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Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
United States Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
Prepared by: Sara Amina Sena, Soil and Water Specialist,
Red Rock Ranger District
Signature: Sara Amina SenaSara Amina SenaSara Amina SenaSara Amina Sena Date: 03/19/2013 Updated 5/16/2013
Soil and Water Specialist’s Report
Fossil Creek Range Allotment
Red Rock District, Coconino National Forest Yavapai County, Arizona
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
EXISTING CONDITION ..............................................................................................................2
CLIMATE .......................................................................................................................................2
Climate Change .......................................................................................................................5
WATERSHED CONDITION .............................................................................................................8
Woody Species Encroachment of Grasslands ........................................................................11
SOIL CONDITION ........................................................................................................................15
Terrestrial Ecosystem Survey Background Information ........................................................15
SOIL EROSION RATES .................................................................................................................23
SPRINGS, WETLANDS AND RIPARIAN VEGETATION CONDITION ...............................................31
PERENNIAL STREAMS AND WATER QUALITY ............................................................................34
DESIRED CONDITION ..............................................................................................................35
WATERSHED CONDITION ...........................................................................................................36
SOIL CONDITION ........................................................................................................................36
SOIL EROSION RATES .................................................................................................................38
SPRINGS, WETLANDS AND RIPARIAN VEGETATION CONDITION ...............................................39
PERENNIAL STREAMS AND WATER QUALITY ............................................................................40
MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK .............................................................................................40
PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES .......................................................................42
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES..................................................................................56
DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECTS OF PROPOSED ACTION ............................................................56
Watershed Condition .............................................................................................................56
Soil Condition ........................................................................................................................57
Soil Erosion Rates..................................................................................................................61
Springs, Wetlands and Riparian Vegetation Condition .........................................................61
Perennial Streams and Water Quality ...................................................................................62
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS OF PROPOSED ACTION ALTERNATIVE ..................................................63
Past Actions ...........................................................................................................................63
Present Actions ......................................................................................................................65
Future and Foreseeable Actions ............................................................................................66
DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECTS OF THE NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE ........................................71
Watershed Condition .............................................................................................................71
Soil Condition ........................................................................................................................72
Soil Erosion Rates..................................................................................................................73
Springs, Wetlands and Riparian Vegetation Condition .........................................................73
Perennial Streams and Water Quality ...................................................................................74
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS OF THE NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE .......................................................74
METHODOLOGY, DEFINITIONS AND LIMITATIONS OF DATA ..................................75
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE ...........................................................79
LITERATURE CITED ................................................................................................................80
APPENDIX I: ARIZONA WATER QUALITY RESULTS .....................................................85
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APPENDIX II: DROUGHT MONITORING DATA ............................................................... 87
APPENDIX III: MANAGEMENT AREAS AND EMPHASIS ............................................... 95
APPENDIX IV: COCONINO NATIONAL FOREST LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN ...... 96
APPENDIX V: SOIL CONDITION ACRES BY TES UNIT ................................................ 101
APPENDIX VI: SOIL CONDITION ACRES BY PASTURE .............................................. 102
APPENDIX VII: TES UNIT ACRES AND PERCENT OF TOTAL ALLOTMENT ........ 106
APPENDIX VIII: VEGETATIVE GROUND COVERS BY TES MAP UNIT ................... 107
APPENDIX IX: AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY COMPARISON OF CANOPY COVER .... 111
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Climate information for Western Regional Climate Center station located at the Childs AZ ... 3 Table 2. Precipitation data from the Callaway Butte weather station ........................................................ 4 Table 3. Watershed Condition and Indicator ratings ................................................................................ 10 Table 4. Acres of each Potential Natural Vegetation Type on the Fossil Creek allotment .................... 10 Table 5. Change in soil condition from 2007 to 2012 in the Fossil Creek allotment .............................. 19 Table 6. Soil Condition class and slope classes on the Fossil Creek allotment .................................... 20 Table 7. Acres of Unsatisfactory soil condition and corresponding vegetative ground covers. ......... 23 Table 8. Soil erosion rates under current conditions in tons/acre/year .................................................... 26 Table 9. Riparian conditions on the Fossil Creek Range allotment ........................................................ 31 Table 10. Pasture location and condition of springs of the Fossil Creek Range allotment .................. 32 Table 11. Average e Coli results from summer 2012 Friends of the Forest sampling ........................... 35 Table 12. Pastures with vegetative proposed treatments in the Fossil Creek alottment ...................... 47 Table 13. Management Evaluation Points and Adaptive Management Options ..................................... 51 Table 14. Fires occurring within the last 15 years within the cumulative effects boundary. ................ 64 Table 15. List of past actions other than grazing occurring within the cumulative effects analysis area. .............................................................................................................................................................. 64 Table 16. List of present grazing actions occurring within the cumulative effects analysis area. ....... 65 Table 17. List of present actions other than grazing occurring within the cumulative effects analysis area. .............................................................................................................................................................. 66 Table 18. List of future and foreseeable actions occurring within the cumulative effects analysis area. .............................................................................................................................................................. 66 Table 19. Amount if Current Forest-wide Sediment Leaving Road Buffer on Forest Land/Jurisdiction Roads from TMR .......................................................................................................................................... 68 Table 20. Road Sediment Delivery at Perennial Stream Crossings for Fossil Creek-Lower Verde Watershed .................................................................................................................................................... 70 Table 21. Summary of the Management Areas and Emphasis for the Fossil Creek Range allotment. 95 Table 22. Summary of the Coconino National Forest Plan for the Fossil Creek allotment ................... 96 Table 23. Soil Condition on the Fossil Creek allotment by TES unit ..................................................... 101 Table 24. Soil Condition Acres by Slope Unit by Pasture ...................................................................... 102 Table 25. TES Unit Acres and Percent of Total allotment Area ............................................................. 106 Table 26.Vegetative Ground Covers by TES Map Unit in the Fossil Creek allotment .......................... 107
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LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Watershed Condition Indicators ................................................................................................... 9 Figure 2. Mud Tanks pasture aerial photo from 1946 ............................................................................... 14 Figure 3. Mud Tanks Pasture aerial photo in 2012 .................................................................................... 15 Figure 4. Soil Conditions of the Fossil Creek Range allotment, updated copy February 2013 ............ 21 Figure 5. Riparian stream reaches and functional class within the Fossil Creek allotment ................. 34 Figure 6. Fossil Creek Allotment Pastures and Waters ............................................................................ 53 Figure 7. Water Quality results for Fossil Creek ....................................................................................... 85 Figure 8. Water Quality results for Verde River from West Clear Creek to Fossil Creek ...................... 86 Figure 9. Standardized Precipitation Index 12 month Long Term Conditions, updated January 2013 87 Figure 10. Palmer Drought Index Long Term Conditions, updated October 27, 2012 ........................... 88 Figure 11. Palmer Drought Index Long Term Conditions, updated January, 2013 ................................ 89 Figure 12. U.S. Drought Conditions for the West, October 30, 2012 ....................................................... 90 Figure 13. U.S. Drought Conditions for the West, February 19, 2013 ..................................................... 91 Figure 14. U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook Map November 1, 2012 ........................................................ 92 Figure 15. U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook Map February 7, 2013 .......................................................... 93 Figure 16. U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook Map February 21, 2013 ........................................................ 94 Figure 17. Aerial photo above Boulder Pasture in 1946 ......................................................................... 111 Figure 18. Aerial photo above Boulder Pasture in 2012 ......................................................................... 112 Figure 19. Aerial photo above Ernie's Tank in 1946 ............................................................................... 113 Figure 20. Aerial photo above Ernie's Tank in 2012 ............................................................................... 114 Figure 21. Aerial photo above Sally May Pasture in 1946 ...................................................................... 115 Figure 22. Aerial photo above Sally May pasture in 2012 ...................................................................... 116 Figure 23. Aerial photo of Tanque Aloma pasture in 1946 ..................................................................... 117 Figure 24. Aerial photo from 2012 in the Tanque Aloma pasture .......................................................... 118
Note about Acreage: All acreage figures shown in this report are approximate and
were determined using GIS software (ArcMap 10.0). Minor differences in the
acreage displayed may occur due to “floating point rounding errors” in Excel
spreadsheets and/or the data accuracy of the various GIS databases accessed.
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INTRODUCTION This specialist report analyzes the existing and desired conditions of soil and water
resources in the Fossil Creek allotment and the effects of the Proposed Action and the No
Action alternatives compared to the existing condition of the allotment.
This report includes detailed information and analysis, which is used to inform the Fossil
Creek Allotment Environmental Assessment (EA). In some situations, the EA presents the
information in a slightly different manner. In these situations, the EA was the instrument
used to inform the decision-making process. Specialist reports, including this report, are
important reference sources for more detailed information on affected environment,
methodology, and analysis that was not included in the EA. This is based on the Council for
Environmental Quality’s NEPA regulations (Section 1508.9), which identifies and
Environmental Assessment as a “concise public document” to include “brief discussions” of
the proposal, alternatives, environmental impacts of the alternatives, and a listing of agencies
and persons consulted.
The Fossil Creek Allotment is located on the Red Rock Ranger District approximately five
miles southeast of Camp Verde. The allotment is roughly bounded by Highway 260 on the
north and Fossil Creek on the east (Figure 1).
Elevations range from approximately 3,000 feet to 6,300 feet and vegetation is typical for the
area: ponderosa pine is present at the highest elevations, pinyon-juniper woodlands and
chaparral dominate the mid-elevations, and semi-desert grassland/desert scrub vegetation is
found at the lower elevations. The area within the allotment boundary is referred to as the
project area in the EA. Much of the analysis in this document extends beyond the project
area to take into account and disclose the effects of the alternatives to watershed areas
outside the allotment, interconnected upland and riparian areas that function together as an
ecological unit, wildlife habitat outside of the allotment that is important to species that occur
within the allotment, and surrounding areas that are culturally and economically affected by
activities that occur within the allotment.
This analysis replaces a 2009 Environmental Assessment completed for the reauthorization
of the term grazing permit for the Fossil Creek Allotment. The 2009 Environmental
Assessment and a 2009 decision to reauthorize the term grazing permit were litigated in
Arizona District Court. The Judge ruled that the 2009 Environmental Assessment
inaccurately disclosed the environmental impacts of the proposed action to unsatisfactory
soils on the allotment. This was due to an error that stated a 2/3 effective ground cover soil
objective would meet soil tolerance levels and thus prevent soil loss. To address this error,
the soil objective has been revised in this EA to be based on soil tolerance. The proposed
action in this EA also includes a number of differences than the proposed action analyzed in
the 2009 EA, including:
• The Stehr Lake Pasture is identified for trail through only instead of including proposals for
the construction of two water gap lanes on Fossil Creek.
• There is a proposal to complete juniper removal treatments on up to 1,200 acres in pastures
with high amounts of impaired and unsatisfactory soils.
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• Adaptive management scenarios are more specific and include detailed evaluation points.
• There are provisions to include exclusion fencing around riparian areas where riparian
utilization standards are not being met and to install exclusion fencing at occupied earthen
stock tanks where occupied by the Chiricahua leopard frog.
• There is proposal to make modifications to the Divide Tank to address invasive crayfish and
make the tank suitable habitat for the Chiricahua leopard frog.
These changes in the proposed action, a detailed description of the purpose and need, desired
conditions and issues are defined in more detail in Chapter 1 of the EA.
EXISTING CONDITION This section details the affected environment for the soil and water resources in the Fossil
Creek allotment. Soil and water resources analyzed include; watershed condition, soil
condition and productivity, riparian area extent and condition, wetland extent and condition,
seeps and springs extent and condition, perennial stream extent and water quality.
� Soil Condition
• 5,294 acres of Satisfactory soils or 12.57 percent of the allotment
• 9757 acres of Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable soils or 23.17 percent
• 26384 acres of Impaired soils or 62.64 percent of the allotment
• 26 acres of Not applicable soils or 0.06 percent of the allotment � These 26 acres refer to the old lake bed of Stehr Lake which is now drained
• 659 acres of Unsatisfactory soils or 1.56 percent of the allotment
� Wetlands
• Currently no wetlands are known to occur on the Fossil Creek allotment
according to the Coconino National Forest Inventory GIS database.
� Riparian areas
• 21.3 miles or riparian stream according to the Coconino NF Inventory
• 332.7 acres including all stream, seeps and springs according to the
Potential Natural Vegetation Types (PNVT) layer from the Coconino NF
� Springs and Seeps
• Twenty springs and/or seeps identified within the Fossil Creek allotment
� Perennial Streams
• 2.08 miles of perennial stream reaches, all on Fossil Creek
� Water Quality
• The ADEQ 2010 305B report continues to identify Fossil Creek as category
1 (Attaining all Uses) and lists the Verde River as category 1 also.
Climate Climate conditions are a major contributing factor affecting range condition and trend in the
southwestern United States. Climate on the Fossil Creek allotment is characterized by a
bimodal precipitation pattern with about 60 percent of precipitation occurring as frontal
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systems in the winter from December to March and about 40 percent occurring as monsoons
in the summer from July to September. Summer storms are generally more intense than
winter storms but are of shorter duration and smaller aerial extent.
Elevations run from approximately 3,000 feet to 6,300 feet and vegetation adheres to typical
elevation regimes; ponderosa pine stringers are present at the highest elevations,
pinyon/juniper woodlands and chaparral dominate the mid-elevations, and semi-desert
grassland/desert scrub vegetation types are at the lower elevations.
The Western Regional Climate Center station located at the historical Childs site is the
Arizona monitoring station number 021614, which was monitored from 1915 to2005. The
Childs station is located in the Fossil Creek Watershed in Yavapai County at Latitude
34°20'59", Longitude 111°41'55" and is 2,720 feet above sea level. Mean annual
precipitation is 18.11 inches and snow fall total is 0.9; for monthly averages, refer to Table 1.
Table 1. Climate information for Western Regional Climate Center station located at the Childs AZ
In Inches Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
Average
Total
Precipitation
1.95 1.89 1.74 0.97 0.39 0.35 1.97 2.65 1.72 1.20 1.28 2.01 18.11
Average
Total Snow
0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.9
The data available from the Childs station is representative of past precipitation patterns
occurring on the lower elevations on the Fossil Creek allotment. This precipitation data has a
period of records that extends back to 1915 but because the period of record ended in 2005,
this data cannot be used to determine current trends in precipitation occurring within the
Fossil Creek allotment.
The most recent data for the Fossil Creek allotment is available from the Callaway Butte rain
station from the Yavapai Flood Alert system. This precipitation gage is adjacent to the
northern boundaries of the Fossil Creek allotment and was installed in March of 2000. The
Callaway Butte rain station from the Yavapai Flood Alert system monitors station number
490, which was monitored from March 2000 to the present. The Callaway Butte rain station
is located in the West Clear Creek Sub basin of the Verde River Watershed in Coconino
County at Latitude 34°31'57", Longitude 111°29'08" and is 6,667 feet above sea level.
Mean annual precipitation is 20.13 inches, with no available snow fall data.
Table 2 shows the monthly averages for the period of record available at this site and also
shows water years 09/10, 10/11, and 11/12. Annual totals for water years 09/10 exceeds the
annual average precipitation, and water years 10/11 and 11/12 are close to this annual
average precipitation.
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Table 2. Precipitation data from the Callaway Butte weather station
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec An
nu
al
Average Total
Precipitation (in.) 1.89 1.94 1.37 0.84 0.56 0.21 3 3.6 1.63 1.65 1.39 2.07 20.13
Water Year 09/10 5.63 2.05 2.05 0.79 0.08 0.43 5.08 3.43 0.43 0.04 0.20 1.22 21.42
Water Year 10/11 0.31 2.36 1.18 0.55 0.79 0.00 3.03 2.20 2.48 2.13 0.87 3.58 19.49
Water Year 11/12 0.63 0.87 0.87 0.87 0.00 0.00 3.46 3.35 0.55 1.61 2.56 2.36 17.13
Watershed Climate conditions are a major contributing factor affecting range condition and
trend in the southwestern United States. Large year-to-year differences in rainfall and forage
production are characteristic of southwestern ranges (Martin 1974). Climate model
projections for the southwest United States predict average temperatures will continue to rise
as will the potential for an increase in the frequency of extreme heat events (Crimmins et al.
2007).
The NOAA U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook dated November 1, 2012 indicates that drought
development is likely to persist for the fall season of 2012 in the vicinity of the Fossil Creek
allotment (Figure 14, Appendix II: Drought monitoring ). The NOAA U.S. Seasonal Drought
Outlook dated February 7, 2013 indicates that drought development is ongoing with some
improvement (Figure 15, Appendix II: Drought monitoring ) and the most recent U.S
Seasonal Drought Outlook dated February 21, 2013 indicates that drought development is
likely (Figure 16, Appendix II: Drought monitoring ). The U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook
figures depict large scale trends based on subjectively derived probabilities guided by short
and long range statistical and dynamical forecasts (NOAA, 2013).
The NOAA U.S. Drought Monitor for the West which focuses on broad scale conditions
(dated October 30, 2012) indicates that the area is in moderate drought intensity (Figure 12,
Appendix II: Drought monitoring ). The most recent NOAA U.S. Drought Monitor for the
West (dated February 19, 2013) indicates that the area is in the lowest Intensity Class of
abnormally dry (Figure 13, Appendix II: Drought monitoring ). This data depicts a recent
improvement in drought conditions in the area around the Fossil Creek allotment.
The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) was developed by Thomas McKee, Nolan
Doesken and John Kleist of the Colorado Climate Center in 1993 and has been embraced by
the Western Regional Climate Center as a statistical method from assessing rainfall. In
calculating the SPI rainfall data, values are fitted to a gamma distribution and are then
transformed to a Gaussian distribution to standardize the results. All of the above steps make
the SPI independent of both the location and the range in values so that the different seasons
and climate areas are represented on an equal basis (WRCC, 2013). The purpose is to assign
a single numeric value to the precipitation which can be compared across regions with
markedly different climates (WRCC, 2013). The latest 12- month Standardized Precipitation
Index through the end of January 2013 shows all of the regions mapped near the Fossil Creek
allotment to be in near normal condition (Figure 9, Appendix II: Drought monitoring data).
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The Palmer Drought Se verity Index (PDSI) was one of the first procedures to demonstrate
success at quantifying the severity of droughts across different climates (Wells, 2004).
Instead of being purely based on precipitation, the PDSI is based upon a primitive water
balance model and has been used for approximately 40 years to quantify the long-term
drought conditions.
The NOAA Palmer Drought Se verity Index Long Term meteorological conditions dated
October 27, 1012 show the area near the Fossil Creek allotment to be in a severe drought
(Figure 10, Appendix II: Drought monitoring I), but the most recent NOAA Palmer Index
Long Term meteorological conditions dated January, 2013, shows a marked improvement
with all regions near the Fossil Creek allotment to be in mid-range (Figure 11, Appendix II:
Drought monitoring I). Drought Monitoring data and forecasts are always changing and are
useful tools for looking at short term and long term forecasts.
Site Specific data for the Fossil Creek allotment shows, as stated above, that annual
precipitation totals for water years 09/10 exceeds the annual average precipitation, and water
years 10/11 and 11/12 are close to this annual average precipitation.
There was a substantial drought between the years of 1998 and 2006. As a response to this
drought the Forest Service reduced authorized numbers and season of use in 2002 through
2006. Livestock was then completely removed from the allotment in response to conditions
from June 20, 2002 to February 28, 2003 and from October 31, 2004 to October 31, 2006.
Data shows conditions began to improve after drought conditions subsided, even with
continued grazing. To manage for drought cycles that change over time it is important to rely
on adaptive management measures that adjust changes needed, including but not limited to
authorized numbers and season of use, during drought conditions and have the flexibility to
make these management changes.
Climate Change
Climate conditions are a major contributing factor affecting range condition and trend in the
southwestern United States. Large year-to-year differences in rainfall and forage production
are characteristic of southwestern ranges (Martin 1974). Climate model projections for the
southwest United States predict average temperatures will continue to rise as will the
potential for an increase in the frequency of extreme heat events (Crimmins et al. 2007).
Regional models have shown temperatures increasing from 2 to 20 degrees on average over
the next 50 years (Smith,2010 and TACCIMO, 2012). Changes in precipitation are less
predictable, with some models calling for increases of 5 percent and other models calling for
decreases of varying degree from 3 to 40 percent over the next 50 years (Smith,2010 and
TACCIMO, 2012). Other models suggest that an average annual precipitation in the
Southwest will likely decrease 6 to 12 percent by 2100 (USDA, 2012). Fire frequency and
severity will likely increase as temperatures rise and precipitation decrease (USDA, 2010) .
Changes in climate may affect the vitality and productivity of rangeland plants, and thus the
overall conditions of both wildlife habitat and range conditions (USDA, 2010) . Increased
temperatures combined with decreased precipitation would lead to lower plant productivity
and cover, which in turn would decrease litter cover. The reduction in plant and litter cover
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would make the soils more susceptible to wind and water erosion. Drought will likely
increase and the increase will likely intensify as temperature increases ( USDA, 2012).
Climate change will likely increase the establishment of invasive plants in the U.S. Forests
(USDA, 2012.)Timing of moisture can lead to shifts in dominance from warm to cool season
plant species or vice-versa. Currently we are observing a shift to warm season species
dominance in many areas of northern Arizona as a result of lower winter moisture and higher
summer moisture. Shifts in forage productivity and the presence of exotic plant species in
grasslands will likely affect forage quality and fire frequency (USDA, 2010).
Coupled with poor forage conditions, there may be a general scarcity of water for cattle
(USDA, 2010). Water supplies are projected to become increasingly scarce and seasonal as
snowmelt occurs earlier in the year. The Colorado River, Rio Grande, and several other
southwestern rivers have streamflows that appear to be peaking earlier in the year, suggesting
that the spring temperatures in these regions are warmer than in the past, causing snow to
melt earlier. While the Southwest is expected to become warmer and drier, it is likely to
experience more flooding (USDA, 2010). Some of the most notable observed effect of
climate change occur in the Western United States and include an increase in the size and
intensity of forest fires, bark beetle outbreaks killing trees over enormous areas, accelerated
tree mortality from drought, and earlier snowmelt and runoff (USDA, 2012).
Regional trend and projections of changing climatic conditions for the West include lower
precipitation in Arizona. More frequent rain on snow flooding in some areas, decreased soil
productivity, reduced vegetative cover and a highly variable climate with exceptionally wet
and dry periods (USDA, 2010).
Some ranchers rely on well water, but often ranchers use stock tanks (dirt tanks) to capture
summer monsoon rainfall and use this water for their cattle over the winter (USDA, 2010).
During the recent droughts, these dirt tanks dried prematurely, making many pastures useless
for cattle even though forage was still available (Conley et al. 1999). Ranching is in a
vulnerable position, especially when viewed against a backdrop of changing climate,
economic structure, urban expansion, increasing population, fluctuating market conditions,
and environmental protection measures (Sprigg et al. 2000).
According to NOAA National Climatic Data Center, there has been a marked upward trend
in the globally averaged annual mean surface temperature since the mid-1970s (NOAA,
2012). Models used by Seager et al. (2007) to predict how climate change will affect the
southwestern United States indicate that the current drought will intensify and continue for
years to decades. However, the models are too broad-scale to predict how climate change
might affect specific areas or the summer monsoons, which contribute a large portion of the
precipitation on the Fossil Creek allotment. Up to 50% of the annual rainfall in Arizona and
New Mexico occurs as monsoonal storms from July through September (Sheppard et al.
2002). It is difficult to predict how global warming might affect the Fossil Creek allotment
specifically, but it could become warmer and dryer.
We know climate changes occur. There are many factors which affect Earth’s global
climate, including the 11 and 22 year solar cycles. The cycle includes a solar maximum,
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when the sun undergoes a period of increased magnetic and sunspot activity, and puts out
more radiation. It is followed by a solar minimum, a relatively quiet time when the sun’s
radiation output is less. These cycles affect how much radiant energy from the sun is
received by Earth, called the Total Solar Irridiance (TSI). The TSI interaction with the
Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and landmasses is the biggest factor determining our climate
(NASA, 2003).
Changes in climate affect the environment in various ways. For example, the Medieval
Warming Period (AD 950-1250) was a period of global warming, during which Greenland
was not frozen and the Viking civilization there flourished. In contrast, the Little Ice Age
(AD 1450-1850) was a period of global cooling during which Greenland became
inhospitable. The coldest part of the Little Ice Age, known as the Maunder Minimum was a
70-year period during which little sunspot activity occurred and North America and Europe
were subjected to intense winters (Phillips, 2013). Many scientists believe the prolonged
solar minima and its corresponding decrease in solar energy is what caused Earth to cool
(Fox, 2011). The current Solar Cycle (number 24) is the weakest in more than 50 years,
suggesting we may be on the verge of another period of global cooling (Phillips, 2013).
In recent decades, there has also been much discussion and debate over the possible impacts
of human influences on climate, especially in regards to greenhouse gasses. Bruce Wielicki,
Senior Earth Scientist at NASA Langley, says that carbon dioxide acts as a blanket and helps
trap heat in the atmosphere (NASA, 2011).
It is difficult to conclude whether recently observed trends or changes in ecological
phenomena are the result of human caused climate change, climatic variability, or other
factors (USDA, 2012). As documented in the U.S Climate Change Science Program
Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.3 (Backlund et al. 2008), climate change is occurring
and we are observing many effects on forests. A growing body of science has demonstrated
that the Earth’s climate warmed rapidly during the 20th
century (USDA, 2010).
Regardless of the causes of climate change, our responsibility is to determine effective
ways to respond to changes and manage the land effectively. One of our identified goals is
maintaining and improving watershed health. Healthy, resilient watersheds are more likely
to support desired ecological services in the face of climate change (Furniss, 2010).
Climate changes in the future would also affect the allotment. Some climate model
projections for the southwest United States predict average temperatures will continue to rise
as will the potential for an increase in the frequency of extreme heat events (Crimmins et al.
2007). Fires are burning hotter and covering larger areas. The resulting changes in
vegetation cover and soil characteristics can dramatically increase flooding and mass
wasting, with severe impacts to downstream infrastructure and aquatic ecosystems (Furnas et
al, 2010). Consequently, these extremes may pose additional risk to vegetation and soil
productivity from decreased cover that may result in higher risk of accelerated erosion and
sediment delivery. There is greater probability of flooding that could require additional creek
access trail maintenance. Therefore, it is critical to reduce overall soil disturbance by
implementing appropriate resource protection measures including soil and aquatic BMPs.
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The adaptive management strategies utilized by the Forest Service allow the landscape to
be managed in a way that sustains ecological functions, reduces the impact of existing
ecological stressors, maintain or enhance species and structural diversity, increase
ecosystem resiliency across the landscape and respond to disturbance (USDA, 2012). The
adaptive management strategies and use of best management practices allows for the
flexibility to manage the land in a way that enhance the resiliency of resources to the
potential impacts of climate change.
Watershed Condition
In 1987, the USGS published a set of hydrologic unit maps with numerical codes for
designating river basins within the United States. The purpose of these maps and the
associated coding system was to standardize the compilation and sharing of hydrologic data
among water-resources organizations. This system subdivides river basins into successively
smaller hydrologic units which are classified into four levels: regions, sub-regions,
accounting units, and cataloging units. The hydrologic units are nested within each other,
from the smallest subdivision (cataloging units) to the largest division (regions). In the
original mapping effort, each hydrologic unit was identified by a unique hydrologic unit code
(HUC) consisting of two to eight digits based on the four levels of classification in the
hydrologic unit system. This system is in wide use today with hydrologic units mapped at
even finer resolution with 6th
-level HUCs mapped at a scale of 1:24,000 and identified by
twelve digit codes.
Forest Service Manual (FSM) 2500, Watershed and Air Management, establishes national
policy concerning watershed protection and management (USDS Forest Service, 2004).
Chapter 2521 of FSM 2500 identifies the requirement for assessing the condition of Forest
Service watersheds with the objectives of evaluating long term watershed trends associated
with land use practices, assessing changes in watershed ability to produce resource outputs
brought about by changes in watershed condition, and to inform land management decisions
using consistent and scientific approaches that assess, protect, and restore watershed
conditions. Overall watershed condition is based on evaluation of the soil, aquatic and
riparian systems as prescribed by the watershed classes defined in Forest Service Manual
2520 (USDA 2004).
To assess and prioritize watersheds in a consistent fashion, the Forest Service developed the
Watershed Condition Framework (WCF). The WCF establishes a reconnaissance-level
approach for classifying watershed condition, using a comprehensive set of 12 indicators that
are surrogate variables representing the underlying ecological, hydrological, and geomorphic
functions and processes that affect watershed condition (USDA Forest Service, 2011). The
indicators include aquatic physical, aquatic biological, terrestrial physical, and terrestrial
biological categories with attributes for each category (see Figure 1).
The WCF assessment process involves classification of all 6th
-level Hydrologic Unit Code
(HUC) watersheds on National Forest lands into one of three watershed condition classes:
Class 1—Functioning Properly; Class 2—Functioning at Risk; Class 3—Functionally
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
9
Impaired. Each indicator attribute such as Soil Productivity under the Soils indicator is
assigned a numerical score from 1 to 3 with 1 equating to good condition and 3 to poor
condition. Attribute scores for each indicator are averaged to give an overall indicator score,
and indicator scores under each indicator category are averaged to give an overall indicator
category score. Averaging of indicator category scores provides an overall watershed score
and takes into consideration that not all categories are weighted equally. The terrestrial
biological category makes up only 10% of the total watershed score, and the remaining
categories making up 30% each of the total score.
Figure 1. Watershed Condition Indicators
Based on these watershed condition indicators the Proposed Action of grazing could
potentially affect water quality, riparian vegetation condition, soil productivity and soil
erosion rates, as well as rangeland vegetation indicators. The Fossil Creek Range allotment
planning area is located within the Fossil Creek-Verde River 5th
code watershed. The Fossil
Creek Range allotment planning area also includes portions of eight 6th
HUC watersheds
nested within the larger Fossil Creek-Verde River 5th
code watershed. The 6th
HUC
watersheds within the Fossil Creek Range allotment planning area are listed in Table 3. The
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
10
existing watershed condition and indicator ratings that could be affected under the Proposed
Action for theses 6th
HUC watersheds are also given in Table 3. For a complete listing of all
the watershed indicators for each watershed as well as a description of why the watershed
was rated a specific rating please refer to the following website for detailed information
(http://apps.fs.usda.gov/WCFmapviewer).
Watershed function in the Lower Fossil Creek 6th
HUC watershed is rated as Functional at
risk due primarily to high amounts of impaired soil conditions, riparian condition in less than
functional condition, and presence of invasive and nonnative aquatic species (Lower Fossil
Creek Watershed Restoration Action Plan, Steinke et. al. 2013).
Table 3. Watershed Condition and Indicator ratings
HU
C1
2_
Na
me
Wa
ters
he
d
Co
nd
itio
n
Ind
ica
tor
1 -
Wa
ter
Qu
ali
ty
Ind
ica
tor
5 -
Rip
ari
an
/
We
tla
nd
Ve
ge
tati
on
Ind
ica
tor
7 -
So
ils
Ind
ica
tor
10
-
Ra
ng
ela
nd
Ve
ge
tati
on
Gap Creek-Verde River Functioning At Risk good fair poor Good
Chasm Creek – Verde River Functioning At Risk fair good fair Poor
Lower Fossil Creek Functioning At Risk good fair poor Good
Lower West Clear Creek Impaired Function good good poor Good
Middle West Clear Creek Functioning At Risk good good poor Good
Mud Tanks Draw Functioning At Risk fair good poor Fair
Sycamore Canyon Functioning At Risk good fair good Good
Upper Fossil Creek Functioning At Risk fair good poor Fair
According to the Coconino National Forest database the Potential Natural Vegetation Types
(PNVT) occurring within the Fossil Creek allotment vary from Semi-Desert Grassland and
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands to Ponderosa Pine at the highest elevations. Twelve different
PNVT categories occur within the Fossil Creek allotment and the acres of each PNVT are
listed in Table 4. Acres of riparian vegetation including Cottonwood Willow Riparian Forest,
Mixed Deciduous Riparian Forest, and Montane Willow Riparian Forest total 332.7 acres.
Table 4. Acres of each Potential Natural Vegetation Type on the Fossil Creek allotment
PNVT Sum of
Acres
Cottonwood Willow Riparian Forest 121.0
Desert Communities 0.4
Great Basin/Colorado Plateau Grassland and Steppe 541.3
Interior Chaparral 0.2
Madrean Encinal Woodland 95.4
Mixed Conifer Forest 9.6
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
11
Mixed Deciduous Riparian Forest 205.7
Montane Willow Riparian Forest 6.0
Pinyon Juniper Woodland 39719.9
Ponderosa Pine Forest 1100.9
Semi-Desert Grassland 333.1
Water (Stehr Lake) 26.5
Grand Total 42160.0
Woody Species Encroachment of Grasslands
One of the many contributing factors to watershed function, soil condition and rangeland
health is the encroachment of increasing canopy from juniper and shrub species. Productive
grasslands and open pinyon juniper woodlands with a healthy understory component have
been altered over time by the encroachment of small junipers and woody shrubs which
decreases herbaceous perennial grasses, exposes larger areas of bare soil, and accelerates
rates of erosion and decreases overall watershed and soil function. This loss of perennial
vegetative ground cover is primarily due to the increase in canopy cover which suppresses
understory vegetation.
Archer (1994) provided an extensive review of the causes of encroachment of grasslands by
woody species. The encroachment of grasslands by woody species is a global phenomenon
that has been attributed to atmospheric enrichment with CO2, climate change, livestock
grazing, and/or lack of fire. In some environments, the shift to woody species has been
accompanied by increased erosion where woody species compete directly with grasses for
limited soil moisture and nutrients (Wilcox and Davenport, 1995). This shift from grasslands
to woodlands or shrublands, therefore, has the potential to impact soil productivity and, by
extension, water quality.
The apparent coincidence, or at least, acceleration of this phenomenon with European
settlement of the North American southwest has led some to suggest a cause-effect
relationship particularly because the preferential removal of graminoids by livestock can
favor woody species either through reduced competition for soil moisture and nutrients or
through reduced opportunity for fire from this selective removal of fine fuels. There is,
however, controversy over the causes of this shift in plant species dominance of grasslands
particularly becasue it has been reported to occur under natural conditions and has been
observed on some landscapes and not others. The regional distribution of plant communities
is a function of the prevailing climate with larger scale (smaller area) spatial variability
superimposed on the landscape from the influence of slope, aspect, soils, and elevation.
These numerous abiotic factors affecting the landscape along with disturbance from native
herbivores and other animals and insects make it challenging to partition effects attributable
to livestock.
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
12
It has been hypothesized that atmospheric enrichment of CO2 since the beginning of the
industrial revolution may have favored the growth of woody species with a C3 photosynthetic
pathway over grasses with a C4 photosynthetic pathway (typically, warm season, perennial
grasses). Archer (1994), however, questions the role of this mechanism in woody species
encroachment because it is not universal (i.e., C4 grasses have persisted in some landscapes
and not others despite similar soils and climate), some landscapes dominated by C3 grasses
have also experienced woody species encroachment, and woody species encroachment was
already underway when atmospheric enrichment of CO2 attributable to industrialization was
first noted.
As noted earlier, the regional distribution of plant communities is generally influenced by the
prevailing climate, however, the variable longevity of species and biological inertia suggests
that a lag may occur between climate change and plant distribution. Biological inertia is the
tendency of plants to persist through climate variability such that plants found in a particular
ecosystem may not be in equilibrium with current climatic conditions. Archer (1994)
suggests that the shift from grasslands to shrub- or woodland communities may at least, in
part, reflect natural, long-term climatic fluctuations. Other climatic determinants of the shift
to woody species in grasslands may include short-term or long-term fluctuations in climate
that favor woody species over grasses. These include a shift in seasonal precipitation such
that less soil moisture is available to grasses during their growing period and more is
available to deeper rooted woody species. A shift in precipitation from predominantly
summer rains to winter rains would favor woody species by allowing deeper percolation of
moisture beyond the rooting depths of grasses while still accessible to woody plants.
Periodic drought may also affect the shift to woody species by reducing the continuity of fine
fuels and hence, the frequency of fire and also, by influencing the subsequent recruitment of
woody species in gaps formed by grass mortality. The ability of mesquite to draw moisture
from variable portions of the soil profile confers significant advantages for drought survival
over grasses that can only exploit near-surface soil moisture.
Herbivory by livestock is a disturbance superimposed on a vegetative community that exists
under the influence of climate, soils, and topography and other abiotic factors as well as
native herbivory and other agents of disturbance. The impacts to soils and water resources
from uncontrolled grazing that occurred prior to the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934) are well
documented and were widespread throughout western North America. In terms of livestock
influences on the expansion of woody species, several mechanisms have already been
mentioned including reduced competition for soil moisture and nutrients through selective
herbivory of graminoids as well as reduced fire frequency from a decrease in these fine fuels
across the landscape. Grazing can cause decreases in plant basal area, increased plant
mortality, and reduced seed production giving a competitive edge to woody species
competing for the same moisture and nutrient resources Gaps left behind from plant mortality
are often colonized by woody species in a uni-directional fashion not easily reversed. In
addition, livestock have been identified as effective agents of woody species seed dispersal.
Under good livestock management and by complying conservative utilization rates, reduction
in plant basal area, mortality, and reduced seed production should be minimized. This would
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
13
help slow further juniper canopy encroachment, but areas that are already dominated by
juniper need the canopy to be reduced before grasslands can function properly.
In summary, the expansion of woody species coincident with European settlement of the
North American west may reflect a natural process that occurred in response to long-term
climate change initiated long before European settlement . In addition temporal changes in
climate (such as seasonality of precipitation and drought) that favor deep-rooted woody
species over shallow-rooted grasses, may reflect herbivory by native species and livestock
that selectively graze graminoids giving non-palatable woody species access to increased
moisture and nutrients, and/or may reflect the reduced presence of fire that would sustain
grasslands and remove encroaching junipers. Whatever the cause, this phenomenon has
important consequences to soil productivity and water quality because encroachment of
woody species into grasslands frequently is preceded by an increase in bare soil and
consequent increase in erosion.
One way to address the high juniper canopy cover is to plan vegetative treatments to reduce
this canopy cover where issues are impacting perennial vegetation and soil condition. Over
story removal in the Utah juniper subtype will result in a several fold increase in in herbage
production (USDA, 1974 ). Tree control practices that leave downed trees and debris in place
and increase interspace vegetation may help save such sites from permanent degradation
(USDA, 1999). Soil condition can improve as infiltration capacity and vegetative ground
cover increase. Cutting juniper has stimulated herbaceous plant recovery, improved
infiltration capacity, and protected the soil surface from even large thunderstorms (Pierson et
al, 2007). Removal of western juniper increased total grass cover, productivity, and reduced
bare ground (Coultrap, 2008).
Semi-dessert grasslands and juniper-pinyon woodlands should be managed towards desired
conditions that improve vegetative, soil, and watershed conditions. Pictured below is an area
in the Mud Tanks Pasture within the Fossil Creek allotment taken in 1946. It clearly shows a
grassland dominated area with a few Juniper and Pinyon trees mostly in the drainages.
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
14
Figure 2. Mud Tanks pasture aerial photo from 1946
The aerial photo in Figure 3 was taken from current Google earth imagery in 2012 and shows
an increase in canopy cover from the 1946 aerial. Canopy cover is certain sections of these
aerial photos have increased from 1-5 percent in 1946 to more than 30 percent pinyon-juniper
in 2012. An increase in the percent of juniper canopy cover has reduced the herbaceous
understory and increased offsite erosion.
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
15
Figure 3. Mud Tanks Pasture aerial photo in 2012
The encroachment of juniper and pinyon in the Mud Tank pastures is evident in these aerial
images. To see more comparisons between 1947 aerial photos and 2012 aerial photos for
different pastures across the Fossil Creek allotment please refer to Appendix IX: Aerial
Photography Comparison of Canopy.
Soil Condition
Terrestrial Ecosystem Survey Background Information
The description of existing conditions of soils resources including limitations associated with
their management and land use activities relies largely on information published in the
Coconino National Forest (CNF), Terrestrial Ecosystem Survey (TES) (Miller, et. al. 1995).
Forest Service policy dictates that ecological units be used in natural resource inventory,
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
16
monitoring, and evaluation; in land management planning; and in making predictions and
interpretations for management of National Forest System lands (Winthers, et.al. 2005).
The TES is the result of systematic analysis, mapping, classification and interpretation of
terrestrial ecosystems also known as terrestrial ecological units. It is the only seamless
mapping of vegetation and soils available across the Forest that includes field visited,
validated and correlated sites with a stringent regional and national protocol stemming from
decades of work. Major field work for the Coconino TES was completed by qualified Soil
Scientists and Ecologists during the period of 1987 through 1991. Soil names and
descriptions were approved in 1992. Map units are identified by numbers ranging from 11 to
850. TES delineates ecosystems into components and larger map units according to their
climate, geology, soils, and potential natural vegetation. Components with similar
appearance and attributes are grouped into map units. Map units with a single component are
called consociations and those with two or more components are referred to as complexes, if
components are too intermingled or small to be shown separately at the TES map scale, or
associations if use and management does not justify separation of components.
Mapping of terrestrial ecosystems (ecological units) was initially done by stereoscopic
examination of 1:24,000 aerial photographs. Three levels of field documentation were
collected including observations, transects and detailed site description characterizing the
soil, vegetation, geology and climate. More detailed site descriptions were developed from at
least one 375 square meter field plot established at reference sites for each component of each map
unit. The site description includes general setting information, lithology, stratigraphy, geomorphic
classification, a complete soil pedon description, a listing of plant species occurring on the plot,
ground surface cover, and other attributes relating to site biomass. These plots were established in
areas exhibiting little or no anthropodic impacts under contemporary disturbances and/or were
identified as diverse, stable and functioning reflective of map unit potential. In addition, there were
at least three transects established for each map unit to determine map unit composition and
variability. Site descriptions plot data form the basis of potential natural vegetation
descriptions for each map unit component whereas transects across map units form the basis
for descriptions of current vegetation and ground cover conditions.
The CNF TES followed National Cooperative Soil Survey Standards similar to soil surveys
conducted by the Natural Resource Conservation Service. There was strict quality assurance
including project leader field reviews, regional office reviews, with initial, progressive,
annual and final field reviews to approve map unit design and mapping.
In addition to the aforementioned data acquired as part of the survey effort, TES also presents
important properties pertaining to the natural, physical, and behavioral characteristics of the
terrestrial ecosystems and provides the background for making interpretations.
Interpretations based upon TES incorporate 1) soil physical and chemical properties, 2)
climatic considerations, 3) topographic position and slope, 4) vegetation and anthropogenic
influences as well as animal impacts, 5) productive and successional potentials, and 6)
geologic influences.1 As such TES can form the ecological basis for describing existing
conditions for resource areas including watershed, wildlife, fire, and timber. Specifically,
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
17
TES provides suitability, limitation, and erosion hazard ratings that facilitate adjustments to
land management actions and potentials including plant communities, site index, fuelwood
and vegetation.
Because of the mapping scale, TES survey limitations, and the intermingling of map unit
components, variation can occur within a TES map unit or within the components which
make up the map units. This spatial variability presents some challenges when presenting
TES survey results and interpretations at the project level. To overcome this limitation, TES
survey results and interpretations are presented for a single map unit component taken to be
representative of the larger TES map unit for those map units identified as complexes or
associations. Representative map unit components for a complex or association were
generally selected based on their dominance within a map unit. Interpretation can vary by
map unit components. Depending on aerial extent and project purpose and need, the
component with the most conservative or restrictive value may be used in soil interpretations.
For example, a map unit component with a higher soil erodability rating would typically be
selected to represent soil erodability for a complex.
Project specific field data, where different from TES, is considered to supersede TES data
and is presented herein as noted. It is also important to note that TES information represents
a snapshot in time and place and conditions today, particularly ground cover, may differ
substantially from conditions when TES data was collected.
TES includes an evaluation of soil condition and places all soils into one of four condition
classes based on soil condition ratings: Satisfactory, Impaired, Unsatisfactory or Satisfactory
but Inherently Unstable. The soil condition ratings are based on interpretations of the three
primary soil functions: soil hydrologic function, soil stability and nutrient cycling.
Hydrologic function of the soil is based on indications of infiltration. Hydrologic function
decreases with a loss of soil aggregate stability as evidenced by platy structure. Soil stability
is generally assessed through visual inspection of the soil surface for evidence of erosion
including rilling, pedestaling (i.e., plants or rock fragments elevated above surrounding soil),
and soil displacement.
Nutrient cycling is generally assessed by visual observation of surface litter (distribution and
depth), composition and distribution of perennial vegetation, presence of coarse woody
material, and root distribution within the surface soil horizons. Effective vegetative ground
cover is defined as the aerial coverage in percent of vegetative ground cover with litter
greater than 1.25 cm in depth plus plant basal area. Soil condition may vary within the same
map unit across the landscape due to differences in disturbance.
Most Satisfactory soils have high amounts of effective ground cover that protect the soil from
accelerated erosion. Satisfactory soils occur where all three soil functions- the ability of the
soil to resist erosion, infiltrate water and recycle nutrients, respectively, are properly
functioning. These soils are fully capable of supporting livestock grazing and still allow for
maintenance of soil productivity when utilization guidelines are not exceeded.
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
18
Impaired soils generally occur in Pinyon-Juniper woodlands in Juniper-Semidesert grassland
transitional areas and Semidesert Grassland/Shrublands. These soils have reduced nutrient
cycling functions resulting from canopy encroachment which has reduced species
composition, diversity, effective vegetative ground cover, or signs of accelerated erosion.
These soils are potentially capable of supporting livestock grazing under conservative
allowable use.
Areas of Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable soils (portions above 40 percent slope)
currently do not have the capacity for grazing without risking loss of long-term soil
productivity. Though incidental use may occur, by assigning no capacity to these soils,
grazing capacity will be reduced and the impacts will be minimized to allow for soil
conditions to improve.
The approach taken in assigning capability and capacity based on soil condition rating is
summarized below. Please note that capability and capacity are calculated using slope
reduction factors and other information described in the Range Specialist Report also
available in the Project Record.
� Satisfactory soils
o Full capability
o Assign capacity
� Impaired Soils
o Potential capability
o Conservative/ reduced capacity
� Satisfactory but Inherently Unstable Soils (as verified by field visits)
o No capability
o No capacity
� Unsatisfactory (soil loss is greater than tolerance (Current Soil Loss >Tolerance Soil Loss)):
o Potential capability
o No capacity assigned
� Capacity could be increased after Unsatisfactory soils have been
shown to move towards an improved soil condition class and have
more than 100 lbs/acre of forage.
� Would set a soil condition objective and monitoring protocol
A combination of TES modeled soil condition ratings as well as validated and refined
condition ratings were used to establish existing condition report On-site soil condition
assessments were made from 2002-2012 to refine soil conditions.; copies of data sheets are
available in the Project Record. On-site investigation is recommended to validate soil
condition or rate soil condition including all three-soil functions. For soil condition classes by
TES unit within the Fossil Creek allotment please refer to Table 23 in Appendix V. For soil
condition classes by Pasture within the Fossil Creek allotment please refer to Table 24 in
Appendix VI: Soil Condition Acres by Pasture For acres of each TES unit and the percent of
the Fossil Creek allotment that each TES unit represents, please refer to Table 25 in
Appendix VII: TES unit Acres and Percent of Total allotment.
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
19
Soil conditions are dynamic like the ecosystems they reside within. Soil condition ratings
from early 2002 were taken in the middle of severe drought conditions. These drought
conditions, coupled with higher utilization rates that livestock were managed at in 2002,
showed areas in Fossil Creek allotment that were need of improvement. Recent climate
conditions have changed and precipitation has not been as scarce as it was in 2002. Also,
since the 2009 EA was first implemented, management has reduced utilization rates and
improvements on the ground have been documented in range and soil conditions. There has
been an apparent shift of acres into improved soil condition classes. Since soil condition
assessments were made in 2007, the percentage of Satisfactory soil on the Fossil Creek
allotment has increased from 4 percent to 12.57 percent. The acres of Unsatisfactory soil
condition also decreased during this time period. The changes in soil condition classes are
not all improvements; some changes represent better available site specific data that was not
previously available. For changes in other soil condition classes refer to Table 5. For a
breakdown of soil condition in each pasture by slope class refer to Table 24 in
Appendix VI: Soil Condition Acres by Pasture.
Table 5. Change in soil condition from 2007 to 2012 in the Fossil Creek allotment
SO
IL
CO
ND
ITIO
N
C
LA
SS
20
07
AC
RE
S
20
07
RE
LA
TIV
E
PE
RC
EN
T
20
12
AC
RE
S
20
12
RE
LA
TIV
E
PE
RC
EN
T
20
13
AC
RE
S
20
13
RE
LA
TIV
E
PE
RC
EN
T
Satisfactory 1,525 4% 5294 12.57% 5294 12.57%
Satisfactory but Inherently Unstable 16,872 40% 16663 39.56% 9757 23.17%
Impaired 20,669 49% 19479 46.24% 26384 62.64%
Unsatisfactory 3,067 7% 659 1.56% 659 1.56%
None (Stehr Lake) 26 0% 26 0.06% 26 0.06%
Another change in soil condition class occurred in regards to the TES unit 430 and 350 which
are both rated as Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable soils. On map unit 430, slopes range
from 40-120%, but when these map units were delineated for the Fossil Creek allotment
using 1:24,000 aerial photographs, areas of slope inclusions are apparent in TES units 430
below 40 percent slope. TES unit 430 comprises many acres on the Fossil Creek allotment
with a total of 16543.69 acres and comprises 64.56% of the total allotment (Appendix VII:
TES unit Acres and Percent of Total allotment). The portion of this TES unit that occurs on
slopes below 40 percent (about 6797 acres) was verified in the field as Impaired. On the
ground evidence showed that these soils do not become unstable until above 40 percent slope
and lesser slopes are not unstable but are more accurately rated as Impaired (6797 acres, see
Table 6). These areas less than 40 percent slope are located on the foot slopes of hills and
mountains and are capable of supporting livestock grazing, while still allowing for
maintenance of soil productivity. These soils were previously rated as Impaired and this
difference in acres is represented in Table 5.
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
20
TES mapping of unit 350 also includes some areas that are less than 40 percent slope.
Accelerated erosion occurs above these slopes and is probably correctly modeled as
Satisfactory but Inherently Unstable above these slopes. Only 11 acres of the 119 total acres
of TES Map unit 350 was modeled to be above 40 percent slope. The vegetation ground
cover levels on Satisfactory but Inherently Unstable soils are not capable of producing
tolerable ground cover levels and so the 11 acres was assigned no capacity. Map unit 350 on
slopes from 15 – 40% are capable of supporting livestock grazing while still allowing for
maintenance of soil productivity when utilization guidelines are not exceeded.
Observations from Rory Steinke and Gary Hase indicate that grazing occurs up to about 40%
slopes and seldom on steeper slopes due to high amounts of rock fragments and steep slopes
(personal com. Gary Hase, 2/8/2012). Where occasional grazing does occur on steeper
slopes, utilization and disturbance has been observed to be very low (personal com. A.
Roesch, 2/9/2012). See Table 6 for the breakdown of the portion of Satisfactory but
Inherently Unstable TES units that are below 40 percent slope and capable of supporting
livestock grazing. Note that out of 16,663 acres of Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable
modeled by TES only 9,757 acres are above 40 percent slope. The remaining acres below 40
percent slope were added to the Impaired soil condition category in all further analysis within
this report.
Table 6. Soil Condition class and slope classes on the Fossil Creek allotment
Row Labels Total Acres Percent of allotment
Impaired 19479 46.24%
>40% 1443 3.43%
0-15% 11970 28.42%
15-40% 6065 14.40%
Not applicable 26 0.06%
>40% 0 0.00%
0-15% 25 0.06%
15-40% 2 0.00%
Satisfactory 5294 12.57%
>40% 122 0.29%
0-15% 4059 9.64%
15-40% 1113 2.64%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 16663 39.56%
>40% 9757 23.17%
0-15% 864* 2.05%
15-40% 6041* 14.34%
Unsatisfactory 659 1.56%
>40% 40 0.09%
0-15% 260 0.62%
15-40% 360 0.85%
Grand Total 42121 100.00% *The acres highlighted in bold red were found to be below 40 percent slope and in Impaired soil condition, not in
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable condition as previously modeled by TES.
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
21
Figure 4 below, display the soil condition map by pasture for the Fossil Creek Alottment.
Figure 4 replaced the Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable soils below 40 percent slope that
were verified to be in Impaired soil condition according to the best available and site specific
data. Overall the allotment is predominately Impaired.
Figure 4. Soil Conditions of the Fossil Creek Range allotment, updated copy February 2013
Additional soil condition assessments have been made in soil units that were previously
unexamined in the field. Because these units were not initially verified in the field, the results
of the 2009 EA just showed modeled TES conditions. The changes in soil condition classes
are therefore not all improvements; some are just a representation of better available site
specific data that was not previously available. On-site soil condition assessments were made
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
22
in 2012, in addition to soil condition assessments already done, and the collected data sheets
area available in the Project Record. These soil condition assessments found several areas
that had been modeled by TES with Unsatisfactory soil condition in 2009, upon examination
of these soils in the field in 2012 they were reclassified as Impaired. The 7 percent
Unsatisfactory soil was recently verified to include Impaired soils and so this site specific
data was used in place of the modeled TES information, changing the amount of
Unsatisfactory soil to 1.56 percent of the Fossil Creek allotment.
Soil condition in TES unit 404 in Boulder Pasture was listed as Satisfactory based solely on
soil erosion modeling but the latest soil condition assessment in 2012 found these soils to be
Impaired with vegetative ground cover adequate to protect against accelerated erosion. .
Nutrient cycling was evident and current vegetative ground covers were greater than
tolerance vegetative ground covers. Map unit 404 in Boulder Pasture had soil loss rates
below tolerance and exhibited no surface crusting or subsurface compaction. Similarly, TES
unit 402 in Stehr pasture was modeled and reported as Unsatisfactory in the 2009 Fossil
Creek Range EA, but 2012 data shows this soil unit to be Impaired. Current vegetative
ground covers were noted above tolerance vegetative ground covers with good nutrient
cycling and no visible signs of erosion or exposed rills. Map unit 402 appeared similar to 404
from a vegetation and nutrient cycling condition and there were no visible signs of
accelerated erosion, or rills exposing roots. Where the Unsatisfactory TES units were verified
in the field to be Impaired, those TES units in that pasture were updated to reflect the most
accurate existing condition.
Most Unsatisfactory soils (TES 401, 402, 420) occur on flat slopes (less than about 10%
slopes) and have visible signs of compacted soil surfaces, and reduced nutrient cycling. The
majority of Unsatisfactory soils are not connected to Fossil Creek. They are all well buffered
and drain towards the Verde River.
TES unit 401 has current vegetative ground covers less than tolerance vegetative ground
covers, and therefore probably has accelerated erosion. The 133 acres of TES unit 401 are
minor in extent and are well buffered and slope towards the Verde. TES 402 is
Unsatisfactory due to compaction which has reduced infiltration. Also TES unit 402
exhibited poor distributions of litter and herbaceous composition, reducing soil nutrient
cycling.
TES 420 occurs on hills with slopes ranging from 15-40 percent and portions have current
vegetative ground covers less than tolerance vegetative ground covers. Current vegetative
ground covers on portions were documented at 15 percent and tolerance vegetative covers
are 20 percent and therefore current soil loss is greater than tolerable soil loss. These soils are
Unsatisfactory, due to reductions in the protective vegetative ground cover, resulting in
inadequate protection against accelerated erosion posing risk to soil productivity. A
compacted surface crust, pedestalling and small gullies were all noted on site
Because Unsatisfactory soils are at a higher risk of further losing long-term soil productivity,
these soils are assigned no grazing capacity. Though incidental use may occur, by assigning
no capacity to these soils the impacts would be minimized to allow for soil conditions to
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
23
improve. See Table 7 for current, tolerance and natural vegetative ground covers for
Unsatisfactory soils on the Fossil Creek allotment.
Table 7. Acres of Unsatisfactory soil condition and corresponding vegetative ground covers.
Unsatisfactory Acres Percent
allotment
Current
Vegetative
Ground
Cover
Tolerance
Vegetative
Ground
Cover
Natural
Vegetative
Ground
Covers
401 132 0.31% 10 15 20
402 222 0.53% 15, 17 15,15 20
420 305 0.72% 10, 15 20 20 *Values in bold red were values ascertained in the field.
Biological Soil Crusts (also called Microphytic soil crusts or crytogamic crusts) have the
potential to occur on most soil units within the Fossil Creek allotment. As noted in the Field
Guide to Biological Soil Crusts of Western U.S Drylands, “Biological Soil Crusts are found
on almost all soil types (Rosentreter, 2007). In rangelands, biological soil crusts function as a
living mulch by retaining soil moisture, discouraging annual weed growth, reducing wind
and water erosion, fixing atmospheric nitrogen and contributes to soil organic matter (Belnap
et al., 2001). Other functions noted of biological soil crusts include nutrient contributions to
plants, soil- water relations, infiltration, seedling germination, and plant growth (NRCS,
1997). Soil biological crusts are predominately composed of lichen and moss rhizines,
fungal hyphae, and cyanobacterial filaments that form a matrix that binds soil particles
together (Belnap, 1995). By binding together soil particles biological soil crusts play an
important role in preventing soil erosion and also help facilitate soil accretion over time. The
cyrptogamic crusts of semi-arid and arid regions of the world may be critical to the
environments in which they occur (Johansen, 1993).
Soil Erosion Rates
TES also provides predictions of annual soil loss under various ground cover conditions
including natural vegetation cover (cover conditions reflecting the potential plant
community), current cover conditions, potential cover conditions assuming all ground cover
is removed, and tolerance cover conditions taken to be the vegetative ground cover
conditions necessary to limit soil loss to levels that sustain inherent site productivity also
called soil loss tolerance. Annual soil loss estimates were made for each TES map unit using
the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) with average values for each of the USLE variables
(refer to Wischmeir and Smith, 1978). USLE variables include a topographic factor called
the slope/length (LS) factor that combines the effects of slope gradient and overland flow
length, a soil erodability (K) factor that quantifies the relative susceptibility of the soil to
sheet and rill erosion, a rainfall erosivity (R) factor dependent on total rainfall kinetic energy
and rainfall intensity, a land cover factor dependent on the vegetative ground cover, and a
conservation practices factor, which is assumed to be one where no specific soil conservation
measures are employed. USLE soil loss estimates represent average annual rates of soil loss
for the TES map unit component as a whole and do not necessarily reflect actual conditions
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
24
found throughout the map unit components. These annual soil loss estimates allow one to
compare soil loss estimates predicted under various land management actions to determine
potential impacts to soil productivity and sediment yield.
TES defines soil loss as the predicted net average annual soil loss from a site due to erosion.
The soil loss rates used in TES should not be considered as absolute values but are useful as
an index for references between different sites and for the same site under different
vegetative conditions. Soil losses are predicted for four following categories:
• Potential Soil Loss is the rate of soil loss that would occur under complete removal
of vegetative ground cover and represents the maximum rate of soil loss.
• Natural Soil Loss is the rate of soil loss that would occur under conditions associated
with a climax class and represents the minimum rate of soil loss. Our ecosystems
would never be completely within a climax class condition due to natural
disturbances including but not limited to fire and flooding that keep our landscapes in
a mosaic of different climax classes, but it is still a useful reference.
• Current Soil Loss is the rate of soil loss occurring under existing vegetative ground
cover conditions.
• Tolerance Soil Loss is the maximum rate of soil loss that can occur while sustaining
inherent site productivity.
Satisfactory soil conditions signify that current erosion rates are less than the soil tolerable
threshold. Soil tolerable threshold values vary by soil type and roughly equate to the point
where annual soil renewability or soil productivity is sustained. Erosion rates higher than
tolerable cause a loss of soil surface horizons and soil productivity. Conversely, erosion rates
less than tolerable allow for the soil to naturally regenerate enough and do not cause a loss of
soil productivity. Satisfactory soil conditions signify that erosion occurs at a rate less than
annual soil renewability levels known as tolerable and therefore represent maintenance of
soil productivity. Unsatisfactory soil conditions signify that a high level of erosion is
occurring is more than tolerable and therefore represents a net loss of soil and productivity.
TES units identified as Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable have natural erosion above
tolerable (thresholds) regardless of natural or anthropogenic disturbances. Therefore,
modeling indicates the soils are not capable of producing adequate vegetative ground cover
to prevent accelerated erosion, due to step slopes and other soil characteristics and therefore
tolerable thresholds are naturally exceeded in these Satisfactory but Inherently Unstable
units. TES map units 350 and 430 are rated as Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable on the
Fossil Creek allotment and these soils above 40 percent slope are naturally going to erode at
a rate above tolerable thresholds.
It is important to understand the erosional processes occurring within the Fossil Creek
allotment. Prediction of soil erosion by water is a common practice for natural resource
managers for evaluating impacts of upland erosion on soil productivity and off site water
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
25
quality (Elliot, 2001). Model predictions are used as an index and compared with on-site field
observations to support and validate soil [site] stability and associated erosional processes.
Erosion prediction modeling has been used to understand erosion rates on the Fossil Creek
allotment. In the original Environmental Assessment for the reauthorization of grazing on the
Fossil Creek allotment in 2009, erosion modeling was calculated using data from previous
TES assessments and generated predicted erosion off site in terms of sediment yield in tons
using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). The USLE and its revision the RUSLE is an
erosion prediction technology that has served well, but due to its empirical nature, however,
it has proven difficult to apply in some cases, particularly in off site cases (Laflen, 1994).
The USLE is not intended to be a tool to determine sediment yield and delivery into streams.
Sedimentation is a natural product of forestland, where in proper amounts, is essential to the
well being of stream ecosystems. It provides a rooting medium for aquatic plants, spawning
gravel for fish, shelter for small aquatic plants, and conveys nutrients into streams necessary
by all biota (Patric,1982).
In the original USLE modeled predictions for the Fossil Creek allotment used in 2009,
assumed that off site erosion results could be tied to stream water quality and sedimentation.
Assuming that 25 percent of the soil that is lost on-site is delivered to streams was not ground
verified or based on any cited literature in the scientific community. As stated in the original
2009 Soil and Water specialist report “The model probably overestimates the total soil loss
because natural soil loss rate as a background rate may be too high since all soils have some
kind of disturbance and will usually erode above natural soil loss rates”. Thirty-five percent
above background was a flawed conclusion. The analysis used a 35% sediment delivery
ratio of total hillslope erosion as a rule of thumb which is higher than generally accepted in
the SW and not the best available science available (Van Haveren, 1986). In fact, (Loomos
and Steinke, 2013) used a 10% DR in the Fossil Creek affected watersheds for the CRMP
analysis. Furthermore, the original analysis calculated potential as background and the
potential plant community under an edaphic climax is defined as the ultimate plant
community (Miller, 1995 ) that can exist and is generally in the late seral stage climax class
under conventional disturbances.
This would mean that the entire potential plant community in the Fossil Creek watershed was
in is a late seral stage climax class, and this is an unreasonable and inaccurate representation
of landscape ecology and background levels of erosion. Natural background includes
disturbances such as drought, fire and flood that keep the landscape in a mosaic of different
climax classes and consequently, a multitude of vegetative ground covers and erosion rates.
The USLE modeling used to characterize background sediment delivery did not accurately
account for the multitude and mosaic of successional stages and along with the assumption of
35% sediment delivery, inaccurately and over-quantified background sediment delivery into
Fossil Creek. The original analysis did not use the best available science, was inaccurate, was
not site specific enough and was not relevant for management changes.
The Water Erosion Prediction Project model was intended to replace the Universal Soil Loss
Equation for predicting soil loss (Laflen, 1994). With reasonable parameterization, the WEPP
interface provides a predicted erosion rate within an acceptable margin of error (Elliot,
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
26
2001). The WEPP model is a physically-based soil erosion model that can provide estimates
of soil erosion and sediment yield considering the specific soil, climate, ground cover, and
topographic conditions.
It was developed by an interagency group of scientists including the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Forest Service, and Natural Resources
Conservation Service; and the U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management
and Geological Survey. At best, watershed analysis models present an approximation.
Actual sediment yields for individual years may vary from modeled values by an order of
magnitude or more because of climate variables including precipitation timing and amount.
Results of the model are considered accurate at the Forest, landscape and overall range
allotment scale.
Table 8 shows the Disturbed WEPP results for sediment leaving profile averaged across three
slope classes. This information is included in the analysis to determine which slope classes
allotment-wide are predicting the highest amounts of soil loss. WEPP modeling (Appendix
A, B) show that the vast majority of hillslope sediment erosion comes from slopes greater
than about 40%.
According to WEPP, current soil loss rates averaged across the entire Fossil Creek allotment
is 0.17 tons/acre/year and the steepest slopes (Map units 350 and 430) have the greatest soil
loss of all soils. As was already mentioned these soils are inherently unstable and are
functioning properly and normally to the best of their natural ability. Therefore, they are not
eroding above natural limits and not contributing above natural levels of sediment into
connected stream courses including Fossil Creek. Current soil loss represents the rate of soil
loss occurring under existing conditions of effective ground cover (Miller, 1995).
These WEPP derived values are not site specific to the ecological unit level whereas the TES
soil loss rates listed in table 12 are and should be considered the most accurate and best
available science to quantify soil loss at the map unit level.
These WEPP results are inconclusive from a water quality standpoint as it does not reveal
how much of this sediment would reach the creek in any sort of a timeframe. Also since the
water quality of Fossil and the Verde River are both attaining all uses it can be concluded
that present management has not cause a rate of soil erosion great enough to impair total
suspended sediment water quality standards. In addition, under this new Proposed Action
improvements in rotation and other adaptive management measures should improve the
vegetative ground covers and therefore reduce current rates of erosion.
Table 8. Soil erosion rates under current conditions in tons/acre/year
Slope Class
Sediment Leaving
Profile in
tons/acre/year Acres in allotment
Total Sediment Leaving Profile
in tons/acre/year
0-15% 0.045 17247 776
15-40% 0.178 13554 2413
40% and Steeper .360 11357 4089
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
27
Total 42158 7278
Average in
tons/acre/yr 0.17
Table 12 displays TES current, tolerable, and natural soil loss rate4s and their corresponding
vegetative ground covers and highlights which units have soil productivity maintained
Aside from map units 350 and 430, all TES map units have current soil loss less than
tolerable soil loss and therefore soil productivity is maintained except portions of map units
420 and 401. As mentioned, map units 350 and 430 are inherently unstable, have current
vegetative ground covers equal to natural and are functioning to the best of their ability.
Therefore, soil productivity is maintained within natural limits.
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
28
Table 12. TES Soil Loss Rates and Vegetative Ground Covers
Terrestrial
ecological
map unit #
Current &
Refined
(Observed)
vegetative
ground cover %
in allotment
Current TES
and Refined
Modeled Soil
Loss in
tons/ha/year
Tolerable
(threshold)
vegetative ground
cover (%) From
Coconino TES
Tolerable
Soil Loss in
tons/ha/year
Natural
Vegetative
Ground
Cover
Natural Soil
Loss in
tons/ha/year
Current Soil Loss <
Tolerable Soil Loss
(CVGC = NVGC for
350 & 430)
Is Soil Productivity
Maintained From
Erosion Standpoint?
Acres
33 10 .1 10 6.7 30 <.1 Yes 107
34 25 .3 10 6.7 25 .2 Yes 13
350 20 5.8 25 (not
achievable)
4.5 20
5.8 Yes
119
382 20 1.6 5 6.7 30 .9 Yes 132
383 15 1.1 5 6.7 30 .6 Yes 65
401 10 6.4 5-15 4.5 20 3.4 No 133
402 17 < 2.2 10-15 2.2 20 1.7 Yes 401
403 15 2.5 10 6.7 25 1.4 Yes 88
404 25 < 6.7 15 6.7 30 3.4 Yes 440
417 10 5.9 10 6.7 20 4.0 Yes 451
420 15-22 5.1 20 4.5 20 4.1 No 1724
430 22 8.4 20-30 (30 not
achievable)
6.7 20
8.4 Yes
16,872
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
29
Terrestrial
ecological
map unit #
Current &
Refined
(Observed)
vegetative
ground cover %
in allotment
Current TES
and Refined
Modeled Soil
Loss in
tons/ha/year
Tolerable
(threshold)
vegetative ground
cover (%) From
Coconino TES
Tolerable
Soil Loss in
tons/ha/year
Natural
Vegetative
Ground
Cover
Natural Soil
Loss in
tons/ha/year
Current Soil Loss <
Tolerable Soil Loss
(CVGC = NVGC for
350 & 430)
Is Soil Productivity
Maintained From
Erosion Standpoint?
Acres
45 35 .2 20 6.7 60 .1 Yes 87
457 20 2.1 10 6.7 25 1.7 Yes 208
458 20 4.8 15 6.7 25 3.8 Yes 12
46 60 <.1 25 6.7 70 <.1 Yes 204
462 25 1.6 10 6.7 25 1.3 Yes 3607
463 25 5.1 10 6.7 30 .3. Yes 5807
466 20 1.5 10 6.7 20 1.0 Yes 541
492 20 1.1 10 2.2 25 .6 Yes 9714
493 15 3.1 10 4.5 30 2.0 Yes 592
520 35 1.0 10 6.7 65 .3 Yes 97
530 45 4.2 30 6.7 75 1.1 Yes 460
555 80 1.8 55 6.7 85 1.3 Yes 9
572 65 .3 10 6.7 80 .3 Yes 542
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
30
Terrestrial
ecological
map unit #
Current &
Refined
(Observed)
vegetative
ground cover %
in allotment
Current TES
and Refined
Modeled Soil
Loss in
tons/ha/year
Tolerable
(threshold)
vegetative ground
cover (%) From
Coconino TES
Tolerable
Soil Loss in
tons/ha/year
Natural
Vegetative
Ground
Cover
Natural Soil
Loss in
tons/ha/year
Current Soil Loss <
Tolerable Soil Loss
(CVGC = NVGC for
350 & 430)
Is Soil Productivity
Maintained From
Erosion Standpoint?
Acres
Total 42,428
Soil loss rates are for major soil component. Soil condition assessments on TES map unit 402, 404 identify vegetative ground covers
are greater than tolerable vegetative ground covers which is the amount necessary to protect against accelerated soil erosion. Therefore
modeling is not required and the result is listed as current soil loss < the tolerable soil loss and soil productivity is maintained.
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
31
Springs, Wetlands and Riparian Vegetation Condition
� Wetlands
• Currently no wetlands are known to occur on the Fossil Creek allotment
� Riparian areas
• 21.3 miles or riparian stream according to the Coconino NF Inventory
• 332.7 acres including all stream, seeps and springs according to the Coconino NF
Potential Natural Vegetation Types (PNVT) database
� Springs and Seeps
• Twenty springs and/or seeps identified within the Fossil Creek allotment
Currently no wetlands are known to occur on the Fossil Creek allotment according to the
Potential Natural Vegetation Type data from the Coconino NF database. There are
approximately 21.3 miles of riparian stream courses with in the Fossil Creek allotment (Table
9). Proper functioning condition assessments were completed in 1998 and 2010 using
protocol set forth in the BLM’s Riparian Proper Functioning Condition Assessment (Prichard
et al, 1998) on a majority of the pastures. Fossil Creek is the only perennial stream bordering
the allotment. Fifty-five percent of the stream is in Proper Functioning Condition, with
21.7% in unknown (unsurveyed) condition (Table 12)Total acres of riparian occurring within
the Fossil Creek allotment, according to the Coconino National Forest Potential Natural
Vegetation Types (PNVT) database, is 332.7 acres. This includes Cottonwood Willow
Riparian Forest, Mixed Deciduous Riparian Forest, and Montane Willow Riparian Forest.
Table 9. Riparian conditions on the Fossil Creek Range allotment
Row Labels Sum of Length
AT RISK 4.889
Fossil Creek (Reach 4) * 1.054
Lower Boulder 2.534
Sally May Wash 1.297
Sycamore Canyon 0.005
PROPER FUNCTIONING CONDITION 11.775
Fossil Creek (Reaches 1-3 and 5)* 4.660
Lower Mud Tank Draw 2.217
Sandrock Canyon 0.156
Tin Can Draw 1.156
Sycamore Canyon 1.774
Upper Boulder 1.553
Stehr Lake Wash 0.260
UNKNOWN 4.621
Sycamore Canyon headwaters 0.126
Sycamore Canyon above springs 3.244
Sycamore Canyon headwaters 1.250
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
32
Grand Total 21.285
* Fossil Creek is not grazed except for at the Boulder Water Gap.
The only livestock access on the Fossil Creek allotment is at the Boulder Water Gap. Sally
May Wash is an intermittent drainage and is rated as Functional At-Risk, primarily from a
lack of woody vegetation. Fossil Creek (Reach 4) is rated Functional At-Risk primarily due
recreational impacts. Lower Boulder Canyon, and Sycamore Canyon are also intermittent in
nature, and riparian vegetation is associated with springs. The entire reach lengths are not
riparian in nature, only small portions of each reach. The condition of these portions is tied
to spring condition, which is primarily in Properly Functioning Condition (PFC) to
Functional, At-Risk, depending on grazing pressure. Non–riparian streams cannot be
analyzed as PFC due to a lack of riparian species. The non-riparian streams flow only in
response to moisture events. Figure 5 displays the location and PFC conditions of streams
within the analysis area.
Twenty springs exists within the allotment and their condition is listed in Table 10. Pasture
location and condition of springs of the Fossil Creek Range allotment Nine springs were
located using the Coconino National Forest GIS database and additional ten were found
using on the ground, Proper Functioning Condition assessments, and using old topographical
survey maps. Table 10 shows the 9 locations on the GIS database and the additional ten
locations were located on older range maps with locations available in the Project Record.
Sally May Springs has been historically negatively affected by grazing activities through
biomass removal and trampling as noted in 1999 surveys. The three springs in Sycamore
Creek (Sycamore Spring and two unnamed springs) were functional in 1999. A visit in
January of 2007 notes that Sycamore Spring has little evidence of trampling or grazing of
riparian vegetation.
No cattle exclosures are currently in place around springs on the Fossil Creek allotment. All
springs have the potential for livestock access but many of these springs are located in
remote and rugged areas that may be inaccessible.
Table 10. Pasture location and condition of springs of the Fossil Creek Range allotment
PASTURE_NAME SPRING NAME PFC rating Cattle Access
Chalk Springs Burnt Springs Access Unknown
Chalk Springs Nonfunctional 2 Cattle Access
Kneecap Spring #1 Unknown Access Unknown
Kneecap Spring #2 Unknown Access Unknown
Shinbone Spring Unknown Access Unknown
Lower Wilderness
Indian Camp Spring Unknown Access Unknown
Mud Seep
Proper Functioning Condition
Access Unknown
Unnamed Spring East (Section 15)
Proper Functioning Condition
Access Unknown
Unnamed Spring West (Section 15)
Proper Functioning Condition
Access Unknown
Grass Patch Boulder Spring Proper Too rugged for cattle
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
33
PASTURE_NAME SPRING NAME PFC rating Cattle Access
Functioning Condition
to access
Sally Mae Cimmaron Springs Unknown Access Unknown
Sally May Springs Nonfunctional Access Unknown
Willow Seep Spring Unknown Access Unknown
Surge Quail Springs Nonfunctional 2 Access Unknown
Sycamore Sycamore Springs
Proper Functioning Condition
Cattle access
Unnamed in Sycamore Canyon
Proper Functioning Condition
Too rugged for cattle to access
Unnamed in Sycamore Canyon
Proper Functioning Condition
Too rugged for cattle to access
13 mile Spring
Proper Functioning Condition
No sign of cattle access
Boulder Eds Point Spring
Proper Functioning Condition
Access Unknown
Stehr Pasture 502 Roadside Spring
Functional At Risk
1, 3 Access off the 502 road while trailing through but use would be limited to 3 days a year
1This spring is going to be restored under the Fossil Comprehensive River Management Plan
2 These springs are turned into watering troughs and water rights are tied to livestock use
3 The main disturbance is a road in close proximity to the spring altering riparian function
Riparian reaches are also accessible to livestock grazing. The roughly 1.5 miles of riparian
vegetation on Fossil Creek alongside the Stehr Pasture would not be grazed as this pasture is
a trail through pasture only. See Figure 5. Riparian stream reaches and functional class within
the Fossil Creek allotment for additional locations where riparian occurs. This riparian is
potentially accessible to livestock where the terrain does not restrict livestock access.
Riparian areas that are not in Proper Functioning Condition need to improve and move
towards desired conditions showing an upward trend. Baseline conditions would be
determined where unknown and monitoring would be done at all riparian locations to
determine the trend. Practices to move towards or meet desired condition include but are not
limited to; meeting utilization guidelines, rest rotation, pasture deferral, not grazing during
the growing season or fencing. Riparian photo points would be established and would be
updated on a timely schedule to monitor conditions.
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
34
Figure 5. Riparian stream reaches and functional class within the Fossil Creek allotment
Perennial Streams and Water Quality
� Perennial Streams – 2.08 miles of perennial stream reaches all on Fossil Creek
� Water Quality
• The most recent draft ADEQ 2010 305 B report continues to identify Fossil
Creek as category 1 (Attaining all Uses) and lists the Verde River, from West
Clear Creek to Fossil Creek, as category 1 (Attaining all Uses).
Fossil Creek is within the Fossil Creek allotment and the Verde River is close on the
southwest end of the allotment. These two streams are the only perennial streams near or
within along the allotment and are the only streams that have water quality measurements by
the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
Fossil Creek has been designated Tier III Outstanding Arizona Waters (OAW), which are
subject to special protection and standards and specifically the Antidegradation Standard
applies to this stream. Fossil Creek was also designated as a wild and scenic river in 2009
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
35
and one of the core requirements of a wild and scenic river is that existing water quality be
maintained or improved.
The most recent ADEQ 2010 305 B report continues to identify Fossil Creek as category 1
(Attaining all Uses) and proposes to delist the Verde River because latest monitoring does
not show exceedences. Taking these water quality results into consideration shows that
current management is not contributing adverse amounts of sediment to Fossil Creek.
This reach of the Verde River was originally listed for turbidity, and the TMDL was
completed in 2002. The 2002 Turbidity TMDL was calculated based on data collected from
the USGS Gage near Clarkdale (094504000) located in Verde River segment 15060202-025.
Arizona repealed the turbidity water quality standard in 2003 and replaced it with a
suspended sediment concentration (SSC) standard. There are no median value exceedances
of the SSC standard within the previously Impaired reaches of the Verde River and therefore
all reaches included in the 2002 TMDL are being delisted (ADEQ, 2010).
In 2012 the Forest Service began a new pilot program in cooperation with the Friends of the
Forest Water Sampling Committee and Slide Rock State Park to initiate a water sampling
protocol at Fossil Creek. This effort began an investigation into the water quality in Fossil
Creek specifically looking for exceedances in E. coli. Sampling occurred in June through
August of 2012 at three sites along Fossil Creek and results are averaged in Table 11. A
single sample maximum of 235 cfu/100ml, is the water quality standard set by the Arizona
Department of Environmental Quality for full body contact. Results did not approach the
state standard. Additional sampling is needed to accurately determine trend.
Table 11. Average e Coli results from summer 2012 Friends of the Forest sampling
Date Ecoli
Standard
Site Average
CFU
12-Jun PASSED Bridge 12.7
12-Jun PASSED Irving 6.1
12-Jun PASSED Purple Mountain 31.42
10-Jul PASSED Purple Mountain 15.6
15-Aug PASSED Bridge 8.32
15-Aug PASSED Irving 8.38
15-Aug PASSED Purple Mountain 27.76
DESIRED CONDITION Based on Forest Plan guidance and site-specific knowledge of the allotments, the following
constitute the desired condition for the Fossil Creek allotment. The overall desired condition
is maintenance of sustainable ecosystems in which livestock grazing, range improvement
construction and maintenance, and range/livestock management do not impair important
ecosystem functions, such as maintaining watershed condition, soil stability and productivity,
riparian condition, and water quality.
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
36
Watershed Condition
The watershed condition indicators that the Proposed Action of grazing could potentially
effect include water quality, riparian vegetation condition, soil productivity and soil erosion
rates, as well as rangeland vegetation indicators. The desired condition for all of these
indicators would be good where it is currently fair to poor. The desired condition for the
overall watershed conditions would be Functioning properly where currently Functioning at
Risk and Impaired Function.
Specifically, the majority of the watershed exhibits moderate to high geomorphic,
hydrologic, and biotic integrity relative to its natural potential condition. Portions of the
watershed do exhibit unstable drainage networks. The soil, aquatic and riparian systems
range from dysfunctional (smallest aerial extent) to predominantly functional (largest acreage
extent) with significant areas at risk of being able to support beneficial uses.
allotment-wide there is an increase in the abundance of desired perennial native upland and
riparian species. This would improve the health and vigor of vegetation to maintain a stable
and desired plant community. Watersheds and soils are improved towards or maintained in
Satisfactory condition. Maintaining or improving water quality to the state standards.
This leads to:
o Increases in the perennial cool and warm-season herbaceous basal vegetation
o Reductions of annuals and non-natives, improving nutrient cycling, forage
production, and fish and wildlife habitat.
o Improved watershed condition
o Riparian areas, stream reaches and springs are in Proper Functioning
Condition or are trending towards PFC.
o Maintaining a viable livestock operation.
Then desired condition for the Pinyon-Juniper Grassland and Juniper Grassland are
generally uneven-aged and open in appearance. Trees occur as individuals, but occasionally
in smaller groups, and range from young to old. Scattered shrubs and a dense herbaceous
understory including native grasses, forbs and annuals are present to support frequent surface
fires. Snags are scattered across the landscape. The composition, structure, and function of
vegetative conditions are resilient to the frequency, extent and severity of disturbances (e.g.
insects, diseases, and fire) and climate variability. Fires are typically low-severity.
Soil Condition
Forest management and watershed function depend on productive, porous soils (USDA,
2010). Desired condition for soils as stated in the Forest Service Manual – Watershed and Air
Management Chapter 2550 states that the desired condition for soils is for physical, chemical
and biological properties support the productive capacity of the land, its ecological
processes, that is, hydrological function of watersheds, and the ecosystem services identified
in land management plans.
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
37
Manage livestock grazing at an intensity that would maintain or improve effective ground
cover. Effective ground cover is defined as the aerial coverage in percent of vegetative
ground cover with litter greater than 1.25 cm in depth plus plant basal area. Improve
vegetative ground covers toward vegetative ground cover tolerance thresholds on
Unsatisfactory soils, thereby improving long-term soil productivity. Manage livestock
grazing to move towards Satisfactory soil conditions on all Impaired and Unsatisfactory soil
conditions to improve and maintain long-term soil productivity. There is a desired condition
to maintain satisfactory soils and improve unsatisfactory and impaired soils using appropriate
management techniques.
In the 2009 Fossil Creek Range EA the soil condition objective was to manage soils
towards 2/3 of Natural Vegetative Ground Cover. A footnote in the 2009 EA erroneously
stated that a 2/3 effective vegetative ground cover objective met soil loss tolerance
thresholds for all soil units. This means there would be enough vegetative ground cover to
prevent erosion from exceeding natural rates of formation. The error is that the 2/3
vegetative ground cover objective does not meet soil loss tolerance thresholds in five TES
Units (Units 350, 401, 402, 420, and 430), which comprise about 45 percent of the
allotment. These five exceptions were identified in the soil specialist’s report during the
analysis, but were not carried forward into the EA. Because of the erroneous footnote, the
EA was required to be redone.
Therefore, this Environmental Assessment identifies a soil condition objective where
vegetative ground cover would be equal to or greater than soil loss tolerance threshold
ground covers for Unsatisfactory soils and therefore protect and maintain soil productivity
within the allotment. These are areas where management actions can affect change.
The older soil condition objective would be replaced with this new soil condition objective.
The soil condition objective would improve and protect soil productivity consistent with
forest plan, and manage the soils towards stated desired conditions. To help improve and
protect the Unsatisfactory soils on the Fossil Creek allotment the following soil condition
objective would be in place:
• Manage Unsatisfactory soils (401, 402, 420) toward natural vegetative ground cover
levels with a minimum equal to or greater than tolerable vegetative ground cover
levels (15%, 15%, and 20% respectively) within 10 years. Tolerable vegetative
ground cover levels are the minimum levels required to maintain long-term soil
productivity where current soil loss is less than soil renewability levels.
• Baseline monitoring in 2009 and 2010 occurred in pastures with high amounts of
Unsatisfactory soil conditions establishing a baseline current vegetative ground cover.
Monitoring would be repeated to inform vegetative ground cover trend. If monitoring
indicates that soil conditions are not improving towards Satisfactory conditions and
ground cover objectives are not being met, then current livestock grazing strategy
would be adjusted using adaptive management.
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• These adaptive management practices are not limited to but may include:
o A given pasture may either be rested, grazed at lighter intensity, or the use
period could be shortened.
o The season of use or timing of grazing the next year may be changed.
o The permittee would be required to distribute use better (Ex. Riding and
herding, salting, etc.).
o Monitoring would inform the grazing strategy and would be adjusted if soil
condition objectives are not met.
Changing the soil condition objective vegetative ground cover from 2/3rds of natural ground
cover to tolerable ground cover and managing grazing intensity accordingly would better and
more adequately protect long-term soil productivity on Unsatisfactory TES map units in
question (401, 402 and 420). Managing grazing intensity toward natural vegetative ground
cover levels with a minimum equal to or greater than tolerable vegetative ground cover levels
listed in Table 7 should adequately protect long term soil productivity. The vegetative ground
cover is adequate (at or above tolerable threshold values) to maintain soil stability, soil and
vegetative productivity where naturally possible considering slope.
The desired condition for biological soil crust communities are those that are helping
improve soil condition characteristics including reducing erosion, improving soil infiltration
and improving nutrient cycling on site.
Soil Erosion Rates
The desired condition of maintenance of soil productivity necessitates soil erosion rates to be
below tolerance thresholds for all TES units except Satisfactory but Inherently Unstable units
where natural rates of erosion exceed tolerable thresholds. All other TES units except
portions of 420, and 401, comprising about 1% of allotment (See table 7 and Appendix VIII)
have current vegetative ground covers equal to or greater than tolerance vegetative ground
cover levels and therefore, soil productivity from an erosion standpoint is maintained.
TES map units 430 and 350 are inherently unstable and naturally erode faster than they can
renew themselves and are vegetative ground cover is not inherently achievable. Based on
field assessments, these soils currently have vegetative ground covers equal to natural
vegetative ground covers and therefore are functioning properly and normally and to the best
of their ability.
Soil erosion, fugitive dust and sedimentation of downstream water bodies is minimized by
maintaining a stable to upward trend toward Satisfactory soil condition and maintaining or
improving the vegetative ground cover.
Managing grazing intensity to move toward natural vegetative ground cover levels on
Unsatisfactory soils with a minimum equal to or greater than tolerable vegetative ground
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
39
cover would adequately protect long term soil productivity and annual erosion would be less
than soil renewability levels. Satisfactory but Inherently Unstable soils would continue to
naturally erode at rates above tolerance soil loss. Based on current vegetation ground cover
conditions, these inherently unstable soils are functioning properly and normally. These soil
desired conditions and soil management objectives would allow for managing the grazing
intensity and protect long-term soil productivity. Accelerated erosion would not occur and
excessive sediment would not be delivered to connected stream courses as a result of
livestock management.
Springs, Wetlands and Riparian Vegetation Condition
Riparian areas, stream reaches, wetlands and springs are in Proper Functioning Condition or
making improvements towards Proper Functioning Conditions. Springs and wetlands are
showing improvement, with healthy and vigorous riparian vegetation. Woody vegetation and
other riparian plant species along stream reaches and springs are increasing towards potential
based on each site potential. All three functions including the hydrology, vegetation, and
erosion deposition are in Proper Functioning Condition or making improvements towards
Proper Functioning Condition.
There is a desired condition to move riparian areas, stream reaches, and springs to proper
functioning condition or make improvements toward proper functioning condition where not
currently properly functioning. Possible management tools such as adaptive management
and exclosure fencing may be used to help riparian areas move towards properly functioning
condition.
Desired conditions for critical reaches include both short-term and long-term timeframes. The most
important short-term desired conditions are to:
• Maintain residual herbaceous vegetation along the greenline or streambanks
• Minimize the annual impacts to seedling and sapling riparian woody species; and
• Limit physical impacts to alterable streambanks and greenlines.
• Reduce sedimentation
The most important long-term desired conditions are to:
• Optimize riparian tree and shrub establishment
• Increase the density, vertical and horizontal canopy cover of woody riparian tree species;
• Increase the proportion of obligate and facultative riparian species;
• Maintain or increase canopy cover of herbaceous species
• Optimize the establishment of floodplains and streambanks; and
• Improve stream channel function and stability.
Reaching desired conditions for riparian areas and stream channels would depend not only on
management activities, but on climatic events. Both drought and floods have the potential to
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
40
affect riparian areas. The recovery of riparian vegetation is essential for attainment of
stability or Proper Functioning Condition for many stream types. Riparian habitats are among
the most critical elements of biodiversity within the landscape. In Arizona and New Mexico,
80 percent of all vertebrate species use riparian areas for at least half their life cycles, and
more than half of these are totally dependent on riparian areas (Chaney et al. 1990).
According to the Arizona Riparian Council 60 to 70 percent of the state’s wildlife species
depend on riparian areas to sustain their populations, even though riparian habitats occupy
less than half a percent of the land area (Arizona Riparian Council 1995).
Perennial Streams and Water Quality
Fossil Creek and the Verde River water quality is maintained and are able to provide for
those designated beneficial uses.
There is a desired condition to maintain water quality in Fossil Creek and the Verde River to
continue meeting Arizona state water quality standards.
There is a desired condition to maintain or move watershed condition to properly functioning
where currently functioning at risk or impaired function.
MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK Relevant goals from the Coconino National Forest Land Management Plan (1987, as
amended):
• Maintain or, where needed, enhance soil productivity and watershed condition. Put all
areas in a Satisfactory watershed condition by 2020.
• Maintain a high quality sustained water yield for Forest users and others.
• Identify and protect wetlands and floodplains.
• Consider air quality during prescribed fires especially Class I areas over wildernesses
• Accomplish eighty percent of the riparian recovery by 2030. The remaining 20
percent would be significantly improved, but would not have all of the characteristics
of a fully recovered riparian area, such as 3 age classes of woody vegetation.
• Cooperate with Arizona Game and Fish Department to achieve management goals
and objectives in the Arizona Cold Water Fisheries Strategic Plan.
• Manage mountain grasslands to achieve 90 percent of potential ground cover to
prevent accelerated surface erosion and gully formation
Both in Appendix IV: Coconino National Forest Land Management Plan and
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Appendix III: Management areas and emphasis, contains language from the Coconino
National Forest Land Management Plan direction for soil and water standards and guidelines.
Other regulatory or legal requirements:
The authorities governing Forest Service soil management are:
1. The Organic Administration Act of 1897 (16 U.S.C. 473-475). Authorizes the Secretary
of Agriculture to establish regulations to govern the occupancy and use of National Forests
and “…to improve and protect the forest within the boundaries, or for the purpose of securing
favorable conditions of water flows, and to furnish a continuous supply of timber for the use
and necessities of citizens of the United States.”
2. Bankhead-Jones Act of 1937. The Secretary is authorized and directed to develop a
program of land conservation and land utilization, in order thereby to correct maladjustments
in land use, and thus assist in controlling soil erosion (reforestation), preserving natural
resources, (protecting fish and wildlife, developing and protecting recreational facilities),
mitigating floods, (preventing impairment of dams and reservoirs, developing energy
resources), conserving surface and subsurface moisture, protecting the watersheds of
navigable streams, and protecting the public lands, health, safety, and welfare.
3. The Multiple-Use, Sustained-Yield Act of 1960 (P.L. 86-517, 74 Stat. 215; 16 U.S.C.
528-531). States that the National Forests are to be administered for outdoor recreation,
range, timber, watershed, and wildlife and fish purposes. This Act directs the Secretary to
manage these resources in the combination that would best meet the needs of the American
people; providing for periodic adjustments in use to conform to changing needs and
onditions; and harmonious and coordinated management of the resources without impairment
of the productivity of the land. Sustained yield means achieving and maintaining into
perpetuity a high-level annual or regular periodic output of renewable resources without
impairment of the productivity of the land.
4. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (16 U.S.C. 4321). Declares it
is the policy of the Federal Government to create and maintain conditions under which man
and nature can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social, economic, and other
requirements of present and future generations of Americans. The Act requires agencies to
analyze the physical, social, and economic effects associated with proposed plans and
decisions, to consider alternatives to the action proposed, and to document the results of the
analysis.
5. The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act (RPA) of 1974 (16
U.S.C. 1600-1614) (as amended by National Forest Management Act (NFMA) of 1976
(16 U.S.C. 472a). This Act States that the development and administration of the renewable
resources of the National Forest System are to be in full accord with the concepts for multiple
use and sustained yield of products and services as set forth in the Multiple-Use Sustained
Yield Act of 1960. The Act requires the maintenance of productivity of the land and the
protection and, where appropriate, improvement of the quality of the soil and water
resources. The Act specifies that substantial and permanent impairment of productivity must
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
42
be avoided and has far-reaching implications for watershed management in the National
Forest System. This Act as amended contains the following sections and provisions pertinent
to maintaining a sound soil management program:
a. Section 3 paragraph 6b. This section directs the Secretary of Agriculture to
make, and keep current, a comprehensive survey and analysis of conditions of,
and requirements for, forest and rangelands of the United States, including a
determination of the present and potential productivity of the land.
b. Section 5. This section directs the Secretary of Agriculture to develop and
maintain on a continuing basis, a comprehensive and appropriately detailed
inventory of all National Forest System lands and renewable resources.
6. The Clean Water Act, as amended in 1977 and 1982
The primary objective of this Act is to restore and maintain the integrity of the nation’s
waters. This objective translates into two fundamental national goals: 1. Eliminate the
discharge of pollutants into the nation’s waters, and 2. Achieve water quality levels that are
fishable and swimable. This Act establishes a non-degradation policy for all federally
proposed projects. All proposed alternatives have been evaluated for consistency with the
Clean Water Act and associated State of Arizona Anti-degradation policy and determined to
be fully consistent.
7. MOU with ADEQ
The Memorandum of Understanding between the Southwestern Region of the Forest Service
and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (MOU dated 12-15-08) requires the
USDA Forest Service to provide ADEQ with an annual general assessment of water quality
accomplishments, monitoring results, problems and priorities.
PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES Alternative 1 No Action
A no action alternative is required by NEPA to be developed as a benchmark against which
the agency can evaluate the proposed action. No action in livestock management planning
equates to no permitted livestock grazing (FSH 2209.13, Ch. 90). This is because no action
would be taken to renew the TGP. The TGP would expire and livestock grazing would no
longer be authorized. The livestock would be removed and no new range improvements
would be constructed.
Selection of this alternative would not mean that livestock grazing could not be authorized on
this allotment sometime in the future. The allotment and pasture fences and all other
structural range improvements would remain in place. A separate analysis and coordination
with adjacent permittees and other agencies would be necessary to determine whether to
remove or maintain these improvements.
Alternative 2 The Proposed Action
Under the proposed action, livestock grazing would continue on Fossil Creek Allotment
under a deferred rotational grazing system, which includes conservative forage utilization
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guidelines. Additionally, there are specific rangeland improvements, specific restoration
projects, and specific management alternatives to implement based on adaptive management
scenarios.
The permittee has used forms of adaptive management over the years, including the
adjustment of livestock numbers to address resource needs. This proposed action would
continue and expand the use of adaptive management by identifying specific scenarios and
the possible management responses.
The proposed action is based on a grazing intensity that is light to moderate (0-50 percent)
and a conservative utilization (30-40% forage utilization as measured after the end of the
growing season).
Pasture rotations would be planned in the spring and fall, and documented in the AOIs, but
they could be modified later in the season to respond to environmental changes and/or
monitoring results.
The Proposed Action consists of five components: Authorization; Improvements;
Monitoring; Adaptive Management; and Resource Protection Measures. The proposed
action follows current guidance from Forest Service Handbook 2209.13, Chapter 90 (Grazing
Permit Administration; Rangeland Management Decision Making).
Authorization
The RRRD of the Coconino National Forest proposes to continue to authorize livestock
grazing for Fossil Creek Allotment under the following terms:
• The estimated livestock capacity based on full capacity acres would be 5,800 AUMs. This
number was calculated using a full capability condition on the allotment that could be
achieved if all the soils in impaired and unsatisfactory condition were improved to
satisfactory condition if the desired soil and vegetative cover conditions are reached.
However, current conditions cannot support 5,800 AUMs. The estimated livestock capacity
on the allotment based on the current conditions (current capability) is 3,600 AUMs year-
long.
• The Term Grazing Permit (TGP) would be issued for 3,600 AUMs or 300 AUs.
• Annual authorized livestock numbers would be based on existing conditions, available water
and forage, and predicted forage production for the year. Adjustments to the annual
authorized livestock numbers and AUMs (increase or decrease) may occur during the grazing
year, based on conditions and/or range inspections.
• The permitted season of use would be yearlong.
• Grazing would occur through a rotational management system (deferred rotational grazing)
which would allow for plant growth and recovery.
• Permittee is requested to leave any available water in earthen stock tanks for wildlife use after
domestic livestock have been removed from the grazing unit. Important earthen stock tanks
for wildlife include: Herbies, Hogback, Natural, Mail Trail Tank #2, Pine, Tanque Aloma, and
any other earthen stock tanks identified as being occupied by Chiricahua leopard frogs.
These would be identified in the AOIs based on most recent Chiricahua leopard frog
monitoring, and updated annually.
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• Stehr Lake Pasture would be utilized as a trail-through pasture only. Livestock use would be
limited to a three day period when trailing through this pasture. The livestock would not be
authorized access to the riparian area (Fossil Creek) to graze or water.
At the onset of a grazing period (3/1 to 2/28), livestock numbers would be based on water
availability and range readiness. Within season adjustments may occur based on resource
conditions that are evaluated through monitoring. Authorized livestock numbers have
historically been and would continue to be adjusted to meet resource and other objectives
based on changing conditions.
The Annual Operating Instructions (AOI) would state the planned graze period for each
pasture for each grazing year. However, the actual grazing period within each pasture would
depend on current growing conditions and the need to provide for plant recovery following
grazing. The length of the grazing period within each pasture would also be dictated by the
allotment-wide allowable use guidelines.
Drought Strategy
Following FSH 2209.13, the Grazing Permit Administration Handbook, the Standardized
Precipitation Index (SPI), combined with site-specific information, would be used to assess
moisture conditions. Using the SPI as a baseline and combining it with site-specific
information, a determination for drought would be made, and adaptive management
alternatives would be evaluated. Some of the indicators used for drought evaluation include
leaf size and color, flower and seed production, and root mass. Site-specific information may
include Arizona drought status guidelines as established by the Arizona Department of Water
Resources. These guidelines break precipitation amounts into categories to assess stages of
drought.
Region 3 and Coconino National Forest drought management policies recommend resting
pastures from grazing as a method for mitigating grazing effects during drought. When a
pasture would be rested and for how long it would be rested would depend on conditions.
These decisions would be made by the Responsible Official after consulting the Range
Specialist and the permittee.
Management
The grazing system would consist of a deferred rotation to facilitate soil and vegetative
improvement.
Pasture rotations would be planned at the onset of spring and fall season, but may be
modified later in response to environmental changes, such as range readiness, drought, fire,
or a wet season.
Grazing rotations would be prescribed to address early-spring growth, late-spring growth,
and seed-shatter periods in different pastures. For example, if a pasture is grazed during the
late-spring growth period one year, it would not be grazed during the late-spring growth
period the next year.
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Allotment-Wide Allowable Use Guidelines (Intensity/Utilization Guidelines)
Grazing intensity is defined as the amount of herbage removed through grazing or trampling
during the growing period. Grazing intensity would be managed to allow for the
physiological needs of plants.
Utilization monitoring would occur at the end of the growing season within each of the main
grazing pastures. Utilization is defined as the proportion or degree of current year’s forage
production that is consumed or destroyed by animals (including insects). Utilization is
measured at the end of the growing season when the total annual production can be
accounted for and the effects of grazing in the whole management unit can be assessed.
Utilization measurements would be taken in key areas which reflect grazing effects within an
entire pasture. A minimum of one key area would be established within each main grazing
pasture, at existing long-term monitoring sites if possible, to represent overall pasture
utilization. Utilization guidelines are not intended as inflexible limits. Utilization
measurements can indicate the need for management changes prior to this need being
identified through long-term monitoring. Utilization data would not be used alone, but
would be used along with reporting of the number of AUMs grazed (actual use), climate and
condition/trend data, to determine stocking levels and pasture rotations for future years.
If monitoring shows that the utilization guideline was exceeded in a pasture, the grazing
schedule and/or cattle numbers would be adjusted for the following year. If utilization is
exceeded after these adjustments are made, then changes would be made to the grazing
management system.
Grazing Intensity (excluding riparian areas)
Management guidelines of: • Light levels (0-30%) during the late-spring growth period of plants when the potential for
plant recovery is limited due to moisture potential and life cycle stage.
• Moderate levels (40-50%) in the early-spring period and early-summer period when sufficient
opportunity exists for plant recovery.
• Conservative levels (30-40%) during mid/late summer to the dormant period when the
potential for plant recovery is limited.
Forage Utilization (excluding riparian areas)
Forage utilization would follow a management guideline of conservative utilization, which is
30-40 percent. This utilization level would be used to: • Maintain the satisfactory soils
• Improve the impaired and unsatisfactory soils
• Maintain or Improve rangeland vegetative ground cover and long term soil productivity
The intensity and utilization levels would be used to move towards the desired condition.
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Utilization and Intensity Criteria for Riparian Areas (Excluding Boulder Water Gap2)
• Utilization would not exceed 20 percent on the key woody vegetation (trees and shrubs such
as cottonwood and willow).
o This number (20%) does take into account the cumulative browsing effects of
wildlife and livestock.
• To protect the riparian vegetation, maintain a minimal stubble height of four inches of
herbaceous vegetation. The stubble height requirement may be adjusted as appropriate for
each site-specific location as additional data is collected.
Soil Objectives
Manage soils classified as unsatisfactory soil condition (terrestrial ecosystem units 401, 4023
and 420) toward natural vegetative ground cover levels with a minimum cover equal to or
greater than tolerable vegetative ground cover levels (15% , 15% and 20% respectively)
within 10 years.
Pasture Grazing Period
The scheduled grazing period per pasture would typically be 5-35 days, but depends on
factors including: pasture size (AUMs), grazing capacity, weather/climate conditions,
current forage production, the opportunity for plant recovery following grazing, number of
head, and allowable intensity and utilization guidelines. Other factors that may occasionally
affect the grazing period include drought and wildfires.
All pastures would be grazed once per grazing period unless authorized by the Responsible
Official when conditions warrant. Any need to re-use pastures would be considered, such as
in the case of variable drought conditions or wildfire.
Second entries into above-mentioned pastures or extensions to the migration time would be
allowed only if the following criteria are met:
• Grazing intensity in the pasture was not exceeded already that year
• The end of the year utilization for the pasture was not exceeded the year prior
Invasive Species
Where high priority invasive plants are present, restrictions on livestock numbers or timing
may be used in conjunction with treatments. Treatments would be performed in accordance
with procedures and BMPs identified in the EIS for invasive weed treatments.
2 Boulder Water Gap would not be subject to riparian standards because the purpose of the water gap is to allow cattle
access to a 40-foot section along Fossil Creek while excluding livestock access to the rest of the stream bank in the Boulder
Pasture. Water gaps have been illustrated to be an effective method for limiting stream and riparian impacts in grazed areas
(Clawson 1993, Nader et al. 1998, Miller et al. 2010, Sewards and Valett 2006).
3 Portions of TES map unit 402 have been surveyed and re-classified as impaired soils. These areas re-classified as impaired
soils would not be subject to this part of the proposed action. See the Affected Environment portion of the soils analysis for
more detail on this subject.
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Structural Range Improvements
The following structural improvement would decrease impacts to wildlife and help to
maintain/improve desired condition.
Divide Tank is infested with crayfish and the crayfish are a threat to the endangered
Chiricahua leopard frog. Methods for addressing this situation would include either:
• Replacing Divide Tank with a water collection, storage, pipeline, and trough system that does
not provide suitable habitat for crayfish
• Replacing Divide Tank with fabricated troughs and having the permittee haul water to the
troughs as needed.
Further coordination between agencies (USFS, AGFD, USFWS) and the permittee is
necessary to determine which of the above methods would be used.
Livestock exclosure fencing would be installed in earthen stock tanks occupied by
Chiricahua leopard frog and/or riparian areas in the allotment if monitoring determines that
livestock grazing is resulting in direct impacts, which were not addressed through other
adaptive management methods (changes in grazing period, utilization, and rotation).
All Range Improvements would follow the Construction Guidelines provided by the USFS.
Vegetation Treatments
Vegetation treatments on up to 1,200 acres within the 42,000 acre allotment are included as
part of the proposed action to help improve soil and overall watershed conditions. These
treatments would include up to 100 acres of juniper removal in pastures with 70 percent or
more impaired soils.
These treatments would be accomplished using only crews with chainsaws hand cutting and
lopping and scattering. Where treatments occur upstream of earthen stock tanks, mitigation
measures including the use of wattles, one rock check dams and other standard practices to
reduce erosion and promote restoration would be used.
Twelve pastures on the Fossil Creek allotment were found to have soils with 70 percent or
more in impaired condition. Under the proposed action approximately 100 acres in each of
these pastures would be treated with a total of 1,200 potential acres for vegetative treatment
that could occur anywhere within the pasture. Treatment areas would be prioritized according
to where on the ground observations have shown canopy cover to be impeding herbaceous
understory growth (generally >10 percent canopy), where erosion issues upstream from
earthen stock tanks occupied by Chiricahua leopard frog have been identified as an issue, and
where treatment efforts have the highest potential for success.
Table 12. Pastures with vegetative proposed treatments in the Fossil Creek alottment
PASTURE TOTAL ACRES IN
PASTURE
PERCENT OF PASTURE IN
SOIL CONDITION CLASS
Barry 157
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PASTURE TOTAL ACRES IN
PASTURE
PERCENT OF PASTURE IN
SOIL CONDITION CLASS
Impaired 148 94%
Satisfactory, but Inherently
Unstable 9 6%
Bull 2167
Impaired 1971 91%
Satisfactory 22 1%
Satisfactory, but Inherently
Unstable 98 5%
Unsatisfactory 75 3%
Dorens Defeat 1503
Impaired 1295 86%
Satisfactory, but Inherently
Unstable 208 14%
Grass Patch 1173
Impaired 1109 95%
Satisfactory, but Inherently
Unstable 64 5%
Heifer 579
Impaired 470 81%
Satisfactory 42 7%
Satisfactory, but Inherently
Unstable 10 2%
Unsatisfactory 57 10%
Hog Back 1533
Impaired 1437 94%
Satisfactory 24 2%
Satisfactory, but Inherently
Unstable 73 5%
Lower Eds Point 815
Impaired 704 86%
Satisfactory 101 12%
Satisfactory, but Inherently
Unstable 10 1%
Mud Tank 2202
Impaired 2201 100%
Satisfactory 1 0%
Pine 1745
Impaired 1607 92%
Satisfactory 122 7%
Satisfactory, but Inherently
Unstable 16 1%
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PASTURE TOTAL ACRES IN
PASTURE
PERCENT OF PASTURE IN
SOIL CONDITION CLASS
Shipping 1 715
Impaired 715 100%
Stehr Lake 1581
Impaired 1186 75%
Not applicable 26 2%
Satisfactory 9 1%
Satisfactory, but Inherently
Unstable 359 23%
Tanque Aloma 800
Impaired 632 79%
Satisfactory 168 21%
Monitoring and Adaptive Management
The proposed action includes adaptive management; a strategy that considers numerous
management actions that could be employed to modify the grazing system due to information
obtained from monitoring that indicates the grazing strategy is not meeting desired
conditions.
At the onset of a grazing period (3/1 to 2/28), livestock numbers would be based on water
availability and range readiness. Within season adjustments may occur based off resource
conditions that are evaluated through monitoring. Livestock numbers within the permitted
amount have historically been and would continue to be adjusted to meet resource and other
objectives based on changing conditions.
Implementation monitoring would occur at the end of the growing season within each of the
main grazing pastures by measuring grazing utilization or through the assessment of range
improvements. Utilization is defined as the proportion or degree of current year’s forage
production that is consumed or destroyed by animals (including insects). Utilization is
measured at the end of the growing season when the total annual production can be
accounted for and the effects of grazing in the whole management unit can be assessed.
Utilization and intensity measurements would be taken in key areas which reflect grazing
effects within an entire pasture. A minimum of one key area would be established within
each main grazing pasture, at existing long-term monitoring sites if possible, to represent
overall pasture utilization. Utilization guidelines are not intended as inflexible limits.
Utilization measurements can indicate the need for management changes prior to this need
being identified through long-term monitoring. Key areas would be monitored for intensity to
determine when cattle should be moved to prevent over use. A planned grazing system is
designed to promote flexibility in the grazing program and to buffer the adverse effects of
drought (FSH 2509.22). Utilization data would not be used alone, but would be used along
with actual-use, climate and condition/trend data, to determine stocking levels and pasture
rotations for future years.
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If monitoring shows that the utilization guideline was exceeded in a pasture, the grazing
schedule and/or cattle numbers would be adjusted for the following year. If utilization is
exceeded after these adjustments are made, then changes would be made to the grazing
management system.
Effectiveness Monitoring is used to assess long term condition and trend in achieving desired
objectives. This monitoring may include, but is not limited to measurements to track upland
vegetative conditions and soil condition towards achievement of the objectives. Example
methods for effectiveness monitoring may include, but are not limited to dry weight rank,
pace transects, pace quadrat frequency, Parker 3-step, and ground cover. Effectiveness
monitoring should occur within key areas on permanent transects at an interval of 5 to 10
years to evaluate the success of management in achieving the desired objectives.
Monitoring frequency of vegetation and soil condition and trend would be accomplished
collaboratively by Forest Service personnel, permittee, and cooperating agencies as funding,
personnel, and time are available. Typically trend data is collected within a five to ten year
period to reflect the greatest amount of change/trend. Both qualitative and quantitative
monitoring methods would be used in accordance with the Interagency Technical References,
Region 3 Rangeland Analysis and Management Training Guide, and the Region 3 Allotment
Analysis Handbook.
Monitoring of soil conditions is another monitoring strategy to provide information about the
effectiveness of grazing management as well as juniper treatments.
• Monitor vegetative ground cover in vegetation treatment areas before and within one year
after treatment and monitor trend as funding, personnel, and time are available.
• Baseline monitoring in 2009 and 2010 occurred in pastures with high amounts of
unsatisfactory soil conditions establishing a baseline current vegetative ground cover.
Monitoring would be repeated to inform vegetative ground cover trend. If monitoring
indicates that soil conditions are not improving towards Satisfactory conditions and ground
covers are not adequate to maintain soil productivity, then current livestock grazing strategy
would be adjusted using adaptive management. These adaptive management practices are not
limited to but may include:
o A given pasture may either be rested, grazed at lighter intensity, or the use period
could be shortened.
o The season of use or timing of grazing the next year may be changed.
o The permittee would be required to distribute use better (Ex. riding and herding,
salting, etc.).
These modifications are evaluated in this EA; if needed, they would be implemented through
the AOIs.
Adaptive management would also allow for the construction of fencing or exclosures in
riparian areas, if they are determined through monitoring as necessary to move the allotment
toward desired conditions. Monitoring of riparian vegetation would focus in those areas
where previous assessments have identified that riparian vegetation is not in proper
functioning condition and there is evidence of livestock access. The six springs on the
allotment that have not yet been assessed would also be assessed for proper functioning
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condition, but are of a lower priority since these springs generally support very little riparian
vegetation or are located in very rough or steep terrain.
Table 3, below, identifies several management evaluation points and management options to
describe scenarios when adaptive management will be used under the implementation of the
10-year term grazing permit.
Table 13. Management Evaluation Points and Adaptive Management Options
Management Evaluation Point
The “If” Statement
Adaptive Management Response Options
The “Then” Statement
If end of season grazing utilization is in
compliance with the 30-40% guideline Continue current management system.
If end of season grazing utilization is NOT in
compliance with the 30-40% guideline
The strategy for that pasture the following year
may be either be to rest it, graze it at lighter
intensity, or shorten the use period.
The season of use or timing of grazing the next
year may be changed
The permittee would be required to distribute
use better (Ex. Riding and herding, salting, etc.)
If seasonal grazing intensity is NOT in
compliance with the 0-50% guideline.
Livestock might leave that pasture early
The strategy for that pasture the following year
may be to rest it, graze it at lighter intensity, or
shorten the use period.
The season of use or timing of grazing the next
year may be changed
The permittee would be required to distribute
use better.
If in a 5 year period guidelines have been
exceeded twice or if guidelines are exceeded
in two consecutive years.
We have the option to reduce AUs or apply
other adaptive management actions, such as
resting pastures.
If wildfires and/or prescribed burning occur in
pastures.
Based on the intensity of the fire and the
condition of the vegetation (range ready)
afterwards, resting pastures may be considered.
If we see utilization on woody vegetation
exceeding Forest Plan guidelines (20%) at all
Livestock management changes would be used
to reduce utilization. If management does not
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Management Evaluation Point
The “If” Statement
Adaptive Management Response Options
The “Then” Statement
riparian areas. work, fences and exclosures may be used.
If assessment as evaluated through PFC shows
that livestock grazing is contributing towards a
decline in riparian condition.
Livestock management changes would be used
to improve condition. If management does not
work, fences and exclosures may be used. The
exception to this is for springs (Chalk springs
and Quail Springs) where the water rights
and/or claims are tied exclusively to livestock
use in Arizona Department of Water Resources
records.
Should other seeps and springs (not already
identified) that have the potential to support
willow be found to be lacking a willow
component.
Pole plantings and fencing would be considered.
If Chiricahua leopard frogs are found to be
occupying any tanks in the future that have not
already been identified.
Wedge fencing would be considered to protect
frog habitat.
If existing improvements and erosion control
measures around stocktanks for improving soil
and vegetative conditions are in disrepair or
are determined to be outdated.
Improvements and erosion control measures
would be maintained, repaired or upgraded as
needed.
If monitoring shows that livestock grazing is
negatively impacting occupied Fossil
springsnail habitat at any seeps or springs.
Livestock management changes would be used
to improve condition. If management does not
work, fences and exclosures may be used.
If monitoring shows that unsatisfactory soils
are not improving towards vegetative ground
cover tolerance thresholds.
The strategy for that pasture the following year
may be either be to rest it, graze it at lighter
intensity, or shorten the use period.
The season of use or timing of grazing the next
year may be changed.
The permittee would be required to distribute
use better (Ex. riding and herding, salting, etc.)
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Figure 6. Fossil Creek Allotment Pastures and Waters
Resource Protection Measures
The following measures would be implemented under the proposed action. These have been
used on previous projects and are considered to be effective at avoiding or reducing
environmental impacts. They are consistent with applicable Forest Plan standards and
guidelines, and the terms, conditions and conservation measures of existing biological
opinions.
Range Management
• During drought conditions, and in periods of drought recovery, adjust grazing timing,
intensity, frequency, numbers, and the management system as necessary to protect the upland
vegetation resource.
• The District Range Staff would monitor compliance with the Allotment Management Plan
throughout the grazing period of each year for the life of the Permit. Compliance with the
terms and conditions of the livestock grazing permit will be strictly enforced including
livestock grazing scheme, contingencies for drought conditions, and monitoring agreements.
Wildlife, Fisheries and Rare Plants
• Survey areas containing proposed structural improvements before construction for TES plants
and noxious or invasive weeds before construction of improvement. Identify populations and
mitigate impacts of management actions if needed.
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• Management practices that tend to concentrate livestock, such as placement of salt, will be
located away from sensitive wildlife areas such as known raptor nesting sites.
• Avoid TES plants (if found during survey) during the construction of structural
improvements.
• All open storage tanks and drinkers will be constructed with entry and escape ramps for
wildlife. These ramps would be built to the current Bat Conservation International
Specifications.
• In order to minimize the risk for introducing and spreading disease among aquatic systems,
approved protocols will be followed when conducting work in earthen livestock tanks. This
protocol will be attached to the AOI.
• When maintaining earthen stock tanks that are suitable habitat for Chiricahua leopard frogs
o Refer to the document “Hygiene Protocol for Control of Disease and Aquatic
Organism Transmission” for specific prevention and equipment cleaning guidelines
to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive nuisance species and pathogens.
o At least 60 days prior to maintaining or cleaning out earthen stock tanks, the
permittee shall inform the Coconino of planned activities. The permittee is
responsible for submitting a proposal that details when the work is to be completed,
who and contact information for who will be conducting the work, details about what
work is to be completed, and a list of all equipment that will be used.
o Authorized personnel shall assess and evaluate the need to survey the tank for
leopard frogs. If Chiricahua leopard frogs are known to occur or found during
surveys, the Forest and permittee shall work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) to develop and implement a plan to minimize take of frogs. Plans to
minimize take shall be approved by the USFWS. If other leopard frog species are
found, a plan to minimize impacts will be developed and implemented. Measures to
minimize take should include salvage and temporary holding of frogs, limiting
disturbance and work areas to the minimum area practicable, leaving stands of
emergent vegetation in place, and/or measures to minimize the likelihood of disease
transmission.
o All ranch hands, construction personnel, and others implementing the maintenance
shall be given a copy of these terms and conditions, and informed of the need to
comply with them. These instructions will be given to workers carrying out the
maintenance in advance so that the appropriate equipment (screens for pump tanks,
off-site water, disinfecting solution and sprayer, etc.) can be secured and brought out
to the site.
o For tanks occupied by frogs (including those dry tanks that could have frogs
persisting in moist cracks in the tank bottom or along the tank berms) it is required
that a representative from one of the agencies (USFWS, Forest Service, or Game and
Fish) be present to monitor tank cleaning or repair efforts.
• Live fish, crayfish, bullfrogs, leopard frogs, salamanders, or other aquatic organisms shall not
be moved among earthen tanks or other aquatic sites.
• If a site is identified as occupied by leopard frogs, water shall not be hauled to the site from
another aquatic site or tank that supports leopard frogs, bullfrogs, crayfish, or fish. When
water is needed, such as for bentonite application, all precautions shall be taken (use of fish
screens of 1/8 inch or smaller mesh and adding bleach if water is used from another tank or
municipal water source) to ensure that fish, bullfrogs, and their tadpoles, and crayfish are not
moved among tanks.
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• For situations that require water to be pumped from a tank with frogs, the following
mitigations apply:
o Use of tank water will be judicial and if the water level is low, it may be required that
water be hauled in.
o Mesh filters of 1/8 inch will be used to avoid sucking up eggs, tadpoles or juvenile
frogs. Pumps will be placed as far away from the water as possible.
o Pumps will be moved during refueling in order to avoid contaminating the tank water
and vegetation immediately around the tank.
Soil, Watershed and Fisheries Resources
• Work on all projects (earthen stock tanks, pipelines, trick tanks, fences, power line, roads, etc.
may only be conducted when soils are dry enough to support heavy equipment without
creating compaction, ruts, or erosion.
Cultural and Historic Resources
• All of the new ground disturbing activities that are planned to be implemented within two
years and can be identified on the ground have been surveyed and will be cleared prior to
authorizing grazing on the allotment as per Section 93.2 of the Region 3 Issuance Forest
Service Handbook 2209.13, Grazing Permit Administration Handbook, Chapter 90,
Rangeland Management Decisionmaking, and following the First Amended U.S.D.A., Forest
Service, Region 3 Programmatic Agreement Regarding Cultural Property Protection and
Responsibilities, dated Approved September 27, 2007.
• Before initiating any of the ground disturbing activities that are part of this project, the
District Archaeologist will be notified to ensure the proposed activities have cultural resource
clearance and project personnel are aware of the conditions specified in the final Fossil Creek
Range Allotment Cultural Resource Clearance Report. Any additional ground disturbing
activities that are proposed in the future must receive archaeological clearance prior to
implementation.
• Located sites will be marked for avoidance and will be avoided during construction. If any
new sites are discovered during construction activities, they are to be reported to the district
or forest archeologist and ground-disturbing work halted.
• Management practices that tend to concentrate livestock, such as placement of salt,
construction of fences, etc., will be located away from cultural resources.
Visual Resources
• When making modifications to Divide Tank or when replacing other existing range
infrastructure on the allotment, use various camouflaging techniques, such as using self-
weathering steel or painting improvements flat, non-reflective colors that blend with the
landscape. We would favor dull, rust-colored materials, and avoid bright or galvanized
materials to ensure improvements blend with the natural landscape character.
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ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES
Direct and Indirect Effects of Proposed Action
Watershed Condition
Watershed conditions have improved over the last five years from the data collected in 2006
to present. The three key area range plots that were read in 2012 and compared to the data in
2006 showed an increase in frequency of grass species, forbs, and shrubs. This improvement
could be attributed to the change in livestock numbers and use levels. As vegetation
condition continues to improve under the Proposed Action alternative watershed condition
indicators including water quality, riparian vegetation condition, soil productivity and soil
erosion rates, as well as rangeland vegetation indicators should continue to improve towards
good condition where it is currently fair to poor. The overall watershed condition is
improving towards Functioning Properly where currently Functioning at Risk and Impaired
Function and under the Proposed Action this improving trend would continue.
Watersheds must remain resilient to adapt to land use and climate change, rebound from
disturbances and adjust to new conditions (USDA, 2010) As a way to increase the resiliency
of the Fossil Creek allotment vegetative treatments were planned as part of the Proposed
Action. Vegetation treatments would restore and maintain savannah-like grasslands in
pinyon-juniper vegetation types, where soils indicate historic grasslands and meadow-like
conditions occurred. Vegetation treatments would be done in a mosaic pattern across the
landscape. Juniper treatments would leave slash in place and lop and scatter rather than
piling and burning which would result in less ground disturbance and soil disturbance. Slash
would be scattered into interspaces between trees to provide ground cover, distribute
nutrients, provide shade, and minimize moisture loss.
These treatments would reduce the competitive tree over-story and distribute branches and
limbs on bare soil areas to help increase the nutrient cycling. This would also increase the
cover of perennial grasses; increase effective litter, decrease soil moisture, increase the
overall hydrologic function of the soils by increasing infiltration, decrease soil compaction,
and decrease erosion on these treatment areas, and decreasing rainfall impact on bare soil.
These treatments would include crews with chainsaws hand cutting and lopping and
scattering. This would move us towards achieving our vegetation and soil objectives.
Long term effect of the lopped material is that as it breaks down into organic matter the soils
nutrient cycling ability improves. As perennial grasses become more of a dominate feature on
the landscape more organic material is again made available for absorption in to the A
horizon of the soil profile and soil productivity would increase. Yields of understory
vegetation increased from 223 pounds per acre, including 50 pounds of perennial grasses, to
981 pounds per acre including 193 pounds of perennial grasses after juniper over-story was
removed in Northern Arizona (Clary, 1972).
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This long term improvement in site productivity would improve watershed and soil
conditions on the Fossil Creek allotment. Implementing restoration actions that maintain or
improve conditions is key to providing resilient watersheds (USDA, 2010). The vegetative
treatments are part of this overall adaptive management approach that can improve the
resiliency of the landscape under the Proposed Action. These actions help ensure the forage
productivity but more importantly the ecosystem resiliency and watershed stability.
Soil Condition
For the Proposed Action, grazing would occur at a rate that is less than historic amounts,
under a rotational management system (either deferred or rest-rotation grazing), which would
allow for plant growth and recovery. For above ground litter production, lower utilization
levels should increase litter over time only if precipitation is available to produce plant
biomass.
The number of acres in the Impaired or Unsatisfactory category has been decreasing and
there has been an appreciable shift of acres into the Satisfactory category. Since soil
condition assessments were made in 2007, the percentage of Satisfactory soil on the Fossil
Creek allotment has increased from 4 percent to 12.57 percent.
The allotment would continue to move towards desired conditions under the Proposed Action
by implementing the utilization levels and grazing system of this alternative. This alternative
would maintain and improve water quality and quantity, reduce accelerated soil erosion, and
maintain or improving soil condition and long-term soil productivity for sustainability of the
resource.
The canopy cover issue would continue to remove understory vegetation through competition
for moisture over the next 10-50 years and under the Proposed Action this problem would be
addressed. By reducing canopy cover and reintroducing perennial grasses while sustainably
grazing, fine fuels would increase in grasslands and savannahs, leading to a possible return of
more natural fire frequencies. This process would prevent the future encroachment of trees
and shrubs into areas where they were not naturally dominant (e.g., grasslands). In grasslands
and savannahs the soil would maintain a higher grass cover and would be more resistant to
erosion. Soils and nutrient cycling may also be more productive as a result of having
continuous inputs of grass litter as opposed to juniper litter.
Under the Proposed Action, Stehr Lake Pasture would be a trail through pasture and so no
livestock grazing would occur in this pasture. Soils in Stehr Lake pasture should improve as
vegetative ground cover improves and increase on site soil nutrient cycling and productivity.
Under this alternative, livestock grazing would occur and as a result, there would be direct
and indirect effects from cattle grazing on upland vegetation. Adaptive management and
monitoring would be used to mitigate the direct and indirect effects. Grazing and browsing
by animals and insects is a natural process in all ecosystems. Generally, soils would not be
damaged by periodic removal of a slight to moderate amount of vegetative cover and litter.
However, it is important to maintain a moderate amount of cover and litter all year in order to
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58
promote nutrient cycling, soil fertility, soil structure, water infiltration, water holding
capacity, aeration, and resistance to erosion.
Grazing beyond the capability of the soil decreases the standing vegetative cover. It also
reduces the amount of continuous plant litter. Grazing animals trample vegetation and
damage soil surfaces by pulverizing soil aggregates. Although trampling may increase the
speed at which organic matter (litter, manure, and woody debris) is incorporated into the soil
and expose surface soils to improve seed germination and plant establishment, it can also
increase soil compaction, decrease aggregate stability, and increase the risk of wind and
water erosion in areas where livestock concentrate, especially when soils are saturated.
Compaction reduces the infiltration rate, water-holding capacity, and aeration of the soil
which leads to losses in plant productivity and sheet erosion.
Soil is affected by the livestock walking on the soil and consuming forage. This may result
in:
• Compaction of soils from hoof action, resulting in a platy structure, reduced water
infiltration into the soil, reduced ability to exchange gases, and the formation of dense
horizons where root penetration is difficult.
• Destabilization of soils, especially on the banks of streams.
• Consumption of too much vegetation exposes the soil to raindrop impacts and
overland flows of water, leading to soil crusting, increased erosion, and a general loss
of stability.
• The reduced cover results in a loss of soil organic matter, which leads to a loss of soil
microbes that recycle nutrients and loss of soil productivity.
Some studies have found some amount of grazing can be beneficial to the land by:
A. Breaking up dense, rank vegetation through hoof action, which can improve the
health, palatability and forage production of grass species (Savory, 1988).
B. Stimulating plant production, which can produce more above-ground biomass that
would be available for litter.
a. One study (Loeser, 2004) on the Coconino NF in 2004 found that grazing can
increase the annual net primary production of plants, over non-grazed
areas. However, this increase was primarily due to an increased production of
squirreltail. So, production increased at the expense of diversity.
C. Some hoof action reducing compaction by breaking up the surface crust and
preparing the soil for seeds and plants. The hoof action mixes around the organic
materials and “plants” the seeds by burying them. (Savory, 1988).
Livestock grazing effects to vegetation occur through a reduction in plant height and cover
and are primarily managed through forage utilization and grazing intensity. There is a
potential for plant height and cover to recover from cattle grazing if pending climate is
favorable. This alternative would have short-term direct effects to understory plants by
reducing plant height and canopy cover. This could lead to a decrease in plant diversity,
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59
canopy cover, abundance, production, and ground cover over the short term. Under this
alternative, through effective monitoring and adaptive management and with the
implementation of vegetative treatments, upland vegetation condition and trend is expected
to continue to move upward.
The conclusion is that soil condition and productivity would improve with implementation of
the Proposed Action Alternative’s scenario of improved rest rotational grazing, conservative
utilization , and intensity and identified resource protection measures, monitoring and
subsequent adaptive management compared to current conditions because vegetative ground
cover conditions are expected to improve on Unsatisfactory and Impaired soils. Vegetative
ground covers on Impaired and Unsatisfactory soils are expected to increase thereby better
protecting the soil against erosion and improving soil infiltration and nutrient cycling
functions. and improve infiltration. There would be greater improvement in soil condition
during wet cycles because litter creation would increase with wetter conditions. There would
be greater improvement in soil condition where vegetative treatments have been
implemented, by improving vegetative ground cover and increasing the organic matter
available on site. The use of Adaptive Management principles, especially decreasing
utilization and stocking numbers during and immediately after drought, would improve or
maintain vegetative conditions that would also in turn improve soil conditions. Overall,
improved soil condition equates to improved soil productivity and watershed condition, and
thus this alternative would move towards desired condition and the Forest Plan standard and
guideline for improving watershed condition by the year 2020, although it may not be fully
attained by this time if drought conditions persists
Map unit 430 and 350 are not grazed except on a very low impact and limited occurrence
above 40 percent slope, and grazing these areas does not affect soil condition, soil
productivity or connected water quality. Where grazing does occur in Satisfactory, but
Inherently Unstable soil units (350 and 430), grazing intensity is expected to maintain current
vegetative ground covers at the natural ground cover of 20%, assuring soil productivity is
maintained. On map unit 430, slopes range from 40-120% and grazing does not occur except
on a very low impact and limited occurrence above 40 % slope therefore, proposed grazing
does not appreciably reduce vegetative ground cover or impact the soils.
Satisfactory and Impaired soils current vegetative ground covers are above tolerance
vegetative ground cover and therefore have adequate effective vegetative ground cover and
nutrient cycling function to protect soil productivity from accelerated erosion and
compaction. Consequently, implementation of the Proposed Action, resource protection
measures with adaptive management is expected to maintain soil productivity on Satisfactory
soils and improve soil productivity on Impaired soils.
Managing grazing intensity on Unsatisfactory soils toward natural vegetative ground cover
levels with a minimum equal to or greater than tolerable vegetative ground cover should
adequately protect long term soil productivity for all Unsatisfactory soils. Vegetative ground
covers would increase and contribute to improve soil infiltration and nutrient cycling
functions. Grazing capacity has not been assigned to these Unsatisfactory soil units reducing
overall stocking rate and pressure on the soil. The Unsatisfactory soils in TES unit 401 that
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are eroding above tolerance rates are not connected to Fossil Creek and therefore do not
contribute sediment or water quality impairment in Fossil Creek. They are well buffered and
drain towards the Verde River. Both Fossil Creek and the Verde River reach adjacent to the
Fossil Creek allotment are attaining all uses. Monitoring would inform soil condition trend in
pastures with high amounts of Unsatisfactory soils and grazing strategy or intensity would be
adjusted if soil condition objectives are not met.
For Unsatisfactory and Impaired soils, implementation of the PA including a trail through
only in Stehr Pasture and resource protection measures would reduce utilization of plants to a
conservative level allowing improved vegetative ground cover that would better protect the
soil from accelerated erosion, trampling and subsequent compaction. In addition, improved
time controlled (rest) grazing would also reduce the direct trampling effects on the soil
associated with higher intensity grazing and improve soil nutrient cycling over time. When
utilization levels are adjusted for drought and wet cycles, the net effect would move Impaired
and Unsatisfactory soils towards Satisfactory condition over time in the Proposed Action.
Satisfactory but Inherently Unstable soils currently are functioning properly and normally to
the best of their inherent capability. Implementation of the Proposed Action with identified
resource protection measures and adaptive management is expected to keep these soils in
Satisfactory, inherently unstable condition and maintain soil productivity that is inherently
possible.
Maintaining current vegetative ground covers at natural vegetative ground covers would
maintain long-term soil productivity and improve wet cycles. When utilization levels are
adjusted for drought and wet cycles, then I believe the net effect would move Impaired soils
to Satisfactory over time in the Proposed Action. Unsatisfactory soils would be much slower
to display improvement, but should slowly improve over the long run. Additional
monitoring of Unsatisfactory soils would be necessary to examine the effects of the Proposed
Action on soil condition on these soils.
Monitoring would inform soil condition trend in pastures with high amounts of
Unsatisfactory soils and grazing strategy or intensity would be adjusted if soil condition
objectives are not met.
Overall, improved soil condition equates to improved watershed condition, and thus this
alternative would move towards desired conditions and the Forest Plan standard and
guideline for improving watershed condition by the year 2020, although it may not be fully
attained by this time if drought conditions persists
Under implementation of the Proposed Action and including recommended monitoring and
resource protection measures and for all soils, the desired condition of moving towards
Satisfactory soil conditions and maintenance of soil productivity would be met.
Cattle do not directly graze the biological soil crusts found on the Fossil Creek allotment, but
they may trample biological soil crusts when grazing through an area. Soil and plant
characteristics of low and mid elevation arid and semi-arid ecosystems in North America
west of the Rocky Mountains indicate that these ecosystems evolved with low levels of soil
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surface disturbance (Belnap et al., 2001). Limited water availability would have restricted
use of lower elevations to winter seasons, as is seen today (West, 1988). In general managing
livestock grazing for healthy biological soil crusts, light to moderate stocking in early to mid
wet season is recommended (Belnap et al., 2001).Under the Proposed Action a management
guideline of conservative use (30-40% forage utilization as measured at the end of the
growing season) would be employed to maintain or improve rangeland vegetation and long
term soil productivity and should adequately protect biological soil crusts according to
recommendations. The use levels under the Proposed Action and timing of this use would
approximate historical disturbance to biological soil crusts and dispersal of livestock
throughout the useable portions of the pastures would also be emphasized to reduce potential
impacts.
Through identified monitoring, resource protection measures and adaptive management soil
condition is expected to improve and soil productivity would be maintained during the 10
year life of the permit.
Soil Erosion Rates
Under the Proposed Action, by including a conservative utilization rate at 30 to 40 percent,
and by improving rotations and water distribution over the Fossil Creek allotment,
Vegetative Ground Covers on Unsatisfactory soils 401 and 420 are predicted to improve and
soil erosion rates decline to levels within threshold limits and therefore, soil productivity
should improve and be maintained within the 10 year permit timeframe. Soil erosion rates on
all other Unsatisfactory and Impaired soils are also expected to be below threshold levels and
consequently soil productivity would be maintained or improved.
Springs, Wetlands and Riparian Vegetation Condition
Riparian areas, with their high species diversity and structural complexity, provide critical
terrestrial and aquatic habitat to wildlife. Cattle tend to congregate in many riparian areas.
They favor riparian forage and water availability, shade in warm months and gentle
topography. Excessive grazing and trampling impacts can destabilize and break down stream
banks, cause mechanical damage to shrubs and small trees, reduce or eliminate woody
seedlings and saplings, expose soils, eliminate or shift native herbaceous species to weedy or
exotic species with reduced root systems, and cause widening or incision of stream channels
(Trimble and Mendel 1995, Clary and Kruse 1995). Native obligate riparian plants are
extremely important to many streams because of their resistance to the erosive energy of
flowing water (Clary and Kruse 1995). Herbaceous riparian vegetation is especially
important to stabilizing stream bank, point bar and floodplain deposits, critical to the channel
restoration process (Clary and Kruse 1995). One of the most important factors influencing
riparian conditions is utilization (Clary and Kruse 1995).
The riparian utilization guidelines were developed to maintain or increase existing riparian
vegetation, defined as having adequate cover and/or density to meet the sampling protocols.
If riparian area utilization guidelines are followed and cattle are moved when use guidelines
are met, the negative, direct effects of grazing would be minimized, and riparian areas and
stream channels would continue to improve.
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Riparian conditions on woody vegetation is controlled by utilization standards of 20% use on
woody vegetation and grazing along all stream reaches when woody vegetation is dormant.
When this is attained, woody riparian vegetation should have little effect from grazing. The
access to Fossil Creek is limited to lanes that would limit grazing impacts to the creek. Sally
May wash is currently at-risk, with grazing being a major stressor. Maintaining woody
utilization at a low 20% should assist with riparian woody riparian plant regeneration.
There would be some bank trampling along Fossil Creek at designated watering sites but it
would be limited to designated watering sites. For the reach as a whole, this would provide
little negative effect to Fossil Creek. Some trampling would occur at springs also. The 1999
field visit to Sally May Springs noted heavy use at the site and sedimentation at the spring
and corresponding outflow. The springs primarily have a grass component and some small
amount of woody vegetation. The recommendation to maintain a stubble height of at least 10
centimeters on riparian grasses and grass-like plants would aid in maintaining filtering from
plants (Clary and Leininger, 2000). It is expected that riparian conditions are expected to
show slight improvement over current conditions due to the 20% utilization standard.
The roughly 1.5 miles of riparian vegetation on Fossil Creek alongside the Stehr Pasture
would not be grazed as this pasture is a trail through pasture only. Cattle would trail though
using the 502 road and would not be in the riparian area and would therefore not impact
riparian in this pasture.
Perennial Streams and Water Quality
Cattle can directly have a variety of effects to water quality including bacterial contamination
from cattle waste, including fecal coliform, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Salmonella
(Belsky et al 1999). The occurrence of these pathogens increases with an increase in cattle
intensity (numbers and duration). Grazing ungulates can also increase the sediment load and
suspended solids resulting in turbidity. This is accomplished through trampling, disturbance
and erosion from denuded streambanks, and reduced sediment trapping by streambank
vegetation that has been removed by grazing. These factors all come into play when grazing
intensity is high, which does at the water gaps along Fossil Creek.
A recent report from Northern Arizona University indicates that E. faecalis in Fossil Creek
water quality testing results for 2010 indicated elevated E. faecalis levels at each sampling
date with lower levels in late spring and early autumn and higher levels in mid-summer
(Adams, 2011). All E. Coli sampling effrots have shown no exceedances in Arizona State
Water quality standards.
One BMP in particular that would help address issues with livestock grazing and water
quality is the use of improved grazing management systems (e.g., herding) to reduce physical
disturbance of soil and vegetation and minimize direct loading of animal waste and sediment
to sensitive areas. Installation of alternative drinking water sources and use of exclusionary
practices, such as fencing would also be used as appropriate. This BMP would help filter
sediments, maintain bank stability, improve riparian function and improve water quality.
As vegetative ground cover improves, erosion would be reduced along with sediment
delivery to connected stream courses indirectly maintaining or improving water quality. It is
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
63
important to realize under current management, the most recent ADEQ 2010 305 B report
continues to identify Fossil Creek and the Verde River as category 1 indicating water quality
is attaining all beneficial uses including for warm water fish and aquatics. That indicates
current management including grazing may not be contributing adverse amounts of sediment
into Fossil Creek or this stretch of the Verde River.
Improved soil conditions following soil condition objectives should reduce soil loss hence;
water quality should remain attaining all uses in Fossil Creek and the Verde River. Limited
watering of cattle at the Fossil Creek water gap in Boulder may have a site-specific, short-
term impact of water quality at the watering sites; however, this would be short-term and not
expected to impair water quality of Fossil Creek. The Proposed Action would not be
increasing sediment yields over a six month period which is defined as short term in the
Antidegradation clause. The Proposed Action has been evaluated for consistency with the
Clean Water Act and associated State of Arizona Anti-degradation policy and determined to
be fully consistent.
Cumulative Effects of Proposed Action Alternative
The cumulative effects boundary for soil and watershed resources effected under this
Proposed Action is the Fossil Creek-Lower Verde River 5th
code watershed (HUC
1506020304). About 99% of the allotment is in the Fossil Creek-Lower Verde 5th code
watershed. The Fossil Creek allotment at 42,091 acres, falls almost entirely within the Fossil
Creek – Lower Verde 5th code watershed (totaling about 191,700 acres) with an insignificant
acreage of only 67 acres in the West Clear Creek 5th
code watershed (HUC 1506020301).
An analysis of the West Clear Creek 5th
code watershed was not performed because of the
small amount of acreage of project located in the watershed (67 out of approximately
191,000 acres—less than 1% of the watershed).
Past Actions
Past actions include livestock grazing for the past 100 to 125 years on a variety of allotments
on the three National Forests that occur within the watershed. Cattle numbers were very high
at the turn of the 20th
century and have decreased to present numbers for approximately the
last 20-30 years. The Hackberry/Pivot Rock allotment is also applying lower utilization
standards than historically and using adaptive management with a goal to improve condition.
Other past activities include diversion of water from Fossil Creek, wildfires and limited
pinyon-juniper clearing through the use of fire, and sediment reduction projects on tank sites
in the Fossil Creek allotment.
From 1909 to 2005, most of the base flow was diverted by the Childs-Irving Hydroelectric
Project at the Fossil Springs diversion dam, approximately 14 miles upstream from the Fossil
Creek / Verde River confluence and just below Fossil Spring. The diversion dam (a 25-foot
high concrete structure) removed most of the base flow discharged from Fossil Springs,
leaving only approximately 1.5 cfs of seepage flow in the 3.8-mile stream reach between the
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
64
dam and the Irving Power Plant. After passing through the Irving Power Plant,
approximately 5.5 cfs of water was returned to the Fossil Creek stream channel, while an
estimated 36 cfs of the spring discharge was diverted through another series of flumes and
pipes to Stehr Lake, a regulating reservoir for the Childs Power Plant. From Stehr Lake, the
spring water was piped down to and through the Childs Power Plant and then discharged into
the Verde River. With the decommissioning of the flume and power plant in 2006, the return
of full base flow (~ 43 cfs) to Fossil Creek has occurred.
Approximately six large fires have occurred over the past 10 years within the cumulative
effects watershed area totaling about 1,900 acres. There have been multiple small fires
within the watershed boundary, burning a total of about 250 acres. Almost all of the fires
within the watershed have been lightning caused. Pre-treating juniper woodlands and then
burning to remove juniper did occur on the Fossil Creek allotment in the early 1990’s.
Table 14. Fires occurring within the last 15 years within the cumulative effects boundary.
Fire Name Forest Year Acres
Five Mile Coconino 2002 379
Backbone Coconino 2003 16
Cedar Bench Prescott 2004 71
Bull Run Coconino 2005 884
Black Tonto 2005 293
Towel Coconino 2006 278
Total 1,921
Additional past activities not including grazing are included in Table 15 below.
Table 15. List of past actions other than grazing occurring within the cumulative effects analysis area.
Project Name Forest Description
Dispersed
Recreation
Coconino,
Prescott,
Tonto
Non-developed recreation activities including: hunting,
fishing, camping, driving for pleasure, hiking, biking,
bird-watching etc.
Road
maintenance
Coconino,
Prescott,
Tonto
Only occurring on main roads on each forest
Pivot Rock-
Hackberry Range
allotment EA
Coconino Authorize livestock grazing
Decommissionin
g/restoration
activities
Coconino Removal of Childs/Irving Power plant infrastructure.
Completed to date summarized in Childs-Irving
Hydroelectric Project 2005 – 2006 Decommissioning
Progress Report
(http://www.aps.com/images/CI/2006_Progress_Report.p
df)
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
65
Project Name Forest Description
Coconino Sediment reduction activities at Sycamore Basin and
Buckskin tanks. PJ lop and scatter on small acreages and
installed erosion control filter sox around erosive soils on
both tanks for frog sediment control.
Present Actions
Ongoing activities that may have cumulative effects to Fossil Creek include high recreation
use, road maintenance, and use on user created roads. Road maintenance can be an acute
source of sediment into aquatic systems (Ziemer et al. 1991). User-created routes that do not
have BMPs in place for water diversion are additional sources of sediment to streams. The
effects of these ongoing activities are likely to increase sediment production into Fossil
Creek. Recreation use affects riparian vegetation by creating areas of bare soil that without a
protective layer of vegetation can easily erode. Recreation also increases the likelihood of
toxic materials entering the stream (i.e. abandoned cars, batteries, oil from cooking, ant killer
and human waste) that can have negative impacts on water quality. Recreational pressures
would still exist as well as pressures of grazing on riparian ecosystems.
The Verde River watershed upstream of the project area is approximately 4,645 square miles
in size; the primary cumulative impact to the Verde River is increased groundwater pumping
(Barnett and Hawkins 2002). Other ongoing activities affecting the Verde River include
urbanization and development, range management, vegetation management, fire and fuels
management, transportation and recreation, and water management structures (Barnett and
Hawkins 2002).
Present grazing actions that are occurring within the analysis area in addition to the Fossil
Creek allotment include cattle grazing within the Walker Basin, Thirteen-Mile,
Hackberry/Pivot Rock, Baker Lake/Calf Pen, Ike’s Backbone Range allotments on the
Coconino National Forest; Bald Hill, Brown Springs, Copper Canyon, Horner Mountain,
Squaw Peak, Sycamore, and Young allotments on the Prescott National Forest; and Cedar
Bench, Deadman Mesa, Hardscrabble, Pine and Skeleton Ridge allotments on the Tonto
National Forest (see Table 16). Approximately 7% of the watershed boundary is not grazed
by cattle. In addition, wildlife have access to graze the entire watershed area.
Table 16. List of present grazing actions occurring within the cumulative effects analysis area.
Allotment Name Forest Acres % of Watershed
No Grazing Coconino 11,036 6%
Walker Basin Coconino 2,700 1%
Thirteen-Mile Rock Coconino 8,477 4%
Hackberry/Pivot Rock Coconino 29,280 15%
Baker Lake/Calf Pen Coconino 10,764 6%
Fossil Creek Coconino 42,091 22%
Ikes Backbone Coconino 3,187 2%
Bald Hill Prescott 2,711 1%
Brown Springs Prescott 16,148 8%
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
66
Allotment Name Forest Acres % of Watershed
Copper Canyon Prescott 7,993 4%
Horner Mountain Prescott 669 0%
Squaw Peak Prescott 11,216 6%
Sycamore Prescott 1,434 1%
Young Prescott 964 1%
No Grazing Prescott 384 0%
Cedar Bench Tonto 11,328 6%
Deadman Mesa Tonto 16,846 9%
Hardscrabble Tonto 1,114 1%
Pine Tonto 2,818 1%
Skeleton Ridge Tonto 8,797 5%
No Grazing Tonto 2,282 1%
Additional actions that are currently occurring in the cumulative effects boundary area
include developed and dispersed recreation, road maintenance, fire suppression, permitted
hunting, and special uses. Specific projects that are ongoing are listed within Table 17.
Table 17. List of present actions other than grazing occurring within the cumulative effects analysis area.
Project Name Forest Description
Deadman Mesa
Grassland
Maintenance CE
Tonto Cut junipers less than 8" diameter
using a hydraulic cutting device and
chainsaws to maintain grassland
vegetation type on 350 acres
Dispersed Recreation Coconino, Prescott,
Tonto
Non-developed recreation activities
including: hunting, fishing, camping,
driving for pleasure, hiking, biking,
bird-watching etc.
Road maintenance Coconino, Prescott,
Tonto
Only occurring on main roads on each
forest
Wild animal grazing Coconino, Prescott, and
Tonto
Grazing by wild animals
Coconino National
Forest Travel
Management Plan EIS
Coconino Designate a system of roads, trails,
and areas that will be open to public
motorized use on the Coconino
National Forest.
Future and Foreseeable Actions
The following future and foreseeable actions that are proposed to occur within the analysis
area have been taken from the Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA) for the Coconino,
Prescott, and Tonto National Forests.
Table 18. List of future and foreseeable actions occurring within the cumulative effects analysis area.
Project Name Forest Description
Repatriation of Native
Fish to Fossil Creek
Coconino
Tonto
As determined in the Fossil Creek Fisheries Restoration
EA and Decision Notice the primary purpose of the
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
67
Project Name Forest Description
project was to protect existing native species and to
repatriate extirpated threatened and endangered species
including spikedace, loach minnow and Gila
topminnow.
Integrated Treatment
of Noxious and
Invasive Weeds
Tonto Eradication or control of noxious weed and invasive
plant species forestwide using an integrated approach.
Treatment methods may include cultural, physical,
mechanical, biological, or chemical control measures.
Personal Use Small
Forest
Products Program CE
Tonto Annually occuring program for the personal cutting
and/or gathering of forest products. Products include,
but are not limited to: Christmas trees, mistletoe, posts,
poles, manzanita, wildlings, etc.
Fossil Creek Wild and
Scenic River
Comprehensive River
Management Plan EA
Coconino
Tonto
Creation of a Comprehensive River Management Plan
for Fossil Creek as
described in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The
project is on both the Coconino National Forest
and the Tonto National Forest.
http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project
=27457
Glen Canyon to
Pinnacle Peak
Transmission Line
Vegetation
Management EA
Coconino Continue vegetation management, including tree
removal, within a 420-foot corridor for the existing
345kV line traversing the Coconino National Forest.
Purpose is to increase transmission line reliability per
the 2005 Energy Policy Act.
http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project
=35015
Plan Revision for the
Coconino National
Forest EIS
Coconino Revision of the Coconino National Forest's Land and
Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). The Forest
Plan guides the management activities on the Coconino
NF such as recreation and the maintenance and
improvement of ecosystem health.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/landmanagemen
t/planning/?
Prescott National
Forest Revision of
Land and Resource
Management Plan EIS
Prescott The Prescott National Forest will be revising its land
and resource management
plan.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott/plan-
revision/index.shtml
Tonto National Forest
Motorized Travel
Management EA
Tonto The Tonto National Forest is in the process of
implementing the Travel Management Rule which calls
for establishing a system of roads, trails, and areas
designated for motorized vehicle use and determining
suitable locations for dispersed camping.
http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/fs-
usda-pop.php?project=28967
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
68
Other general reasonably foreseeable future activities considered in the cumulative effects
analysis include: firewood gathering, commercial logging, invasive and noxious weeds
treatments, wildfires and pinyon-juniper clearing, sediment reduction projects on tank sites,
road use and maintenance, prescribed fire, wildlife browsing and recreational activities.
Recreational activities include, but are not limited to: hiking; viewing wildlife; hunting;
dispersed car-camping; backpack camping; orienteering; horseback riding, caving, rock
climbing, photography, picnicking; taking scenic drives; bicycling; shooting; and gathering
in family or social groups. Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) use has increased dramatically in
the last several years as neighboring Forests implement tighter restrictions on the use of
jeeps, 4x4’s and “quads”. Family-oriented groups tend to gather at dispersed campsites, and
explore from their campsite along old roads or off through the forest, making their own trails.
All these activities can directly and indirectly affect wildlife species as well as cause
destruction or modification to wildlife and plant habitat.
Cumulatively, this action adds an increased sediment load across the watershed. Table
19shows the range of average annual sediment leaving road buffer for a 200 foot cross drain
or at stream intersection for stream crossing sediment delivery values by road type. A range
is listed to include all types of possible roads encountered on the Coconino National Forest.
Table 19. Amount if Current Forest-wide Sediment Leaving Road Buffer on Forest Land/Jurisdiction Roads from TMR
Road Type Traffic
Road Segment length (ft)
Range of Average annual sediment leaving road
buffer/200 ft cross drain (lb)
Native level 0, 1 and 2 (now closed) None 200 23-147
Native level 2 and 1, and non-system (includes those that are
not designated in action alternatives) Low 200 38-236
Native, level 2 and 1 High 200 76-518
Improved, graveled, level 3, 4 and 5 None 200 44-147
Improved, graveled, level 3, 4 and 5 Low 200 57-195
Improved, graveled, level 3, 4 and 5 High 200 92-306
Table 19 shows the amount of road sediment delivery at perennial stream crossings for Fossil
Creek-Lower Verde Watershed and provides a summary of sediment delivery at all road
stream crossings on the Coconino National Forest with Perennial Streams for TMR
alternative 3 (which is the selected alternative which represent current conditions).
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
69
In the Fossil Creek-Lower Verde River HUC 5 under the Alternative 3 Total Sediment
Delivery in tons/watershed at all stream crossings on all road types is 3-14 tons/watershed.
The wide range is due to the wide range in different road types and the various erosion rates
that are possible under these different road types. A well vegetated now closed road has an
erosion rate much less than a native level 2 road with high amounts of use and this is only
one example of the different erosion rates that result from different road types, thus the wide
range of sediment yield possible.
The FSWEPP soil erosion model for roads is used to analyze and estimate sediment delivery
occurring on native (Forest level 1 and 2) and improved (Forest level 3) roads by road type
and traffic use level (high, low, none), at stream crossing interactions in the Fossil Creek-
Lower Verde River 5th
HUC watershed and only on forest lands. The model was run based
on the assumption that soil erosion from Forest roads is primarily a function of traffic
intensity and road maintenance level (Grace and Clinton 2007).
WEPP is difficult to apply, however, because of the amount of input data required. To
simplify the application of WEPP to forest roads anywhere in the U.S., a custom interface
was developed for the road/buffer template. Soil properties are based on research findings.
The road is assumed to be free of vegetation, the fillslope to be covered with sufficient
vegetation to give about 50 percent ground cover, and the buffer surface covered with litter
from a 20-year old forest, generally 100 percent. Climates with less than 500 mm of
precipitation may have somewhat less cover, as drought conditions would limit vegetation.
WEPP simulates the conditions that impact erosion--such as the amount of vegetation
canopy, the surface residue, and the soil water content for every day in a multiple-year run.
For each day that has a precipitation event, WEPP determines whether the event is rain or
snow, and calculates the infiltration and runoff. If there is runoff, WEPP routes the runoff
over the surface, calculating erosion or deposition rates for at least 100 points on the
hillslope. It then calculates the average sediment yield from the hillslope.
Sediment delivery is only modeled at stream crossings since this is the portion of soil that is
most likely directly transported into stream courses. WEPP modeling on all forest roads
through buffers outside of stream crossings is not included in this analysis although it is
certain roads outside of stream crossings contribute some amount of sediment indirectly to
stream crossings across vegetated buffer zones.
Forest level 4 and 5 (paved roads) are not included in the model outputs because paved roads
do not erode or deliver significant amounts of sediment because they are armored. It is
assumed that traffic use on native level 1, 2 and user-created routes are low and traffic on
improved level 3 roads is generally high.
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
70
Table 20. Road Sediment Delivery at Perennial Stream Crossings for Fossil Creek-Lower Verde Watershed
HU
C 5
Wa
ters
hed
Na
me
Str
eam
Cro
ssin
gs
on
Na
tiv
e
Clo
sed
ro
ad
s
Sed
imen
t D
eliv
ery
In t
on
s/w
ate
rsh
ed
on
Na
tiv
e,
Clo
sed
R
oa
ds*
Str
eam
Cro
ssin
gs
on
Na
tiv
e
des
ign
ate
d r
oa
ds*
Sed
imen
t D
eliv
ery
In t
on
s/w
ate
rsh
ed
on
Na
tiv
e,
Op
en
Ro
ad
s*
Str
eam
Cro
ssin
gs
on
Imp
rov
ed,
Lev
el 3
Ro
ad
s*
To
tal
Sed
imen
t D
eliv
ery
(H
igh
Tra
ffic
)
In t
on
s/w
ate
rsh
ed
on
Imp
rov
ed,
Lev
el 3
Ro
ad
s
To
tal
Sed
imen
t D
eliv
ery
in
ton
s/w
ate
rsh
ed a
t a
ll S
trea
m
Cro
ssin
gs
on
All
Ro
ad
Ty
pes
Fossil Creek –
Lower Verde
River
169 3 - 14 123 2 - 14 10 1 - 2 6 - 30
* Values for Sediment delivery in watershed are rounded to the nearest ton and are a range of all road conditions and assume
low use for native roads and high use for improved roads. Sedimentation values are the same as those used /200 foot segment in
table 3 of the main report. Paved roads are not considered in this analysis because they generally do not deliver significant
sediment into connected stream courses. For Coconino NF, Alternative 3, TMR Selected Alternative, for Prescott NF and Tonto
NF is current condition, before TMR decision.
Closed roads receive no or very limited administrative traffic resulting in less soil
disturbance and less sediment delivery into connected streams than open roads. Under no
traffic conditions, roadbed and road ditches tend to revegetate resulting in greater protective
surface cover that reduces water flow, erosion and sediment delivery into connected streams.
Closed roads (level 0 and 1) still deliver sediment at stream courses in the short-term and
reduce delivery in long-term. Closed roads receive no or very limited administrative traffic
resulting in less soil disturbance and less sediment delivery into connected streams. Under no
traffic conditions, roadbed and road ditches tend to revegetate resulting in greater protective
surface cover that reduces water flow, erosion and sediment delivery into connected streams.
Continued traffic use would directly disturb designated road surfaces causing soil detachment
and indirectly affect water quality following storm and runoff events that carry sediment into
stream crossings. This sediment could be deposited directly into stream courses and
following storm events and has the potential to be transported downstream into perennial
waters reducing and Impaired water quality.
The Travel Management Rule has limited the amount of open roads and has reduced off-road
travel for all forests within the watershed boundary. This should decrease the amount of
sediments produced from roads that are going to be closed. This may also limit vehicle use
near Fossil Creek that may reduce sediments produced over time as roads heal The Red
Rock Ranger District is also doing road closures to close and rehabilitate roads slated for
closure under TMR. Implementation of this project is currently ongoing. Changes in road
management and OHV use through the Travel Management Plan would cumulatively lessen
the impact to the upland vegetation across the Fossil Creek allotment.
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
71
The implementation of the Travel Management Rule (TMR) would eventually decrease the
amount of direct sediments at stream crossings from roads that are scheduled to be closed or
decommissioned. In addition, the management of road travel under TMR would be
decreased near Fossil Creek and some of the impacts from recreation may be diminished.
The 708 and 502 roads likely cause an accelerated rate of sediment to discharge in to Fossil
Creek. Currently under the Comprehensive management plan several alternatives are begin
analyzed that would decommission roads and reduce the overall amount of sediment coming
off roads into Fossil Creek and the Verde River. The Comprehensive River Management
Plan currently has a potential alternative that include 13.5 miles and if this alternative if
selected these roads being decommissioned would reduce sediment loading into Fossil Creek.
Under this alternative, livestock grazing would have direct effects to understory plants by
reducing plant height and canopy cover. When the effects from cattle grazing are added to
the effects from the other activities, the overall cumulative effect of cattle grazing on upland
plant height and canopy cover is more than the No Action Alternative. Cumulatively,
condition and trend for upland vegetation is expected to remain static or move upward with
cattle grazing additive to other activities and natural events. This alternative does not
cumulatively result in a decline of vegetative condition or trend. The lower utilization
standards and adaptive management that are being proposed within this Proposed Action, are
designed to improve current soil conditions.
In summary, the actions within the Fossil Creek Range allotment would maintain current soil
conditions and with proper management in drought and wet cycles, are designed to improve
soil conditions over current conditions within the allotment. The rate of improvement would
be dependent on adaptive management and the timing and amount of precipitation, but
vegetation and litter components should improve in the short-term and long term.
Monitoring of grazing Unsatisfactory soils would be used to inform adaptive management
strategies for grazing Unsatisfactory soils. With the gradual improvement in soil condition
over time with the 30-40% utilization rate and implementation of vegetative treatments,
ground cover would improve. Improved soil condition equates to improved watershed
condition, and thus this alternative would move towards the Forest Plan standard and
guideline for improving watershed condition by the year 2020.
Managing woodly riparian utilization at 20% and by using adaptive management are
designed to maintain or improve riparian conditions. The rate of recovery would be
dependent on timing and duration of use. Riparian function would improve over time and
that reaches that are currently in PFC would maintain this status and reaches that are not in
PFC would move towards PFC. An exception to this may be the at-risk reach of Fossil Creek
that has heavy recreation impacts that are affecting functionality of the reach.
Direct and Indirect Effects of the No Action Alternative
Watershed Condition
The No Action Alternative eliminates the direct and indirect effects of cattle grazing. Under
this alternative there would be no direct effects from removal of biomass. Standing crop
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
72
would increase where canopy cover does not impede herbaceous understory, and no
compaction would occur from cattle grazing. The amount and probability of improved
effective ground cover would be dependent on precipitation and wildlife grazing utilization,
but is expected to be at a faster rate than the Proposed Action. This statement would only be
true in areas of the allotment where soil and watershed conditions are being impacted by
livestock use and would not be true in areas where Impaired or Unsatisfactory soils are
largely driven by canopy encroachment that is inhibiting understory herbaceous vegetative
growth. Improved soil condition equates to improved watershed condition, and thus this
alternative would move towards the Forest Plan standard and guidelines for improving
watershed condition by the year 2020 at a faster rate than the Proposed Action, although it
may not be fully attained by this time if drought conditions persists.
Watershed conditions have improved over the last five years from the data collected in 2006
present. The three plots that were read in 2012 and compared to the data in 2006 showed an
increase in frequency of grass species, forbs, and shrubs. This improvement could be
attributed to the change in livestock numbers and use levels. Under the No Action alternative
watershed condition indicators including water quality, riparian vegetation condition, soil
productivity and soil erosion rates, as well as rangeland vegetation indicators would continue
to improve towards good condition where it is currently fair to poor at a faster rate than under
the Proposed Action alternative except for areas where the soil condition is Impaired or
Unsatisfactory due to juniper encroachment. Under the No Action alternative these areas
would not be treated and would not improve as they would under the Proposed Action
alternative. The overall watershed condition should continue to improve towards Functioning
properly where currently Functioning at Risk and Impaired Function.
Soil Condition
There would be no direct effects from grazing livestock under the No Action Alternative as
grazing would not occur. There would be no direct effects from removal of biomass; the
standing crop should increase in the short term and no compaction should occur from
livestock grazing. Precipitation, timing and amount, would be the largest driving factor in
the amount and extent of vegetative ground cover that occurs on the allotment. Grazing by
wild animals would be the only agent causing direct and indirect effects to soil condition.
The indirect effects of canopy closure over time would continue with this alternative.
Soil disturbance from grazing livestock would be eliminated, resulting in improved
vegetative ground cover and litter except in areas where over story species limit
improvement potential. The indirect effects of canopy closure over time would continue with
this alternative. Where Unsatisfactory and Impaired soil conditions are related to juniper
and woody shrub encroachment, improvement would be at a slower rate under the no action
alternative than they would under the Proposed Action alternative, which includes vegetative
treatments that would address the encroachment issue. Locations where the driving cause of
the soil condition impairment is due to high canopy tree and shrub encroachment would
improve at a slower rate under the no action alternative in comparison to the Proposed Action
alternative. These areas would not improve until the issue of encroachment has been
addressed, which is included under the Proposed Action. Fine fuels would also increase in
areas adjacent to dense unhealthy juniper stands, leading to a higher risk of high intensity fire
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
73
in those areas. These hot fire conditions can destroy much of the plant community within the
forest stand, consume the plant litter, expose soil, sterilize soils, and create hydrophobic soils.
By removing livestock, upland utilization would be reduced but would still occur with elk
and deer grazing. Vegetative composition and diversity (including an increase in perennial
graminoids), and vegetative ground cover (litter and basal area) would improve at a faster
rate than under the Proposed Action.
The no action alternative would lead to the most improvement in plant canopy cover, basal
cover, litter cover, soil condition, soil productivity, and watershed condition especially in in
the flat grasslands and savannahs with reduced nutrient cycling function. This increase would
be dependent upon the weather patterns and the size of the local wildlife populations.
Drought combined with maintenance of large elk populations would reduce some of the
gains expected from removal of livestock grazing. Nutrient cycling would occur at more
consistent rates across the landscape. Water infiltration, water retention, aeration, and
resistance to erosion would also improve. Under the No Action alternative no livestock
trampling would occur on biological soil crusts. Compaction may be reduced around water
developments, pasture gates, and fence lines where livestock concentrated. Soil structure and
the ability of the soil to infiltrate water would improve very slowly under this alternative but
faster than the Proposed Action. The soil would stabilize and maintain productivity faster
under this alternative than the Proposed Action.
All of these factors would reduce erosion rates and thus decrease sediment loads. The rate of
decreased sediment loads would be faster under the No Action Alternative in comparison to
the Proposed Action.
Soil Erosion Rates
For soils that have current soil loss equal to or less than tolerable soil loss amounts (table 12)
soil productivity would be maintained and improve. For Unsatisfactory soils 401 and 420,
where current soil loss I greater than tolerable amounts, vegetative ground cover is expected
to increase to tolerable covers quicker than the Proposed Action and therefore, soil erosion
would be reduced quicker and soil condition and productivity would improve and be
maintained faster than the Proposed Action.
For Inherently Unstable soils (350 and 430) since current vegetative ground covers are equal
to natural amounts and could not inherently be improved, soil erosion and productivity would
be about the same amount as the no grazing alternative.
Springs, Wetlands and Riparian Vegetation Condition
There would be no livestock access in any riparian area under the No Action Alternative and
so riparian condition would improve at a faster rate than the Proposed Action Alternative.
Riparian reaches that are currently in Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) would maintain
this status and reaches that are not in PFC would move towards PFC. Riparian Proper
Functioning Condition would have livestock removed as a source of site impact, however,
elk would continue to graze negatively affecting riparian vegetation (Haines, 1993).
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
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The No Action Alternative usually provides the most rapid increase of upland vegetative
cover, species diversity, and improvement of Impaired and Unsatisfactory condition soils.
These changes reduce surface runoff, dampen peak flows, and decrease the probability of
channel adjustments, impacts to riparian vegetation and loss of channel function.
Implementation of this alternative would maintain or improve the existing condition of the
upper watersheds. Riparian areas are generally regarded as having high inherent potential for
recovery from disturbance (Milchunas, 2006). The most rapid recovery can be expected in
small watersheds, with perennial flow, an existing source of riparian vegetation, and
availability of fine sediments.
Riparian species diversity, woody species age class diversity and overall vegetative biomass
would increase in both the short term and long term. As vegetation increases, stream channel
shape would also begin to change. Sediment would be trapped by the vegetation, building
floodplains. In the long term, width/depth ratios would decrease, and sediment transport
capacity would become more effective. The effects of rest from grazing would be beneficial,
and facilitate the most rapid recovery of riparian areas to functioning condition.
The riparian would improve with rest from livestock use but the overall recreational
pressures in the Fossil Creek allotment would still impact these riparian areas.
Perennial Streams and Water Quality
There are no direct effects to water quality from cattle grazing in this alternative because no
cattle grazing would occur. No sedimentation attributable from livestock grazing would be
eroding off the watershed and be deposited in perennial streams. Similar to the Proposed
Action, water quality is expected to be maintained at Category 1 for Fossil Creek and the
Verde River.
Cumulative Effects of the No Action Alternative
The cumulative effect boundary and duration of the effects are the same as the Proposed
Action. The lists of projects of past, present, and future and foreseeable projects are the same
as the Proposed Action. Under this alternative, there would be no cattle grazing. As a result,
there would be no direct or indirect effects caused by livestock management or utilization
within the allotment. A more rapid improvement in watershed and soil condition in locations
currently being impacted by cattle grazing would be the cumulative effect of the no impact
alternative.
Riparian conditions would not be affected by livestock grazing and streams with PFC should
be remaining in PFC. Removal of cattle should maintain stream PFC and improve at-risk
reaches through removal of cattle grazing stressor. This alternative would have the quickest
rate of improvement and the highest probability of effectiveness for improving riparian
condition. The at-risk reach of Fossil Creek would not be affected by grazing, but would
probably not improve until recreation impacts are minimized.
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The No Action Alternative within the Fossil Creek Range allotment would maintain or
improve current soil conditions over time with increased effective vegetative ground cover
and litter due to no livestock grazing. The amount and probability of success of improved
effective ground cover would be dependent on timing and amount of precipitation, but is
expected to be quicker and have a higher probability of success than either of the grazing
alternatives. Improved soil condition equates to improved watershed condition, and thus this
alternative would move towards the Forest Plan standard and guideline for improving
watershed condition by the year 2020, although it may not be fully attained by this time if
drought conditions persists.
High elk utilization and juniper encroachment also have the potential to contribute to a
downward trend in soil and water conditions. Under the Proposed Action the increase in
canopy cover would be addressed whereas under the No Action alternative this problem
would continue to out compete herbaceous understory, which exposes more bare ground and
creates a situation where soils are more prone to accelerated rates of erosion.
As explained in great detail under the cumulative effects section for the Proposed Action
alternative, in the Fossil Creek-Lower Verde River HUC 5 under the Alternative 3 Total
Sediment Delivery in tons/watershed at all stream crossings on all road types is 3-14
tons/watershed. This effect would still occur under the Proposed Action alternative.
Climate model projections for the southwest United States predict average temperatures
would continue to rise as would the potential for an increase in the frequency of extreme heat
events (Crimmins et al. 2007). Increased temperatures combined with decreased
precipitation would lead to lower plant productivity and cover, which in turn would decrease
litter cover. Some plants would become less resilient and more susceptible to mortality,
leading to a downward trend in vegetative ground cover. The reduction in plant and litter
cover would make the soils more susceptible to wind and water erosion. If vegetative ground
cover decreases, there would be an increase in soil erosion and sedimentation of water
bodies.
METHODOLOGY, DEFINITIONS AND LIMITATIONS OF DATA
This report was prepared considering the Best Available Science and locally gathered data.
Field assessments for soil condition in the Fossil Creek allotment were completed by Soil
Scientist Rory Steinke and Watershed Specialists Amina Sena and were used to summarize
soil conditions for this report. These Field assessments are included in the Project Record.
Field riparian conditions for Proper Functioning Condition were completed by Rory Steinke
and Amina Sena. Field assessments are the basis for the existing condition and for validating
affects on-site.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Survey (TES) Map Units
The TES was used as a basis for delineating map units and soil condition. Soil condition
assessments were made to help determine range capability and are used as a tool to assist in the
determination of range capacity by the IDT Range Conservationist.
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The TES for the Coconino National Forest (Miller, 1995) are the basis for soil condition
assessments (USDA, 1985). The soil condition ratings are based on interpretations of the
three primary soil functions: soil hydrologic function, soil stability and nutrient cycling. The
Coconino National Forest TES based soil condition primarily on quantitative on-site erosion
rates (stability) measured and predicted by the Universal Soil Loss Equation, (USLE). Since
its publication in 1995, a new approved soil condition protocol was developed in R3 (FSH
2509.18-99-1) assessing three soil functions including the ability of the soil to resist erosion,
infiltrate water and recycle nutrients.
Soil Conditions Definitions:
Unsatisfactory: Indicators signify that a loss of soil function has occurred. Degradation of vital
soil functions result in the inability of the soil to maintain resource values, sustain outputs or
recover from impacts. Unsatisfactory soils are candidates for improved management practices
or restoration designed to recover soil functions. These soils have potential capability but
currently do not provide much forage and should not be counted in range capacity calculations.
Impaired: Indicators signify a reduction in soil function. The ability of the soil to function
properly and normally has been reduced and/or there exists an increased vulnerability to
degradation. An Impaired category indicates there is a need to investigate the ecosystem to
determine the cause and degree of decline in soil functions. Changes in land management
practices or other preventative measures may be appropriate. These soils have potential
capability and could considered in capacity determinations under conservative allowable use or
other appropriate grazing strategy
Satisfactory: Indicators signify that soil function is being sustained and soil is functioning
properly and normally. The ability of the soil to maintain resource values and sustain outputs
is high. These soils have full capability and could be considered as full capacity in range
capacity calculations.
Satisfactory but Inherently Unstable: These soils have natural erosion exceeding tolerable
limits. Based on the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) these soils are eroding faster than
they are renewing themselves but are functioning properly and normally. These soils have no
capability for grazing and should not be counted in range capacity calculations.
Soil condition stability ratings are one of three soil functions used in assessing overall soil
condition. Satisfactory soil stability conditions signify that current erosion is less than the soil
tolerable (T) threshold and therefore represent maintenance of soil productivity.
Unsatisfactory soil conditions signify a high level of erosion is occurring and is more than
tolerable threshold and therefore represents continued loss of soil and productivity.
Threshold values vary by soil type and roughly equate to the point where annual soil
renewability or soil productivity is sustained. Erosion rates higher than T cause a loss of soil
surface horizons and soil productivity. Conversely, erosion rates less than T allow for the
soil to naturally regenerate enough and do not cause a loss of soil productivity.
Soil loss rates were determined using FSWEPP model, (Elliot et. al 1999) states that the
model has limitations of plus or minus 50% but FSWEPP interfaces provide predicted
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
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erosion rates and for comparison purposes between alternatives are within an acceptable
margin of error. It is important to realize that although the numbers may not be highly
accurate, the model outputs can be used to compare magnitude of erosion and sedimentation
by road type and traffic use at stream crossings across alternatives and offers the best
available science for estimating sediment delivery from uphill slopes and roads over a large
scale area like the 42,200 acre Fossil Creek allotment.
TES defines soil loss as the predicted net average annual soil loss from a site due to erosion.
The soil loss rates used in TES should not be considered as absolute values but are useful as
an index for references between different sites and for the same site under different
vegetative conditions. Soil losses are predicted for four following categories:
• Potential Soil Loss is the rate of soil loss that would occur under complete removal
of vegetative ground cover and represents the maximum rate of soil loss.
• Natural Soil Loss is the rate of soil loss that would occur under conditions associated
with a climax class and represents the minimum rate of soil loss. Our ecosystems
would never be completely within a climax class condition due to natural
disturbances including but not limited to fire and flooding that keep our landscapes in
a mosaic of different climax classes, but it is still a useful reference to compare
against.
• Current Soil Loss is the rate of soil loss occurring under existing vegetative ground
cover conditions.
• Tolerance Soil Loss is the maximum rate of soil loss that can occur while sustaining
inherent site productivity.
Perennial Stream and Springs Extent, Riparian Areas and Condition
The Forest GIS stream and waterpoints layer was used to identify perennial stream and
spring extent. The 1989 Riparian Area Survey and Evaluation System (USDA, 1989) survey
was used to identify riparian areas in the allotment. During the RASES survey, Forest
riparian areas were visited in the field and mapped into the Forest GIS. The RASES survey
is considered an accurate geographic and morphological representation of Forest riparian
areas.
Also used to identify locations of riparian was the Regional Riparian Mapping Project
(RMAP) that developed a riparian corridor map for the Southwestern Region. The RMAP
project provided planning teams with spatial data on riparian features sufficient to complete
ecological sustainability analyses and planning at landscape scales (1:24,000 scale and
greater). The riparian map would reflect a second generation data set, at the target scale of
1:12,000, on all 5th-code HUC watersheds that intersect US Forest Service lands of the
Region. Wetlands were identified and characterized using the National Wetland Inventory
database, excluding listed stock tanks.
The rationales for not including stock tanks as wetlands are as follows:
� Intent of stock tanks is for livestock and wildlife watering, not as habitat.
� Size of most stock tanks is very small (less than ½ acre on the average).
� Many of the Cowardin et al wetlands are palustrine intermittent wetlands, which NWI states
Fossil Creek Range Allotment Soil and Water Specialist Report
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may not be wetlands.
� The US Army Corps of Engineers excludes “artificial lakes or ponds created by excavating
and/or diking dry land to collect and retain water and which are used exclusively for such
purposes as stock watering…”4 as waters of the United States.
� Arizona Revised Statutes excludes “ponds used for watering livestock and wildlife” in ARS
49-250 B (4) for aquifer protection permits.
Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) assessments were subsequently made by Sena during
2008 – 2012 for riparian areas using the 1998 Riparian Area Management TR 1737-9 Process
for Assessing Proper Functioning Condition, U.S. Department of the Interior BLM.
PFC lotic (streams) classes are defined as follows:
Unknown: Riparian-wetland areas that managers lack sufficient information on to make any
form of determination.
Nonfunctional: Riparian-wetland areas that clearly are not providing adequate vegetation,
landform, or large woody debris to dissipate stream energy associated with high flows, and
this are not reducing erosion, improving water quality, etc.
Functional: At Risk: Riparian-wetland areas that are in functional condition, but an existing
soil, water, or vegetation attribute makes them susceptible to degradation.
Proper Functioning Condition: Riparian-wetland areas are functioning properly when
adequate vegetation, landform, or large woody debris is present to:
• dissipate stream energy associated with high flows, thereby reducing erosion
• filter sediment, capture bedload, and aid in floodplain development
• improve flood-water retention and ground-water recharge
• develop root masses that stabilize streambanks
• develop diverse ponding and channel characteristics to provide habitat
Water Quality
Water quality is routinely assessed for Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
Water quality is assessed by comparing existing conditions (State Water Quality Category 1
– 5) with desired conditions set by the State, under authority of the Clean Water Act. Waters
that are either not attaining or not Impaired (those not on 303 (d) list or Category 4 or 5) are
providing beneficial uses identified for that stream, and can be considered in a desired
condition. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is the regulating
authority for water quality in Arizona.
The general classification used for surface water quality by ADEQ is Attaining, Impaired,
and Inconclusive/Not Assessed for the identified uses. The classification designates each
waterbody in one of five categories.
The categories are defined as follows:
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Category 1: Attaining All Uses – All designated uses assessed as “attaining”
Category 2: Attaining Some Uses – At least one designated use assessed as “attaining” and
all other uses are assessed as “inconclusive”
Category 3: Inconclusive – All designated uses are “inconclusive” (be default, any surface
water not assessed due to lack of credible data is actually included in this category)
Category 4: Not attaining – At least one designated use is “not attaining” and no designated
use is “Impaired”
Category 5: Impaired – At least one designated use was assessed as “Impaired”
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Sara Amina Sena is a hydrologist with the USDA Forest Service and serves as the watershed
specialist on the Red Rock Ranger District. She received a Bachelor of Science in Watershed
Management and a Master of Life Science with a concentration in Natural Resources
Management from New Mexico Highlands University. Her experience with the US Forest
Service began over four summers as a SCEP student on the Red Rock Ranger District before
2008, and then as a permanent employee since August of 2008.
Mrs. Sena has experience in an integrated approach to watershed health including water
quality analysis, riparian health assessments, as well as soil condition assessments. She has
collected data and designed best management practices for projects that have the potential to
impact watershed functions across the Red Rock Ranger District. Mrs. Sena understands the
practices of water rights application in regards to in stream flow. Her education and
experience has given her a broad background of skills in GIS mapping, riparian restoration,
and water quality analysis, identifying benthic macroinvertebrates, surveying the stream
corridor, and integrating these biological, chemical, and geomorphologic characteristics into
holistic land management recommendations.
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Protection Fund Grant No. 09-162WPF., Northern Arizona University, Marks Lab of
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ADEQ. 2010. DRAFT 2010 Status of Surface Water Quality in Arizona Arizona’s Integrated
305(b) Assessment and 303(d) Listing Report. Publication Number EQR 12-01. Available
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(2008) Relationships Between Western Juniper (Juniperus Occidentalis) and
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Willow Creek sub-watersheds of the East Clear Creek watershed on the Apache-Sitgreaves
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APPENDIX I: ARIZONA WATER QUALITY RESULTS
Figure 7. Water Quality results for Fossil Creek
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Figure 8. Water Quality results for Verde River from West Clear Creek to Fossil Creek
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APPENDIX II: DROUGHT MONITORING DATA
Figure 9. Standardized Precipitation Index 12 month Long Term Conditions, updated January 2013
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Figure 10. Palmer Drought Index Long Term Conditions, updated October 27, 2012
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Figure 11. Palmer Drought Index Long Term Conditions, updated January, 2013
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Figure 12. U.S. Drought Conditions for the West, October 30, 2012
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Figure 13. U.S. Drought Conditions for the West, February 19, 2013
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Figure 14. U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook Map November 1, 2012
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Figure 15. U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook Map February 7, 2013
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Figure 16. U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook Map February 21, 2013
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APPENDIX III: MANAGEMENT AREAS AND EMPHASIS
Table 21. Summary of the Management Areas and Emphasis for the Fossil Creek Range allotment.
MA DESCRIPTION MANAGEMENT EMPHASIS ACRES
1 Wilderness
Emphasize wilderness recreation and watershed condition while maintaining wilderness resource values. Manage grazing under Congressional guidelines for grazing in wilderness. Livestock grazing presently occurs in portions of all the wildernesses except Strawberry Crater. (FP, amendment 3, page 105) 3,399
2 Verde Wild and Scenic River
Maintain the Wild & Scenic River outstandingly remarkable values (ORV’s) for scenic, fish, wildlife, and historic and cultural values, while also protecting the river’s free-flowing character. The CRMP describes in further detail the Wild and Scenic Rivers legislation and the details of the ORV’s for this River. The Act also requires that the Wild & Scenic River must first be administered in such a manner as to protect and enhance the river’s values, and second to allow other uses that do not interfere with public use and enjoyment of those river values. Protection and enhancement of the specific outstandingly remarkable values and water quality within the VWSR provides the foundation upon which all management actions and authorizations of uses are based.(FP, amendment 19, page
113-114) 293
4 Timber lands on greater than 40% slope
Emphasize wildlife habitat, watershed condition, and dispersed recreation. Management intensity is low. (FP, amendment 15, replacement p139) 133
6 Unsuitable timber lands
Emphasize a combination of wildlife habitat, watershed condition, and livestock grazing. Other resources are managed in harmony with the emphasized resources. (FP, amendment 12, replacement p145) 135
7 Pinyon-juniper lands on less than 40% slope
Emphasize firewood production, watershed condition, wildlife habitat, and livestock grazing. Other resources are managed in harmony with the emphasized resources. (FP, amendment 12, replacement p148) 11,081
8 Pinyon-juniper lands on greater than 40% slope
Emphasize wildlife habitat, watershed condition, and dispersed recreation. Management intensity is low. (FP, amendment 15, replacement p139) 143
10
Transition grassland and pinyon-juniper above the Mogollon Rim
Emphasize range management, watershed condition, and wildlife habitat. Other resources are managed to improve outputs and quality. Emphasis is on prescribed burning to achieve management objectives. (FP, amendment 11, replacement p162) 5,727
11 Verde Valley
Emphasize watershed condition, range management, wildlife habitat for upland game birds, and dispersed recreation. 21,162
12 Riparian Areas
Emphasize wildlife habitat, visual quality, fish habitat, and watershed condition on the wetlands, riparian forest, and riparian scrub. Emphasize dispersed recreation, including wildlife and fish recreation, on the open water portion. (FP, amendment 11, replacement p172) 72
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APPENDIX IV: COCONINO NATIONAL FOREST LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN Table 22. Summary of the Coconino National Forest Plan for the Fossil Creek allotment
MANAGEMENT AREAS (MA)
DESCRIPTION Standards and Guidelines FLMP page
Forest-wide Forest-wide Ensure compliance with PL 92-500 "Federal Water Pollution Control Act" and Arizona Water Quality Standards through the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMP) to prevent water quality degradation.
Amendment 3, replacement page 72
Forest-wide Forest-wide Maintain current Satisfactory watershed conditions and improve Unsatisfactory conditions to Satisfactory by the year 2020.
Page 74
Forest-wide Forest-wide Plan projects, parts of projects, and/or management practices for soil and water resources improvement where watershed condition is Unsatisfactory. Incorporate plans for soil and water improvements into project planning for other resources
Amendment 3, replacement page 72
Forest-wide Forest-wide In MSO restricted habitat and northern goshawk habitat areas: Riparian Areas: Emphasize maintenance and restoration of healthy riparian ecosystems through conformance with forest plan riparian standards and guidelines. Management strategies should move degraded riparian vegetation toward good condition as soon as possible. Damage to riparian vegetation, stream banks, and channels should be prevented.
Forest Plan – Amendment No. 11 Replacement New Page 65-5 and New Page 65-7.
Forest-wide Forest-wide The riparian standards apply to areas meeting the riparian definition even though the sites may not have been large enough to be mapped as a discrete unit.
Forest Plan – Amendment No. 11 Replacement Page 64
Forest-wide Forest-wide Salt is used to help achieve proper livestock grazing distribution. Permanent salt is not placed within 1/4 of a mile of the edge of any riparian area or tree plantation. Temporary salting may be approved if it will help to achieve a specific management objective for enhancement of riparian areas.
Forest Plan page 68
Forest-wide Forest-wide Establish woody riparian vegetation as defined in FSH 2509.23 in wet meadows and other riparian areas. Control livestock grazing through
Forest Plan – Amendment No. 20
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MANAGEMENT AREAS (MA)
DESCRIPTION Standards and Guidelines FLMP page
management and/or fencing to establish vegetation and eliminate overuse.
Replacement Page 69
Forest-wide Forest-wide Use project monitoring information to evaluate BMP'S currently used to reduce nonpoint pollution from activities on the Forest. BMP'S include project planning as well as on the ground measures. By 1995, develop guidelines for implementation of BMP'S on the Forest. In the interim period, a general list of BMP'S has been included below. Apply these practices, depending on individual project and site requirements, to reduce nonpoint source pollution and protect riparian areas.
Forest Plan - Amendment No. 3 Replacement Page 71
Forest-wide Forest-wide Accomplish eighty percent of the riparian recovery by 2030. The remaining 20 percent will be significantly improved, but will not have all of the characteristics of a fully recovered riparian area, such as 3 age classes of woody vegetation.
Forest Plan – Amendment No. 20 Replacement Page 23
Forest-wide Forest-wide Inventory riparian communities and areas capable of supporting riparian species by the end of the first decade. Channel condition and aquatic habitat condition will be included in the survey. Plan and design projects in areas of Unsatisfactory or degraded condition to promote channel and streambank stability and to improve flow and timing of water. Meet or exceed eighty percent of Regional requirements above the Rim and ninety percent below the Rim by 2030. Manage to achieve at least 25 percent of the currently Unsatisfactory riparian areas will be in Satisfactory condition by 2000.
Forest Plan, Page 73
6 7
10
11
Unproductive Timber Land Piñon-Juniper Woodland less than 40% slopes Grassland and Sparse Piñon-Juniper Woodland Above the Rim Verde Valley
Identify each terrestrial ecosystem and assess soil properties to determine:
• Soil limitations for soil scarification purposes.
• The method of soil scarification best suited for the soils of the project area.
• Soil potential for revegetation - Identify soils that are suitable or unsuitable for successful revegetation.
Erosion hazard and on-site soil loss - Soils with a potential erosion hazard rating of severe will require specific resource management activities in order to avoid severe impairment of soil productivity.
Forest Plan, p 146 Amendment 3, replacement page 150 Forest Plan, P 165 Forest Plan, p 169
6 Unproductive During the first decade, identify each terrestrial Forest Plan,
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MANAGEMENT AREAS (MA)
DESCRIPTION Standards and Guidelines FLMP page
Timber Land ecosystem and assess soil properties to determine: Whether soils are suitable, unsuitable, or unproductive for timber management. Provide detailed soils input to administrative study plans for reforestation.
p 146
9 Mountain Grassland
The Coconino National Forest Land Management Plan states a guideline to “Manage mountain grasslands to achieve 90 percent of potential ground cover to prevent accelerated surface erosion and gully formation” (Appendix III). Livestock management should strive to improve mountain grasslands conditions, which include montane meadows, with appropriate levels of utilization to contribute towards an improving trend in ground cover of desired vegetation. Other impacts are occurring to these mountain grassland systems and these impacts include, but are not limited to, grazing from elk and deer, dispersed recreation, as well as drought. The presence of elk, recreational impacts and frequent drought conditions limits the ability of the Forest Service to achieve the above mentioned guideline. During drought, these effective ground covers will be difficult to attain but livestock grazing should not contribute to a declining trend for effective ground cover. Elk use is particularly limiting the ability of the Forest Service to maintain the above mentioned guideline. Although this decision has no influence over elk use and is only a range decision, the Forest Service will continue to collaborate with other agencies including Arizona Game and Fish Department as well as US Fish and Wildlife service to try and recommend elk herd reductions when and where needed. With all the management mechanisms that the Forest Service has control over this guideline will be sought after and monitoring will be used to try and achieve an improving trend.
Forest Plan, P 160
11 Verde Valley Where watershed condition is Unsatisfactory plan, design, and implement projects by the end of the second decade following watershed condition inventory and subsequent prioritization. Evaluate soils to determine suitable species that would provide maximum soil stabilizing benefits on each of the various soil parent materials. Establish a cost effective monitoring program to determine trends in watershed condition.
Forest Plan, p169
12 Riparian and Open Water
Meet the following Riparian Standards in the Regional Guide for 80 percent of riparian areas
Forest Plan, P 174
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MANAGEMENT AREAS (MA)
DESCRIPTION Standards and Guidelines FLMP page
above the Rim and 90 percent below the Rim by the year 2030:
• Maintain at least 80 percent of the potential overstory crown coverage.
• Maintain at least three age classes of woody riparian species, with at least 10 percent of the woody plant cover in sprouts, seedlings, and saplings.
• Maintain at least 80 percent of the potential stream shading from June to September along perennial cold and cool water streams.
• Maintain at least 80 percent of the potential shrub cover in high elevation areas.
• Maintain at least 80 percent of the potential emergent vegetation cover from May 1 to July 15 in key wetlands.
• Maintain at least 80 percent of the spawning gravel surface free of inorganic sediment.
• Maintain at least 80 percent of streambank total linear distance in stable condition.
• Retain snags in riparian areas that are not a safety hazard.
Measures such as fencing to exclude livestock, vegetation projects, and special management prescriptions will be undertaken until the affected areas are brought into Satisfactory riparian condition.
In addition, the remainder of the Forest's riparian areas will have some of these characteristics, but not all of them by 2030.
12 Riparian and Open Water
Favor the establishment of woody riparian vegetation, where potential natural vegetation has been determined through an interdisciplinary process to include woody riparian species. Control livestock grazing through management and/or fencing to allow for adequate establishment of vegetation and the elimination of overuse. Evaluate seeding projects for effects on concentrating livestock use in riparian and other sensitive areas.
Conduct an on-site soil investigation where needed to identify soil properties of riparian sites not delineated in the T.E.S. inventory due to mapping scale and inclusions such as soils with
Forest Plan, Amendment No. 1 Replacement p 176
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MANAGEMENT AREAS (MA)
DESCRIPTION Standards and Guidelines FLMP page
aquic subgroups, aquic soil moisture regimes,
and poorly drained properties.
12 Riparian and Open Water
Through coordination with other disciplines, maintain or improve, where necessary, riparian vegetation along streams for moderating water temperature and protecting bank stability. Accomplish promptly after the inventory phase is completed. Investigate and implement where necessary, cost effective structural measures to control channel erosion.
Forest Plan, P 177
12 Riparian and Open Water
Plan for suitable filter strips between streamcourses and disturbed areas and/or road locations. See Filter Strip Table in Forest-wide Standards and Guidelines under Watershed/Soil/Air, F2. Plan for suitable filter strips between stream courses and ground disturbing activities including roads.
Amendment 1, replacement page 176
12 Riparian and Open Water
No precommercial thinning or piling slash in riparian areas or areas that have riparian characteristics.
Amendment 1, replacement page 176
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APPENDIX V: SOIL CONDITION ACRES BY TES UNIT
Table 23. Soil Condition on the Fossil Creek allotment by TES unit
Soil Condition Class
TES UNITS
Sum of Area Percent of allotment
Impaired 26384 62.64%
33 107 0.25%
34 13 0.03%
350 108 0.26%
382 132 0.31%
383 22 0.05%
402 179 0.42%
403 88 0.21%
404 440 1.05%
417 428 1.02%
420 1420 3.37%
430 6797 16.14%
457 208 0.49%
458 12 0.03%
462 3339 7.93%
463 5158 12.25%
466 461 1.09%
492 7472 17.74%
Not applicable 26 0.06%
Lake 26 0.06%
Satisfactory 5294 12.57%
383 42 0.10%
417 22 0.05%
45 87 0.21%
46 204 0.48%
462 268 0.64%
463 649 1.54%
466 80 0.19%
492 2241 5.32%
493 592 1.41%
520 97 0.23%
530 460 1.09%
555 9 0.02%
572 542 1.29%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 9757 23.17%
350 11 0.03%
430 9747 23.14%
Unsatisfactory 659 1.56%
401 132 0.31%
402 222 0.53%
420 305 0.72%
Grand Total 42121 100.00%
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APPENDIX VI: SOIL CONDITION ACRES BY PASTURE Table 24. Soil Condition Acres by Slope Unit by Pasture
Pasture Soil Condition
Total Acres Percent Pasture in allotment Percent Soil Class in Pasture
13 Mile Ridge 553.58 1.31%
Impaired 376.77 68.06%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 176.81 31.94%
Barry 156.97 0.37%
Impaired 147.90 94.23%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 9.06 5.77%
Basin 1464.63 3.48%
Impaired 930.55 63.53%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 534.09 36.47%
Boulder 2679.27 6.36%
Impaired 1593.71 59.48%
Satisfactory 47.01 1.75%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 1038.55 38.76%
Buckskin Waterlot 0.70 0.00%
Impaired 0.70 100.00%
Bull 2166.74 5.14%
Impaired 1971.47 90.99%
Satisfactory 22.47 1.04%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 97.91 4.52%
Unsatisfactory 74.89 3.46%
Buzzard Waterlot 1.60 0.00%
Impaired 1.60 100.00%
Cedar Waterlot 3.77 0.01%
Impaired 3.77 100.00%
Chalk Springs 2689.66 6.39%
Impaired 1351.95 50.26%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 1158.10 43.06%
Unsatisfactory 179.61 6.68%
Charleys Waterlot 3.86 0.01%
Satisfactory 3.86 100.00%
Childs Holding 37.87 0.09%
Impaired 37.87 100.00%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 0.00 0.00%
Divide Waterlot 6.06 0.01%
Impaired 6.06 100.00%
Doe Skin 392.77 0.93%
Impaired 154.56 39.35%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 129.10 32.87%
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Unsatisfactory 109.11 27.78%
Doe Skin Waterlot 1.61 0.00%
Unsatisfactory 1.61 100.00%
Dorens Defeat 1502.99 3.57%
Impaired 1294.93 86.16%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 208.06 13.84%
Eds Waterlot 7.06 0.02%
Impaired 7.06 100.00%
Ernies Waterlot 2.44 0.01%
Satisfactory 2.44 100.00%
Funnel 845.82 2.01%
Impaired 559.66 66.17%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 286.16 33.83%
Gnat Waterlot 3.10 0.01%
Impaired 1.25 40.30%
Satisfactory 1.85 59.70%
Good Enough Waterlot 1.74 0.00%
Impaired 1.74 100.00%
Grass Patch 1173.08 2.79%
Impaired 1109.05 94.54%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 64.04 5.46%
Heifer 578.84 1.37%
Impaired 469.93 81.19%
Satisfactory 42.00 7.26%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 9.58 1.65%
Unsatisfactory 57.33 9.90%
Herbies Waterlot 1.49 0.00%
Satisfactory 1.49 100.00%
Hog Back 1533.25 3.64%
Impaired 1436.67 93.70%
Satisfactory 23.78 1.55%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 72.80 4.75%
Hogback Waterlot 18.10 0.04%
Impaired 18.10 100.00%
House 1537.63 3.65%
Impaired 927.37 60.31%
Satisfactory 610.27 39.69%
Lower Eds Point 814.93 1.93%
Impaired 703.78 86.36%
Satisfactory 101.49 12.45%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 9.65 1.18%
Lower Wilderness 1217.39 2.89%
Impaired 500.06 41.08%
Satisfactory 23.56 1.93%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 693.78 56.99%
Manzanita 1047.73 2.49%
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Impaired 166.91 15.93%
Satisfactory 834.36 79.64%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 46.45 4.43%
Middle Waterlot 3.12 0.01%
Impaired 3.12 100.00%
Mud Tank 2201.54 5.23%
Impaired 2200.63 99.96%
Satisfactory 0.92 0.04%
Mud Waterlot 6.38 0.02%
Impaired 6.38 100.00%
Natural 723.40 1.72%
Impaired 312.28 43.17%
Satisfactory 395.56 54.68%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 15.56 2.15%
Natural Waterlot 2.79 0.01%
Impaired 1.73 61.94%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 1.06 38.06%
Needed Waterlot 3.45 0.01%
Impaired 3.45 100.00%
Ninemile Waterlot 1.18 0.00%
Impaired 1.18 100.00%
Oak Waterlot 1.92 0.00%
Impaired 1.92 100.00%
Peak Waterlot 3.72 0.01%
Impaired 3.72 100.00%
Petes Waterlot 1.91 0.00%
Satisfactory 1.91 100.00%
Pine 1745.42 4.14%
Impaired 1606.77 92.06%
Satisfactory 122.47 7.02%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 16.19 0.93%
Pine Waterlot 3.00 0.01%
Impaired 3.00 100.00%
Rafter Holding 126.21 0.30%
Impaired 126.21 100.00%
Road Waterlot 4.12 0.01%
Impaired 4.12 100.00%
Sally Mae 3644.43 8.65%
Impaired 1855.60 50.92%
Satisfactory 49.13 1.35%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 1726.11 47.36%
Unsatisfactory 13.60 0.37%
Salmon Lake 804.16 1.91%
Satisfactory 804.16 100.00%
Sheep Corral Waterlot 1.16 0.00%
Impaired 1.16 100.00%
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Shipping 1 714.77 1.70%
Impaired 714.77 100.00%
Stehr Lake 1581.10 3.75%
Impaired 1186.04 75.01%
Not applicable 26.44 1.67%
Satisfactory 9.40 0.59%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 359.22 22.72%
Surge 1381.55 3.28%
Impaired 921.83 66.72%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 426.31 30.86%
Unsatisfactory 33.41 2.42%
Sycamore Basin Waterlot 2.44 0.01%
Impaired 2.44 100.00%
Sycamore Canyon 2206.84 5.24%
Impaired 836.22 37.89%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 1180.99 53.52%
Unsatisfactory 189.62 8.59%
Tanque Aloma 799.80 1.90%
Impaired 631.85 79.00%
Satisfactory 167.94 21.00%
Tin Can 1633.91 3.88%
Impaired 390.22 23.88%
Satisfactory 1230.64 75.32%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 13.06 0.80%
Upper Eds Point 1399.80 3.32%
Impaired 766.35 54.75%
Satisfactory 620.62 44.34%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 12.83 0.92%
Upper Wilderness 2678.47 6.36%
Impaired 1029.47 38.43%
Satisfactory 177.00 6.61%
Satisfactory, but Inherently Unstable 1472.00 54.96%
Grand Total 42121.24 100.00%
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APPENDIX VII: TES UNIT ACRES AND PERCENT OF TOTAL ALLOTMENT Table 25. TES Unit Acres and Percent of Total allotment Area
TES Unit Total Acres Percent of allotment
33 107.04 1.42%
34 13.36 0.16%
350 118.91 0.39%
382 131.70 0.51%
383 64.23 0.09%
401 132.22 0.29%
402 401.24 0.91%
403 87.53 0.34%
404 440.19 0.91%
417 450.26 0.74%
420 1724.47 5.84%
430 16543.69 64.56%
45 86.74 0.40%
457 207.83 0.27%
458 12.41 0.12%
46 203.57 2.71%
462 3606.62 3.24%
463 5807.42 12.70%
466 540.94 0.42%
492 9713.50 1.84%
493 592.18 0.56%
520 97.29 0.09%
530 460.39 0.60%
555 9.06 0.18%
572 542.01 0.69%
Lake 26.44 0.03%
Grand Total 42121.24 100.00%
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APPENDIX VIII: VEGETATIVE GROUND COVERS BY TES MAP UNIT Table 26.Vegetative Ground Covers by TES Map Unit in the Fossil Creek allotment
Terrestrial
ecological map
unit #
Current &
Refined
(Observed)
vegetative
ground cover
% in allotment
Tolerable
(threshold)
vegetative ground
cover (%) From
Coconino TES
Natural
vegetative
ground cover
(%) From
Coconino TES
Predicted vegetative ground cover
% under the Proposed Action (PA)
rounded to 1
No Grazing or
Approximate
Background
vegetative ground
cover %
Acres
33 10 10 30 13 15 107
34 25 10 25
25 (cannot achieve more than
natural)
25 (cannot
achieve more
than natural)
13
350 20 25 20
20 (can only achieve natural or
20%, at NVGC already)
20 (can only
achieve natural or
20%)
119
382 20 5 30 25 28 132
383 15 5 30 19 23 65
401 10 5-15 20 13 15 133
402 17 10-15 20
20 (cannot achieve more than
natural)
20 (cannot
achieve more
than natural)
401
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Terrestrial
ecological map
unit #
Current &
Refined
(Observed)
vegetative
ground cover
% in allotment
Tolerable
(threshold)
vegetative ground
cover (%) From
Coconino TES
Natural
vegetative
ground cover
(%) From
Coconino TES
Predicted vegetative ground cover
% under the Proposed Action (PA)
rounded to 1
No Grazing or
Approximate
Background
vegetative ground
cover %
Acres
403 15 10 25 19 23 88
404 25 15 30
27 (Near NVGC already. Do not
expect to get to natural with all
disturbances, grazing, rec,
drought)
28 440
417 10 10 20 13 15 451
420 15-22 20 20 20 (at NVGC already) 20 1724
430 22 20-30 20 20 (at NVGC already) 20 16,872
45 35 20 60 44 53 87
457 20 10 25
21 (Near NVGC. Do not expect to
get to natural with all disturbances,
grazing, rec, drought)
23 208
458 20 15 25
21 (Near NVGC already. Do not
expect to get to natural with all
disturbances, grazing, rec,
drought)
23 12
46 60 25 70 65 (Near NVGC already. Do not
expect to get to natural with all
68 204
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Terrestrial
ecological map
unit #
Current &
Refined
(Observed)
vegetative
ground cover
% in allotment
Tolerable
(threshold)
vegetative ground
cover (%) From
Coconino TES
Natural
vegetative
ground cover
(%) From
Coconino TES
Predicted vegetative ground cover
% under the Proposed Action (PA)
rounded to 1
No Grazing or
Approximate
Background
vegetative ground
cover %
Acres
disturbances, grazing, rec,
drought)
462 25 10 25 25 (at NVGC already) 25 3607
463 25 10 30
26 (Near NVGC already. Do not
expect to get to natural with all
disturbances, grazing, rec,
drought)
28 5807
466 20 10 20 20 (at NVGC) 20 541
492 20 10 25
19 (Near NVGC already. Do not
expect to get to natural with all
disturbances, grazing, rec,
drought)
23 9714
493 15 10 30 19 23 592
520 35 10 65 44 53 97
530 45 30 75 56 67 460
555 80 55 85 82 (near NVGC already. Do not
expect to get to natural with all
disturbances, grazing, rec,
83 9
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Terrestrial
ecological map
unit #
Current &
Refined
(Observed)
vegetative
ground cover
% in allotment
Tolerable
(threshold)
vegetative ground
cover (%) From
Coconino TES
Natural
vegetative
ground cover
(%) From
Coconino TES
Predicted vegetative ground cover
% under the Proposed Action (PA)
rounded to 1
No Grazing or
Approximate
Background
vegetative ground
cover %
Acres
drought)
572 65 10 80
75 (near NVGC already. Do not
expect to get to natural with all
disturbances, grazing, rec,
drought)
78 542
Total 42,428
Proposed action VGCs are predicted with 25% increase over CVGC and Background/no grazing at 50% increase over CVGC.
Source: USLE data in table 3 for each soil map unit-Coconino National Forest Terrestrial Ecosystem Survey (Miller et al, 1995).
Current ground covers adjusted for on-site refined soil condition assessments.
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APPENDIX IX: AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY COMPARISON OF CANOPY COVER
Figure 17. Aerial photo above Boulder Pasture in 1946
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Figure 18. Aerial photo above Boulder Pasture in 2012
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Figure 19. Aerial photo above Ernie's Tank in 1946
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Figure 20. Aerial photo above Ernie's Tank in 2012
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Figure 21. Aerial photo above Sally May Pasture in 1946
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Figure 22. Aerial photo above Sally May pasture in 2012
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Figure 23. Aerial photo of Tanque Aloma pasture in 1946
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Figure 24. Aerial photo from 2012 in the Tanque Aloma pasture