retrieving game.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed
camping using motorized vehicles would be decreased from approximately 144,130.17 acres to 3,166.15
acres on mixed conifer with aspen habitat types, a decrease of approximately 98 percent. This alternative
would decrease the likelihood of impacts to ground and shrub nesting birds which may be impacted while
vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 50,305.85 acres to 3,199.41 acres of mixed
conifer with aspen, a reduction of 94 percent. This would reduce the likelihood of impacts to cavity and
snag nesting birds, as allowed access to these areas would be reduced.
Alternative D Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 257.04 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 286.34 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in mixed conifer with aspen habitat on the forest. This alternative reduces the amount of
roads with the PNVT type by approximately 10 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the
PNVT within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, there would be no impact to mixed conifer with
aspen habitat types since the PNVT is not represented in the OHV areas.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be decreased from approximately
144,130.17 acres to 117,697.66 acres, a decrease of approximately 18 percent within the mixed conifer
Page 44 of 62
with aspen habitat type. This alternative would allow hunters to travel up to 1 mile from designated routes
to retrieve elk, mule deer, whitetail deer and bear within mixed conifer with aspen habitats that were
previously restricted in Alternative A, the current condition. Hunting seasons for elk, mule deer, whitetail
deer and bear are generally late fall through early winter after primary nesting season of migratory birds.
This may increase the potential for impacts on ground and shrub nesting bird habitats as the increase of
vehicle travel may crush or damage their nesting habitats while retrieving game.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed
camping using motorized vehicles would be decreased from approximately 144,130.17 acres to 14,721.38
acres on mixed conifer with aspen habitat types, a decrease of approximately 90 percent. Currently,
motorized camping is restricted to Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts. This alternative would
decrease the likelihood of impacts to ground and shrub nesting birds which may be impacted while
vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would stay the same as Alternative A.
Madrean Encinal Woodland Species
Table 10: Effects to Madrean Encinal Woodland Species by Forest and Alternative Analysis Factor Forest wide Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Roads and trails
open to public
use (Miles)
69.90
62.81 30.66
50.82
58.47
Areas open to
motorized cross-
country travel
(acres)
48181.76
18186.98
NA 0.0 0.0
Big game
retrieval using
motorized
vehicles (acres)
48181.76
18186.98
NA 20647.21
20929.68
Access of
dispersed
camping using
motorized
vehicles (acres)
48181.76
18186.98
0.35
996.60
3549.79
Additional
information
pertaining to
motor vehicle use
(personal use
fuelwood
gathering) (acres)
48181.76
19479.61
1866.32
2566.50
19479.61
Two species are considered migratory bird species of concern with priority habitats within the madrean
encinal woodland PNVT. These species include golden eagle, black-throated gray warbler which prefers
the open woodlands of pinyon-pine, juniper or oak woodland associations. Golden eagles select these
habitats in proximity to tall cliffs and canyons. Approximately 48,181.76 acres of madrean encinal
woodland habitats exists on the Tonto NFs. This represents approximately 2 percent of the acreage on the
forests.
Alternative A Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 62.81 miles of roads and trails or 90 percent
of the Tonto NF would continue to be open to motorized travel if this alternative was implemented in
Page 45 of 62
madrean encinal woodland habitat on the forests. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and
possibly increase in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Cross country motorized travel would continue to be authorized
forests-wide on approximately 18,186.98 acres of madrean encinal woodland habitat. Motorized use
within or adjacent to habitat for madrean encinal woodland habitat types has the potential to influence
behavior, survival, reproduction and distribution of these species, as well as to alter habitat. The current
level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in the future if demand for public use
increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be restricted to 18,186.98 acres of
madrean encinal woodland habitat type and would only be authorized in Pleasant Valley and Payson
Ranger Districts. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in the future if
demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Dispersed camping would continue to be
authorized only in Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts on approximately 18,186.98 acres of
madrean encinal woodland habitat type. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly
increase in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering is permitted within all permitted areas on approximately 19,479.61 acres madrean
encinal woodland habitat types. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase
in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Alternative B Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 30.66 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 62.81 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in Madrean encinal woodland habitats on the forests. This alternative would reduce the
amount of roads with the PNVT type by 51 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect to the open
woodlands of the PNVT within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Cross country motorized travel would not be allowed under this
alternative.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - MBGR would not be allowed under this alternative.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Currently there is 18,186.98 acres of dispersed
camping access within Madrean encinal woodland habitat types. Under this alternative, access would be
restricted to approximately .35 acres that allows a 50 foot buffer from designated camping sites, and
would reduce the amount of motorized camping areas to less than 0.01percent of currently available
motorized camping areas.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 19,479.61 acres to 1,866.32 acres madrean
encinal woodland, a reduction of 90 percent. This would reduce the likelihood of impacts to the open
woodlands of the PNVT and also to cavity and snag nesting birds, as allowed access to these areas is
reduced.
Alternative C Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 50.82 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 62.81 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in madrean encinal woodland habitat on the forest. This alternative would reduce the
Page 46 of 62
amount of roads with the PNVT type by 19 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the PNVT
within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, there would be no impact to madrean encinal
woodland habitat types since this PNVT is not represented in the OHV areas.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from approximately
18,186.98 acres to 20,647.21 acres, an increase of approximately 13 percent within the madrean encinal
woodland habitat PNVT. This alternative would allow hunters to travel up to 1 mile from designated
routes to retrieve elk and bear within madrean encinal woodland habitats that were previously restricted in
Alternative A, the current condition. Hunting seasons for elk and bear are generally late fall through early
winter after primary nesting season of migratory birds. This may increase the potential for impacts to the
open woodlands habitats of the PNVT as the increase of vehicle travel may crush or damage their nesting
habitats while retrieving game.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed
camping using motorized vehicles would be decreased from approximately 18,186.98 acres to 996.60
acres on madrean encinal woodland habitat types, a decrease of approximately 95 percent. This
alternative would decrease the likelihood of impacts to to the open woodlands habitats of the PNVT
which may be impacted while vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 19,479.61 acres to 2,566.50 acres of madrean
encinal woodland, a reduction of 87 percent. This reduces the likelihood of impacts to the open
woodlands habitats of the PNVT and to cavity and snag nesting birds, as allowed access to these areas is
reduced.
Alternative D Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 58.47 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 62.81 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in madrean encinal woodland habitat on the forest. This alternative would reduce the
amount of roads with the PNVT type by approximately 7 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect
for the PNVT within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, there would be no impact to madrean encinal
woodland habitat types since the PNVT is not represented in the OHV areas.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from approximately
18,186.98 acres to 20,929.68 acres, an increase of approximately 15 percent within the madrean encinal
woodland habitat type. This alternative would allow hunters to travel up to 1 mile from designated routes
to retrieve elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, and bear within madrean encinal woodland habitats that were
previously restricted in Alternative A, the current condition. Hunting seasons for elk, mule deer, whitetail
deer and bear are generally late fall through early winter after primary nesting season of migratory birds.
This may increase the potential for impacts on to the open woodlands habitats of the PNVT as the
increase of vehicle travel may crush or damage their nesting habitats while retrieving game.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed
camping using motorized vehicles would be decreased from approximately 18,186.98 acres to 3,549.79
acres on madrean encinal woodland habitat types, a decrease of approximately 80 percent. Currently,
motorized camping is restricted to Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts. This alternative would
decrease the likelihood of impacts to the open woodlands habitats of the PNVT which may be impacted
while vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Page 47 of 62
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would stay the same as Alternative A.
Cottonwood Willow Riparian Forest Species
Table 11: Effects to Cottonwood Willow Riparian Forest Species by Forest and Alternative Analysis Factor Forest wide Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Roads and trails
open to public
use (miles)
488.95
444.29 197.48
291.21
393.59
Areas open to
motorized cross-
country travel
(acres)
41,228.82
361.68
NA 1,203.52
1,203.52
Big game
retrieval using
motorized
vehicles (acres)
41,228.82
361.68
NA 7,433.39
83,545.95
Access of
dispersed
camping using
motorized
vehicles (acres)
41,228.82
361.68
24.38
5,685.39
20,150.43
Additional
information
pertaining to
motor vehicle use
(personal use
fuelwood
gathering) (acres)
41,228.82
15232.85
3,074.44
4,322.90
15232.85
Seven species are considered migratory bird species of concern with priority habitats within the
cottonwood willow riparian forest PNVT. These species include northern beardless-tyrannulet, common
black hawk, western yellow-billed cuckoo, bald eagle, southwestern willow flycatcher, Bell's vireo,
yellow warbler. Approximately 41,228.82 acres of cottonwood willow riparian forest habitats exists on
the Tonto NFs. This represents approximately 1 percent of the acreage on the forests.
Alternative A Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 444.29 miles of roads and trails or 91
percent of the Tonto NF would continue to be open to motorized travel if this alternative was
implemented in cottonwood willow riparian forest woodland PNVT on the forests. The current level of
impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in the future if demand for public use increases and
Alternative A is implemented.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Cross country motorized travel would continue to be authorized
forests-wide on approximately 361.68 acres of cottonwood willow riparian forest. Motorized use within
or adjacent to habitat for cottonwood willow riparian forest habitat types has the potential to influence
behavior, survival, reproduction and distribution of these species, as well as to alter habitat. The current
level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in the future if demand for public use
increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be restricted to 361.68 acres of
cottonwood willow riparian forest habitat type and would only be authorized in Pleasant Valley and
Payson Ranger Districts. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in the
future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Page 48 of 62
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Dispersed camping would continue to be
authorized only in Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts on approximately 361.68 acres of
cottonwood willow riparian forest habitat type. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and
possibly increase in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering is permitted within all permitted areas on approximately 15,232.85 acres of
cottonwood willow riparian forest habitat types. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and
possibly increase in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Alternative B Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 197.48 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 444.29 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in cottonwood willow riparian forest habitats on the forests. This alternative would
reduce the amount of roads with the PNVT type by 55 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for
the PNVT within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Cross country motorized travel would not be allowed under this
alternative.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - MBGR would not be allowed under this alternative.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Currently there is 361.68 acres of dispersed
camping access within cottonwood willow riparian forest habitat types. Under this alternative, access
would be restricted to approximately 24.38 acres that allows a 50 foot buffer from designated camping
sites, reducing the amount of motorized camping areas by 93 percent of currently available motorized
camping areas.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 15,232.85 acres to 3,074.44 acres cottonwood
willow riparian forest, a reduction of 80 percent. This reduces the likelihood of impacts to cavity and snag
nesting birds, as allowed access to these areas is reduced.
Alternative C Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 291.21 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 444.29 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in cottonwood willow riparian forest habitat on the forest. This alternative would reduce
the amount of roads with the PNVT type by 34 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the
PNVT within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, motorized cross country travel would be
increased from approximately from 361.68 acres to 1,203.52 acres, an increase of approximately 232
percent within the cottonwood willow riparian forest habitat type. This may increase the potential for
impacts on ground and shrub nesting birds as the increase of vehicle travel may crush or damage their
nests while driving cross country.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from approximately
361.68 acres to 7,433.39 acres, an increase of approximately 1955 percent within the cottonwood willow
riparian forest habitat PNVT. This alternative would allow hunters to travel up to 1 mile from designated
routes to retrieve elk and bear within cottonwood willow riparian forest habitats that were previously
restricted in Alternative A, the current condition. Hunting seasons for elk and bear are generally late fall
through early winter after primary nesting season of migratory birds. This may increase the potential for
Page 49 of 62
impacts on ground and shrub nesting bird habitats as the increase of vehicle travel may crush or damage
their nesting habitats while retrieving game.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed
camping using motorized vehicles would be increased from approximately 361.68 acres to 5,685.39 acres
on cottonwood willow riparian forest habitat types, a increase of approximately 1,470 percent. This
alternative would increase the likelihood of impacts to ground and shrub nesting birds which may be
impacted while vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 15,232.85 acres to 4,322.90 acres of
cottonwood willow riparian forest, a reduction of 72 percent. This reduces the likelihood of impacts to
cavity and snag nesting birds, as allowed access to these areas is reduced.
Alternative D Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 393.59 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 444.29 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in cottonwood willow riparian forest habitat on the forest. This alternative would reduce
the amount of roads with the PNVT type by approximately 11 percent which would lead to a beneficial
effect for the PNVT within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, motorized cross country travel would be
increased from approximately from 361.68 acres to 1,203.52 acres, an increase of approximately 232
percent within the cottonwood willow riparian habitat type. This may increase the potential for impacts on
ground and shrub nesting birds as the increase of vehicle travel may crush or damage their nests while
driving cross country.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from approximately
361.68 acres to 83,545.95 acres, an increase of approximately 23,000 percent within the cottonwood
willow riparian forest habitat type. This alternative would allow hunters to travel up to 1 mile from
designated routes to retrieve elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, and bear within cottonwood willow riparian
forest habitats that were previously restricted in Alternative A, the current condition. Hunting seasons for
elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, and bear are generally late fall through early winter after primary nesting
season of migratory birds. This may increase the potential for impacts on ground and shrub nesting bird
habitats as the increase of vehicle travel may crush or damage their nesting habitats while retrieving
game.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed
camping using motorized vehicles would be increased from approximately 361.68 acres to 20,150.43
acres on cottonwood willow riparian forest habitat types, an increase of approximately 5,471 percent.
Currently, motorized camping is restricted to Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts. This
alternative would increase the likelihood of impacts to ground and shrub nesting birds which may be
impacted while vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would stay the same as Alternative A.
Mixed Broadleaf Deciduous Riparian Forest Species
Table 12: Effects to Mixed Broadleaf Deciduous Riparian Forest Species by Forest and Alternative Analysis Factor Forest wide Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Roads and trails
open to public
337.82
262.74 166.51
223.25
256.91
Page 50 of 62
Analysis Factor Forest wide Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
use (miles)
Areas open to
motorized cross-
country travel
(acres)
17,731.1
33,825.25
NA 0.0 0.0
Big game
retrieval using
motorized
vehicles (acres)
17,731.1
33,825.25
NA 31,018.73
43,281.90
Access of
dispersed
camping using
motorized
vehicles (acres)
17,731.1
33,825.25
3.74
4,345.57
14,381.01
Additional
information
pertaining to
motor vehicle use
(personal use
fuelwood
gathering) (acres)
17,731.1
25,846.11
5,777.20
7,118.00
25,846.11
Three species are considered migratory bird species of concern with priority habitats within the mixed
broadleaf deciduous riparian forest PNVT. These species include northern beardless-tyrannulet, common
black hawk, and yellow warbler. Approximately 17,731.1 acres of mixed broadleaf deciduous riparian
habitats exists on the Tonto NFs. This represents approximately 1 percent of the acreage on the forests.
Alternative A Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 262.74 miles of roads and trails or 77
percent of the Tonto NF would be open to motorized travel if this alternative was implemented in mixed
broadleaf deciduous riparian habitat on the forests. The current level of impact is expected to continue,
and possibly increase in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Cross country motorized travel would continue to be authorized
forests-wide on approximately 33,825.25 acres mixed broadleaf deciduous riparian habitat. Motorized use
within or adjacent to habitat for mixed broadleaf deciduous riparian habitat types has the potential to
influence behavior, survival, reproduction and distribution of these species, as well as to alter habitat. The
current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in the future if demand for public
use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be restricted to 33,825.25 acres of
mixed broadleaf deciduous riparian habitat type and would only be authorized in Pleasant Valley and
Payson Ranger Districts. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in the
future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Dispersed camping would continue to be
authorized only in Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts on approximately 33,825.25 acres of
mixed broadleaf deciduous riparian habitat type. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and
possibly increase in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering is permitted within all permitted areas on approximately 25,846.11 acres of mixed
broadleaf deciduous riparian forest habitat types. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and
possibly increase in the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Page 51 of 62
Alternative B Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 166.51 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 262.74 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in mixed broadleaf deciduous riparian forest habitats on the forests. This alternative
would reduce the amount of roads with the PNVT type by 37 percent which would lead to a beneficial
effect for the PNVT within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Cross country motorized travel would not be allowed under this
alternative.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - MBGR would not be allowed under this alternative.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Currently there is 33,825.25 acres of dispersed
camping access within mixed broadleaf deciduous riparian forest habitat types. Under this alternative,
access would be restricted to approximately 3.74 acres that allows a 50 foot buffer from designated
camping sites, reducing the amount of motorized camping areas to less than 0.01 percent of currently
available motorized camping areas.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 25,846.11 acres to 5,777.20 acres mixed
broadleaf deciduous riparian forest, a reduction of 78 percent. This would reduce the likelihood of
impacts to cavity and snag nesting birds, as allowed access to these areas is reduced.
Alternative C Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 223.25 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 262.74 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in mixed broadleaf deciduous riparian forest habitat on the forest. This alternative would
reduce the amount of roads with the PNVT type by 15 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for
the PNVT within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, there would be no impact to mixed broadleaf
deciduous riparian forest habitat types since this PNVT is not represented in the OHV areas
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be decreased from approximately
33,825.25 acres to 31,018.73 acres, a decrease of approximately 8 percent within the mixed broadleaf
deciduous riparian forest types. This alternative would allow hunters to travel up to 1 mile from
designated routes to retrieve elk and bear within mixed broadleaf deciduous riparian forest habitats that
were previously restricted in Alternative A, the current condition. Hunting seasons for elk and bear are
generally late fall through early winter after primary nesting season of migratory birds. This may increase
the potential for impacts on ground and shrub nesting bird habitats as the increase of vehicle travel may
crush or damage their nesting habitats while retrieving game.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed
camping using motorized vehicles would be decreased from approximately 33,825.25 acres to 4,353.57
acres on mixed broadleaf deciduous riparian forest habitat types, a decrease of approximately 87 percent.
This alternative would decrease the likelihood of impacts to ground and shrub nesting birds which may be
impacted while vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 25864.11 acres to 7,118 acres of mixed
broadleaf deciduous riparian forest, a reduction of 72 percent. This would reduce the likelihood of
impacts to cavity and snag nesting birds, as allowed access to these areas is reduced.
Page 52 of 62
Alternative D Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 256.91 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 262.74 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in mixed broadleaf deciduous riparian forest habitat on the forest. This alternative
reduces the amount of roads with the PNVT type by approximately 2 percent which would lead to a
beneficial effect for the PNVT within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, there would be no impact mixed broadleaf
deciduous riparian forest habitat types since this PNVT is not represented in the OHV areas.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from approximately
33,825.25 acres to 43,281.90 acres, an increase of approximately 28 percent within the mixed broadleaf
deciduous riparian forest habitat type. This alternative would allow hunters to travel up to 1 mile from
designated routes to retrieve elk, mule deer, whitetail deer and bear within mixed broadleaf deciduous
riparian forest habitats that were previously restricted in Alternative A, the current condition. Hunting
seasons for elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, and bear are generally late fall through early winter after
primary nesting season of migratory birds. This may increase the potential for impacts on ground and
shrub nesting bird habitats as the increase of vehicle travel may crush or damage their nesting habitats
while retrieving game.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed
camping using motorized vehicles would be decreased from approximately 33,825.25 acres to 14,381.01
acres on mixed broadleaf deciduous riparian forest habitat types, a decrease of approximately 57 percent.
Currently, motorized camping is restricted to Pleasant Valley and Payson Ranger Districts. This
alternative would decrease the likelihood of impacts to ground and shrub nesting birds which may be
impacted while vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would stay the same as Alternative A.
Water Species
Table 13: Effects to Water Species by Forest and Alternative Analysis Factor Forest wide Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Roads and trails
open to public
use (miles)
25.77
24.01 13.47
5.48
23.54
Areas open to
motorized cross-
country travel
(acres)
28989.16
0.0 NA 10984.43
10984.43
Big game
retrieval using
motorized
vehicles (acres)
28,989.16
0.0 NA 7.10
79,943.05
Access of
dispersed
camping using
motorized
vehicles (acres)
28,989.16
0.0 0.0 368.34
2,202.42
Additional
Information
Pertaining to
motor vehicle use
(personal use
fuelwood
28,989.16
210.93
44.57
49.72
210.93
Page 53 of 62
Analysis Factor Forest wide Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
gathering) (acres)
There is one species considered as a migratory bird species of concern with priority habitats within the
water PNVT. This species is the Yuma clapper rail. The Yuma Clapper Rail inhabits fresh water marshes
dominated by bulrush, cattails and sedges. Yuma Clapper Rail constructs a platform nest over sshallow
water in densely vegetated marshes. Approximately 28,989.16 acres of water habitats exists on the Tonto
NFs. This represents approximately 1 percent of the acreage on the forests.
Alternative A Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 24.01 miles of roads and trails or 93 percent
of the Tonto NF would continue to be open to motorized travel if this alternative was implemented in
water habitat on the forests. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in
the future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, there would be no impact water types since no
areas are open to cross country travel within the PNVT.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, there would be no impact water types since no
areas are open to MBGR travel within the PNVT
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, there would be no
impact water types since no areas are open to dispersed camping within the PNVT.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering is permitted within all permitted areas on approximately 210.93 of water habitat
types. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in the future if demand
for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Alternative B Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 13.47 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 24.01 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in water habitats on the forests. This alternative would reduce the amount of roads with
the PNVT type by 44 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for marshland habitats in the PNVT
within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Cross country motorized travel would not be allowed under this
alternative.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - MBGR would not be allowed under this alternative.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, there would be no
impact water types since no areas are open to dispersed camping within the PNVT.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from 210.93 acres to 44.57 acres of water habitats, a reduction of
79 percent. Although fuelwood gathering would have a low occurrence in this PNVT, this alternative
reduces the likelihood of impacts to marshland habitats in the PNVT as allowed access to these areas is
reduced.
Alternative C Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 5.48 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 24.01 miles of open roads and
Page 54 of 62
motorized trails in water habitat on the forest. This alternative would reduce the amount of roads with the
PNVT type by 77percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the Yuma Clapper Rail in the PNVT
within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, motorized cross country travel would be
increased from approximately from 0.0 acres to 10,984.43 acres within the water habitat type. This may
increase the potential for impacts on marshland habitats as the increase of vehicle travel may crush or
damage Yuma Clapper Rail habitat while driving cross country.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from approximately
0.0 acres to 7.10 acres within the water types. This alternative would allow hunters to travel up to 1 mile
from designated routes to retrieve elk and bear within water habitats that were previously restricted in
Alternative A, the current condition. Hunting seasons for elk and bear are generally late fall through early
winter after primary nesting season of migratory birds. This may increase the potential for impacts on
Yuma Clapper rail habitats as the increase of vehicle travel may crush or damage their habitats while
retrieving game.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed
camping using motorized vehicles would be increased from approximately 0.0 acres to 368.34 acres on
water habitat types. This alternative would increase the likelihood of impacts to marshland habitats which
may be impacted while vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 210.93 acres to 49.72 acres of water habitat, a
reduction of 76 percent. This reduces the likelihood of impacts to Yuma Clapper Rail habitat, as allowed
access to these areas is reduced.
Alternative D Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel – Approximately 23.54 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 24.01 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in the water habitat on the forest. This alternative would reduce the amount of roads with
the PNVT type by approximately 2 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the Yuma Clapper
Rail in the PNVT within the forest.
Cross Country Motorized Travel – Under this alternative, motorized cross country travel would be
increased from approximately from 0.0 acres to 10,984.43 acres within the water habitat type. This may
increase the potential for impacts on the Yuma Clapper Rail as the increase of vehicle travel may crush or
damage their habitat while driving cross country.
Motorized Big Game Retrieval - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from approximately
0.0 acres to 79,943.05 acres within the water types. This alternative would allow hunters to travel up to 1
mile from designated routes to retrieve elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, and bear within water habitats that
were previously restricted in Alternative A, the current condition. Hunting seasons for elk, mule deer,
whitetail deer, and bear are generally late fall through early winter after primary nesting season of
migratory birds. This may increase the potential for impacts on marshland habitats as the increase of
vehicle travel may crush or damage Yuam Clapper Rail habitats while retrieving game.
Access to Dispersed Camping Using Motorized Vehicles -- Under this alternative, access to dispersed
camping using motorized vehicles would be increased from approximately 0.0 acres to 2,202.42 acres on
water habitat types. This alternative would increase the likelihood of impacts to the Yuma Clapper Rail
which may be impacted while vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Page 55 of 62
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would stay the same as Alternative A.
Important Bird Areas
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum/Arnett Creek
Table 14: Effects to Boyce-Thompson Arboretum/Arnett Creek by Alternative Analysis Factor IBA acres Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Roads and trails open to
public use (Miles)
4.04
1.90 1.57 1.57 1.84
Areas open to
motorized cross-country
travel (acres)
2583.07
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Big game retrieval using
motorized vehicles
(acres)
2583.07
0.0 0.0 94.14
2555.37
Access of dispersed
camping using
motorized vehicles
(acres)
2583.07
0.0 0.0 46.73
189.89
Additional Information
Pertaining to motor
vehicle use (personal use
fuelwood gathering)
(acres)
2583.07
2583.07
140.08
140.08
2583.07
Alternative A Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel -Under Alternative A, road densities the Boyce Thompson
IBA would continue to provide motorized access within these areas. There are 1.90 miles of road within
this IBA. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in the future if
demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Areas Open to Motorized Cross-country Travel - Under Alternative A, areas open to motorized cross-
country travel in the Boyce Thompson IBA would not be permitted.
Big Game Retrieval Using Motor Vehicles- Under Alternative A, MBGR in the Boyce Thompson IBA
would not be permitted.
Access of Dispersed Camping Using Motor Vehicles - Under Alternative A, areas open to motorized
dispersed camping in the Boyce Thompson IBA would not be permitted.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering is allowed within all permitted areas on approximately 2,583.07 acres within the
Boyce Thompson IBA. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in the
future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Alternative B Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel - Approximately 1.57 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 1.90 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in the Boyce Thompson IBA. This alternative would reduce the amount of roads within
the PNVT type by 17 percent which would lead to reduced vehicle traffic and would lead to a beneficial
effect for the IBA.
Page 56 of 62
Areas Open to Motorized Cross-country Travel - Under this alternative, motorized cross country travel
would not be allowed.
Big Game Retrieval Using Motor Vehicles - Under this alternative, MBGR would not be allowed.
Access of Dispersed Camping Using Motor Vehicles - Under this alternative, there would be no impact to
the Boyce Thompson IBA due to the fact that use of motorized vehicles for dispersed camping would not
be permitted within the IBA.
Additional information pertaining to motor vehicle use for fuelwood gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 2,583.07 acres to 140.08 acres of the Boyce
Thompson IBA, a reduction of 95 percent. This reduces the likelihood of impacts to cavity and snag
nesting birds, as allowed access to these areas is reduced.
Alternative C Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel - Approximately 1.57 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 1.90 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in the Boyce Thompson IBA. This alternative would reduce the amount of roads within
the PNVT type by 18 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the IBA.
Areas Open to Motorized Cross-country Travel - Under this alternative, there would be no impact to the
Boyce Thompson IBA due to the use of motorized vehicle for motorized cross-country travel would not
be permitted within the IBA.
Big Game Retrieval Using Motor Vehicles - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from
approximately 0.0 acres to 94.14 acres within the Boyce Thompson IBA. This alternative would allow
hunters to travel up to 1 mile from designated routes to retrieve elk and bear within the IBA that were
previously restricted in Alternative A, the current condition. This may increase the potential for impacts
on ground and shrub nesting bird habitats as the increase of vehicle travel may crush or damage their
nesting habitats while retrieving game.
Access of Dispersed Camping Using Motor Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed camping
using motorized vehicles would be increased from approximately 0.0 acres to 46.73 acres in the Boyce
Thompson IBA. This alternative would increase the likelihood of impacts to ground and shrub nesting
birds which may be impacted while vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would be reduced from approximately 2,583.07 acres to 140.08 acres of the Boyce
Thompson IBA, a reduction of 95 percent. This reduces the likelihood of impacts to cavity and snag
nesting birds, as allowed access to these areas is reduced.
Alternative D Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel - Approximately 1.84 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 1.90 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in the Boyce Thompson IBA. This alternative would reduce the amount of roads with the
PNVT type by 3 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the IBA.
Areas Open to Motorized Cross-country Travel - Under this alternative, there would be no impact to the
Boyce Thompson IBA due to due to the use of motorized vehicle for motorized cross-country travel
would not be permitted within the IBA.
Big Game Retrieval Using Motor Vehicles - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from
approximately 0.0 acres to 2,555.37 acres within the Boyce Thompson IBA. This alternative would allow
Page 57 of 62
hunters to travel up to 1 mile from designated routes to retrieve elk, mule deer, whitetail deer and bear
within the IBA that were previously restricted in Alternative A, the current condition. Hunting seasons for
elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, and bear are generally late fall through early winter after primary nesting
season of migratory birds. This may increase the potential for impacts on ground and shrub nesting bird
habitats as the increase of vehicle travel may crush or damage their nesting habitats while retrieving
game.
Access of Dispersed Camping Using Motor Vehicles- Under this alternative, access to dispersed camping
using motorized vehicles would be increased from approximately 0.0 acres to 189.89 acres in the Boyce
Thompson IBA. This alternative would increase the likelihood of impacts to ground and shrub nesting
birds which may be impacted while vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering would stay the same as Alternative A.
Cave Creek Ecosystem
Table 15: Effects to Cave Creek Ecosystem by Alternative Analysis Factor IBA acres Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Roads and trails open to
public use (Miles)
2.09
5.47 0.80 0.80 5.28
Areas open to
motorized cross-country
travel (acres)
1337.64
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Big game retrieval using
motorized vehicles
(acres)
1337.64
0.0 0.0
321.36
1000.2
Access of dispersed
camping using
motorized vehicles
(acres)
1337.64
0.0 0.0 6.63 222.41
Additional Information
Pertaining to motor
vehicle use (personal use
fuelwood gathering)
(acres)
1337.64
0.0
0.0 0.0 0.0
Alternative A Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel - Under Alternative A, authorized roads within the Cave
Creek IBA would continue to provide motorized access within these areas. There are 5.47 miles of road
within this IBA. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in the future if
demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Areas Open to Motorized Cross-country Travel - Under this alternative, there would be no impact to the
Cave Creek IBA due to cross country travel within the IBA would not be permitted.
Big Game Retrieval Using Motor Vehicles- Under Alternative A, MBGR in the Cave Creek IBA would
not be permitted.
Access of Dispersed Camping Using Motor Vehicles - Under Alternative A, areas open to motorized
dispersed camping in the Cave Creek IBA would not be permitted.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering is not permitted within the Cave Creek IBA.
Page 58 of 62
Alternative B Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel - Approximately 0.80 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 5.47 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in the Cave Creek IBA. This alternative would reduce the amount of roads with the
PNVT type by 85 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the IBA.
Areas Open to Motorized Cross-country Travel - Under this alternative, motorized cross country travel
would not be allowed.
Big Game Retrieval Using Motor Vehicles - Under this alternative, MBGR would not be allowed.
Access of Dispersed Camping Using Motor Vehicles - Under this alternative, there would be no impact to
the Cave Creek IBA due to the fact that use of motorized vehicles for dispersed camping would not be
permitted within the IBA.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering is not allowed within the Cave Creek IBA.
Alternative C Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel - Approximately 0.80 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 5.47 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in the Cave Creek IBA. This alternative would reduce the amount of roads with the
PNVT type by 85 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the IBA.
Areas Open to Motorized Cross-country Travel - Under this alternative, there would be no impact to the
Cave Creek IBA due to motorized cross country travel would not be permitted within the IBA.
Big Game Retrieval Using Motor Vehicles - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from
approximately 0.0 acres to 321.36 acres within the Cave Creek IBA. This alternative would allow hunters
to travel up to 1 mile from designated routes to retrieve elk and bear within the IBA that were previously
restricted in Alternative A, the current condition. This may increase the potential for impacts on ground
and shrub nesting bird habitats as the increase of vehicle travel may crush or damage their nesting habitats
while retrieving game.
Access of Dispersed Camping Using Motor Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed camping
using motorized vehicles would be increased from approximately 0.0 acres to 6.63 acres in the Cave
Creek IBA. This alternative would increase the likelihood of impacts to ground and shrub nesting birds
which may be impacted while vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering is not allowed within the Cave Creek IBA.
Alternative D Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel - Approximately 5.28 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 5.47 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in the Cave Creek IBA. This alternative would reduce the amount of roads with the IBA
by 3 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the IBA.
Areas Open to Motorized Cross-country Travel - Under this alternative, there would be no impact to the
Cave Creek IBA due to the use of motorized cross country travel would not be permitted within the IBA.
Big Game Retrieval Using Motor Vehicles - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from
approximately 0.0 acres to 1000.20 acres within the Cave Creek IBA. This alternative would allow
Page 59 of 62
hunters to travel up to 1 mile from designated routes to retrieve elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, and bear
within the IBA that were previously restricted in Alternative A, the current condition. This may increase
the potential for impacts on ground and shrub nesting bird habitats as the increase of vehicle travel may
crush or damage their nesting habitats while retrieving game.
Access of Dispersed Camping Using Motor Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed camping
using motorized vehicles would be increased from approximately 0.0 acres to 222.41 acres in the Cave
Creek IBA. This alternative would increase the likelihood of impacts to ground and shrub nesting birds
which may be impacted while vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering is not allowed within the Cave Creek IBA.
Salt and Verde River Riparian System
Table 16: Effects to Salt and Verde River Riparian System by Alternative Analysis Factor IBA acres Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Roads and trails open to
public use (Miles)
23.89
102.50 42.14 46.82 71.68
Areas open to
motorized cross-country
travel (acres)
15288.8
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Big game retrieval using
motorized vehicles
(acres)
15288.8
0.0 0.0 20.37
10738.79
Access of dispersed
camping using
motorized vehicles
(acres)
15288.8
0.0 0.18
261.01
1407.67
Additional Information
Pertaining to motor
vehicle use (personal use
fuelwood gathering)
(acres)
15288.8
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Alternative A Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel - Under Alternative A, authorized road within the Salt and
Verde River IBA would continue to provide motorized access within these areas. There are 102.5 miles of
road within this IBA. The current level of impact is expected to continue, and possibly increase in the
future if demand for public use increases and Alternative A is implemented.
Areas Open to Motorized Cross-country Travel - Under this alternative, there would be no impact to the
Salt and Verde River IBA due to motorized cross country travel within the IBA would not be permitted.
Big Game Retrieval Using Motor Vehicles - Under Alternative A, MBGR in the Salt and Verde River
IBA would not be permitted.
Access of Dispersed Camping Using Motor Vehicles - Under Alternative A, areas open to motorized
dispersed camping in the Salt and Verde River IBA would not be permitted.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering is not allowed within the Salt and Verde River IBA.
Alternative B Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel - Approximately 42.14 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 102.50 miles of open roads and
Page 60 of 62
motorized trails in the Salt and Verde River IBA. This alternative reduces the amount of roads by
59percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the IBA.
Areas Open to Motorized Cross-country Travel - Under this alternative, motorized cross country travel
would not be allowed.
Big Game Retrieval Using Motor Vehicles - Under this alternative, MBGR would not be allowed.
Access of Dispersed Camping Using Motor Vehicles- Under this alternative, access to dispersed camping
using motorized vehicles would be increased from approximately 0.0 acres to 0.18 acres in the Salt and
Verde River IBA. This alternative would increase the likelihood of impacts to ground and shrub nesting
birds which may be impacted while vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering is not allowed within the Salt and Verde River IBA.
Alternative C Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel - Approximately 46.82 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 102.5 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in the Salt and Verde River IBA. This alternative would reduce the amount of roads by
54 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the IBA.
Areas Open to Motorized Cross-country Travel - Under this alternative, there would be no impact to the
Salt and Verde River IBA due to motorized cross country travel would not be permitted within the IBA
Big Game Retrieval Using Motor Vehicles - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from
approximately 0.0 acres to 20.37 acres within the Salt and Verde River IBA. This alternative would allow
hunters to travel up to 1 mile from designated routes to retrieve elk and bear within the IBA that were
previously restricted in Alternative A, the current condition. This may increase the potential for impacts
on ground and shrub nesting bird habitats as the increase of vehicle travel may crush or damage their
nests while retrieving game.
Access of Dispersed Camping Using Motor Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed camping
using motorized vehicles would be increased from approximately 0.0 acres to 261.01 acres in the Salt and
Verde River IBA. This alternative would increase the likelihood of impacts to ground and shrub nesting
birds which may be impacted while vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering is not allowed within the Salt and Verde River IBA.
Alternative D Roads and Trails Open to Motorized Travel - Approximately 71.68 miles of roads would be open to
motorized travel if this alternative was implemented. There are currently 102.50 miles of open roads and
motorized trails in the Salt and Verde River IBA. This alternative would reduce the amount of roads with
the IBA by 30 percent which would lead to a beneficial effect for the IBA.
Areas Open to Motorized Cross-country Travel - Under this alternative, there would be no impact to the
Salt and Verde River IBA due to the use of motorized cross country travel would not be permitted within
the IBA.
Big Game Retrieval Using Motor Vehicles - Under this alternative, MBGR would be increased from
approximately 0.0 acres to 10,738.79 acres within the Salt and Verde River IBA. This alternative would
allow hunters to travel up to 1 mile from designated routes to retrieve elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, and
Page 61 of 62
bear within the IBA that were previously restricted in Alternative A, the current condition. This may
increase the potential for impacts on ground and shrub nesting bird habitats as the increase of vehicle
travel may crush or damage their nesting habitats while retrieving game.
Access of Dispersed Camping Using Motor Vehicles - Under this alternative, access to dispersed camping
using motorized vehicles would be increased from approximately 0.0 acres to 1,407.67 acres in the Salt
and Verde River IBA. This alternative would increase the likelihood of impacts to ground and shrub
nesting birds which may be impacted while vehicles travel to camping areas along designated routes.
Additional Information Pertaining to Motor Vehicle Use for Fuelwood Gathering - Under this alternative,
fuelwood gathering is not allowed within the Salt and Verde River IBA.
Page 62 of 62
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Latta, M.J., C.J. Beardmore, and T.E. Corman. 1999. Arizona Partners in Flight Bird
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