United States Department of Agriculture

Santa Fe National Forest

Draft Land Management Plan

Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Mora, and Los 

Alamos Counties, New Mexico 

Forest 

Service

Santa Fe

National Forest

Southwestern Region MB-R3-10-28

June 2019
Cover photo: Santa Fe National Forest visitors camping under the stars in the Pecos Ranger District.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
Santa Fe National Forest 

Draft Land Management Plan

Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Mora, 

and Los Alamos Counties, New Mexico 

Responsible Official: James E. Melonas, Forest Supervisor 

Santa Fe National Forest

11 Forest Lane 

Santa Fe, NM 87508 

For Additional Information: Jennifer Cramer, Forest Planner

Santa Fe National Forest

11 Forest Lane 

Santa Fe, NM 87508 

505-438-5442 

santafeforestplan@fs.fed.us

www.fs.usda.gov/goto/santafeforestplan

DRAFT Land Management Plan

Santa Fe National Forest

i 

Acronyms

AML appropriate management level

BLM Bureau of Land Management

BMP best management practice

CDNST Continental Divide National Scenic 

Trail

CEQ Council on Environmental Quality

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

CRMP Comprehensive river management plan

CSU controlled surface use

CWD coarse woody debris

CWPP County Wildfire Protection Plan

dbh diameter at breast height

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

ERU ecological response unit

ESA Endangered Species Act

FSH Forest Service Handbook

HFRA Healthy Forest Restoration Act

HUC Hydrologic Unit Code

IPM integrated pest management

MIST minimum impact suppression 

techniques

ML maintenance level

MMCF million cubic feet

MOU memorandum of understanding

MVUM motor vehicle use map

NAAQS national ambient air quality standards

NAGPRA Native American Graves Protection 

and Repatriation Act

NEPA National Environmental Policy Act

NF National Forest

NFS National Forest System

NHPA National Historic Preservation Act

NM New Mexico

NMAAQS New Mexico ambient air quality 

standards

NMDA New Mexico Department of 

Agriculture

NMDGF New Mexico Department of Game 

and Fish

NMED New Mexico Environment 

Department

NPS National Park Service

NSO no surface occupancy

OHV off-highway vehicle

ORV outstandingly remarkable value

PM particulate matter

RD Ranger District

RMZ riparian management zone

ROS recreation opportunity spectrum

SCC species of conservation concern

TES Terrestrial Ecosystem Survey

TEU terrestrial ecosystem unit

TMDL total maximum daily load

USDA United States Department of 

Agriculture

USDI United States Department of the 

Interior

USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife 

Service

WCF Watershed Condition Framework

WSP Wilderness Stewardship Performance

WUI wildland-urban interface

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Santa Fe National Forest

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Table of Contents 

Acronyms ........................................................................................................................................... i

Chapter 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1

Forest Plan Organization .................................................................................................................. 1

Purpose of the Forest Plan ................................................................................................................ 2

Description of the Plan Area............................................................................................................. 3

Geographical and Biophysical Context ......................................................................................... 3

Historical Context ......................................................................................................................... 6

Distinctive Roles and Contributions of the Santa Fe National Forest ........................................... 8

Need for Changing the 1987 Forest Plan ........................................................................................ 11

Santa Fe National Forest Vision ..................................................................................................... 16

Contents of a Forest Plan ................................................................................................................ 17

Forest Plan Components ............................................................................................................. 17

Other Required Forest Plan Content ........................................................................................... 19

Best Available Scientific Information Applied in Developing the Forest Plan .......................... 21

Public Participation in the Forest Plan ........................................................................................ 21

Forest Plan Implementation ............................................................................................................ 22

Interrelationships of Forest Plan Content .................................................................................... 22

Consistency of Projects with the Forest Plan .............................................................................. 23

Transition in the Implementation of the Draft Forest Plan ......................................................... 25

Adaptive Planning and Monitoring ............................................................................................. 25

Chapter 2. Forestwide Plan Components ............................................................................................ 27

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 27

Vegetation – Ecological Response Units ........................................................................................ 27

All Vegetation Types (ERUs) ..................................................................................................... 30

Spruce Fir .................................................................................................................................... 33

Mixed Conifer with Aspen .......................................................................................................... 37

Mixed Conifer-Frequent Fire ...................................................................................................... 40

Ponderosa Pine ............................................................................................................................ 44

Piñon-Juniper Grass and Juniper Grass ....................................................................................... 48

Piñon-Juniper Sagebrush ............................................................................................................. 51

Piñon-Juniper Woodlands ........................................................................................................... 53

Sagebrush Shrubland ................................................................................................................... 55

Alpine and Tundra ....................................................................................................................... 56

Montane Subalpine Grasslands ................................................................................................... 58

Colorado Plateau and Great Basin Grasslands ............................................................................ 60

Wildland-urban Interface (WUI) ................................................................................................. 62

Fire and Fuels ................................................................................................................................. 64

Water Resources ............................................................................................................................. 69

Riparian and Wetland Ecosystems ................................................................................................. 74

Wildlife, Fish, and Plants ................................................................................................................ 81

Aquatic Species and Habitats ...................................................................................................... 83

Terrestrial Species and Habitats .................................................................................................. 86

Nonnative Invasive Species ........................................................................................................ 88

At-Risk Species ........................................................................................................................... 90

Soil Resources ................................................................................................................................ 94

Air ................................................................................................................................................... 97

Partnerships ..................................................................................................................................... 99

Northern New Mexico Traditional Communities and Uses.......................................................... 101
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Federally Recognized Tribes ..................................................................................................... 102

Rural Historic Communities ..................................................................................................... 106

Cultural Resources and Archeology ............................................................................................. 110

Forest Products ............................................................................................................................. 114

Timber Suitability ..................................................................................................................... 115

Sustainable Rangelands and Livestock Grazing ........................................................................... 120

Recreation ..................................................................................................................................... 125

Common to All Subsections for Recreation .............................................................................. 126

Developed Recreation ............................................................................................................... 128

Dispersed Recreation ................................................................................................................ 130

Recreation Special Uses ............................................................................................................ 133

Roads ............................................................................................................................................ 135

Facilities ........................................................................................................................................ 138

Lands and Realty .......................................................................................................................... 140

Cross-Boundary Management ................................................................................................... 140

Realty and Access ..................................................................................................................... 142

Lands Special Uses ................................................................................................................... 144

Energy, Minerals, and Caves ........................................................................................................ 146

Leasable Energy Minerals ......................................................................................................... 146

Renewable Energy .................................................................................................................... 149

Solid Minerals ........................................................................................................................... 150

Caves ......................................................................................................................................... 153

Scenic Resources .......................................................................................................................... 156

Chapter 3. Designated and Management Area Plan Components ..................................................... 161

Designated Areas .......................................................................................................................... 161

All Designated Areas ................................................................................................................ 162

Wilderness Areas ...................................................................................................................... 163

Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs)........................................................................................... 170

Research Natural Areas ............................................................................................................. 171

Wild and Scenic Rivers ............................................................................................................. 173

Jemez National Recreation Area ............................................................................................... 177

Wild Horse Territory (WHT) .................................................................................................... 179

Significant Caves ...................................................................................................................... 181

National Trails ........................................................................................................................... 183

National Scenic Trail ................................................................................................................. 183

National Historic Trails ............................................................................................................. 188

National Recreation Trails ........................................................................................................ 192

Scenic Byways .......................................................................................................................... 194

Management Areas ....................................................................................................................... 197

Caja Del Rio Wildlife and Cultural Interpretive Management Area ......................................... 200

Cañada Bonita Recommended Research Natural Area ............................................................. 203

Cultural Interpretive Management Area ................................................................................... 205

Oil and Gas Leasing Management Area ................................................................................... 209

Recommended Wilderness Management Area ......................................................................... 212

Eligible Wild and Scenic River Management Area .................................................................. 216

Chapter 4. Geographic Areas ............................................................................................................ 219

Canadas and Nacimiento .............................................................................................................. 221

Description ................................................................................................................................ 221

Local Communities and Human Use ........................................................................................ 222

Restoration Needs ..................................................................................................................... 222

Jemez Mesas and Canyons ........................................................................................................... 223
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Description ................................................................................................................................ 223

Local Communities and Human Use ........................................................................................ 224

Restoration Needs ..................................................................................................................... 225

North Jemez Mountains ................................................................................................................ 226

Description ................................................................................................................................ 226

Local Communities and Human Use ........................................................................................ 227

Restoration Needs ..................................................................................................................... 228

West Sangres and Caja ................................................................................................................. 228

Description ................................................................................................................................ 228

Local Communities and Human Use ........................................................................................ 230

Restoration Needs ..................................................................................................................... 230

Pecos River Canyon ...................................................................................................................... 231

Description ................................................................................................................................ 231

Local Communities and Human Use ........................................................................................ 232

Restoration Needs ..................................................................................................................... 233

East Sangres .................................................................................................................................. 234

Description ................................................................................................................................ 234

Local Communities and Human Uses ....................................................................................... 234

Restoration Needs ..................................................................................................................... 235

Rowe Mesa and Anton Chico ....................................................................................................... 235

Description ................................................................................................................................ 235

Local Communities and Human Uses ....................................................................................... 236

Restoration Needs ..................................................................................................................... 236

Chapter 5. Forest Plan Monitoring Program ..................................................................................... 237

List of Preparers ................................................................................................................................ 257

Interdisciplinary Team .................................................................................................................. 257

Extended Team ............................................................................................................................. 257

Glossary ............................................................................................................................................ 259

References ......................................................................................................................................... 281

Appendix A. Maps ............................................................................................................................ 285

Appendix B. Fire Return Intervals .................................................................................................... 290

Appendix C. At-Risk Species and Associated Ecological Response Units ...................................... 293

Appendix D. Proposed Probable and Possible Future Actions ......................................................... 295

Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 295

Proposed Management Actions ................................................................................................. 295

Possible Management Actions .................................................................................................. 298

Appendix E. Relevant Laws, Regulations, and Policy ...................................................................... 319

Federal and State Statutes ............................................................................................................. 319

Executive Orders .......................................................................................................................... 331

Forest Service Directives .............................................................................................................. 334

State and Local Laws and Regulations ......................................................................................... 337

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) ............................................................................................. 337

Programmatic Agreements ........................................................................................................... 341

List of Tables

Table 1. Resources areas and area names coding acronyms ............................................................... 20

Table 2. Classification of lands suitable for timber production on the Santa Fe NF ........................ 115

Table 3. Scenery Management System scenery integrity objectives and how they relate to public 

perceptions of scenery ............................................................................................................... 157
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Table 4. Eligible river segments in the Santa Fe NF including their location by ranger district, 

ORV(s), and length of the river segment .................................................................................. 216

Table 5. Forest plan monitoring program for the Santa Fe NF ......................................................... 239

Table B-1. Fire return intervals* for ecological response units (ERU) on Santa Fe NF ................... 290

List of Figures

Figure 1. Vicinity of the Santa Fe NF showing county boundaries, major highways, and major rivers. 

The inset shows the location of the Santa Fe NF within New Mexico. ........................................ 5

Figure 2. Spatial scales of analysis for vegetation .............................................................................. 29

Figure 3. Santa Fe NF geothermal no-leasing area ........................................................................... 148

Figure 4-west. Designated areas for the western half of the Santa Fe NF, from Cuba to Española. 164

Figure 4-east. Designated areas for the eastern half of Santa Fe NF, from Española to Las Vegas . 165

Figure 5. Designated national trails and national scenic byways on the Santa Fe NF ...................... 182

Figure 6-west. Management areas for the western half of the Santa Fe NF, from Cuba to Española. 

For legend see figure 6-east. ..................................................................................................... 198

Figure 6-east. Management areas for the eastern half of the Santa Fe NF, from Española to Las 

Vegas ......................................................................................................................................... 199

Figure 7. Santa Fe NF geographic areas ........................................................................................... 220

Figure 8-west. Scenic integrity objectives for the western half of the Santa Fe NF, from Cuba to 

Española. For legend see figure 8-east. ..................................................................................... 286

Figure 8-east. Scenic integrity objectives for the eastern half of the Santa Fe NF, from Española to 

Las Vegas .................................................................................................................................. 287

Figure 9-west. Desired recreation opportunity spectrum for the western half of the Santa Fe NF, from 

Cuba to Española. For legend see figure 9-east. ....................................................................... 288

Figure 9-east. Scenic integrity objectives for the eastern half of the Santa Fe NF, from Española to 

Las Vegas .................................................................................................................................. 289
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Chapter 1. Introduction

This land management plan (commonly referred to as “forest plan”) guides the Santa Fe National 

Forest (Santa Fe NF or “the forest”) in fulfilling its stewardship responsibilities to best meet the 

current and future needs of the American people. This plan provides the vision, strategy, and 

constraints that guide integrated resource management, provide for ecological sustainability, and 

contribute to social and economic sustainability on the Santa Fe NF and the broader landscape. 

Forest Plan Organization 

Chapter 1. Introduction describes the purpose of the forest plan, introduces the plan area and its 

context, describes the need for changing the forest plan and the themes of the new forest plan, 

explains the contents and concepts of the forest plan, and describes how the forest plan is 

implemented. 

Chapter 2. Forestwide Plan Components includes forestwide desired conditions, objectives, 

standards, and guidelines and is presented as a unified approach with ecological resources 

comprising the first half of the plan components and socioeconomic resources comprising the 

second. Standards and guidelines are typically located in the relevant activity section of the plan, but 

when standards or guidelines pertain to multiple activities, they may be located in only one of the 

applicable resource sections. 

Chapter 3. Designated Areas and Management Areas contains the plan components applicable to 

specific areas that call for site-specific management. This chapter is divided into two sections: 

“Designated Areas” and “Management Areas.” Designated areas and management areas are used to 

describe how plan components apply to specific parcels of National Forest System (NFS) land. 

Designated areas are primarily designated by statute, but some categories may be established 

administratively through the Federal executive branch. Plan components for a designated area may 

differ from forestwide guidance and must provide for appropriate management of the designated 

area, based on the applicable authorities and the specific purposes for which the area was designated 

or recommended for designation. 

Plan components in this chapter may differ from forestwide guidance by: 

1. Constraining an activity where forestwide direction does not; 

2. Constraining an activity to a greater degree than forestwide direction; or 

3. Providing for an exception to forestwide direction, when forestwide direction is in conflict 

with the management emphasis of the management area. 

Forestwide plan components are applied, unless there is management direction for a designated area 

or management area. 

Chapter 4. Geographic Areas includes desired conditions applicable to one of seven geographic 

areas that together encompass the entire Santa Fe NF. Geographic areas help define nuances in 

forestwide desired conditions that may differ slightly across the geographic areas of the Santa Fe NF 

or be similar in two or more geographic areas. These desired conditions can also reflect more 

localized priorities within these smaller-scale areas.
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Chapter 5. Forest Plan Monitoring Program outlines the monitoring and evaluation of plan 

implementation that is used to determine progress toward achieving desired conditions and 

objectives, and how well management requirements, such as standards and guidelines, are being 

applied. The monitoring strategy provides a framework for subsequent monitoring and evaluation 

designed to inform adaptive management. 

Several appendices provide additional information: 

• Appendix A: Maps for the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum and Scenery Management 

System

• Appendix B: Fire Return Intervals

• Appendix C: At-Risk Species and Associated Ecological Response Units

• Appendix D: Proposed Probable and Possible Future Actions 

• Appendix E: Relevant Laws, Regulations, and Policies

Purpose of the Forest Plan 

There are generally three levels of planning for NFS lands. The first and broadest level of planning 

occurs at the national level through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest 

Service Strategic Plan, a 5-year plan that allows public transparency of the agency’s goals, 

objectives, and accomplishments. The current strategic plan is located on the Forest Service website 

at https://www.fs.fed.us/strategicplan/. 

The second level of planning occurs at the level of NFS administrative units through forest plans. 

Every national forest the Forest Service manages is required to have a forest plan that is consistent 

with the National Forest Management Act of 1976. The Regional Forester approved the original 

Santa Fe NF plan in July 1987. Since then, the forest plan has been amended 17 times to adjust for 

situations in specific projects or to reflect changes in scientific information, circumstances, agency 

and public understanding, as well as changing economic, social, and ecological conditions. The 1987 

plan was written following the guidance in the 1982 forest planning regulations. This updated plan 

uses the 2012 Planning Rule (36 CFR 219) and the associated 2015 planning directives (FSM 1920 

and FSH 1909.12). 

The plan contains forest-specific guidance and information for project and activity decision making 

over the plan period, generally considered to be 10 to 15 years. With the direction laid out by the 

forest plan, management can adapt to better achieve the vision for the Santa Fe NF. The forest plan 

does not compel any agency action or guarantee specific outcomes. It does not list specific projects 

or priorities for work, although it can inform priorities based on the direction it provides. An 

accompanying monitoring plan provides feedback that actively tests assumptions, tracks relevant 

conditions over time, and measures management effectiveness.

A forest plan guides and constrains Forest Service personnel, not the public. Any constraint on the 

public needs to be imposed by law, regulation, or through an order issued by the responsible official 

under 36 CFR part 261, Subpart B. In addition to forest plans, management of NFS lands is guided 

and constrained by laws, regulations, policies, practices, and procedures that are in the Forest Service 

Directive System, which are generally not repeated in a forest plan. 
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The third level of planning includes development of on-the-ground projects and activities, which are 

designed to achieve the desired conditions and objectives of the forest plan. All projects and 

activities must be consistent with the forest plan. 

Description of the Plan Area 

The Santa Fe NF is one of five national forests in New Mexico. It was established in 1915, when 

President Woodrow Wilson signed Executive Order 2160, merging the Jemez and Pecos National 

Forests. Today, the Santa Fe NF administers almost 1.6 million acres1

 and is located in portions of 

seven counties—Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Mora, Los Alamos, and only 0.2 acre 

in Taos County within the Pecos Wilderness (figure 1). The Santa Fe NF is divided into five ranger 

districts: Coyote, Cuba, and Jemez span the Jemez Mountains and are west of the city of Santa Fe 

(referred to as the “west side”); Pecos-Las Vegas spans the Sangre de Cristo Mountains east of the 

city of Santa Fe (referred to as the “east side”); and Española runs down the middle and is located on 

both east and west sides. The Santa Fe NF shares borders with the Carson National Forest, Bandelier 

National Monument, Pecos National Historic Park, the Valles Caldera National Preserve, Los 

Alamos National Laboratories, land administered by the Bureau of Land Management, nine pueblos, 

one tribal nation, and various land grants. This land management plan (forest plan) covers all the 

NFS lands within the Santa Fe NF boundary. 

Geographical and Biophysical Context 

New Mexico, the “Land of Enchantment,” is a world of its own; a place where the natural world 

dominates both the landscape and way of life. Tucked in the Rio Grande Valley, between the 

snowcapped peaks of the Jemez Mountains and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, lies the city of Santa 

Fe. Here the Nation’s oldest state capital shares its name with the Santa Fe National Forest that 

surrounds it. 

The forest stretches across mountains, valleys, and mesas that can be divided into two fairly 

distinctive sections: the west side centered on the Jemez Mountains and the east side in the Sangre de 

Cristo Mountains. Elevation varies from 5,000 to 13,000 feet, with the summit of Truchas Peak 

(13,108 feet) in the Pecos Wilderness being the highest point on the east side and Chicoma Mountain 

(11,561 feet) standing the highest on the west side. The majority (95 percent) of the forest lies within 

the Rio Grande watershed. 

Climate across the forest is varied and related to elevational range. Mean daily air temperature for 

north-central New Mexico ranges from minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit to 14 degrees Fahrenheit in 

winter and from 30 degrees Fahrenheit to 95 degrees Fahrenheit in summer. Mean annual 

precipitation for the area ranges from 12 to 35 inches annually, with the highest amounts at the 

higher elevations. The air is clean and clear, and blue skies are typical with an average of 300 days of 

sunshine a year. In the higher elevations, first snow usually occurs in October and then covers peaks 

from late November through spring. It is not uncommon to find snow on high-elevation trails into 

June. At lower elevations, snow is more variable, with some years receiving substantial amounts 

(40 inches), while other years have nothing of consequence. Spring is windy and relatively dry. June 

brings the beginning of monsoons, or the rainy season, which culminate in August. Lightning strikes 

 

1 Total area within boundary is approximately 1,680,000 acres, which includes 1,545,349 acres administered by the Santa 

Fe NF plus 135,679 acres of private lands or other governmental agency lands not administered by the Santa Fe NF. Data 

from the Automated Lands Project.
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4 

are common during the summer months, especially on the higher peaks. Fall is marked by golden 

aspens on mountain sides and cottonwoods along the streams. 

Vegetation here is primarily influenced by fire. Vegetative diversity, demonstrated by 16 different 

ecological response units (ERU), can in part be attributed to the expansive 8,000-foot elevational 

range in the Santa Fe NF. At one extreme, the alpine tundra ERU is characterized by a cold and harsh 

existence that persists from early fall well into late spring; and water keeps the granite foundation 

locked in gray ice. At the other extreme, hotter and drier lower elevations support a spectrum of 

prairies, woodlands, grasslands, and shrublands; and slow-growing and twisted piñon pine and 

juniper dominate the landscape. Together with a mosaic of grasses and springtime wildflowers, these 

parts of the forest provide an abundance of habitat for a diversity of wildlife. 

The bulk of the Santa Fe NF lies between these climatic and elevational extremes. Ponderosa pine 

dominates the landscape and waits for frequent fire to clean up the scattered litter of needles, fallen 

trees, and carpets of seedlings. As elevation climbs and more water is available, other types of 

conifers (such as Douglas-fir, spruce, and fir) and sometimes aspen begin to mix with or replace 

ponderosa pine. Mixed conifer-frequent fire and ponderosa pine forest ERUs together account for 

almost 50 percent of the vegetation types in the forest. Piñon juniper woodland and spruce-fir ERUs 

make up an additional 28 percent of the vegetation. The forest represents an important proportion of 

all four of these vegetation types regionally and has a high potential to contribute to the sustainability 

of these ecosystems. 
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5 

Figure 1. Vicinity of the Santa Fe NF showing county boundaries, major highways, and major rivers. The 

inset shows the location of the Santa Fe NF within New Mexico.
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Historical Context 

The plan area contains historic properties that demonstrate human occupation and use for 

approximately the past 12,000 years. Native Americans (American Indians) with Pueblo and 

Athabaskan ethnic affiliation and groups ancestral to these ethnic affiliations have occupied and used 

the plan area during this entire time. Euro Americans and other peoples from the Old World have 

occupied and used the plan area for approximately the past 400 years. The USDA Forest Service has 

managed the plan area for slightly more than 100 years. Native American, Hispanic, and AngloAmerican traditional communities continue to use the plan area for economic, social, and religious 

purposes. 

The cultural and historical landscape of the Santa Fe NF contains the remains of human activities 

extending as far back as 11,000 years. The Santa Fe NF contains three cultural geographic 

subdivisions—the Española basin, the Jemez Mountains, and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Before 

the Spanish arrived, there was a diverse occupancy including Paleoindians, Archaic hunter gathers, 

Pueblo Indians and other Native American groups including the Ute, the Apache, the Comanche, and 

more sedentary bands of Apache that were to become the Navajo, expanded onto lands that are now 

the Santa Fe NF. 

Between 9000 and 5000 B.C., Paleoindian big game hunters used lands currently occupied by the 

Santa Fe NF, as indicated by the transition between the Paleoindian and Archaic eras that took place 

around 8,500 to 8,000 years ago. During the Archaic era, Native Americans continued the hunting 

and gathering lifestyle seen during the Paleoindian period. This era saw increases in population, 

social and technological changes, and agricultural advances. A shift from a mobile lifestyle that 

focused on hunting and gathering to a primary reliance on subsistence farming, marked the 

beginning of the Pueblo era in the southwestern region. The Pueblo era corresponds to the last 

millennium of Native American occupation prior to A.D. 1600. The persistence of the Late Archaic 

appears to have lasted well into the 7th century and as late as the 10th century. Intensive occupation 

by Ancestral pueblo populations appears to have increased around the end of the 12th century. There 

is greater cultural differentiation between groups indicated by increasing differences in settlement 

types and patterns, styles of artifacts (such as pottery), and land use practices. Before A.D. 1300, 

cultural divisions can be distinguished based on Native American oral history and correlated by 

descent with contemporary Native American ethnic divisions. 

The nature of the cultural landscape of northern New Mexico changed in 1542, with the entry of the 

expedition led by Spanish explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado. Between 1598 and 1821, the 

Spanish consolidated their colony in New Mexico by establishing mission communities and 

awarding land grants, or mercedes. Communal land grants formed the basis of many of the larger 

traditional Hispanic villages, providing grazing lands and forest resources in the form of timber and 

water and irrigation to these communities. In 1680, the Pueblo Revolt temporarily drove the Spanish 

out of New Mexico; in 1692 Diego de Vargas led the reconquest of the region, which lasted several 

years. In the period after the reconquest, the Pueblos gained a measure of protection under the 

Spanish Crown. This protection was threatened in 1821, when Mexico claimed independence from 

Spain. At this time pueblos experienced an influx of Hispanic communities onto tribal land. On 

February 2, 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War. A significant 

outcome of the treaty was the ceding of vast amounts of Mexico’s northern frontier boundaries to the 

United States. These lands became territories of the United States government and their citizens were 

given a choice to re-locate southward to areas within the re-adjusted boundaries of Mexico or remain 

and become U.S. citizens with all appertaining constitutional rights. Land not held under titles 

perfected under Spanish and Mexican law passed into the public domain of the United States. 
Draft Land Management Plan

Santa Fe National Forest

7 

Determining validity of land grant title claims was the responsibility of the Surveyor General’s office 

established in 1854. The process of patenting land grant applications was ponderous and inefficient, 

and only 46 out of 135 claims state-wide were confirmed. The former Mexican citizens in these areas 

had little to no English language fluency and the inherent differences between the two nations’ legal 

systems relevant to land ownership were foreign to the newly naturalized American citizens living 

within the newly constituted boundaries of lands they had called home since settlement by Juan de 

Oñate in 1598. The current boundaries of the grants are a result of the land adjudication that took 

place after 1848. Lands beyond these boundaries, including some that extend onto the Santa Fe NF, 

are still claimed by several grants. Acquisition of these lands by the United States resulted in a 

prolonged disconnection by disaffected land grant heirs to these communal land grants that provided 

subsistence and cultural belonging since 1598. 

Population growth, settlement expansion, and economic diversification occurred across New Mexico 

and markedly affected settlement. The railroad reached Albuquerque in 1880, and the Santa Fe 

Railroad connected with the Southern Pacific Railroad at Needles in 1883. The development of a 

transcontinental railroad system drove the further development of the logging and mining industries 

in the plan area. Between 1912 and the beginning of World War II, demand for resource extraction 

and commercial logging increased. In 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt introduced the New Deal 

program to help combat the adverse effects of the Great Depression. As a result of this program, the 

Santa Fe NF benefited from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) where at least three camps 

housed men who constructed fish structures in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains erosion control 

features, roads, recreational sites, fire towers, telephone lines, and roads to facilitate communication 

for the fire program. Some of these historic CCC structures are still in use today.

Development of a transcontinental highway system began during the 1920s and 1930s. The Atchison, 

Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad in 1879, and the establishment of Route 66 through Santa Fe in 1926, 

brought new settlers and increased tourism to the area. This led to direction from the Forest Service 

promoting outdoor recreation for incoming visitors from across the country. One approach included 

the issuance of permits for recreation residences in certain parts of forests where the public could 

build a cabin on NFS land and use it for recreation purposes. Population growth, settlement 

expansion, and economic diversification at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th

century resulted in expanded use of the lands. 

Legislative efforts to convey Santa Fe NF land to ownership by federally recognized tribes resulted 

in congressional acts that legally conveyed former Santa Fe NF land to tribal governments. This 

includes former portions of the Española Ranger District conveyed to the Pueblo of Cochiti in 1984, 

and other areas in 2000 to the Pueblo of Santo Domingo. Similar congressional action in 2006 

resulted in other tracts of land within the Española Ranger District adjacent to Los Alamos County 

being conveyed to the Pueblos of Santa Clara and San Ildefonso. Starting in the late 1960s, and 

coinciding with the national Civil Rights movements of that era, land grant supporters began staging 

protests demanding restoration of former land grant land now under management by the Santa Fe NF 

to current land grant heirs who live in communities adjacent to the national forest. Restoration of 

these lands has been the subject of congressional legislation in 1998, and as recently as 2018, in the 

U.S. House of Representatives. The visibility of land grant issues in the state legislature was 

significant enough for the state to form the New Mexico Land Grant Council in 2009. Today, 

supporting traditional communities’ use of national forest lands as part of their living culture is an 

important component of managing the Santa Fe NF. 
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Distinctive Roles and Contributions of the Santa Fe National Forest 

The Santa Fe NF is unique in its diverse geographies and natural settings, and its historical and 

cultural richness. These unique qualities result in numerous distinct contributions to the local area, 

region, and Nation in the form of habitat for rare and endangered species, essential ecosystem 

services and multiple uses, protection and support of cultural values and traditions, and outstanding 

recreation opportunities, to name a few. 

Due to the expansive elevation range, the Santa Fe NF displays an unusual vegetative diversity; 

several vegetation types found at the highest elevations are rare both in the forest and regionally, and 

are often unique to national forest land in the state and the Southwest. Three research natural areas 

are designated or proposed in the forest to protect some of these unique systems, such as ungrazed, 

high-elevation Thurber Fescue meadows, and ensure they can contribute to scientific discovery and 

education now and in the future. People are temporary visitors to these peaks, and, for those not 

driven by scientific curiosity, the vast vistas laid out before them serve as more than ample rewards 

for attaining the summits. 

Lower elevations support an abundance of savannah-type habitats with forage for diverse wildlife 

and livestock. Although the forest is not unique in its provision of livestock grazing lands, the 

grazing tradition the Santa Fe NF supports is closely linked to the land grants of New Mexico, which 

are just one of the many distinct cultures that have been drawn to the accessibility and bounty of 

these lands throughout history. 

The rich history and cultural uniqueness of northern New Mexico are crucial components to framing 

the distinctive character, roles, and contributions of the Santa Fe NF. Multiple cultures have made the 

land in and around the Santa Fe NF their home, and thrived here in part because of resources the 

forest provides. Humans’ steadfast dependence on the national forest has remained across thousands 

of years. No other place in the United States has a continuity of occupation equal to that surrounding 

the Santa Fe NF. In addition, the prevalence and age of the land grants in New Mexico fostered an 

ideology of the land’s relationship to the community, and that land was used primarily to provide 

sustenance, as opposed to serving as a commodity to be exchanged or sold. Many of the ways the 

forest is used today originated from past cultures and lifestyles and are as crucial for subsistence 

among contemporary residents of small rural communities as they were generations ago. Today, over 

30 tribes look to the Santa Fe NF as part of their ancestral lands and the forest continues to provide 

access and resources for dozens of communities of land grant heirs. 

Local people have an attachment to the landscape of the Santa Fe NF. They look at the forest in their 

backyards as an integral part of their community and history. The forest fosters social sustainability 

as it provides the backdrop to family stories about great grandpa’s hunts with only his horse, fishing 

gear, rifle, tarp, and a frying pan, or to memories of when grandma and her family were scared by a 

bear while picking berries along the creek; these stories make up the lasting fabric of the 

communities in and around the forest. The history and popularity of the forest in the past as well as 

modern times has left its mark—the Santa Fe NF has one of the highest road densities compared with 

other national forests—allowing for extensive access to resources and recreational opportunities for 

all peoples. 

Parts of the Santa Fe NF that lie in between the arid grasslands and alpine peaks are the most popular 

for recreation with their diverse and beautiful landscapes. The forest is known as one of the best 

aspen-viewing spots in the Southwest, with glorious white-barked aspens providing spectacular 

displays of brilliant yellow leaves each fall. With well-kept, road-accessible aspen trails within an 
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hour’s drive of Santa Fe, this spectacular yearly event is accessible to all. Dense spruce-fir forests 

dominate designated wilderness areas like the Pecos Wilderness, which provides numerous places for

hikers who prefer more difficult or solitary trails to escape into nature while being serenaded by the 

bugles of bull elk. 

Elk, along with other hunted species such as deer and turkey, provide cultural connections to the 

Santa Fe NF as well as outstanding recreational opportunities and employment opportunities for 

outfitters and guides. The forest’s geographic location provides important stopovers for both 

migratory birds and pollinators traveling along the Rocky Mountains into Canada and Mexico. The 

forest also contains important breeding and nesting areas for many species of songbirds, 

hummingbirds, raptors, and waterfowl. This diversity contributes to New Mexico having the second 

highest number of bird species (over 500) of all states, nearly 80 percent of which can be found in 

the Santa Fe NF. Diverse plant communities support pollinators that service surrounding agricultural 

crops and orchards, and produce honey. Numerous endemic species are found in the forest including 

the Rio Chama blazing star, found only in the Chama River Canyon, and the Holy Ghost ipomopsis, 

found only in the Holy Ghost Canyon. The forest provides critical habitat for four threatened and 

endangered species, including habitat that supports a large portion of the Mexican spotted owl 

populations within the region. 

In the dry, high desert mountains “el agua es vida,” water is life. Springs and aquifers are found 

throughout the forest and provide continuous supplies of water. Riparian corridors and aspen groves 

attract visitors and provide disproportionately important wildlife habitat because of the water they 

provide. Water captured as snow by the forest’s mountains travels through hundreds of streams 

across the landscape, delivering water beyond the national forest boundaries. Historic acequias 

channel water from the forest to surrounding small farms and communities, as they have done for 

hundreds of years. The Rio Grande and Pecos Rivers, New Mexico’s two longest and most important 

rivers, flow through the Santa Fe NF; the headwaters of the latter originating from high in the Pecos 

Wilderness. In addition, municipal waters for surrounding communities, including the Santa Fe 

watershed for the city of Santa Fe and the Gallinas watershed for the city of Las Vegas, are in the 

Santa Fe NF. 

In addition to unique flora and fauna and essential ecosystem services like water provisioning, the

Santa Fe NF boasts expansive blue skies, indicative of some of the best air quality in the world.

Local residents breathe easily and experience the mental health benefits of being able to view 

extensive natural scenery largely unimpeded. When smoke from controlled burns impacts the air 

quality, the Santa Fe NF’s public affairs personnel actively alert the public to any temporary dangers. 

Below the surface, marine fossils from 290 million years ago lay embedded within the Madera 

Formation on the west side of the Santa Fe NF. An Equus niobrarensis (horse) from the end of the 

last Ice Age and an Aepycamelus sp. (camel) have been excavated from the forest and are now in 

museums where they help tell the story of Earth’s past. Oil and natural gas from the Cuba Ranger 

District annually2

 provides 1.5 million gallons of gasoline, electricity for 11,800 homes, employment 

opportunities, and significant revenue for the State of New Mexico.

Timber is not a major industry in the Santa Fe NF, partly due to fewer large trees of commercial 

value. Instead, the value many local communities draw from the forest’s wood resources is the

abundant fuelwood. Fuelwood is used as the primary and sometimes only fuel source for cooking 

 

2 2017 production data
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and heating in rural homes. The earliest residents used wood products from the Santa Fe NF for 

building simple housing structures. This historic architecture inspires the spruce-fir poles for coyote 

fences and pine vigas and latillas (ceiling beams) that make modern northern New Mexican homes 

so distinctive. Traditional communities and families that live around the Santa Fe NF continue to 

look to the resources found here for economic opportunity and vitality, and to sustain the cultural 

practices that form the backbone of northern New Mexico life. For centuries, the forest has provided 

forage for livestock grazing; a place to fish and hunt wild elk, deer, turkey, and other game; and 

water to irrigate crops via acequias (community irrigation ditches). The Santa Fe NF also provides a 

place for traditional ceremonies, religious worship, and is where many important sacred sites to 

federally recognized tribes and pueblos are located.

Recreational opportunities abound on the Santa Fe NF, as people seek fresh air and a connection 

with nature. People who come to the forest include residents of rural surrounding towns; the urban 

populations of nearby Albuquerque and Santa Fe; and visitors from New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, 

and beyond. From developed to dispersed, and from winter snow activities to summer days along the 

river banks, visitors enjoy a diversity of recreational opportunities. Hiking, mountain biking, 

camping, fishing, hunting, backpacking, rock climbing, bird-watching, horseback riding, swimming, 

piñon gathering, driving, sightseeing, and photography are just some of the ways people spend their 

time at the Santa Fe NF every day. Downhill skiing and snowboarding at Ski Santa Fe in the Sangre 

de Cristo Mountains and river rafting and boating down the Rio Chama are two popular activities

that draw people to the Santa Fe NF; these sites are managed specifically for recreational needs 

under special-use authorizations. The expansive Pecos Wilderness is a prime destination for 

backpackers. Wildlife sightings evoke a sense of wonder for many forest visitors and are often one of 

the most identifiable ways that people connect with nature. Researchers and schools visit the forest 

for education, connecting kids to nature and prompting the next generation to learn about and value 

natural resources and traditional activities. Visitors to the forest support local economies by eating at 

restaurants, buying food and gas, staying in hotels, renting equipment, and enlisting the services of 

outfitters and guides. 

Designated areas celebrate special places across the Santa Fe NF. About 18 percent of the forest is 

managed as one of four congressionally designated wilderness areas—the Pecos Wilderness, San 

Pedro Parks Wilderness, Chama River Canyon Wilderness, and the Dome Wilderness. The Pecos 

Wilderness is the second largest wilderness in New Mexico, offering excellent opportunities for 

solitude and primitive recreation in canyons, mesas, waterfalls, high-elevation forests and tundras, 

and 15 lakes. The San Pedro Parks Wilderness represents high altitude “parks,” or wetland meadows, 

that are the headwaters to many streams and home to a unique flora. There are three designated wild 

and scenic rivers, the most of any forest in the southwestern region. These rivers not only provide 

recreational opportunities, but over half of the river miles are characterized by high water quality and 

have few developments along their banks. Many of these designated areas also provide for 

exceptional recreational opportunities on the Santa Fe NF. The Jemez National Recreation Area is 

the only national recreation area in the southwestern region. Four of New Mexico’s eight national 

scenic byways traverse the Santa Fe NF, as well as the Continental Divide Trail, one of the Nation’s 

11 national scenic trails. Two national recreation trails and three of the Nation’s 19 national historic 

trails also pass through the forest.
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Need for Changing the 1987 Forest Plan 

The conditions, trends, and sustainability of ecological, social, and economic resources on the Santa 

Fe NF were published in 2015, as part of the assessment required by the 2012 Planning Rule (36 

CFR 219). The assessment is the first phase of the forest plan revision process and provides a 

baseline of current conditions and trends for 15 resource topics on the Santa Fe NF (as per 36 CFR 

219.6(b)). The assessment helped identify portions of the 1987 Forest Plan that were working well 

and meeting desired management objectives, and those that were not. Extensive public and 

interdisciplinary team involvement, along with science-based evaluations, helped to further identify 

and refine the concepts of what wasn’t working in the 1987 Forest Plan. These areas that were not 

working well informed “Need for Change” statements and provided focus for developing this plan, 

particularly in creating plan components to help ensure management meets desired conditions for 

each resource. 

Overall there is a need for plan direction that is:

• Strategic and identifies desired conditions with objectives for how resources should be 

managed

• Eliminates redundancies with existing laws, regulations, and policy 

• Removes requirements to prepare additional resource plans

• Incorporates the best scientific information

The Santa Fe NF identified 12 focus areas that have the greatest needs for new or different plan 

direction. These are presented first below. Needs for change for additional resources follow and 

represent additional cases where changes are needed in plan direction. 

Frequent fires (low-severity) systems. Fire exclusion and past management activities have limited 

frequent, low-severity wildfires on the landscape. Wildfire atypical of historic fire regimes has 

resulted from higher densities of trees, increased fuel loadings, and altered species composition from 

mature, fire-tolerant species toward shade-tolerant, less fire-resistant species. There is a need for:

• Plan direction that recognizes the natural processes of fire and its use as a management tool for 

vegetation types in the Santa Fe NF and that supports integrated resource objectives.

• Plan direction that allows fire managers the flexibility to manage naturally ignited fires to meet 

resource objectives based on weather and site-specific conditions (e.g., fuel conditions, 

topography, safety concerns, and values). These actions may include the use of fire to reduce 

excess fuels, moderating the risk of future high-intensity fires, improving wildlife and range 

habitat, encouraging aspen regeneration, and improving watershed and overall forest health. 

• Plan direction that includes the flexibility to manage for all resources when managing wildland 

fire (i.e., prescribed and natural) to accomplish integrated resource objectives.

Grass Cover. Grassland (montane subalpine grasslands and Colorado Plateau/Great Basin 

grasslands), woodland (juniper grass, piñon-juniper grasslands, piñon-juniper sagebrush), and 

shrubland (sagebrush shrublands) ERUs have significantly less grass cover and productivity as a 

result of the exclusion of wildfire as well as legacy (historical) livestock grazing, wildlife grazing, 

and roads. This lack of cover contributes to reduced water infiltration, accelerated erosion, and 

declining soil productivity, especially during periods of drought, and contributes to a cycle that 

continues to reduce vegetative cover. In addition, native grasses on much of the landscape have been 
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replaced with nonnative and invasive species and are not as effective in preventing erosion or as 

productive for forage. There is a need for:

• Desired conditions, standards, and guidelines that allow for the restoration, conservation, and 

maintenance of grass productivity and diversity, emphasizing native grasses. 

• Plan guidance that limits and reverses woody species encroachment into grasslands and infill 

of scrublands, woodlands, and forested systems. 

Riparian Ecosystems. Higher soil moistures, cooler temperatures, and greater productivity typically 

characterize riparian areas. Riparian systems have been degraded and are at risk across the Santa Fe 

NF. However, human alterations to the landscape, such as the diversion of waterways, the 

introduction of invasive plants, unauthorized use by cattle, and heavy recreational impacts are 

altering these systems. There is a need for:

• Desired conditions to restore or maintain characteristics composition and cover of riparian 

vegetation. 

• Standards and guidelines that minimize the ecological impact of multiple uses in riparian 

areas.

• Management approaches that recognize the reliance of riparian systems on upland ecological 

health. 

Restoration of Ecosystem Resiliency. Resiliency is the ability of an ecosystem to regain structure, 

composition, and function following disturbance on a time span that is consistent with the dynamics 

of the ecosystem. At least half of the vegetation types in the Santa Fe NF are highly departed from 

natural range of conditions for the vegetative characteristics most indicative of systems that are not 

resilient (fire frequency, seral state proportion, patch size, and coarse woody debris). There is a need 

for:

• Plan direction that recognizes the interdependence of resources, provides for management 

areas that reflect natural features or ecological boundaries, incorporates adaptive management 

components to better respond to changing environmental conditions, and support an all-lands 

approach of working with neighboring land managers to implement projects that improve 

landscape connectivity across mixed ownerships where natural systems span multiple 

administrative boundaries. 

• Desired conditions that promote natural disturbance processes that sustain forest carbon 

sequestration and emphasize silvicultural practices of uneven-aged management, and standards 

and guidelines that limit nonnative species, while encouraging native species.

Water. Both natural and human-caused disturbances are having impacts on the condition of the 

water resource across the forest. Although wildfires are a natural disturbance, the increase in 

intensity and severity in recent years is having a significant impact on watershed health. There is a 

need for:

• Plan direction to protect stream channels, hydrological function, and condition of 

water-dependent systems by maintaining and restoring upland and riparian vegetation cover 

and reducing erosion and sedimentation from disturbed sites (e.g., reclaiming roads) where 

feasible. 
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• Plan direction that provides for sustainable groundwater-dependent ecosystems (e.g., seeps and 

springs, fens, and wetlands) and for the long-term protection of groundwater quality and 

quantity in the Santa Fe NF. 

• Plan direction that considers consumptive water uses and water rights because water is 

over-allocated and will continue to be in high demand. 

Soils. Soil condition and soil erosion hazard are directly linked to site productivity and soil 

resilience. Current soil loss rates exceed natural soil loss rates across the Santa Fe NF. The majority 

of the forest has a high probability for accelerated erosion due to natural disturbances or management 

disturbances that expose the soil surface without incorporating erosion control measures. There is a 

need for:

• Plan direction that promotes the maintenance and restoration of soil condition and function 

(e.g., hydrology, stability, and nutrient cycling) by limiting the amount of exposed soil and by 

restoring and maintaining sufficient vegetative cover.

Relationships and partners. Relationships and effective partnerships are key to the successful 

implementation of the forest plan that will protect the land and serve the people. There is a need for:

• Management approaches to streamline both the processes that leverage partners and volunteers 

and build stronger relationships with the public, including but not limited to State and Federal 

agencies, cities and counties, tribal governments, recreational and forest user groups, 

environmental groups, land grant communities, youth, and vendors. 

• Management approaches that will emphasize public education regarding the Santa Fe NF’s 

diverse ecological, social, and economic resources, the multiple-use philosophy, public laws 

and regulations, and management strategies.

Range. Vegetation analyses show that the grassland types commonly used for livestock grazing are 

trending toward unsustainable productivity. Declines in herbaceous ground cover as a result of 

woody encroachment, and soil compaction and erosion may affect the long-term ability of national 

forests to sustain the productivity of rangelands. Another risk includes introduced invasive species 

that out-compete nutritious native forage. Drought is another factor that impacts this resource. There 

is a need for:

• Plan direction that provides opportunities to use adaptive management for the range program 

that incorporates ecosystem-based desired conditions, with particular emphasis on strategies to 

address drought and other extreme weather-related events.

Recreation. The ability of the Santa Fe NF to provide a meaningful recreation program is at risk, 

reflecting increasing and changing demands in a resource-constrained management environment. 

There is a need for:

• Plan direction on sustainable recreation management to provide high-quality recreational 

experiences that are consistent with the Santa Fe NF’s social, environmental, and economical 

resource capacity, while balancing changing trends in services and intended use of recreation 

infrastructure and facilities.

• Plan direction to help manage recreation activity impacts to areas sensitive to resource 

degradation or at risk due to high visitation, and to reduce user conflicts.
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Infrastructure. The Santa Fe NF’s ability to maintain its current infrastructure is severely 

threatened. Although there are about 6,900 miles of roads on the landscape, only about 2,200 miles 

of roads are open to the public for motorized use as per the motor vehicle use map (MVUM). The 

remaining 4,700 miles of roads may be administrative use roads or non-system roads. Unmaintained 

or poorly maintained roads contribute to soil erosion and sedimentation, reflecting a critical and 

growing gap in resources for maintenance. Infrastructure related to rural and agronomic uses, such as 

timber harvesting, grazing, and rangeland management is also in need of maintenance to better serve 

their purposes and prevent resource damage. There is a need for:

• Plan direction to ensure sustainable infrastructure (e.g., roads, recreation and administrative 

facilities, range improvements, maintenance, etc.) and standards and guidelines that address 

negative impacts of existing roads.

Land Status and Ownership. The lands program in the Santa Fe NF is stretched beyond its ability 

to keep up with increasing demands on its services; including access issues (in general and to private 

inholdings), encroachments from private land onto NFS land, title claims, evolving requests for 

communication sites, the ever-growing wildland-urban interface (WUI) area, completing property 

boundary surveys, and fragmentation. There is a need for: 

• Plan direction regarding access to private lands, including during evaluation of infrastructure 

placement, to minimize natural resource damage, while ensuring rights of access to private 

lands are respected. 

• Plan direction regarding sites for the growing demand related to communications 

infrastructure.

• Plan direction to protect existing public access rights and provide for new recreational access 

opportunities to national forest lands. 

• Management approaches that support coordination between local governments and the Forest 

Service regarding permits, leases, and easements on national forest lands.

Monitoring. Monitoring is a critical element of adaptive management and is used to determine if 

management is meeting desired conditions laid out by the forest plan. There is a need for: 

• Monitoring at appropriate scales, including monitoring beyond the Santa Fe NF boundary, to 

compare forest resources with their status on a larger context scale or even between 

neighboring forests. 

Additional resource needs for change include: 

Wildlife, Fish, and Plants. The Santa Fe NF is home to hundreds of animal, plant, and fungi 

species. Species rely on habitat within the forest because they may be rare and restricted only to this 

and other national forests, or because changing land use patterns outside the forest increases their 

reliance on habitat within the Santa Fe NF. There is a need for:

• Plan direction that supports restoration and maintenance of ecological conditions that 

contribute to the recovery and conservation of federally listed species (threatened and 

endangered), maintaining viable populations of the species of conservation concern, and 

maintaining common and abundant species. 

• Plan direction for terrestrial and aquatic habitat connectivity for species migration and 

movement.
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Air. Although air quality is generally in good condition, visibility and ambient air quality associated 

with particulate matter can increase with larger, more severe wildfires and increases in fugitive dust. 

Excessive nitrogen deposition can adversely affect sensitive and aquatic ecosystems as well as 

cultural resources. There is a need for:

• Plan direction for air quality in terms of ambient air quality, visibility, and critical loads.

Socioeconomic Resources. Demands for socioeconomic uses of the forest such as recreation, 

livestock grazing, hunting, and gathering fuelwood are expected to continue or even increase. Many 

of these uses have traditional roots and are important for sustaining local rural communities. They 

also contribute to employment and labor income of the surrounding area. There is a need for: 

• Plan direction that recognizes the Santa Fe NF’s role in contributing to traditional and cultural 

forest uses and local economies, including service-based sectors such as recreation and 

tourism, timber, and other multiple-use related activities and products.

Traditional and Cultural Ways of Life. There are deep and historic ties between nearby 

populations and the Santa Fe NF. As a defining element of northern New Mexico’s cultural context, 

the lands of the forest have continuously provided economic, social, and religious value to traditional 

communities. The continued use and access to the forest for traditional uses contributes greatly to the 

preservation of local culture. There is a need for:

• The draft plan to recognize and protect historic and contemporary cultural uses—both 

economic and non-economic—for tribes as well as traditional communities not considered 

under tribal relations (e.g., traditional Hispanic and Anglo communities). 

Areas of Tribal Importance. Santa Fe NF lands are part of many federally recognized tribes’ 

aboriginal or traditional use areas as well as places for contemporary uses including cultural and 

religious activities. Tribal use can be impacted by both ecological conditions and socioeconomic uses 

of the forest. There is a need for: 

• Management approaches that include opportunities for integrating forest management with 

tribal needs through shared stewardship to address threats to adjacent tribal resources to meet 

common objectives identified in tribal and pueblo land management plans and to utilize an “all 

lands” approach to resource management.

Cultural Resources. The Santa Fe NF includes the locations of thousands of historic properties and 

traditional cultural properties. There is a concern that sacred and ancestral sites are protected. 

Historic properties are a major source of information regarding the history of human occupation of 

the plan area and are a way local communities remain connected to the land and their cultural 

identity. Properties and sites are vulnerable to degradation by natural (e.g., erosion and high-severity 

wildfire) and human processes that can affect their intrinsic cultural value. There is a need for:

• Plan direction to stabilize, preserve, interpret, and protect historic and sensitive properties, 

(e.g., archaeological sites, historic structures, and traditional cultural properties). 

• Plan direction that recognizes the inherent value and preservation of Native American 

traditional cultural properties and sacred sites, as well as non-Native American traditional 

cultural properties, while maintaining the anonymity of such sites where appropriate. 

Extractive multiple uses. The majority of wood products from the forest is in the form of fuelwood 

and smaller forest products (e.g., vigas, latillas, and coyote fencing) that are significant for both their 

traditional and cultural importance as well as economic contributions. Mechanized harvesting of 
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forest products is also an important component to maintaining appropriate vegetative characteristics 

and promoting desirable ecological processes and function. There are varying degrees of potential for 

the production of a variety of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources on the Santa Fe NF. There 

is a need for:

• Plan direction that provides for the use of a variety of forest products by commercial, 

noncommercial, tribal, and land grant users. 

• Plan direction that allows for flexible size criteria regarding timber extraction to balance 

desired conditions and the ability to provide economically viable forest products.

• Plan direction regarding traditional and alternative energy sources that balances demand with 

natural resource impacts.

Scenery. People are drawn to the Santa Fe NF for its diversity of scenic features. Scenery contributes 

to a sense of place and identity, with a wide variety of spectacular ecological and cultural features. 

Enjoying the natural scenic beauty and natural features of the forest environment is among one of the 

top two recreation activities on the Santa Fe NF. There is a need for:

• Plan direction to integrate scenery management into all resource management decisions with 

the intent of retaining and enhancing scenic resources, while integrating with other resources 

(e.g., restoration, habitat diversity, and timber management). 

Designated areas. The qualities that led to the designation of these areas contribute to social 

sustainability by connecting people to their natural and cultural heritage and providing recreation 

opportunities. These areas also contribute to ecological sustainability by preserving intact natural 

systems and their individual components. There is a need for: 

• Plan direction to identify and evaluate potential additions to the National Wilderness 

Preservation System and eligibility for including in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers 

System.

• Plan direction for designated and recommended wilderness areas is needed to protect and 

enhance wilderness values and character.

Santa Fe National Forest Vision

The forest vision reflects the overarching emphases that emerge from the work this plan guides, both 

internally and with partners, and provides the context for the plan. Our vision is woven throughout 

the plan, guiding our management across all resources. 

We will be a leader, both in the forest and partnering on lands across northern New Mexico, in 

achieving three goals: (1) restore fire resiliency to our forest landscapes, (2) provide clean and 

abundant water, and (3) connect people to the land and their heritage. We recognize that the 

challenges and opportunities we face are much bigger than us—we will only be successful by 

working together across program areas and boundaries. We are a learning organization that faces 

complex challenges holistically and adapts to changing conditions. 

Restore Fire Resiliency to our Forest Landscapes 

• Expand our work to reduce the risk of uncharacteristic fire and post-fire flooding across 

priority landscapes. Improve wildlife habitat and reduce risk to cultural resources. 
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• Utilize all available tools and resources—prescribed fire, managing natural fires for resource 

benefit, and mechanical treatments—and ensure program integration to achieve forest desired 

conditions. 

• Provide a sustainable supply of fuelwood and wood products to communities and the local 

forest industry as a by-product of restoration activities. 

• Excel as a wildland fire organization, responding appropriately to fire with firefighter and 

public safety as our top priority. 

Provide Clean and Abundant Water 

• Work with a diverse range of partners to restore priority wetlands and riparian areas. 

• Focus collaboration and efforts within important watersheds for the benefit of sensitive 

species, acequias, and municipal water systems. 

• Collaborate with producers and other partners to advance mutually beneficial projects to 

provide water for livestock while conserving sensitive riparian areas. 

Connect People to the Land and their Heritage 

• Work closely with traditional communities, including Tribes and community land grants, 

to ensure access to sacred sites, ceremonies, and forest products. Protect, enhance, and 

interpret our cultural resources. 

• Provide and enhance sustainable and community-centered recreation opportunities by 

collaborating and leveraging resources. 

• Support jobs, economic opportunities, excellent visitor and learning experiences, and critical 

public services through innovative and responsive youth engagement, outreach, special uses, 

and outfitter and guide programs. 

• Ensure sustainable rangelands and livestock grazing to benefit producers and the resource. 

• Protect and maintain public access to the forest for recreation, hunting, and traditional uses. 

Contents of a Forest Plan 

Forest Plan Components 

Plan components guide future project and activity decision making, are required in the forest plan, 

and are the main substance of the document. They include: desired conditions, objectives, standards, 

guidelines, suitability of lands, and goals. Plan components should (1) provide a strategic and 

practical framework for managing the Santa Fe NF; (2) be applicable to the resources and issues of 

the forest; and (3) reflect the forest’s distinctive roles and contributions. As a whole, the set of plan 

components must provide for social, economic, and ecological sustainability and multiple uses. Plan 

components were developed collaboratively with input from a variety of external and internal 

stakeholders, with broad interdisciplinary representation. Plan components do not need to reiterate 

existing law, regulation, or policy, although some is repeated here for emphasis. Except for desired 

conditions, other plan components are not necessarily in every resource section. An interdisciplinary 

team refined the final form and organization of the forest plan to be understandable, useable, and 

integrated. The five plan components are described as:
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Desired Conditions describe the vision for the Santa Fe NF. They are the ecological, cultural, and 

socioeconomic aspirations toward which management of the land and resources of the plan area is 

directed. They are not commitments or final decisions approving specific projects or activities; 

rather, they guide the development of projects and activities. Projects are designed to maintain or 

move toward desired conditions and to be consistent with the plan over the long term. The desired 

conditions in this forest plan have been written to contain enough specificity so that progress toward 

their achievement may be determined. In some cases, desired conditions may already be achieved, 

while in other cases, they may only be achievable over hundreds of years. 

Objectives describe how the Santa Fe NF intends to move toward the desired conditions. Objectives 

are concise projections of measurable, time-specific, and fiscally achievable intended outcomes. 

Objectives have been established for the work considered most important to address the needs for 

change and make progress toward desired conditions. They also provide metrics for evaluating 

accomplishments. 

Standards are technical design constraints that must be followed when an action is being taken to 

make progress toward desired conditions. Along with guidelines, standards make up the “rules” that 

the Santa Fe NF must follow. Standards differ from guidelines in that standards do not allow for any 

deviation without a plan amendment. 

Guidelines are required technical design features or constraints on project and activity decision 

making that help make progress toward desired conditions. Along with standards, guidelines make 

up the “rules” that we must follow. However, different from standards, guidelines allow for departure 

from their terms, so long as the intent of the guideline is met. Deviation from a guideline must be 

specified in the site-specific National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) decision document or the 

project’s record with the supporting rationale. When deviation from a guideline does not meet the 

original intent, a plan amendment is required. 

Suitability of lands means specific NFS lands within the plan area are identified as suitable for 

various multiple uses or activities based on the desired conditions applicable to those lands. The plan 

will also identify lands within the plan area as not suitable for uses that are not compatible with 

desired conditions for those lands. The suitability of lands need not be identified for every use or 

activity. 

Every plan must identify NFS lands that are not suitable for timber production. In this plan, only 

lands that are and are not suitable for timber production have been determined. Although there is no 

suitability determination for other resources, the application of other plan components, in particular 

standards and guidelines, helps address where multiple uses or activities are appropriate in the plan 

area.

Goals are broad statements of intent, other than desired conditions, usually related to process or 

interaction with the public. Goals are expressed in broad, general terms, but do not include 

completion dates like an objective. Plans are not required to include goals, and none have been 

created here. 
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Forest Plan Coding

The forest plan displays plan components in text boxes to distinguish them from other sections of the 

plan. The forest plan also uses a unique coding system to reference plan components more easily and 

where the plan components apply using the following pattern: AA-BBB-CCC-NN. The series of 

letters before the first dash references the spatial area either Forestwide (FW), DA (Designated 

Area), MA (Management Area), or GA (Geographic Area). The second series of letters references the 

resource area, management area, or geographic area names (see table 1 for a complete list). The third 

series of letters references the type of plan components (i.e., DC for Desired Condition, O for 

Objective, S for Standard, G for Guideline, and MA for Management Approach). The number (NN) 

is the sequential order of each plan component within that resource area.

So, the unique coding for Forestwide (FW) Air Resource (AIR) Desired Conditions (DC) number 

one (1) is FW-AIR-DC-1. 

Other Required Forest Plan Content 

• Distinctive Roles and Contributions of the Santa Fe NF – earlier in chapter 1 

Describes the Santa Fe NF’s distinctive contributions to the local area, region, and Nation, and 

the roles for which the forest is best suited, considering the agency’s mission and capabilities. 

• Priority Watersheds – Chapter 2, under “Water Resources” 

Priority watersheds have been identified using the Forest Service National Watershed 

Condition Framework (WCF) as areas where plan objectives for restoration focus on 

maintaining or improving watershed condition. WCF classifications and priority watersheds 

may change over the life of the forest plan, reflecting changes in watershed conditions. 

• Forest Plan Monitoring – Chapter 5 

Monitoring includes testing assumptions, tracking changes, and measuring management 

effectiveness and progress toward achieving or maintaining the plan’s desired conditions or 

objectives. 

• Proposed and Possible Actions – Appendix D 

Possible actions are the types of projects that the forest may use in the next 3 to 5 years to 

move toward achieving desired conditions and objectives. 

A forest plan may also include “optional content,” such as background information, explanatory 

narrative, general management principles, potential management approaches,

3 management 

challenges, performance history, performance risks, contextual information, or referenced material. 

Optional content is not labeled or worded in a way that suggests it is a plan component and does not 

imply or constitute a decision, but it may help clarify plan direction and how it may be applied. 

 

3 Management approaches may be used to inform future proposed and possible actions. These techniques and actions 

provide options for plan implementation, and represent possibilities, preferences, or opportunities, rather than obligatory 

actions. Not all plan components are addressed with management approaches, only those for which additional information 

is warranted. They may illustrate suggestions as to how desired conditions or objectives could be met, convey a sense of 

priority among objectives, or indicate possible future course of change to a program.
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A change to “other required plan content” or “optional content” does not require a plan amendment; 

instead such changes may be made using an administrative correction process.

Table 1. Resources areas and area names coding acronyms

Acronym Description Acronym Description

AIR Air NRT National Recreation Trails

ALLDA Designated Areas OGLEASE Oil and Gas Leasing Area

ALP Alpine and Tundra PARTNER Partnerships

AQUASH Aquatic Species and Habitats PECOSRIV Pecos River Canyon

ARCH Cultural Resources and Archeology PJS Piñon Juniper Sagebrush

ATRISK At-Risk Species PJO Piñon Juniper Woodland

CANBON Cañada Bonita Proposed Research 

Natural Area

PPF Ponderosa Pine Forest 

CANNAC Canadas and Nacimiento RANGE Sustainable Rangelands and 

Livestock Grazing

CAJA Caja Del Rio Wildlife and Cultural 

Interpretive Area

REALTY Lands Realty and Access

CAVES Caves REC Recreation

CDNST Continental Divide National Scenic 

Trail

RECSU Recreation Special Uses

CPGB Colorado Plateau and Great Basin 

Grassland

RECWILD Recommended Wilderness Area

CULTINT Cultural Interpretive Management Area RENEWERE

GY

Renewable Energy

DEVREC Developed Recreation RMAC Rowe Mesa and Anton Chico

DISREC Dispersed Recreation RNA Research Natural Areas

ELIGWSR Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers ROADS Roads

ESAN East Sangres RURALH Rural Historic Communities

FAC Facilities RWE Riparian and Wetland Ecosystems

FIRE Fire and Fuels SAGE Sagebrush Shrubland

FORESTRY Forest Products SB Scenic Byways

INVASIVES Nonnative Invasive Species SIGCAVES Significant Caves

IRA Inventoried Roadless Areas SCENIC Scenic Resources

JEMMC Jemez Mesas and Canyons SFF Spruce Fir Forest

JNRA Jemez National Recreation Area SOIL Soil Resources

JUG Juniper Grasslands TERRASH Terrestrial Species and Habitats

LANDS Land Status TRIBES Federally Recognized Tribes

LANDSU Land Special Uses VEG Vegetation

LEASEMIN Leasable Energy Minerals WATER Water Resources

MCD Mixed Conifer with Frequent Fire WHT Wild Horse Territories

MCW Mixed Conifer with Aspen WILD Wilderness Areas

MINERAL Minerals WSANCAJA West Sangres and Caja 

MSG Montane Subalpine Grassland WSR Wild and Scenic Rivers

NHT National Historic Trails WUI Wildland-Urban Interface

NJEMM North Jemez Mountains XBOUND Cross Boundary Management
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Best Available Scientific Information Applied in Developing the 

Forest Plan

We used the best available scientific information inform the planning process. The planning record 

documents how the information was determined to be accurate, reliable, and relevant to issues being 

considered. Best available scientific information includes relevant ecological, social, and economic 

scientific information. We documented the use of best available scientific information for the 

assessment, the plan decision, and the monitoring program in the assessment, draft environmental 

impact statement, and project record. The 2012 Planning Rule does not require that planning develop 

additional scientific information, but that planning should be based on scientific information that is 

already available. New studies or the development of new information is not required for planning 

unless required by other laws or regulation. In the context of the best available scientific information, 

“available” means that the information currently exists in a form useful for the planning process, 

without further data collection, modification, or validation. Analysis or interpretation of the best 

available scientific information may be needed to place it in the appropriate context for planning. 

Developing this draft forest plan was an interactive process using best available scientific

information, regional guidance, internal feedback, and collaboration with a wide variety of 

government agencies, federally recognized tribes, non-governmental organizations, and the public. 

Public Participation in the Forest Plan 

Public involvement, a point of strong emphasis in the 2012 Planning Rule (36 CFR 219), has been 

invaluable throughout the development of the Santa Fe NF draft forest plan. In revising the forest 

plan, we sought to build on existing engagement with its many public stakeholders through 

conservation education, working agreements, partnerships, and volunteers. Throughout plan revision, 

we collaborated with the general public and our cooperating agencies, as well as Federal, State, and 

local governments, federally recognized Tribes and Pueblos, rural historic communities, land grantmerced and acequia governing bodies, rural historic communities, non-profit organizations, private 

landowners, youth, and the public.

In particular, cooperating agencies, various Federal, State, local, and Tribal governmental entities 

that lend technical assistance or other resources to the development of the draft forest plan, 

contributed their knowledge and understanding of the concerns and needs of local communities in 

northern New Mexico to the plan revision process. Cooperating agencies often serve as a conduit 

representing the interests and needs of their constituents in the development of the draft proposed 

plan. Especially at technical meetings, but also at general public meetings, cooperating agencies 

engaged in discussions and provided input regarding pre-draft and draft work products with the 

Forest through discussions with other cooperating agencies, nongovernmental groups, and the 

general public. 

The Santa Fe NF conducted public outreach meetings during the various phases of the planning 

process including Listening Sessions (2014), USDA cadre meetings (2014), Assessment (2014), need 

for change (2015), field trips (2016), initial plan components (2017), alternatives and management 

areas (2017), wilderness recommendation process (2016–2018), and open houses leading up to the 

draft plan and DEIS release (2016–2018). To date, this process has included over 250 meetings with 

at least 3,200 participants. Conversations at these meetings and comments submitted throughout this 

process influenced this entire document. It is our hope that this has led to a forest plan where the 

people who use and love the Santa Fe NF can see themselves. 
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After the draft forest plan is finalized, the Santa Fe NF will continue to build on the successful 

collaboration established throughout forest plan revision in future planning and decision-making 

activities. The draft forest plan will empower a more strategic use of existing partnerships that better 

aligns the interests of partners and the public, and helps to create new and more effective 

partnerships. 

Forest Plan Implementation 

Project-level planning is the mechanism for plan implementation. Project planning translates the 

desired conditions and objectives in the plan into proposals that identify specific actions, design 

features, and project-level monitoring. Projects address site-specific needs developed locally with 

input from experts and stakeholders and consideration of the most current and relevant information. 

Project decisions are made following public involvement and analysis. Important considerations in 

project development include consistency with the plan, consistency with higher-level direction, 

project potential effects on moving toward desired conditions at multiple scales, and feedback from 

project- and plan-level monitoring regarding the effectiveness of management strategies. 

Forest projects and activities are to be consistent with the direction in this plan and compliant with 

current law, regulation, and policy. This plan does not reiterate higher-level direction; instead, it 

includes a partial list of applicable laws, regulations, executive orders, and policy for reference in 

appendix E. 

To ensure a project is consistent with the plan, its design and implementation should consider its 

setting; any designated, management, or geographic areas it overlaps; and plan guidance related to 

any resources or conditions that may be present in the area (e.g., cultural resources, nonnative 

species, geologic formations, wildlife, etc.). Additionally, project planners should consider potential 

conflicts with other authorized projects and activities. Project design should be consistent with 

forestwide plan direction except where superseded by designated or management area direction, 

which takes precedence. 

Plan- and project-level monitoring and evaluation are the tools for gathering information on progress 

toward desired conditions, the effectiveness of plan implementation, and the appropriateness of plan 

direction. This information is subsequently used to determine management needs and adjust 

management strategies, which, in part, determine the form of future projects and activities. As such, 

monitoring and evaluation are key elements of plan implementation, as they guide future 

management occurring under the plan. The monitoring plan contained in chapter 5 of this document, 

in conjunction with project-level monitoring, will provide the framework to support adaptive 

management on the Santa Fe NF. 

Interrelationships of Forest Plan Content

This forest plan is not an assemblage of program plans with unique plan components for every 

resource. What is important is that resource plan components are looked at as a whole and combined 

to meet the requirements for ecological integrity, diversity of plant and animal communities, 

multiple-use management, ecologically sustainable production of goods and services, and that they 

contribute to economic and social sustainability. All of these requirements go hand-in-hand. 

To effectively manage to the desired conditions of a forest resource, project planners and decision 

makers must ensure they use the entire plan and not just the plan components listed for a single 

resource. Effective integrated resource management recognizes the interdependency of ecological, 
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social, cultural, and economic resources and how management of one resource can influence the 

management or condition of other resources. 

Consistency of Projects with the Forest Plan 

As required by the National Forest Management Act, all projects and activities authorized by the 

Forest Service, after record of the decision for the draft plan, must be consistent with the forest plan 

(16 U.S.C. 1604(i) as described at 36 CFR 219.15). This is accomplished by a project or activity 

being consistent with applicable plan components. If a proposed project or activity is not consistent 

with the applicable plan components, the responsible official has the following options (subject to 

valid existing rights): 

• Modify the proposed project or activity to make it consistent with the applicable plan 

components; 

• Reject the proposal or terminate the project or activity; 

• Amend the plan so that the project or activity will be consistent with the plan as amended; or 

• Amend the plan contemporaneously with the approval of the project or activity so that the 

project or activity will be consistent with the plan as amended. This amendment may be 

limited to apply only to the project or activity. (36 CFR 219.15(c)) 

The following criteria should be used in determining if a project or activity is consistent with the 

forest plan (36 CFR 219.15(d)): 

1. Desired conditions and objectives. A project is consistent with plan desired conditions and 

objectives when it: 

a) Maintains or makes progress toward attaining one or more plan desired condition or 

objective applicable to the project; 

b) Has no effect or only a negligible adverse effect on the maintenance or attainment of 

applicable desired conditions or objectives; 

c) Does not foreclose the opportunity to maintain or achieve any of the applicable desired 

conditions or objectives over the long term, even if the project (or an activity authorized 

by the project) would have an adverse short-term effect on one or more desired 

conditions or objectives; or 

d) Maintains or makes progress toward attaining one or more of the plan's desired 

conditions, or objectives, even if the project or activity would have an adverse but 

negligible effect on other desired conditions or objectives. 

Many types of projects and activities can occur over the life of the plan and it is, therefore, 

not likely that a project or activity can maintain or contribute to the attainment of all desired 

conditions. In addition, not all desired conditions would be relevant to every activity. Most 

projects or activities are developed specifically to maintain or move conditions toward one 

or more of the desired conditions in the plan. The project decision document should include 

an explicit finding that the project is consistent with the plan's desired conditions or 

objectives and briefly explain the basis for that finding. In providing this brief explanation, 

the project decision document does not need to explicitly address every desired condition or 

objective set forth in the plan. Rather, a general explanation is all that is needed, so long as 

the consistency finding is made based on a consideration of one of the four factors noted 

above. When a categorical exclusion from environmental analysis and documentation 
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applies and there is no project decision document, the finding and explanation should be in 

the project record. 

2. Standards. A project or activity is consistent with a standard if the project or activity is 

designed in exact accord with the standard. 

The project documentation should confirm that the project or activity is designed in exact 

accord with all applicable plan standards. The responsible official can make a single finding 

of consistency with all applicable standards, rather than individual findings. 

3. Guidelines. A project or activity must be consistent with all guidelines applicable to the type 

of project or activity and its location in the plan area. A project or activity can be consistent 

with a guideline in either of two ways: 

a) The project or activity is designed exactly in accord with the guideline, or 

b) A project or activity design varies from the exact words of the guideline but is as 

effective in meeting the purpose of the guideline to contribute to the maintenance or 

attainment of relevant desired conditions and objectives. 

The project documentation should briefly explain how the project is consistent with the 

applicable plan guidelines. When the project is designed in exact accord with all applicable 

guidelines, the project documentation should simply confirm that fact in a single finding of 

consistency with all applicable guidelines. When the project varies from the exact guidance 

of one or more applicable guidelines, the project documentation should explain how the 

project design is as effective in meeting the purpose of the guideline(s) as the exact guidance 

in the guideline(s). 

4. Suitability. A project with the purpose of timber production may only occur in an area 

identified as suitable for timber production (16 U.S.C. 1604(k)). Except for projects with a 

purpose of timber production, a project or activity can be consistent with plan suitability 

determinations in either of two ways: 

a) The project or activity is a use for which the area is specifically identified in the plan as 

suitable, or 

b) The project or activity is not a use for which the area is specifically identified in the plan 

as suitable, but is not a use precluded by a “not suitable” determination. 

The project documentation should confirm that the project or activity conforms to items 1 or 

2 above. 

Any substantive changes to plan components require a plan amendment, with appropriate analysis as 

required under the NEPA. Administrative changes can be used to make changes, such as updates to 

data and maps, management approaches, and relevant background information; to fix typographical 

errors; or to update other required content of a plan (content other than plan components). The public 

will need to be notified of all administrative changes to the forest plan.

Plans may have other content, such as, background, collaboration strategies, context, existing 

conditions, glossary, introduction, monitoring questions, other referenced information or guidance, 

performance history, performance measures, performance risks, program emphasis, program 

guidance, program priorities, possible actions, roles and contributions, management challenges, or 

strategies, but such other content are not matters to which project consistency is required. 
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Transition in the Implementation of the Draft Forest Plan

The forest plan is used as a direction source for future projects, plans, and assessments. It is not 

expected that this new direction be used to reevaluate or change decisions that have been made under 

the previous forest plan. A smooth and gradual transition to the new forest plan is anticipated, rather 

than one that forces an immediate reexamination or modification of all contracts, projects, permits, 

or other activities that are already in progress and were enacted under the previous forest plan. As 

new project decision, contracts, permits, renewals, and other activities are considered, conformance 

to the new plan direction as described in the previous section is expected.

Adaptive Planning and Monitoring 

Forest planning is a continuous process that includes: (1) assessment; (2) plan development, 

amendment, and revision; and (3) monitoring. The intent of this forest planning framework is to 

create an integrated approach to the management of resources and uses, incorporate the landscapescale context for management, allow the Forest Service to adapt to changing conditions, and improve 

management based on monitoring and new information. 

An adaptive forest plan recognizes that there is always uncertainty about the future of natural 

systems and the timing and type of disturbances. Social conditions and human values regarding the 

management of national forests are also likely to change. Given that the setting for forest plan 

implementation will be changing over time, the forest plan incorporates an effective monitoring 

program that is capable of detecting change, with an adaptive flexibility to respond to those detected 

changes. The forest plan monitoring program recognizes key management questions and identifies 

measurable indicators that can inform the questions. When conditions change beyond what was 

anticipated in the forest plan, a responsive process using narrow amendments can be used to adjust 

plans between revisions. 

The planning framework creates a structure within which land managers and partners work together 

to understand what is happening on the land. It is intended to establish a flexible forest plan that 

allows the forest to adapt management to changing conditions and improve management based on 

new information and monitoring. 

The forest plan monitoring phase comes after the forest plan has been revised. The monitoring phase 

includes: 

a. Designing management activities proposed to implement the plan in a way that will yield 

specific information and support learning. 

b. Analyzing monitoring results using scientific methods that reduce uncertainty and improve 

understanding of system behavior. Well-designed monitoring programs and management 

activities contribute to better scientific analysis of these results. Monitoring and analysis also 

evaluate progress toward achieving desired conditions and objectives of the plan and the 

assumptions used in developing the plan. 

c. Learning from the results of the analysis and sharing how the results either confirm or 

modify the existing assumptions or provide feedback on management effectiveness. 

Learning is proactively shared with land managers and the public. 

d. Adapting planning and management activities based on learning from the results of the 

analysis. This adaptation takes the form of modifying assumptions, models, data, and 

understanding of the system. This knowledge is then used to inform the planning process 

that leads to adjustment of plans and projects. 
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Chapter 2. Forestwide Plan Components

Introduction 

Management of the Santa Fe NF involves many distinct resources that are also integrated with each 

other. In this chapter, each resource is presented in an individual section with management direction 

(plan decisions) and associated plan content (narratives and management approaches). Ecological 

resources such as vegetation, soil, water, air, and wildlife are presented first. Socioeconomic 

resources—timber (forest products), grazing, cultural resources and traditions, and recreation—are 

presented in the second half of this chapter. In the middle of this chapter, a partnerships section 

emphasizes the importance of relationships in forest management. Despite this resource-by-resource 

structure, it is important to recognize that resources impact each other and forest uses in a complex 

and integrated way. Therefore, it is crucial that the plan be considered as a whole and not as a 

compilation of individual resource guidance. 

Vegetation – Ecological Response Units 

“The Santa Fe NF has a whole range of ecosystems – desert to above tree line.” 

(Public comment during the Assessment, spring 2014) 

“Hiking with vanilla air in Ponderosa Pine stands” 

(Public comment during the Assessment, spring 2014). 

The Santa Fe NF encompasses a broad range of ecosystems, including a diversity of vegetative 

ecosystems, ranging along elevational gradients from prairie grasslands to alpine tundra. These 

ecosystem types are mapped on the Santa Fe using the ecological response unit (ERU) framework. 

(ERUs are mapped ecosystem types based on biophysical themes that represent the range of 

conditions (e.g., dominant species, vegetation associations, soils, landscape features, or climate) that 

prevail under natural disturbance regimes (e.g., fire, insects and disease). Each ERU has specific 

seral stages that describe smaller units of vegetation conditions and succession (e.g., dominance of 

post-disturbance species or closed-canopy conditions) that is influenced by both natural processes 

and management. The seral state proportions given within the desired conditions described for each 

ERU individually are single values reflecting the seral proportions indicative of reference conditions 

(LANDFIRE 2010). 

Fire exclusion and past management activities have led to departure in seral state distributions, patch 

sizes, and stand compositions from historical reference conditions for many ERUs on the Santa Fe 

NF. Former practices of selective high-grade logging, overgrazing, fragmentation (roads, trails, 

railroad systems), and fire suppression and exclusion have contributed to the highly departed 

conditions for most ERUs in the forest. These past activities have produced highly stressed 

ecosystems, higher densities of small-diameter trees, increased closed-canopy conditions, increased 

fuel loadings, altered species composition, and have reduced site productivity. These conditions have 

lowered the resilience of these ecosystems, making them more at risk from stressors (e.g., prolonged 

drought, nonnative invasive species, climate fluctuations) and disturbance (e.g., more large 

uncharacteristic fires, increased incidence of insects and disease outbreaks). 
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Management direction is described for the forest at large (all ERUs) and for individual ERUs. 

Desired conditions for ERUs are presented at three spatial scales4

: landscape scale, mid-scale, and 

fine-scale (figure 2). Descriptions begin with the landscape scale to provide a “big picture” of the 

desired conditions across the larger land area (typically composed of variable elevations, slopes, 

aspects, soils, plant associations, and disturbance processes). Assemblages of mid-scale units 

comprise a landscape area. Descriptions at the mid- and fine-scales provide additional detail 

necessary for guiding future projects and activities. The mid-scale is composed of assemblages of 

fine-scale units, which have similar biophysical conditions. The fine-scale is an area in which the 

species composition, age, structure, and distribution of plants (single, grouped, or aggregates of 

groups) are described. Vegetation descriptions at these scales provide adequate detail and guidance 

for designing projects and activities that will help achieve the desired conditions over time. For some 

ERUs (e.g., montane subalpine grasslands, Colorado Plateau Great Basin grasslands) relevant 

scientific information is more limited, resulting in less applicable information for desired conditions 

at multiple scales.

Descriptions for each ERU include a range of conditions (e.g., grass and forb cover ranges from 10 

to 25 percent, on average, for a specific seral state) for desired conditions. No one individual project 

is anticipated to reach these targets (conditions vary based on site potential), but individual projects 

should be designed in a manner that helps to drive the ecosystem overall toward the desired 

conditions. Moreover, the culmination of multiple projects and averaged conditions across the forest, 

over time, is anticipated to drive the ecosystems and ERUs toward the targets or ranges for desired 

conditions. 

Vegetation provides a number of supporting, regulating, and provisioning ecosystem services. High 

biodiversity and genetic variation among plant communities supports regulating ecosystem services 

and ecosystem resilience. Vegetation cover supports water filtration, clean water, soil function, and 

nutrient cycling, especially from plant matter and decomposition. Species composition and 

vegetation structure are also important to wildlife (e.g., dead snags for cavity-nesting birds; old 

growth for spotted owls and bats). Other important ecosystem services include the regulation of 

climate through carbon sequestration, and the production of oxygen through plant respiration, food 

and wood products, and aesthetic and cultural values. 

 

4 Size and ranges (in acres) for each spatial scale is different by system type (forest, woodland, shrubland, grassland) and 

for wetland ecosystems. The size and ranges for each spatial scale are specified in each ERU section of the plan.
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Figure 2. Spatial scales of analysis for vegetation
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All Vegetation Types (ERUs)

Desired Conditions for All Vegetation Types (FW-VEG-DC)

1 Ecosystems maintain all of their essential components (e.g., plant density, species 

composition, structure, coarse woody debris, and snags), processes (e.g., disturbance and 

regeneration), and functions (e.g., nutrient cycling, water infiltration, and carbon 

sequestration).

a Ecosystems contain a mosaic of diverse native plants (e.g., composition and genetic 

diversity) with vegetative structural diversity that encourages vigor, connectivity and 

persistence at a variety of scales across the landscape, reflecting their natural 

disturbance regimes.

b Native plant communities dominate the landscape, while invasive species are 

nonexistent or low in abundance and do not disrupt ecological functioning.

c Natural ecological cycles (e.g., hydrologic, energy, and nutrient) facilitate the shifting of 

plant communities, structure, and ages over time due to natural ecological processes 

affecting site conditions (e.g., fire and climate fluctuations). 

d Vegetation structural diversity and forest floor fuel loadings support native insect and 

disease populations within their range of natural variability.

e Vegetative cover and litter are distributed across the soil surface in adequate amounts to 

limit erosion and contribute to soil deposition and development. Soil cover and 

herbaceous vegetation protect soil, facilitate moisture infiltration, and contribute to 

plant and animal diversity and ecosystem function.

2 Ecosystems are resilient or adaptive to the frequency, extent, and severity of disturbances, 

such as fire in fire-adapted systems, flooding in riparian systems, insects, pathogens, and 

climate variability. 

a The composition, structure, and function of vegetative conditions are resilient to the 

frequency, extent, and severity of disturbances, and to climate variability.

b Vegetative communities reflect their natural physical, chemical, and biophysical 

processes with carefully managed human influence.

c Non-climate ecosystem stressors (e.g., high road densities, water depletions, air and 

water pollution) do not significantly impact the resilience and resistance of an 

ecosystem’s ability to adapt to a changing climate.

d Natural disturbance regimes, including fire, are allowed to function in their natural 

ecological role. Uncharacteristic fire (frequency and severity outside historical range for 

associated vegetation type) is minimal or absent on the landscape.

e Landscape vegetation structure and patterns create a mosaic that disrupts large 

continuous areas of uncharacteristic high-severity fire effects.

f Healthy, resilient vegetation contributes to the forest’s ability to store carbon and 

function as a sustainable carbon sink.
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Desired Conditions for All Vegetation Types (FW-VEG-DC)

3 The ecological attributes and processes that provide habitat for native biota and/or historic 

and cultural values are maintained.

a A diversity of vegetation exists with a mosaic of cover types and stand structures forming 

a healthy, resilient landscape that provide for genetic exchange, daily and seasonal 

movements of animals, including inter-specific interaction at all trophic levels, (e.g., 

producer-consumer and predator-prey interactions) across multiple spatial scales, 

consistent with existing landforms and topography.

b Vegetation provides a sustainable supply of timber and forest products, such as 

firewood, piñon nuts, vigas and latillas, and forage, consistent with desired conditions for 

other resources.

Objectives for All Vegetation Types (FW-VEG-O)

1 Over a 10-year period, complete at least the following treatments to move vegetation 

resources toward desired conditions:

2 Over a 10-year period, complete 2,500 to 50,000 acres of combined vegetation treatments in 

highly departed non-forested ERUs* to move vegetation toward desired conditions (i.e., 

restoration). Treatments may include mechanical treatments, prescribed fire or naturally 

ignited wildfires, seeding, or other techniques still to be determined by best available science 

depending on the specific ERU.

* Highly departed non-forested ERUs are juniper grass (JUG), piñon juniper grass (PJG), Colorado 

Plateau Great Basin grassland (CPGB), sagebrush shrubland (SAGE), and montane subalpine 

grassland (MSG).

Guidelines for All Vegetation Types (FW-VEG-G)

1 Management activities should favor the retention of species that naturally occurred in those 

ecosystems.

2 Heavy equipment and log decks should not be staged in ecologically sensitive areas (e.g., 

riparian corridors, montane meadows, and highly erosive soils).

3 In proposed treatment areas with impaired understory vegetation, treatments should be 

used that improve herbaceous vegetation growth, soil and watershed condition, and 

increase soil productivity and site-specific vegetation structure.
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Guidelines for All Vegetation Types (FW-VEG-G)

4 Vegetation treatments should be designed such that structural stages and age classes that 

are under-represented in desired conditions become proportionally represented, and to 

assure continuous recruitment of old growth characteristics across the landscape over time.

5 In open grasslands and meadows or in degraded sagebrush shrublands, new stock tanks or 

wildlife waterers should be strategically placed to improve animal distribution and reduce 

trampling impacts.

Management Approaches for All Vegetation Types (FW-VEG-MA)

1. Consider management actions that replicate natural disturbance regimes.

2. In support of restoration activities, consider using seeds or planting stock that is adapted to the 

ecological unit (or similar in elevation, soil type, and ecosystem) and to potential future 

conditions, to build resiliency in vegetative communities. 

3. In site-specific cases, consider scheduling management activities that result in accumulations of 

green slash to minimize potential impacts from bark beetles and avoiding accumulating green 

slash (greater than 3 inches in diameter) before overwintering beetles emerge (generally April to 

June) in areas highly susceptible to outbreaks.
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33

Spruce Fir

The spruce-fir forest (SFF) vegetation community generally occurs at elevations ranging from 

approximately 9,500 to nearly 12,000 feet on Tesuque Peak. It is often dominated by Engelmann 

spruce, but contains other species depending on elevation. SFF occurs on the coldest and highest 

elevation sites in the forest with the most precipitation. This forest vegetation community can be 

subdivided into lower elevation (spruce-fir mix) and upper elevation (subalpine spruce-fir) spruce-fir 

types, with differing fire regimes and subdominant species composition. The lower spruce-fir type 

typically occurs between 9,500 and 10,500 feet in elevation, while the upper spruce-fir type typically 

occurs between 10,500 and about 11,500 feet in elevation and is bounded, where present, by the 

alpine tundra vegetation above 11,500 feet. 

Lower-elevation spruce-fir resembles wet mixed conifer with a different composition of tree species, 

due to relatively warmer, drier conditions, and is a transition zone between wet mixed conifer and the 

upper-elevation spruce-fir forest type. In the lower type, common seral tree species are aspen, 

Douglas-fir, white fir, and southwestern white or limber pine. Late seral forest is dominated by 

Engelmann spruce, white fir, and occasionally blue spruce. Subdominant species may include 

corkbark (subalpine fir), white fir, and bristlecone pine. In the upper type, dominant tree species are 

Engelmann spruce, corkbark fir (subalpine fir), but fir may be absent in the colder locations. Patches 

of aspen are occasionally present, but aspen is typically incidental or co-dominant. Occasional 

bristlecone pine is also present in the upper elevations. Disturbances in these types typically occur at 

two temporal and spatial scales: large-scale infrequent disturbances (mostly fire) and small-scale 

frequent disturbances (fire, insect, disease, and wind).
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Desired Conditions for Spruce-Fir (FW-SFF-DC)

Landscape Scale (1,000 to 10,000+ acres) 

1 SFF vegetation community is composed of multiple species of varying ages in a mosaic of 

seral stages and structures. Its arrangement on the landscape is similar to historic patterns, 

with groups and patches of variably sized and aged trees. Tree canopies are generally more 

closed than in mixed conifer forests. Seral state proportions are applied at the landscape 

scale, where contributions from all seral stages and low overall departure from reference 

proportions are positive indicators of ecosystem condition. 

a Seral state proportions for SFF are:

b Patches of SFF vary, but most are hundreds of acres with rare patches that are thousands 

of acres, as a result of periodic disturbances (e.g., infrequent stand-replacing fire and 

bark beetle outbreaks).

c Old growth generally occurs over large areas as stands or forests. Old-growth 

components include old trees, dead trees (snags), downed wood (coarse woody debris), 

and structural diversity. The location of old growth shifts on the landscape over time as a 

result of succession and disturbance (tree growth and mortality). 

d Vegetation community is composed predominantly of vigorous trees, but older declining, 

top-killed, lightning- and fire-scarred trees are a component that provides snags and 

coarse woody debris, all well-distributed throughout the landscape. The number of snags 

and amount of downed logs (larger than 12-inch diameter at mid-point, more than 8 feet 

long) and coarse woody debris (over 3-inch diameter) vary by seral stage.

e Snags, 18 inches or larger at dbh, range from 5 to over 30 snags per acre, with the lower 

range of snags associated with early seral stages and the upper range associated with 

late seral stages. Snag density in general (larger than 8 inches dbh) averages 20 per acre 

with a range of 13 to 30.
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35

Landscape Scale (1,000 to 10,000+ acres) 

f Coarse woody debris, including downed logs, averages vary by seral stage, ranging from 5 

to 30 tons per acre for early-seral stages; 30 to 40 tons per acre for mid-seral stages; and 

40 or more tons per acre for late-seral stages.

2 Vegetative conditions (composition, structure, and function) are broadly resilient to 

disturbances of varying frequency, extent, and severity. The forest landscape is a functioning 

ecosystem that contains all its components, processes, and conditions that result from 

endemic levels of disturbances (e.g., insects, diseases, fire, and wind), including old trees, 

downed logs, and snags. Fires and other disturbances maintain desired overall tree density, 

structure, species composition, coarse woody debris, and nutrient cycling.

a Organic ground cover and herbaceous vegetation provide protection of soil and moisture 

infiltration, and contribute to plant and animal diversity and to ecosystem function. The 

understory consists of native grass, forbs, and shrubs. In the lower spruce-fir type, shrub 

cover is variable and depends on Terrestrial Ecosystem Unit Inventory (TEUI) unit and 

plant composition similarity to site potential (e.g., FSH 2090.11) averages greater than 66 

percent at the plan unit scale, but can vary considerably at finer scales.

b Mixed and high-severity fires occur in spruce-fir forests with frequencies longer than 

200 years varying with elevation. In the lower spruce-fir type, mixed-severity fires (Fire 

Regime III) infrequently occur. In the upper spruce-fir type, high severity fires (Fire 

Regime IV and V) occur very infrequently. Most fires are of limited scale and variable 

intensity. Natural and human-caused disturbances are sufficient to maintain natural 

processes and conditions.

c Isolated instances of insect and disease infestations (e.g., Douglas-fir tussock moth, tent 

caterpillar) occur at endemic levels (within the natural range of variability, typically 

frequent small-scale) that do not affect the ecological function or sustainability of sprucefir forests.

Mid-scale (10 to 1,000 acres)

3 At the mid-scale, the size and number of tree groups and patches vary depending on 

disturbance, elevation, soil type, aspect, and site productivity. There may also be small 

disturbances resulting in groups and patches of tens of acres or less. Grass-forb-shrub 

interspaces created by disturbance may involve single trees or comprise the entire mid-scale 

area after a major disturbance. Aspen is occasionally present in large patches. 

4 Density ranges from 20 to 250 (or more) square feet per acre basal area based on age and 

site productivity, and depending on disturbance and seral stages of the groups and patches.

5 Ground cover consists of shrubs, perennial grasses, and forbs with basal vegetation cover 

values ranging between 5 and 20 percent, depending on the site potential and TEUI unit. 
Draft Land Management Plan

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Mid-scale (10 to 1,000 acres)

6 Mixed (Fire Regime III) and high (Fire Regime IV and V) severity fires and other disturbances 

maintain desired overall tree density, structure, species composition, coarse woody debris, 

and nutrient cycling.

7 Forest conditions in goshawk post-fledging family areas are similar to general forest 

conditions, except they typically contain 10 percent or more tree density (basal area) than 

goshawk foraging areas and the general forest. Nest areas have multi-aged forest conditions, 

with more dominant large trees and relatively denser canopies than other areas in the 

spruce-fir type. 

Fine-scale (less than 10 acres)

8 In early group or patch development, trees are generally the same height and age, but may 

be multilayered in late development. In mid-aged and older forests, trees grow tightly 

together with interlocking crowns. 

9 Gaps are present as a result of natural disturbances (e.g., insects, blowdowns).
Draft Land Management Plan

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37

Mixed Conifer with Aspen

The mixed conifer with aspen forest (wet mixed conifer, MCW) vegetation community generally 

occurs at elevations ranging from approximately 6,500 to 10,000 feet. MCW stands typically occur 

on north and east aspects, lower slopes, and forested valley bottoms, and are more common at high 

elevations. Tree species composition varies depending on seral stage, elevation, and moisture 

availability. It can be composed of early and mid-seral species such as aspen, Douglas-fir, New 

Mexico locust, southwestern white pine and limber pine, and late seral species such as maple, white 

fir, and blue spruce. Ponderosa pine may be present in minor proportions. The absence or limited 

occurrence of Engelmann spruce and corkbark fir distinguishes wet mixed conifer from the 

spruce-fir forest. Disturbances typically occur at two temporal and spatial scales: large-scale 

infrequent disturbances (primarily fire), and small-scale frequent disturbances (fire, insect, disease, 

wind). This forest has an understory of a wide variety of shrubs, grasses, and forbs depending on soil 

type, aspect, elevation, disturbance, and other factors. 

Stands generally have dense structure and dominant and co-dominant vegetation varies in elevation 

and moisture availability, and by seral stage. Ponderosa pine occurs incidentally or is absent, while 

Douglas-fir, southwestern white pine, white fir, and Colorado blue spruce occur as dominant and or 

co-dominant conifer species. Limber pine may be present in subdominant proportions. 

Desired Conditions for Mixed Conifer with Aspen (FW-MCW-DC)

Landscape Scale (1,000 to 10,000+ acres) 

1 The MCW vegetation community is composed of multiple species of varying ages in a mosaic 

of seral stages and structures. Its arrangement on the landscape is similar to historic patterns 

with groups and patches of variably-sized and aged trees and other vegetation associations. 

Tree canopies are generally more closed than in dry mixed conifer.

Seral state proportions are applied at the landscape scale, where contributions from all seral 

stages and low overall departure from reference proportions are positive indicators of 

ecosystem condition.

a Seral state proportions for MCW are:
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Landscape Scale (1,000 to 10,000+ acres) 

b Patches are composed of variable species based on seral stages. Patch sizes vary, but are 

frequently hundreds of acres, with rare patches that are thousands of acres, as a result 

of infrequent disturbances.

c Old growth generally occurs over large areas as stands or forests where the location 

shifts on the landscape over time as a result of succession and disturbance (tree growth 

and mortality). Old-growth components include old trees, dead trees (snags), downed 

wood (coarse woody debris), and structural diversity. 

d MCW communities are predominately vigorous trees, but older declining, top-killed, 

lightning- and fire-scarred trees are a component that provide snags and coarse woody 

debris, all well-distributed throughout the landscape. Number of snags and downed logs 

(larger than 12-inch diameter at mid-point, over 8 feet long) and coarse woody debris 

(more than 3-inch diameter) vary by seral stage.

e Snags 18 inches or larger at DBH range from 1 to 5 snags per acre, where the lower range

of snags of this size is associated with early seral stages and upper range is associated 

with late seral stages. Snag density in general (larger than 8 inches at dbh) averages 

20 per acre. Coarse woody debris including downed logs, varies by seral stage, with 

averages ranging from 5 to 20 tons per acre for early-seral stages; 20 to 40 tons per acre 

for mid-seral stages; and 35 tons per acre or greater for late-seral stages.

f The understory consists of native grass, forbs, and shrubs. Shrub cover depends on the 

TEUI unit. At the plan unit scale, overall plant composition similarity to site potential 

(e.g., FSH 2090.11) averages more than 66 percent, but can vary considerably at finer

scales due to a diversity of seral conditions. 

2 Vegetative conditions (composition, structure, and function) are broadly resilient to 

disturbances of varying frequency, extent, and severity. The forest landscape is a functioning 

ecosystem that contains all its components, processes, and conditions that result from 

endemic levels of disturbances (e.g., insects, diseases, fire, and wind), including old trees, 

downed logs, and snags. Organic ground cover and herbaceous vegetation provide 

protection of soil, moisture infiltration, and contribute to plant and animal diversity and 

ecosystem function. Natural and human-caused disturbances maintain desired overall tree 

density, structure, species composition, coarse woody debris, and nutrient cycling.

a Mixed and high-severity fires occur in MCW, with a fire return intervals of 35 to 

200 years or more (Fire Regimes III, IV, and V). Mixed-severity fire (Fire Regime III) is 

characteristic at lower elevations of this type. High-severity fires (Fire Regimes IV and V) 

are typically at higher elevations of this type, but rarely occur. 

b Isolated instances of insect and disease infestations (e.g., spruce budworm, Douglas-fir 

tussock moth, dwarf mistletoe, or tent caterpillar) occur at endemic levels (within the 

natural range of variability, typically frequent small-scale) that do not affect the 

ecological function or sustainability of MCW.
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Mid-scale (10 to 1,000 acres)

3 At the mid-scale, the size and number of tree groups and patches vary depending on 

disturbance, elevation, soil type, aspect, and site productivity. Groups and patches of trees 

tens of acres or less are common, and are primarily even-aged. A mosaic of groups and 

patches vary in species composition, age, and size. Openness and prevalence of some species 

(e.g., aspen) is dependent on seral stages. Aspen is occasionally present in large patches. 

Grass-forb-shrub openings created by disturbance may comprise 10 to 100 percent of the 

mid-scale area, depending on the type of and time since disturbance.

4 Density ranges from 20 to 180 (or greater) square feet per acre basal area based on age and 

site productivity, and depending on time since disturbance and seral stages of the groups and 

patches. 

5 Fire severity is mixed or high, with a return interval of 35 to over 200 years. Fires maintain 

overall desired tree density, structure, species composition, coarse woody debris, and 

nutrient cycling. During moister conditions, fires exhibit smoldering, low-severity surface 

intensity, with single tree or isolated group torching. Under drier conditions, fires exhibit 

passive to active crown fire behavior, with conifer mortality of up to 100 percent across midscale patches. High severity fires generally do not exceed 1,000-acre patches of mortality. 

Other small disturbances occur more frequently.

6 Ground cover consists of shrubs, perennial grasses, and forbs with basal vegetation cover 

values ranging between 5 and 20 percent depending on site potential and TEUI unit.

7 Forest conditions in goshawk post-fledging family areas are similar to general forest 

conditions, except they typically contain 10 percent or higher tree density (basal area) 

relative to post-fledging family areas than goshawk foraging areas and the general forest. 

Nest areas have multi-aged forest conditions, with dominant large trees and relatively denser 

canopies than other areas in the MCW type.

Fine-scale (less than 10 acres)

8. In mid-aged and older forests, trees are typically variably-spaced with interlocking (grouped 

and clumped trees) or nearly interlocking crowns. Trees within groups can be of similar or 

variable species and ages. Small openings are present as a result of disturbances.

9. Due to presence of ladder fuels, fires usually burn either with low intensity, smoldering 

combustion, or transition rapidly in the canopy as passive or active crown fire.

10 Organic ground cover and herbaceous vegetation provide protection for soil and moisture 

infiltration, and contribute to plant diversity and ecosystem function.
Draft Land Management Plan

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Mixed Conifer-Frequent Fire

The mixed conifer-frequent fire (dry mixed conifer, MCD) forest vegetation community is 

transitional with increasing elevation between ponderosa pine and wet mixed-conifer forests and 

generally occurs at elevations ranging from approximately 6,000 to 9,500 feet. MCD forests are 

dominated by mainly shade-intolerant trees such as ponderosa pine, southwestern white pine, limber 

pine, quaking aspen, and Gambel oak, with a lesser presence of shade-tolerant species such as white 

fir and blue spruce. Mid-tolerant species such as Douglas-fir are common. Aspen may occur as 

individual trees or small groups. This forest vegetation community typically occurs with an 

understory of grasses, forbs, and shrubs. 

Dominant and co-dominant vegetation varies in elevation, moisture availability, and by seral stage. 

Typically these types were historically dominated by ponderosa pine, with minor occurrence of 

aspen, Douglas-fir, and southwestern white pine. More shade-tolerant conifers, such as Douglas-fir, 

white fir, and blue spruce tend to be present in late succession stands, depending on site potential.

Desired Conditions for Mixed Conifer-Frequent Fire (FW-MCD-DC)

Landscape (1,000 to 10,000+ acres) 

1 The MCD vegetation community is composed of multiple species of varying ages in a mosaic 

of seral stages and structures. The forest arrangement on the landscape is similar to historic 

patterns, with groups and patches generally of variably-sized and aged trees (uneven-aged) 

and occasional patches of even-aged structure interspersed within variably-sized openings of 

grass-forb-shrub vegetation. Denser tree conditions exist in some locations such as 

north-facing slopes and canyon bottoms. Canopies are generally more open than in mixed 

conifer with aspen stands. Seral state proportions are applied at the landscape scale, where 

contributions from all seral stages and low overall departure from reference proportions are 

positive indicators of ecosystem condition.
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Landscape (1,000 to 10,000+ acres) 

a Seral state proportions for MCD are:

b Groups of MCD vary in size (although typically small groups), shape, number of trees per 

group, and number of groups per area across the landscape, creating a mosaic of 

patchiness. Where they naturally occur, groups of aspen and all structural stages of oak 

are present. 

c MCD communities are composed predominantly of vigorous trees, but older declining, 

top-killed, lightning- and fire-scarred trees are a component that provide snags and 

coarse woody debris (more than 3-inch diameter), all well-distributed throughout the

landscape. The understory consists of native grass, forbs, and shrubs. 

d Old growth occurs throughout the landscape, generally in small areas as individual 

old-growth components or as clumps of old growth. Old-growth components include old 

trees, dead trees (snags), downed wood (coarse woody debris), and structural diversity. 

The location of old growth shifts across the landscape over time as a result of succession 

and disturbance (tree growth and mortality).

2 Vegetative conditions (composition, structure, and function) are broadly resilient to 

disturbances of varying frequency, extent, and severity, and to climate variability. The forest 

landscape is a functioning ecosystem that contains all its components, processes, and 

conditions that result from endemic levels of disturbances (e.g., insects, diseases, fire, and 

wind), including old trees, downed logs, and snags. Fire and other disturbances are sufficient 

to maintain desired overall tree density, structure, species composition, coarse woody 

debris, and nutrient cycling.

a Organic ground cover and herbaceous vegetation provide protection of soil, moisture 

infiltration, and contribute to plant and animal diversity and ecosystem function. Shrub 

cover depends on the TEUI unit and disturbance. 
Draft Land Management Plan

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Landscape (1,000 to 10,000+ acres) 

b At the plan unit scale, overall plant composition similarity to site potential (e.g., FSH 

2090.11) averages more than 66 percent, but can vary considerably at fine- and midscales due to a diversity of seral state conditions.

c Dwarf mistletoe occurs in less than 15 percent of host trees in uneven-aged forest 

structures and less than 25 percent in even-aged forest structures.

d Isolated instances of insect and disease infestations (e.g., spruce budworm, Douglas-fir 

tussock moth) occur at endemic levels (within the natural range of variability, typically 

frequent small-scale) that do not affect the ecological function or sustainability of MCD. 

3 Frequent, low-severity fires (Regime I) are characteristic in this type, including throughout 

goshawk home ranges. Fire return interval is 5 to 21 years. Grasses, forbs, shrubs, needle 

cast (fine fuels), and small trees maintain the natural fire regime. 

a Natural and human-caused disturbances are sufficient to maintain desired overall tree 

density, structure, species compositions, coarse woody debris, and nutrient cycling.

Mid-scale (10 to 1,000 acres)

4 At the mid-scale, the size and number of tree groups and patches vary depending on 

disturbance, elevation, soil type, aspect, and site productivity. The more biologically 

productive sites contain more trees per group and more groups per area. Groups and 

patches of trees are primarily uneven-aged with all age classes and structures present. 

Disturbances sustain the overall variation in age and structural distribution. Occasionally 

small patches (generally less than 60 acres) of even-aged forest structure are present, based 

on disturbance events and regeneration establishment.

a A small percentage of the landscape may be predisposed to larger even-aged patches, 

based on physical site conditions that favor mixed-severity and stand-replacement fire, 

and other disturbances.

5 Tree density within forested areas generally ranges from 30 to 125 square feet per acre 

basal area. 

Openness typically ranges from 50 percent in more productive sites to 90 percent in the less 

productive sites. Following major disturbances, grass-forb-shrub interspaces may comprise 

10 to 100 percent of the mid-scale areas, depending on the type and time of disturbance.

6 Snags are typically 18 inches or larger at dbh and average 3 per acre. Smaller snags, 8 inches 

and larger at dbh, average 8 snags per acre. 

7 Coarse woody debris, including downed logs, typically range from 5 to 15 tons per acre. 

Downed logs (larger than 12-inch diameter at mid-point, over 8 feet long) average 3 per 

acre within forested areas of the landscape. 
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Mid-scale (10 to 1,000 acres)

8 Ground cover consists primarily of perennial grasses and forbs capable of carrying surface 

fire, with basal vegetation values ranging between about 5 and 20 percent, depending on 

site potential and TEUI unit. Fires burn primarily on the forest floor and do not spread 

between tree groups as crown fire.

9 Forest conditions in goshawk post-fledging family areas are similar to general forest 

conditions, except they typically contain 10 to 20 percent higher basal area in mid-old age 

tree groups than goshawk foraging areas and the general forest. Nest areas have multi-aged 

forest conditions, with dominant large trees and relatively denser canopies than are 

common in the rest of the mixed conifer-frequent fire type.

Fine-scale (less than 10 acres)

10 Trees typically occur in irregularly shaped groups and are variably spaced with some tight 

clumps. Trees within groups are of similar or variable ages, and are of one or more species. 

Crowns of trees within mid-aged and old groups are interlocking or nearly interlocking.

11 Size of tree groups is typically less than 1 acre. Groups at the mid to old-age stages consist 

of 2 to approximately 50 trees per group, but are sometimes larger, such as on north-facing 

slopes. Regeneration openings occur as a mosaic and are similar in size to nearby groups.

12 Interspaces surrounding groups are variably shaped, are composed of a native grass-forbshrub mix, and may contain individual trees or snags.
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Ponderosa Pine

The ponderosa pine (PPF) forest vegetation community includes two sub-types: Ponderosa pine 

bunchgrass and ponderosa pine Gambel oak. The PPF vegetation community generally occurs at 

elevations ranging from approximately 5,000 to 9,000 feet. It is dominated by ponderosa pine and 

commonly includes other species such as oak, juniper, and piñon. More infrequently, species such as 

aspen, Douglas-fir, white fir, and blue spruce may also be present, and may occur as individual trees. 

This forest vegetation community typically occurs with an understory of grasses and forbs, although 

it sometimes includes shrubs. 

Stands generally have an open structure (less than 30 percent tree cover). Dominant and co-dominant 

vegetation varies in elevation, moisture availability, and by seral stage. The dominant species in this 

system is ponderosa pine. Other trees, such as Douglas-fir, white fir, blue spruce, Gambel oak, piñon 

pine, one-seed juniper, and Rocky Mountain juniper may be present. 

Desired Conditions for Ponderosa Pine (FW-PPF-DC)

Landscape Scale (1,000 to 10,000+ acres)

1 The PPF vegetation community is composed of trees of varying ages in a mosaic of seral 

stages and structures. The forest arrangement on the landscape is similar to historic 

patterns, with groups and patches generally of variably-sized and aged trees (uneven-aged) 

and occasional patches of even-aged structure, interspersed within variably-sized openings 

of grass-forb-shrub vegetation associations. Denser stand conditions exist in some locations, 

such as north-facing slopes and canyon bottoms. Seral state proportions are applied at the 

landscape scale, where contributions from all seral stages and low overall departure from 

reference proportions are positive indicators of ecosystem condition. 

a Seral state proportions for PPF are:
Draft Land Management Plan

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Landscape Scale (1,000 to 10,000+ acres)

b Groups of PPF vary in size (although typically small), shape, number of trees per group, 

and number of groups per area across the landscape, creating a mosaic of patchiness. 

Where they naturally occur, in the Gambel oak sub-type, all structural stages of oak trees 

are present.

c The PPF vegetation community is predominantly composed of vigorous trees, but older 

declining, top-killed, lightning- and fire-scarred trees are a component that provides for 

snags and coarse woody debris (over 3-inch diameter), all well-distributed throughout 

the landscape.

d Old growth occurs throughout the landscape, generally in small areas as individual 

old-growth components or as clumps of old growth. Old-growth components include old 

trees, dead trees (snags), downed wood (coarse woody debris), and structural diversity. 

The location of old growth shifts across the landscape over time as a result of succession 

and disturbance (tree growth and mortality).

e Dwarf-mistletoe occurs in less than 15 percent of host trees in uneven-aged forest 

structures and less than 25 percent in even-aged forest structures. 

f Frequent, low-severity fires (Fire Regime I) are characteristic in this type, including 

throughout goshawk home ranges, with fire return intervals of 4 to 30 years. Fires burn 

primarily on the forest floor and do not spread between tree groups as crown fire. 

Grasses, forbs, shrubs, litter (e.g., cones, needles, fine woody fuels, 10-hour-fuels, and 

previous years’ debris from grasses, forbs, and shrubs), and small trees maintain the 

natural fire regime.

2. Vegetative conditions (composition, structure, and function) are broadly resilient to 

disturbances of varying frequency, extent, severity, and to climate variability. The forest 

landscape is a functioning ecosystem that contains all its components, processes, and 

conditions that result from endemic levels of disturbances (e.g., insects, diseases, fire, and 

wind), including old trees, downed logs, and snags. Natural and human-caused disturbances 

are sufficient to maintain desired overall tree density, structure, species compositions, 

coarse woody debris, and nutrient cycling.

a Organic ground cover and herbaceous vegetation provide protection of soil, moisture 

infiltration, and contribute to plant and animal diversity and ecosystem function. The 

understory consists of native grass, forbs, and shrubs. The amount of shrub cover 

depends on TEUI unit and disturbance. At the plan unit scale, overall plant composition 

similarity to site potential (e.g., FSH 2090.11) averages more than 66 percent, but can 

vary considerably at finer scales due to a diversity of seral conditions.

b Isolated instances of insect and disease infestations (e.g., bark beetle and dwarf 

mistletoe) occur at endemic levels (within the natural range of variability, typically 

frequent small-scale) that do not affect the ecological function or sustainability of PPF. 
Draft Land Management Plan

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Mid-scale (10 to 1,000 acres)

3 At the mid-scale, the size and number of tree groups and patches vary depending on 

disturbance, elevation, soil type, aspect, and site productivity. The more biologically 

productive sites contain more trees per group and more groups per area, resulting in less 

space between groups. Mosaics of tree groups and patches of trees make up an uneven-aged 

forest with all age classes present. Disturbances sustain the overall variation in age and 

structural distribution.

a Occasionally small patches (generally less than 50 acres) of even-aged forest structure 

are present, based upon disturbance events and regeneration establishment.

b A small percentage of the landscape may be predisposed to larger even-aged patches, 

based on physical site conditions that favor mixed-severity and stand-replacement fire, 

and other disturbances. 

4 Density within forested areas ranges from 22 to 89 square foot basal area per acre. 

5 Openness typically ranges from 52 percent in more productive sites to 90 percent in less 

productive sites. In areas with high fine-scale aggregation of trees into groups, mid-scale 

openness ranges between 78 to 90 percent.

6 Ponderosa pine snags are typically 18 inches or larger at dbh and average 1 to 2 per acre. In 

the Gambel oak subtype, large oak snags (larger than 10 inches) are a well-distributed 

component. 

7 Coarse woody debris, including downed logs, vary by seral stage but typically range from 3 to 

10 tons per acre. Downed logs (larger than 12-inch diameter at mid-point, over 8 feet long) 

average 3 logs per acre within the forested area (not interspaces) of the landscape. 

8 Ground cover consists primarily of perennial grasses and forbs capable of carrying surface 

fire, with basal vegetation values ranging between about 5 and 20 percent depending on site 

potential and the TEUI unit. 

9 Fires burn predominantly on the forest floor and do not spread between tree groups as 

crown fire. 

10 Forest conditions in goshawk post-fledging family areas are similar to general forest 

conditions, except they typically contain 10 to 20 percent higher basal area in mid- to old-age 

tree groups than goshawk foraging areas and the general forest. Nest areas have multi-aged 

forest conditions, with dominant large trees and relatively denser canopies than are common 

in other areas of the PPF type.
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Fine-scale (less than 10 acres)

11 Tree groups are typically less than 1 acre in size, but average 0.5 acre and are sometimes 

larger on north-facing slopes. In mid-aged and older forests, groups consist of approximately 

2 to 40 trees. 

12 Trees typically occur in irregularly shaped groups and are variably-spaced with some tight 

clumps. Trees within groups may vary in age and sometimes contain species other than 

ponderosa pine. Crowns of trees within the mid- to old-age groups are interlocking or nearly 

interlocking.

13 Interspaces surrounding groups are variably shaped, are a native grass-forb-shrub mix, and 

may contain individual trees or snags.
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Piñon-Juniper Grass and Juniper Grass

Piñon-juniper grass (PJG) occurs in what were historically more open woodlands with grassy 

understories (savannah-like conditions). Tree species include two-needle piñon, one-seed juniper, 

and occasional alligator juniper. Utah juniper also occurs on the Santa Fe, but is not as common as it 

is in areas farther north and west. Native understories are made up of predominantly cool season 

perennial grasses including muttongrass, squirreltail, and western wheatgrass combined with both 

annual and perennial forbs, while shrubs are absent or scarce (less than 1 percent cover). The PJG 

type is typically found on sites with well-developed, loamy soil characteristics, including gentle 

upland and transitional valley locations, where soil conditions favor grasses (or other grass-like 

plants) and other understory plants. Some savannahs apparently have sparse tree cover because of 

climatic limitations on woody plant growth, though tree growth is generally more productive within 

this ERU than in juniper grass. 

Juniper grass (JUG) is typically found in warmer and drier settings beyond the environmental limits 

of piñon pine, and just below and often intergrading with the piñon-juniper zone. A dense 

herbaceous matrix of native grasses and forbs characterize this type. Typical disturbances (fire, 

insects, and disease) are of low severity and high frequency. These disturbance patterns create and 

maintain the uneven-aged, open-canopy nature of this type. Typically, native understory grasses are 

perennial species, while forbs consist of both annuals and perennials. Common native grasses 

include ring muhly, blue grama, and sideoats grama. Shrubs are characteristically absent or scattered. 

This type is typically found on sites with well-developed, shallow to moderately deep loamy soil 

characteristics, generally at the drier edge of the woodland climatic zone. Generally, these types are 

most extensive in areas dominated by warm (summer) season or bi-modal precipitation regimes. 

Desired Conditions Piñon-Juniper Grass and Juniper Grass (FW-JUG-DC)

Landscape Scale (1,000 to 10,000+ acres) 

1 The PJG and JUG vegetation communities are composed of trees of varying ages in a mosaic 

of seral stages and structures. The forest arrangement on the landscape is similar to historic 

patterns, with groups and patches generally of variably-sized and aged trees (uneven-aged) 

and occasional patches of even-aged structure, interspersed within variably-sized openings 

of grass/forb/shrub vegetation associations. Denser stand conditions exist in some 

locations, such as north-facing slopes and canyon bottoms. Canopies are more open than in 

piñon-juniper woodland stands. Seral state proportions are applied at the landscape scale, 

where contributions from all seral stages and low overall departure from reference 

proportions are positive indicators of ecosystem condition.
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Landscape Scale (1,000 to 10,000+ acres) 

a Seral state proportions for PJG and JUG are:

b PJG and JUG are generally uneven-aged and open in appearance. Trees occur as 

individuals, but occasionally in smaller groups, and range from young to old.

c Old growth occurs throughout the landscape, generally in small areas as individual 

old-growth components, or as clumps of old growth. Old-growth components include 

old trees, dead trees (snags), downed wood (coarse woody debris), and structural 

diversity. The location of old growth shifts across the landscape over time as a result of 

succession and disturbance (tree growth and mortality). 

d Frequent, low-severity fires (Fire Regime I) are characteristic in this type, with fire return 

intervals of 8 to 36 years. 

e Organic ground cover and herbaceous vegetation provide protection of soil, moisture 

infiltration, and contribute to plant and animal diversity and ecosystem function. The 

understory consists of native grass, forbs, and shrubs; the amount of cover depends on 

site potential and disturbance. 

2 Vegetative conditions (composition, structure, and function) are broadly resilient to 

disturbances of varying frequency, extent, and severity, and to climate variability. The 

landscape is a functioning ecosystem that contains all its components, processes, and 

conditions that result from endemic levels of disturbances (e.g., insects, diseases, fire, and 

wind), including old trees, downed logs, and snags. Natural and human-caused disturbances 

are sufficient to maintain desired overall tree density, structure, species composition, coarse 

woody debris, and nutrient cycling. 

a At the plan unit scale, overall plant composition similarity to site potential (e.g., FSH 

2090.11) averages more than 66 percent, but can vary considerably at finer scales due to 

a diversity of seral conditions.

b Isolated insect and disease infestations (e.g., Ips beetle) occur at endemic levels (within 

the natural range of variability, typically frequent small-scale) that do not affect the 

ecological function or sustainability of PJG or JUG. 
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Mid-scale (10 to 1,000 acres)

3 Snags are scattered across the landscape, averaging 5 snags per acre for snags 8 inches 

diameter and larger, while snags 18 inches and larger average 1 snag per acre. Coarse 

woody debris increases in later successional stages and averages 1 to 3 tons per acre.

4 Scattered shrubs and a dense herbaceous understory including native grasses, forbs, and 

annuals are present to support frequent surface fires. 

5 Ground cover consists primarily of perennial grasses and forbs capable of carrying frequent 

surface fire, with basal vegetation values averaging between 10 and 30 percent, depending 

on site potential and the TEUI unit. Shrubs average less than 30 percent canopy cover.

Fine-scale (less than 10 acres)

6 PJG and JUG are generally uneven-aged and open in appearance. Trees occur as individuals, 

but occasionally in smaller groups, and range from young to old.

7 Patch sizes range from individual trees and clumps that are less than 0.1 acre, to tree groups 

of approximately 1 acre. 

8 Occasionally patches of even-aged woodland structure are present, based on disturbance 

events and regeneration establishment. A smaller percentage of the landscape may be 

predisposed to larger even-aged patches, based on physical site conditions that favor mixedseverity and stand-replacement fire, and other disturbances.
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Piñon-Juniper Sagebrush

The piñon-juniper sagebrush (PJS) ERU is concentrated in geographic areas dominated by cold 

(winter) season precipitation regimes and frigid soils. These systems have a distinct appearance of 

open woodland canopies interspersed by Colorado Plateau and Great Basin shrub species such as big 

sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata; including subspecies: var: tridentata, vaseyana, and wyomingensis), 

rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa), fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens), and winterfat 

(Krascheninnikovia lanata). Trees occur as individuals or in smaller clumps, and range from young 

to old. Tree clumps are often even-aged. The understory is dominated by moderate to high-density 

shrubs, and the development of the herb layer is limited and concentrated in canopy openings. The 

tree and shrub species composition varies throughout the forest; piñon is occasionally absent, but one 

or more juniper species are always present. Generally, the sparse native understory grass 

development includes perennial species, while forbs consist of both annuals and perennials. Shrubs 

are characteristically well-distributed, and usually achieve high canopy closure during mature 

successional phases or where livestock grazing has favored their development over herb species.

Desired Conditions Piñon-Juniper Sagebrush (FW-PJS-DC)

Landscape Scale (1,000 to 10,000+ acres)

1 PJS is a mix of trees and shrubs that occurs as a series of vegetation states that move from 

herbaceous-dominated to shrub-dominated to tree-dominated over time. Piñon trees are 

occasionally absent, but one or more juniper species is always present. Seral state 

proportions are applied at the landscape scale, where contributions from all seral stages 

and low overall departure from reference proportions are positive indicators of ecosystem 

condition. 

a Seral state proportions for PJS are:
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Landscape Scale (1,000 to 10,000+ acres)

2 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 to 

climate variability.

a Isolated insect and disease infestations (e.g., Ips beetle) occur at endemic levels (within 

the natural range of variability, typically frequent small-scale) that do not affect the 

ecological function or sustainability of PJS. 

b Old growth occurs throughout the landscape, generally in small areas, as individual 

old-growth components or small clumps. Old-growth components include old trees, 

dead trees (snags), downed wood (coarse woody debris), and structural diversity. The 

location of old growth shifts on the landscape over time as a result of succession and 

disturbance (tree growth and mortality).

c Overall plant composition similarity to site potential (e.g., FSH 2090.11) averages more 

than 66 percent, but can vary considerably at the fine- and mid- scales owing to a 

diversity of seral conditions.

3 Fires are typically infrequent mixed-severity, with rare stand-replacement fires (Fire Regime 

III (V)).

Mid-scale (10 to 1,000 acres)

4 Snags and old trees with dead tops or limbs are scattered across the landscape, with snags 

larger than 8 inches DRC averaging 6 snags per acre, and snags 18 inches and larger DRC 

averaging 1 snag per acre.

5 Coarse woody debris averages about 4 tons per acre.

6 The understory is dominated by moderate to high densities of shrubs (average greater than 

30 percent cover), depending on successional stage. The shrub component consists of one 

or a mix of shrub species (e.g., sagebrush, evergreen shrub, oak, or other), which are welldistributed. Shrubs typically are in a closed canopy state during later successional stages. 

7 Ground cover consists primarily of shrubs, perennial grasses, and forbs capable of carrying 

surface fire only infrequently, with basal vegetation values averaging between about 10 and 

35 percent, depending on site potential and the TEUI unit.

Fine-scale (less than 10 acres)

8 Trees occur as individuals or in smaller groups, and range from young to old. Groups are 

typically even-aged in structure.

9 Patch size of woodlands range from one to tens of acres, and occasionally includes patches 

of even-aged woodland structure, based on disturbance events and regeneration 

establishment.
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Piñon-Juniper Woodlands

Piñon-juniper woodlands (PJO) are mostly found on lower slopes of mountains and in upland rolling 

hills at approximately 5,300 to 10,000 feet in elevation. They have broad grouping of different plant 

associations with trees occurring as individuals or in smaller groups and range from young to old, but 

more typically as large, even-aged structured patches. PJO characteristically has a moderate to dense 

tree canopy and a sparse understory of perennial grasses, annual and perennial forbs, and shrubs. 

Woodland development occurs in distinctive phases, ranging from open grass-forb, to mid-aged open 

canopy, to mature closed canopy. PJO on broken or rocky terrain exhibits little to no natural fire, and 

insects and disease may be the only disturbance agents. Most common piñon pine is the two-needle 

piñon occurring in limited areas. One-seed juniper is most common; however, there are areas of Utah 

juniper and Rocky Mountain juniper. In addition, annual and perennial grasses and graminoids, 

forbs, half-shrubs and shrubs can be found beneath the woodland overstory. 

Desired Conditions for Piñon-Juniper Woodlands (FW-PJO-DC)

Landscape Scale (1,000 to 10,000+ acres)

1 Persistent piñon-juniper woodlands consist of even-aged patches of piñons and junipers 

that at the landscape level form multi-aged woodlands. Seral state proportions are applied 

at the landscape scale, where contributions from all seral stages and low overall departure 

from reference proportions are positive indicators of ecosystem condition. 

a Seral state proportions for PJO are:

2 Old growth includes old trees, dead trees (snags), downed wood (coarse woody debris) and 

structural diversity, and is often concentrated in mid- and fine-scale units as patches of old 

growth. The location of old growth shifts on the landscape over time as a result of succession 

and disturbance (tree growth and mortality). Very old trees (over 300 years old) are present, 

while snags and older trees with dead limbs and/or tops are scattered across the landscape. 
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Landscape Scale (1,000 to 10,000+ acres)

a Snags 8 inches DRC or larger, average 5 snags per acre, while snags 18 inches DRC or larger 

average 1 snag per acre.

b Coarse woody debris increases in later successional stages and averages 2 to 5 tons per 

acre.

3 At the plan unit scale, overall plant composition similarity to site potential (e.g., FSH 

2090.11) averages more than 66 percent, but can vary considerably at fine- and mid- scales 

owing to a diversity of seral conditions. 

4 The composition, structure, and function of vegetative conditions are resilient to the 

frequency, extent, and severity of disturbances (e.g., insects, diseases, and fire), as well as 

climate variability. 

a Fire as a disturbance is less frequent and variable due to differences in ground cover. The 

fires that do occur are mixed to high severity (Fire Regime III, IV, and V) and generally fine 

scale. 

b Isolated insect and disease infestations (e.g., Ips beetle) occur at endemic levels (within 

the natural range of variability, typically frequent small-scale) that do not affect the 

ecological function or sustainability of piñon-juniper. 

Mid-scale (10 to 1,000 acres)

5 Tree density and canopy cover are high, shrubs are sparse to moderate, and herbaceous 

cover is low. The amount of shrub cover depends on the TEUI unit.

6 Ground cover consists of shrubs, perennial grasses, and forbs, and ranges between 5 and 

15 percent, depending on site potential and the TEUI unit.

7 Trees occur in even-aged patches ranging from young to old, where patch sizes range from 

tens to hundreds of acres.
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Sagebrush Shrubland

The sagebrush shrubland (SAGE) vegetation community primarily occurs adjacent to Great Basin 

grassland and piñon-juniper woodland ERUs. The dominant shrub, big sagebrush (Artemisia 

tridentata), consists of a number of important varieties and wildlife use is associated with specific 

varieties of big sagebrush due to the chemical variation and forage preference for each variety. Most 

of the varieties found in the forest include: Basin (A. t. ssp. tridentata), mountain (A. t. ssp. 

vaseyana), and Wyoming (A. t. ssp. wyomingensis) big sagebrush. These varieties are important as 

each provide thermal cover and protection, including nesting cover and escape cover for wildlife 

(e.g., upland birds). Sagebrush can also make up a significant forage and protein source for wildlife. 

Other common species include broom snakeweed, shadscale (Atriplex confertifolia), and blue grama 

(Bouteloua gracilis). Historically, tree canopy cover exceeded 10 percent, with the exception of 

early, post-fire plant communities. SAGE sites are usually found on deep well-drained valley bottom 

soils between 4,800 and 5,800 feet, with precipitation ranging between 10 and 18 inches per year.

Desired Conditions for Sagebrush Shrubland (FW-SAGE-DC)

Landscape Scale (1,000 to 10,000+ acres) 

1 The composition, structure, and function of biotic and abiotic components of the SAGE

vegetation community are within the natural range of variability. 

a Seral state proportions for SAGE are:

b Shrub cover ranges from 20 to 85 percent, depending on elevation, soil type, aspect, 

and site. 

i. Wyoming big sagebrush is the dominant species, other shrubs such as broom 

snakeweed and shadscale are common, as are grassland species such as blue grama, 

junegrass, and western wheatgrass.

c Groups of trees and single tree cover is less than 10 percent.

d A vigorous, though not necessarily dense, understory community of native grasses and 

forbs is present with cover at 10 to 20 percent and bare soil as high as 40 percent, 

depending on site potential and TEUI unit. 

e Biological soil crusts are present and improve nutrient cycling and stabilize soils.

2 The SAGE vegetation type is characterized by fairly frequent (12 to 70 years), mixed-severity 

fire (Fire Regime III).
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Alpine and Tundra

The alpine and tundra (ALP) vegetation community is present on only 5,015 acres in the Santa Fe 

NF at the highest elevations within the northeastern zone. Alpine areas are typically barren with 

sparse vegetation including grasses, forbs, lichens, and low shrubs found in the Gelic soil 

temperature regime. Unstable substrates, exposure to high winds, and a short growing season make it 

difficult for plants to establish and grow in these areas. Barren areas include rocky outcroppings, 

scree slopes, and open fell-fields. Open fell-fields may include the following species: mountain 

sandwort (Arenaria capillaries), black and white sedge (Carex albonigra), Payson’s sedge (Carex 

paysonis), Ross’s avens (Geum rossii), Bellardi bog sedge (Kobresia myosuroides), twinflower 

sandwort (Minuartia obtusiloba), Asian forget-me-not (Myosotis asiatica), nailwort (Paronychia 

pulvinata), wherry (Phlox pulvinata), creeping sibbaldia (Sibbaldia procumbens), and moss campion 

(Silene acaulis). Within the alpine region, tundra can be found on gradual to moderate slopes, flat 

ridges, valleys, and basins, where there is fairly stable soil. The tundra system is typically 

characterized by low-growing, perennial graminoids and forbs, historically with less than 10 percent

tree cover. Rhizomatous, sod-forming sedges are the dominant graminoids, and prostrate and matforming plants with thick rootstocks or taproots characterize the forbs. Dominant species include 

sagebrush (Artemisia arctica), sedges (Carex spp.), tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia caespitosa), 

fescue grasses (Festuca spp.), Ross’s avens (Geum rossii), Bellardi bog sedge (Kobresia 

myosuroides), wherry (Phlox pulvinata), and alpine clover (Trifolium dasyphyllum).

Desired Conditions for Alpine and Tundra (FW-ALP-DC)

Landscape Scale (1,000 to 10,000+ acres) 

1 The composition, structure, and function of biotic and abiotic components of the ALP

vegetation community are within the natural range of variability. 

a Seral state proportions for ALP are:

2 Tree cover is typically less than 10 percent. Completely barren or rocky areas make up only a 

small percentage of the vegetation community. The patch distribution of rock and 

herbaceous cover is finely patterned with about 60 percent total vegetation cover.

3 Alpine ecosystems occupy harsh high-elevation sites, resulting in short stature and relatively 

slow growth for both shrubs and herbaceous species. Wetland communities are present in 

snowloaded depressions and are dominated by plane leaf willow, snow willow, and arctic 

willow. Alpine fellfields1 are free of snow in the winter and dominated by alpine clover, 

tufted hairgrass, and Bellardi bog sedge, to allow for the persistence of white-tailed 

ptarmigan. 

_______________

1 Fellfields are areas on alpine slopes where cycles of freezing and thawing (frost events) and wind create niche 

habitats for plants within small interspaces in rocks and scree. 
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Landscape Scale (1,000 to 10,000+ acres) 

4 Key features such as boulder fields and talus slopes, which are necessary to allow for 

persistence of alpine larkspur, white-tailed ptarmigan, and other alpine-dependent plant and 

animal species (e.g., marmots, pika, and bighorn sheep), are well distributed and 

undisturbed, within the capacity of the vegetation community.

5 ALP is resilient to natural and human-caused impacts.

a The ALP ERU is characterized by an historic fire regime group IIIc, with an average fire 

return interval of 100 to 200 years from mixed-severity fire.

b Endemic levels of disturbances (e.g., insects, diseases, fire, snow, and wind) maintain a 

functioning ecosystem that contains all its components, processes, and conditions. Plants, 

animals, and geologic features that contribute to ecological diversity and uniqueness are 

maintained.
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Montane Subalpine Grasslands

The montane subalpine grasslands (MSG) occur at elevations ranging from 8,000 to 11,000 feet as 

small to large openings within spruce-fir, mixed conifer, and ponderosa pine forests and often harbor 

several plant associations with varying dominant grasses and herbaceous species. MSG are a mix of 

grass communities including bunchgrasses, perennial and annual forbs, sod-grasses, and sedges. 

These meadows typically have higher herbaceous species richness than adjacent forest and are 

typically dominated by Arizona fescue, mountain muhly, screwleaf muhly, wheatgrasses, oatgrasses, 

and Thurber’s fescue, depending on soil texture, soil moisture, elevation, site exposure (e.g., ridges), 

and disturbance. Trees and shrubs may occur along the periphery of the meadows. These meadows 

are seasonally wet, which is closely tied to snowmelt, but do not typically experience flooding 

events.

Desired Conditions for Montane Subalpine Grasslands (FW-MSG-DC)

Landscape Scale (1,000 to 10,000+ acres) 

1 The composition, structure, and function of biotic and abiotic components of the MSG

vegetation community are within the natural range of variability. 

a Seral state proportions for MSG are:

*Contemporary landscapes only

b MSG are open and grassy (cover 50 to 90 percent) with tree and shrub canopy cover less 

than 10 percent.

c Vegetation is dominated by a diversity of desirable native warm and cool season grasses 

and forbs and are maintained at levels that contribute to suitable hydrologic function, 

soil stability, and nutrient cycling, while providing food and cover for wildlife and 

livestock. 

d Soil function is sustained. Soils are permeable and capable of infiltrating water to reduce 

overland flows during precipitation events, limiting erosion and deposition.
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Landscape Scale (1,000 to 10,000+ acres) 

2 The MSG vegetation type is characterized by frequent (2 to 22 years) high-severity fire (Fire 

Regime I) where grass is consumed but impacts to soil are low. Fire return intervals are 

influenced by the fire regimes in adjoining vegetation types.

Mid-scale (10 to 1,000 acres)

3 The composition, structure, and distribution of native vegetation reflect a mix of early, 

middle, and late seral stages. Early seral stages typically contain more forbs, while older 

stages are dominated by bunchgrasses. Native plant species are present in all age classes 

and are healthy, reproducing, and persisting. 

4 Depending on soil type, bare soil is no more than 55 percent of an area and is most often 

less than 10 percent. Vegetative groundcover ranges between 30 to 75 percent. 

5 Soil conditions support vegetation communities that provide hiding, nesting, and thermal 

cover in contiguous blocks for wildlife. 

Fine-scale (less than 10 acres)

6 Vegetative biological diversity is high in MSG. Disturbance and site potential result in a 

mosaic of vegetation densities (densely vegetated to bare areas) across the landscape. 

7 Cool season grasses and forbs provide nutritional forage while shrubs and standing grass 

growth from the previous year provide hiding cover to protect wildlife from predation. 

8 Grasslands are connected with minimal (less than 5 percent) shrub and tree cover. 
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Colorado Plateau and Great Basin Grasslands

The Colorado Plateau and Great Basin Grasslands (CPGB) are found along elevational and 

temperature gradients above semi-desert grasslands and below montane-subalpine grasslands. It 

occupies cooler and wetter sites than semi-desert grasslands. This ERU is typically associated with 

piñon-juniper grass along the grassland-woodland ecotone in cool climates. Vegetation coverage 

consists of mostly grasses and interspersed shrubs. Grass species may include but are not limited to 

Indian ricegrass, threeawn, blue grama, needle and thread grass, spike fescue, muhly, James’ galleta, 

and Sandberg bluegrass. Shrub species may include but are not limited to various species of 

sagebrush, saltbush, Ephedra, snakeweed, winterfat, one-seeded juniper, Utah juniper and wax 

currant. 

Desired Conditions for Colorado Plateau and Great Basin Grasslands 

(FW-CPGB-DC)

Landscape Scale (1,000 to 10,000+ acres) 

1 The composition, structure, and function of biotic and abiotic components of the Colorado 

Plateau and Great Basin Grassland vegetation community are within the natural range of 

variability. 

a Seral state proportions for CPGB are:

b Colorado Plateau and Great Basin Grasslands are open and grassy (cover greater than 

25 percent) with tree and shrub canopy cover less than 10 percent.

c Vegetation is dominated by a diversity of warm and cool season grasses maintained at 

levels that contribute to suitable hydrologic function, soil stability, and nutrient cycling, 

while providing food and cover for wildlife and livestock. 

d Soil function is sustained. Soils are permeable and capable of infiltrating water to reduce 

overland flows during precipitation events limiting erosion and deposition. 

2 The Colorado Plateau and Great Basin Grassland vegetation type is characterized by frequent 

(10 to 30 years) high-severity fire (Fire Regime I) where grass is consumed but impacts to soil 

are low.
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Mid-scale (10 to 1,000 acres)

3 The composition, structure, and distribution of native vegetation reflect a mix of early, 

middle, and late seral stages. Mid-seral stages are dominated by grasses with cover greater 

than 25 percent grass and less than 10 percent shrub, while late seral stages have 10 to 

30 percent shrub cover. Native plant species are present in all age classes and are healthy, 

reproducing, and persisting. 

4 Depending on soil type, bare soil is no more than 50 percent of an area and averages 

35 percent. Groundcover vegetation ranges between 10 and 40 percent.

Fine-scale (less than 10 acres)

5 Disturbance and site potential result in a mosaic of vegetation densities (densely vegetated 

areas to bare areas) across the landscape. 

6 Cool season grasses and forbs provide nutritional forage, while shrubs and standing grass 

growth from the previous year provide hiding cover to protect wildlife from predation. 

7 Grasslands are connected with minimal (less than 5 percent) shrub and tree cover.
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Wildland-urban Interface (WUI)

“Wildland urban interfaces are more and more prevalent across our public lands and it is important 

to develop strategies to protect them. Especially important is working with communities in the 

wildland urban interface to make them ‘Fire Wise,’ maintaining defensible space around their 

homes and keeping our firefighters safe.” (Terrance Gallegos, Deputy Fire Staff for the Santa Fe 

National Forest).

The wildland-urban interface (WUI) is the wildland area surrounding resident populations, and other 

human developments of special significance that are at imminent risk from wildfire. These areas may 

include residential homes, critical communications sites, municipal watersheds, high voltage 

transmission lines, observatories, church or scout camps, research facilities, and other structures that 

if destroyed by fire, would result in hardship to communities. WUI areas encompass not only the 

sites themselves, but also the continuous slopes and fuels that lie adjacent to and surround the sites, 

generally within a 0.5-mile buffer, depending on topography and fuel conditions. 

The Santa Fe NF is faced with varied and unique challenges, given its proximity to numerous WUI 

areas. For instance, the forest provides a large percentage of the drinking water for the city of Santa 

Fe, and other surrounding areas. Thus, the protection of the Santa Fe Municipal watershed from a 

large uncharacteristic fire such as the Los Conchas or Cerro Grande fires of the past two decades, is a 

primary concern. Any large, high-severity fire in this area would pose a serious hazard to human 

health and safety. There are many urban WUI areas bordering the Santa Fe NF and the larger 

population centers of Santa Fe, Los Alamos, and Las Vegas. The forest also intersects numerous 

smaller, rural communities with values at risk. Collaborative efforts among the forest; tribes; cities,

counties, and community agencies; non-profits; and landowners can help to mitigate the risk of 

uncharacteristic fire within these complex WUI areas through fuels reduction treatments. Highpriority areas for risk mitigation are identified through risk assessments, while public health and 

safety is addressed through determining evacuation plans and providing education and awareness. 

These factors combined help the forest move toward the desired conditions for WUI. 

WUI areas provide numerous supporting, cultural, and provisioning ecosystem services to the people 

who live, work, or recreate there. These areas offer a transitional environment between the more 

hectic life of the city and the gentler pace of nature, increasing human health and well-being. Trees

surrounding homes or other structures provide shade, which reduces cooling costs in the summer, 

and provide wind breaks that buffer homes and structures from direct winds. The complex vegetation 

arrangements in WUI areas may support a greater diversity of wildlife and avian species, enhancing 

wildlife viewing or bird watching opportunities. Further, WUI areas provide corridors for utilities 

that deliver an array of amenities to area residents. The reduction of fire risk within WUI areas not 

only protects human life, property, and infrastructure, but it can also benefit the surrounding 

ecosystem, providing regulating ecosystem services. Fuel reduction treatments in the WUI would

increase the health and vigor of residual trees, which in turn contributes to increased air quality, 

benefitting the humans (and animals) that reside in or visit the WUI.
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Desired Conditions for Wildland-urban Interface (FW-WUI-DC)

1 Wildland fires in the WUI do not result in the loss of life, property, or characteristic 

ecosystem function.

2 Wildland fires in the WUI are low-intensity surface fires. Firefighters are able to safely and 

efficiently suppress wildfires in the WUI using direct attack. 

3 Ecosystem structure promotes low-intensity surface fires in areas where the WUI intersects 

vegetation types with a mixed- or high-severity fire regimes (e.g., SFF and MCW). 

a Tree basal area reflects the low end of the range within the desired conditions for 

individual vegetation types. 

b Ladder fuels are nearly absent. 

c Openings between tree groups are of sufficient size to discourage isolated group torching 

from spreading as a crown fire to other groups. Trees within groups may be more widely 

spaced with less interlocking of the crowns than desirable in adjacent forest lands. 

Openings with grass/forb/shrub vegetation occupy the mid to upper end of the 

percentage range in the desired conditions. 

4. Dead and down fuel load is between 1 and 10 tons per acre, depending on ERU, with lower 

amounts in fire-adapted ERUs, and higher amounts in infrequent fire types. These light fuel 

loads are desirable even in vegetation types with higher reference fuel loads, such as mixed 

conifer with aspen or spruce-fir, to provide improved fire protection to human developments 

of special significance. Logs and snags are present in the WUI at the lower end of the range 

given in the vegetation community desired conditions.
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Fire and Fuels 

“There is a need for desired conditions for fire adapted vegetation types that recognize the natural 

role of fire in the landscape.” 

(Public comment on the Need for Change, fall 2015) 

Wildland fire is any non-structure fire that occurs in forests, woodlands, shrublands, or grasslands 

and includes planned (prescribed fire), unplanned naturally caused fires (i.e., lightning ignitions), or 

unwanted human-caused fires (e.g., escaped campfires). Most of the vegetation on the Santa Fe NF is 

adapted to recurrent wildland fires that may be as frequent as every 2 years in montane subalpine 

grassland or as infrequent as every 500 years in mixed conifer with aspen. However, most fireadapted systems in the forest are highly departed from their natural fire regimes. Decades of active 

fire suppression efforts have dramatically changed the vegetative composition on the Santa Fe NF

from reference conditions. Many areas of the forest are now characterized by abnormally high stand 

densities and shifted species compositions, where fire-sensitive species like white fir have colonized 

stands, displacing many fire-adapted species (e.g., ponderosa pineand Douglas-fir). 

Frequent, low-severity fires have played a vital role in maintaining the health of many fire-adapted 

ecosystems throughout history. These fires consume fine fuels (e.g., litter, woody debris) and 

maintain open stand conditions by suppressing over-abundant small-diameter seedlings and saplings. 

The reduction in fine fuels and small trees, which function as ladder fuels, greatly reduces the risk of 

uncharacteristic fire. Frequent, low-severity fires generally do not damage larger diameter trees, 

especially for species such as ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir that have thick bark designed to 

withstand low- to moderate-severity fire. Because these larger trees are resistant, low-severity fires 

can help reduce competition for resources, decrease drought stress, promote old-growth 

development, increase forest health, and potentially increase timber values. Furthermore, the 

combination of canopy openings (created through fire) and the burning of organic materials, promote 

the growth of grasses and forbs, which provide forage for wildlife and grazing animals, stabilize soil, 

support proper water infiltration, and increase plant diversity. 

Other areas within the Santa Fe NF, such as high-elevation spruce-fir forests, have historically 

supported infrequent fire regimes characterized by moderate- to high-severity fire. These fires create 

patches of vegetation with varied ages and structures, increase snag density, and (in some areas)

regenerate aspen. Sometimes, these typical fire events lead to subsequent beetle outbreaks, which 

further open canopies and increase the proportion of early seral states on the landscape. Although 

fire may be a rare occurrence in infrequent fire ecosystems, fire and other disturbances are 

ecologically significant and are necessary to initiate early seral states within larger, mature stands. 

Patches of early seral states (e.g., shrub-forb-grass, or aspen) contribute to habitat diversity important 

for certain wildlife and avian species and increase the resiliency of the larger ecosystem to 

widespread disturbance agents such as insect outbreaks or disease, which tend to infect dense stands 

of older, stressed trees. 

Healthy ecosystems are resilient to uncharacteristic fire disturbance (fires that burn large areas with 

excessive severity, like the Cerro Grande (2000) and Los Conchas (2011) fires). Fire, both planned 

and unplanned, is a tool for restoring fire-adapted ecosystems that burn under natural fire regimes; 

where fires typically burn over smaller areas and with mixed (not extreme) severity. However, in 

areas where vegetation structure is not consistent with desired conditions, specifically areas with 

closed canopies and abundant ladder fuels, fuel reduction treatments are needed to minimize risks of 

uncharacteristic fire. When appropriate weather and fuel conditions exist, the use of wildland fire is a 
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cost-effective tool for restoring ecosystem function and reducing the likelihood of wildland fire 

uncharacteristic to its natural regime. In addition to fire treatments, management activities, such as 

thinning or tree harvesting, may be needed to reduce tree density and canopy cover, and support the

return of natural fire regimes. Following thinning treatments, (prescribed) fire may be needed to 

remove residual fuels and further reduce the risk of uncharacteristic fire. 

Natural and planned fires provide numerous ecosystem services benefitting the environment and 

people. Fires increase biodiversity by creating a mosaic of stand conditions and landscape types 

beneficial to wildlife (e.g., snags, coarse woody debris, or forage). Fires provide support and 

regulating ecosystem services by contributing to proper nutrient cycling, increased tree health,

reduced competition and water stress, increased resistance and resilience from subsequent 

disturbances (e.g., insect outbreaks, disease, or drought), and restored species compositions (e.g., 

removal of white fir or other fire sensitive species in frequent-fire ecosystems). Support or 

provisioning benefits to humans from the restoration of more natural fire regimes may include, 

increased grass growth (e.g., forage), which could support livestock grazing, benefitting local 

ranchers; increased health and vigor of residual trees leading to more valuable timber or the 

development of old-growth forest characteristics; beautiful aspen vistas; open forest conditions that 

ease access for collecting forest products; and the protection of property and other valuable resources 

from future fires.

Desired Conditions for Fire and Fuels (FW-FIRE-DC)

1 Wildland fires do not result in the loss of life, property, or cultural resources, or create 

irreparable harm to ecological resources.

2 Wildland fire protects, maintains, and enhances resources. It is allowed to function in its 

natural ecological role on a landscape scale and across administrative boundaries, under 

conditions where safety and values at risk can be protected.

3 Wildland fires burn within the range of severity and frequency of historic fire regimes for the 

affected vegetation communities. High-severity fires rarely occur where they were not 

historically part of the fire regime.

4 Naturally caused fires predominate; accidental human-caused fires (e.g., abandoned 

campfire, downed powerlines) are rare. 

5 Wildland fires in the WUI are predominantly low- to moderate-intensity fires. 

6 Fires function in their natural ecological role in designated areas (e.g., wilderness and 

research natural areas).

7 Restoration and fuel treatments result in ecological resources that are adaptable to changing 

climate conditions. 
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Standards for Fire and Fuels (FW-FIRE-S)

1 Human safety must be the highest priority in all fire response actions.

2 A suppression strategy must occur on human-caused fire or where necessary to protect life, 

investments, and valuable resources (e.g., wildland-urban interface) at the lowest cost with the 

fewest negative consequences with respect to firefighter and public safety.

3 When suppression is an objective, the agency administrator must consider firefighter 

exposure, risk, values, cost, and likelihood of success, before trying to limit the size of wildfires.

Guidelines for Fire and Fuels (FW-FIRE-G)

1 Naturally occurring fires should be allowed to perform their natural ecological role to meet 

multiple resource objectives and facilitate progress toward desired conditions (per desired 

conditions of various resources throughout the plan).

2 Wildfire (naturally ignited fire) should only be suppressed when outside the natural range of 

variability or where necessary to protect life, investments, and valuable resources. 

3 Response to unplanned ignitions that cross jurisdictional boundaries should be coordinated 

and managed to meet the responsible agency’s objectives.

4 Fire management activities should be coordinated with specialists of resources that may be 

impacted.

5 Wildfire response should be spatially and temporally dynamic, and should be based on a risk 

management approach that accomplishes integrated resource objectives.

6 Measures should be taken to prevent entrapment of fish and aquatic organisms and the spread 

of parasites or disease (e.g., chytrid fungus, Didiymo, and whirling disease), when drafting 

(withdrawing) water from streams or other waterbodies during fire management activities 

(Preventing Spread of Aquatic Invasive Organisms Common to the Southwestern Region 

Technical Guidelines for Fire Operations, Interagency Guidance Rev. August 2009).

7 Measures should be taken to prevent the spread of invasive plant species by equipment and 

personnel during fire management and rehabilitation operations.

8 Post-fire restoration and recovery should be provided where critical resource concerns merit 

rehabilitation for controlling the spread of invasive species, protecting areas of cultural 

concern, protecting critical or endangered species habitat, or protecting other highly valued 

resources such as drinking water.

9 Higher fire intensities and associated fire effects at the fine scale (less than 10 acres) should be 

accepted in areas that are moderately to highly departed from desired conditions. Multiple 

small areas of high mortality are preferable to a single large, high-severity area.

10 Burn pile composition should contain a mixture of fuel sizes. Large woody fuels, over 8.9 

inches in diameter, should be limited to less than 40 percent of the composition of the pile to 

prevent adverse impacts to the soil.

11 Depth of masticated materials should not exceed an average of 4 inches and materials should 

be discontinuous at the quarter-acre scale to protect the soil and allow for natural 

revegetation. 
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Management Approaches for Fire and Fuels (FW-FIRE-MA)

1. Consider collaborating with stakeholders and partnering agencies early and often to successfully 

meet resource objectives through the use of fire. Educate internally and externally the potential 

challenges and tradeoffs of wildland fire.

2. Coordinate management of wildland fire across jurisdictional boundaries whenever there is 

potential for managing a wildfire or a prescribed fire on more than one jurisdiction (e.g., Federal, 

State, county, local, tribal governments, and land grants, etc.). This includes water sources, 

access, and land use agreements. This is done with the understanding that fire-adapted 

ecosystems and communities transcend jurisdictional boundaries. These are all foundational 

concepts of the collaboratively developed National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management 

Strategy.

3. When planning and implementing fuels projects and all hazard response, work collaboratively 

with Federal, State, local governments, and private landowners; consider promoting public safety 

and reducing the risk of wildfire on lands of other ownership by supporting the development and 

implementation of community wildfire protection plans (CWPPs) or similar assessments and 

management plans to mitigate negative impacts of wildfire. CWPPs are also important tools for 

mitigation efforts such as wildfire preparedness, evacuation planning, and other mitigations that 

will aid in wildfire response.

4. When conditions facilitate safe progress toward desired conditions, consider managing naturally 

ignited fires to meet multiple resource objectives concurrently (i.e., protection and resource 

enhancement), which can change as the fire spreads across the landscape. 

5. Wildfire objectives are based on interdisciplinary assessment of site-specific values such as 

desired conditions, existing fuel conditions, current and expected weather, fire location, resource 

availability, social and economic considerations, and values to enhance or protect; and consider 

courses of action to protect or enhance those values.

6. Consider the use of planned and unplanned fire in areas such as steep and rugged terrain or 

remote areas, as this may be the only viable tool where mechanical treatments are not feasible.

7. Consider implementing treatments where they provide the most benefit (e.g., values-at-risk) and 

improve or maintain ecological integrity (e.g., vegetative departure). 

8. When managing planned ignitions, consider creating conditions that enable future unplanned 

ignitions to mimic their historical role or to serve as a tool to achieve resource objectives and to 

move ecosystems closer to desired conditions.

9. In areas departed or trending away from desired conditions, consider combining the use of fire 

with mechanical treatments, as this is often the most effective approach to restoring forest 

structure and function. 

10. In areas highly vulnerable to climate change, consider increasing resiliency by using a diversity 

of treatments to facilitate natural adaptation to changing conditions such as, managing in favor of 

early- to mid-seral species over late-seral species in ecotones, as species characteristic of lower 

life zones are adapted for warmer and drier conditions. Consider managing tree basal area at the 

low end of the range of desired conditions to mitigate water stress. 

11. Consider the importance of developing practices and protocols to reduce non-prescribed human 

ignitions by providing timely and disseminating widely fire danger and fire restriction 

information. Consider educating the public on their responsibility to help reduce human-caused 
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wildfires by providing information in the form of signage, public contacts, and fire restrictions in 

locations such as trailheads and designated recreation areas. 

12. Consider the scenic effects from prescribed fire during project planning and implementation. 

Blackened and scorched vegetation may be visible in project areas in the short term following 

treatments, but take into consideration the long-term scenic integrity objectives. 

13. In wildland and managed fire areas that are not expected to reseed naturally, consider seeding 

with native vegetation and implement other site rehabilitation practices, as necessary. Consider 

that fire suppression support activities and facilities (including constructed fire lines, fuel breaks 

and safety areas, fire camps, staging areas, heli-bases, and heli-spots), follow the same site 

rehabilitation practices.

14. Consider collaborating with scientists (e.g.,from universities, Forest Service Research and 

Development, U.S. Geological Survey, or Ecological Restoration Institute) to conduct research 

on areas impacted by uncharacteristic wildfire to understand how fire has altered the ecological 

conditions outside the natural range of variation and develop strategies to better manage these 

areas.

15. Consider using the Wildfire Strategic Response Zones to facilitate informed and transparent 

decision making that will allow beneficial fires to burn under the right conditions, and inform 

aggressive strategies when fires need to be suppressed. Five strategic zones were developed for 

the Santa Fe NF: (1) maintain, (2) restore, (3) protect, (4) exclusion, and (5) high complexity. 

These zones are dynamic over time and space, and will change as conditions change, affecting 

management opportunities. For example, an area currently identified as ‘Restore’ zone could 

become a ‘Maintain’ zone after treatment (mechanical or fire). Conversely, a ‘Restore’ zone 

could become a ‘Protect’ zone if changing fuel conditions change expected fire behavior and 

effect such that fire would not meet forest plan desired conditions. 

16. Consider providing educational resources and outreach so that residents living within and 

adjacent to the forest are knowledgeable about wildfire protection of their homes and property, 

including providing for defensible space. 

17. Managers should consider using a decision support process to guide and document wildfire 

management decisions. The process will provide situational assessment, analyze hazards and 

risk, define implementation actions, and document decisions and rationale for those decisions. 

18. Wildland fire is understood, both internally and by the public, as a necessary disturbance process 

integral to the function and sustainability of ecosystems.
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Water Resources 

“Headwaters and watersheds are critical for urban and agricultural communities.” 

(Public comments during the Assessment, spring 2014)

“Water is incredibly important ecologically in the arid southwest.” 

(Public comment for Wilderness evaluation, Fall 2016)

Water resources of the Santa Fe NF include thousands of miles of streams, hundreds of miles of 

groundwater-dependent ecosystems, and hundreds of acres of non-flowing waterbodies (National 

Hydrography Geospatial Dataset). Stream ecosystems have flowing water and include creeks and 

rivers, along with their associated riparian vegetation zones and flood plains. Stream types differ in 

the timing and duration of surface flow and corresponding vegetation. Ephemeral streams flow for 

short duration in response to storm events. Intermittent streams flow seasonally, usually in response 

to snowmelt, and may contain perennially wet areas. Groundwater and groundwater-dependent 

ecosystems include springs, seeps, wetlands, fens, riparian areas, groundwater-fed streams and lakes, 

and aquifers. These are present throughout the forest and vary in size and timing of flow and 

connections to surface waters. Waterbodies serves as a catchall term for lentic systems, which are 

non-flowing water features. Waterbodies include lakes, ponds, playas, and reservoirs, which when 

combined would cover nearly 1,000 acres in the forest. 

Each of these diverse water features forms an integral part of watersheds. By a strict hydrologic 

definition, watersheds define an area of the landscape where all the flowing water drains to common 

point. However, watersheds represent more than a topographically delineated area, they encompass 

all ecosystem elements in that area from ridgetop to ridgetop—water, geology, soils, biota, and the 

humans that live, work, and recreate within them. Watersheds scale across the landscape from larger 

river drainage basins like the Rio Grande with a watershed area over 330,000 square miles spanning 

across international borders to numerous smaller watersheds spanning less than a 1,000 acres nested 

within the larger watersheds. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) uses a hierarchal scale of 

6 levels to delineate the watersheds across the country with Level 1 being the largest (Rio Grande is 

a Level 1 Hydrologic Unit) to a 6th level being the smallest delineated scale. We organize the Santa 

Fe NF management plan for water resources at the subwatershed scale. Subwatersheds are generally 

between 30,000 and 50,000 acres and classified by the USGS as 6th-level hydrologic units and 

annotated by a 12-digit code, so these subwatersheds are commonly referred to as HUC 12 

subwatersheds. The Santa Fe NF intersects 138 HUC 12 subwatersheds (6th-level hydrologic units), 

collectively, these waters replenish major river systems in New Mexico including the Rio Grande, 

Santa Cruz, Rio Chama, Pecos River, and the Jemez River. 

Past management activities and resource use caused degradation of water resources in many parts of 

the forest. Demand for the waters of the Santa Fe NF will continue to increase in the coming 

decades, challenging the forest to protect existing high-quality water resources and restore degraded 

areas. Metrics of impairment used to evaluate current condition and trends of water resources vary, 

but in general, we assess impacts to water resources in three categories: water quality, water yield, 

and watershed condition. 

Water Quality: Surface water quality reflects the surrounding natural physical, biological, and 

chemical variables, such as elements present in soils and rock substrates, and concentrations of 

biological and chemical contaminants that originate either from a point (single) source (a discharge 

pipe) or from runoff that carries contaminants that accumulate over a landscape (nonpoint sources; 
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for example, storm water). Based on New Mexico State Water Quality Standards, the forest’s water 

quality tends to be predominantly good. New Mexico state through the New Mexico Environment 

Department (NMED) designates uses for water-bodies and establishes quantifiable standards to 

ensure that water quality supports these established uses (categories include supporting aquatic life, 

municipal use, recreation, etc.). Approximately 24 percent of the forest’s streams are listed as 

impaired by NMED (NMED 2016). The most common source of water quality impairment is high 

water temperature as a result of reduced shading or reduced stream flows from drought or water 

diversion. High turbidity and sedimentation are also common sources of impairment in the forest. 

Additional water quality protection has been applied to some waters on the Santa Fe NF by the State 

through designation as Outstanding National Resource Waters (ONRW). ONRW designations 

include all named waters in wilderness areas. ONRWs receive the highest level of protection under 

the New Mexico's Water Quality Standards. 

Water Yield: Natural and human disturbances have altered and will continue to alter the quantity and 

timing for the streamflow in the Santa Fe NF. General trends for the region show an increase of 

drought and drier winters coupled with a trend toward warmer winter temperatures. The earlier 

runoff season, combined with drought means less water will be available during the late summer and 

fall. Decreased stream flow will have cascading impacts for both the natural systems and humans 

that rely on the forest’s water. Functioning watersheds show increased resilience to drought and 

changing precipitation regimes and may replenish streamflow.

Watershed Condition: As watersheds integrate all ecosystem components, assessing watershed 

condition requires evaluating a suite of metrics. The Santa Fe NF follows the Forest Service’s 

Watershed Condition Framework (WCF) to assess watershed condition and identify priority 

watersheds. The WCF classifies watersheds using a comprehensive set of 12 watershed condition 

indicators (FSM 2521.1) chosen to represent ecological, hydrological, and geomorphic functions and 

processes affecting watershed condition. These features help identify priority watersheds based on 

(1) broad-scale restoration strategies; (2) the importance of water and watersheds; (3) the urgency 

and ability of management action to address threats; (4) alignment with other objectives and 

priorities of the Forest Service and other agencies and organizations; (5) ecological values; and 

(6) impaired ecosystems including those where improvement or restoration are necessary to meet 

regulatory requirements. Condition assessments include three categories: Properly Functioning, 

Functioning at Risk, and Impaired. Projects within priority watersheds are designed, implemented, 

and monitored for restoration and maintenance of watershed conditions. Every five years a reevaluation will take place in order to be consistent with the forest plan objectives and the current 

watershed conditions. Current watersheds and conditions can be found at the WCF map viewer 

website at: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/wcatt/. 

Water from the Santa Fe NF supports many uses throughout New Mexico and locations farther 

downstream, and provides numerous ecosystem services to the people and animals that inhabit and 

use these lands. Areas with water are centers of high biological diversity in arid landscapes, and their 

ecological health is important for forest ecosystem sustainability. Collectively, surface waters 

contribute to connectivity for fish and wildlife across the landscape, local and urban potable water 

supplies, agricultural uses such as livestock watering and irrigation, and recreation providing support 

services, provisions, and cultural benefits. Water in arid northern New Mexico has important 

traditional cultural significance, which will only become more vital in the future with additional 

pressures from predicted climate change and continually increasing demands from growing urban 

populations. Plan and management direction for water resources is integrated throughout many of the 

different resource areas. 
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Desired Conditions for Water Resources (FW-WATER-DC)

1 Watersheds are functioning properly according to metrics described by the Watershed 

Condition Framework, other current protocols, and Properly Function Condition (PFC) 

protocols. Functioning watersheds have the following characteristics :

a Provide for high biotic integrity (habitats that support self-sustaining assemblages of 

native plant and animal communities);

b Are resilient to natural and human-caused disturbances such as fire and climate 

fluctuations with the ability to recover to reference conditions within the natural range of 

variability (from Santa Fe National Forest Assessment, USDA-Forest Service 2013a) 

following disturbance;

c Exhibit a high degree of connectivity where instream flows provide for channel and 

floodplain maintenance, recharge of riparian aquifers, water quality, and minimal 

temperature fluctuations. In addition, streamflows provide connectivity among fish 

populations and provide unobstructed routes critical for fulfilling needs of aquatic, 

riparian-dependent, and many upland species of plants and animals. (Also see DC #3 and 

#4 in this section.);

d Maintain long-term soil productivity; and

e Provide a wide range of sustainable ecosystem services including clean water (DC#3), 

water quantity to maintain PFC, and other supporting and regulatory services described 

in DC #2 and #4)

2 Most watersheds support multiple uses (e.g., timber, recreation, and grazing) with no longterm decline in ecological conditions, although some watersheds are reserved to preserve 

ecological function and may support more limited uses (e.g., municipal watersheds). 

3 Water quality across the forest meets or exceeds the State’s water quality standards and 

provides for the attainment of designated uses.

4 Streams and riparian management zones are connected laterally and longitudinally and 

capable of filtering, transporting, and storing sediment and wood; aiding floodplain 

development; improving floodwater retention; withstanding high-flow events; and 

increasing groundwater recharge.

5 The flow regime (magnitude, timing, duration, frequency, and rate of change) of streams is 

sustained at levels that maintain or enhance essential ecological functions; including channel 

and floodplain morphology, groundwater recharge, water quality, nutrient cycling, and 

stream temperature regulation. 

6 Channel type (width/depth ratio, sinuosity, gradient, etc.) is appropriate for the landscape 

setting (e.g., landform, geology, and bioclimatic region). Stream channels are vertically and 

laterally stable.

 
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Objectives for Water Resources (FW-WATER-O)

1 Maintain "properly functioning" and improve at least two “impaired” or “functioning at-risk” 

watersheds (Watershed Classification Framework) every 10 years using the objectives from 

Vegetation ERUs, Aquatic Species, Water Resources, and Riparian Management Zones and 

Wetland Ecosystems.

2 Over 10 years, improve watershed function by decommissioning or mitigating impacts (e.g., 

maintenance, improvements, or reroutes) on at least 100 miles of route (e.g., system roads, 

unauthorized routes, and trails) to the point of restoring hydrologic and ecological function.

Standards for Water Resources (FW-WATER-S)

1 Best management practices (BMPs; e.g., National Core Technical Guide for BMPs (FS-990A), FSH 

2509.22 - Soil and Water Conservation Practices Handbook) must be used to minimize 

management impacts to maintain water quality. 

2 Projects that withdraw water from surface water features or groundwater must ensure that 

water is maintained at levels that will protect management uses and forest resources, including 

aquatic species, their habitats, and water quality. 

Guidelines for Water Resources (FW-WATER-G)

1 New and reauthorized (e.g., permits and environmental analyses including Sec. 18 reviews) 

management activities should not negatively impact groundwater quality or quantity to the 

extent that groundwater-dependent ecosystems are adversely affected.

2 Stream channels should not be altered by new management actions unless necessary for 

resource protection or ecological restoration purposes.

3 To maintain bank stability on perennial and intermittent streams, new or redesigned stream 

crossings (e.g., bridges and culverts) should be wide enough to successfully pass water, 

sediment, wood, and aquatic organisms. 

4 Measures should be taken to eliminate the risk of introducing new or spreading existing 

invasive species and pathogens to streams, riparian areas, or wetland ecosystem (per Standard 

1 in Wildlife: Nonnative and Invasive Species).

5 Where known, groundwater-dependent ecosystem recharge areas (including those for thermal 

springs), should be protected or restored to maintain water quality and quantity (discharge).

Management Approaches for Water Resources (FW-WATER-MA)

1. Work with local, State, and Tribal governments, land grants, non-governmental organizations, 

and other stakeholders to identify improvement projects, priorities for protection and 

management of watersheds especially in priority watersheds (Watershed Condition Class 

Framework), and high-quality areas (e.g., designated and eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers, 

Outstanding National Resource Waters, and Wetland Jewels).

2. Work closely with New Mexico Environment Department on water quality management in the 

forest (e.g., maintaining Memorandum of Understanding, development of Total Maximum Daily 

Load (TMDL) determinations, developing watershed-based plans, designing and implementing 

319 grants). 
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3. Work with acequia associations and permittees to maintain diversion structures and ditches in 

properly functioning condition and to remedy impacts (e.g., downcut channels, enlarged 

channels, loss of riparian habitat) that are caused by water diversions. 

4. Consider opportunities to secure instream flows (water rights) for the purposes of improving or 

sustaining aquatic and riparian ecosystems. 

5. Consider developing watershed-specific plans that prioritize specific roads for decommissioning 

to result in improved water quality and a smaller road system (administrative or public).
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Riparian and Wetland Ecosystems 

“Riparian areas are the life blood of New Mexico’s plant and wildlife diversity.” 

(Public comment on need for change, Fall 2015) 

Riparian ecosystems (RE) include those portions of watersheds around lakes, perennial and 

intermittent streams, and open water wetlands that have characteristic riparian vegetation and 

provide riparian function. The riparian ecosystem encompasses any surface water and its associated 

aquatic habitat, connected shallow groundwater, aquatic and riparian vegetation, associated soils 

(i.e., hydric and alluvial), and contributing fluvial landforms. Riparian areas only occupy about 

2.75 percent of the Santa Fe NF, but provide some of the most important and biodiverse habitats in 

the forest and are critical for providing supporting and provisioning ecosystem services for the forest 

and downstream communities. 

Wetland ecosystems (WE) are a category of riparian ecosystems; they include open water wetlands, 

slope wetlands, marshes, wet meadows, cienegas, bogs, and fens. WE is extensive and inclusive, 

occurring at nearly all elevations in the Santa Fe NF. It supports a wide diversity of riparian and 

wetland herbaceous species that can vary widely with elevation, water availability, as well as 

biophysical characteristics (i.e., gradient, salinity), but sedges and rushes are particularly important 

to system function. It is most common in wide, low-gradient meadows, where the water table is 

seasonally high, soils are saturated, and trees or shrubs are mostly absent. The prevalent vegetation 

and aquatic life require saturated or seasonally saturated soil conditions (i.e., hydric soil) to grow and 

reproduce. 

Wetland types differ in water permanency, wetland vegetation, and size. Wetlands and marshes 

associated with streams, springs, and waterbodies are part of the riparian management zone for those 

features and are often intermixed with other riparian vegetation. Slope wetlands, seeps, springs, and 

wet meadows often occur in a mosaic with grassland vegetation communities. Wetlands and marshes 

associated with streams, springs, and waterbodies are part of the riparian management zone for those 

features and are often intermixed with other riparian vegetation. Slope wetlands and wet meadows 

often occur in a mosaic with grassland vegetation communities. Ephemeral wetlands contain 

standing water for a portion of the year (typically from snowmelt in years when precipitation is 

normal to above normal) and are dry for a portion of the year. They provide important resting habitat 

during spring migration. Cienegas are linear streams associated with spring recharge that are 

primarily herbaceous and do not have woody vegetation. Bogs and fens are dominated by 

peat-forming grasses and mosses, and act as carbon sinks because biomass production exceeds 

decomposition. 

Riparian vegetation characteristics are a critical component in maintaining the unique characteristics 

of riparian ecosystems. The Santa Fe NF includes multiple ERUs classified as riparian vegetation 

ERUs that may be arranged into three broad groups—the herbaceous group, the cottonwood group, 

and the montane-conifer willow group. The herbaceous (HERB) group is the most widely distributed 

category of riparian vegetation in the forest. The two broad classifications of forest and shrub 

riparian vegetation communities (FSR) are the cottonwood group (CWG) and montane-conifer 

willow group (MCWG). The CWG includes the narrowleaf cottonwood-shrub and Rio Grande 

cottonwood-shrub ERUs. The MCWG includes the willow-thinleaf alder, ponderosa pine-willow, 

and the upper montane conifer-willow ERUs. 

HERB ERUs are most common in wide, low-gradient meadows, where the water table is seasonally 

high with saturated soils, and trees or shrubs are mostly absent. HERB occur at all elevation ranges. 
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FSRs occur most frequently in wet drainages that range from narrow, steep and confined to lowgradient streams with wider floodplains that provide flood terraces. The overstory may be shrubby in 

the case of willow-thinleaf alder sites, or tree-dominated with a variety of species, depending on 

elevation and site conditions, including spruce, narrowleaf cottonwood, and Rio Grande cottonwood. 

Willow species are common in the understory. Drought and flooding are the primary natural 

disturbances. Fire is an infrequent disturbance, but may enter from adjacent vegetation types during 

dry periods and effects are generally less severe than in the surrounding uplands. 

FSR provides important habitat, including breeding and migration, for many riparian wildlife and 

bird species (e.g., masked shrew, water shrew, beaver, southwestern willow flycatcher, Wilson’s 

warbler, and yellow-billed cuckoo). Riparian areas have historic and contemporary significance to 

tribes and traditional communities, due to the cultural value of water and because they contain 

traditionally used resources that are rare on the landscape (cultural ecosystem services). The forest 

plan’s desired conditions, objectives, and guidelines for the vegetation characteristics of FSRs focus 

on restoring and maintaining vegetation structure and composition to ensure that these areas continue 

providing ecosystem services.

Healthy riparian and wetland ecosystems provide important ecosystem services that regulate 

ecological processes and cycles, provide provisions for human or animal benefit, and offer support 

for ecological processes. Healthy riparian areas and wetland ecosystems regulate and support water 

cycling and infiltration rates through slow water movement that raises the water table and saturation 

zone and recharges aquifers. They also dissipate stream energy, which can reduce flood damage. 

Riparian zones also protect streams from excessive sedimentation, erosion, and pollution, and, thus, 

play a role in water quality. Further, they provide shelter and food for aquatic animals and shade that 

is important for water temperature regulation. Riparian areas and wetland ecosystems provide 

wildlife habitat, increased biodiversity, and wildlife connectivity, enabling aquatic and riparian 

organisms to move along river systems, and thus, preventing community isolation and fragmentation. 

They are also a source of large woody debris recruitment. Soils in riparian ecosystems play a key 

role in nutrient and water storage and distribution. Maintaining the ecosystems’ services and 

functions from REs requires managing these areas to protect and restore key ecosystem 

characteristics including vegetation composition, ground cover characteristics, disturbance regimes, 

and hydrologic function. 
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Desired Conditions for Riparian and Wetland Ecosystems (FW-RWE-DC)

1 Riparian ecosystems have a diverse composition of desirable native plants that contain a 

mosaic of communities, creating a structurally robust vegetative network that protects the 

soils from unnatural erosion. Departure from site potential is low (less than 33 percent) 

(Wahlberg et al., 2013). 

a Woody vegetation within forested and shrubland riparian areas and wetland ecosystems 

display a variety of size classes; they provide terrestrial and aquatic habitats, stream 

shading (temperature regulation), woody channel debris, aesthetic values, and other 

ecosystem functions. 

b Invasive plant species are absent (per Desired Condition 1 in Wildlife: Nonnative and 

Invasive Species). 

c Riparian communities are free from encroachment by upland species and the extent of 

riparian communities is expanding or has achieved potential extent. 

d The composition, structure, and function of biotic and abiotic components of the HERB 

riparian vegetation community are within the natural range of variability.

i. Seral state proportions for HERB riparian are:

e The composition, structure, and function of biotic and abiotic components of the FSR

vegetation communities are within the natural range of variability.

i. Desired seral stage proportions for FSR-CWG at landscape scale:
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Desired Conditions for Riparian and Wetland Ecosystems (FW-RWE-DC)

ii. Desired seral stage proportions for FSR- MCWG at landscape scale:

iii. Woody riparian species are reproducing and are structurally diverse with all age 

classes present. Diverse vegetation structure, including mature trees, snags, logs, 

and coarse woody debris, is present to provide habitat for riparian-dependent 

species. 

iv. Dense willow conditions (70 percent cover or greater) are retained as high value 

wildlife habitat.

v. Upland, dry-site vegetation is not encroaching and the extent of riparian 

communities is widening or has achieved its potential and is within the natural 

range of variability.

2 Riparian and wetland ecosystems have highly productive soils that maintain vegetative cover 

sufficient to catch sediment, dissipate energy, prevent erosion, stabilize stream banks and 

shorelines, provide aquatic and terrestrial wildlife habitat, and promote floodplain 

development. Low departure (0 to 33 percent similarity, LANDFIRE departure formula) from 

site potential expressed for basal vegetation or bare ground for given TEUI units (Miller et al. 

1993), area-weighted for all TEUI units within an analysis area.

a Long-term impacts to soils (e.g., soil erosion, soil compaction, soil displacement, 

puddling, and severely burned soils) are rare or non-existent on all riparian area and 

wetland ecosystems. 

b Moist soil conditions (e.g., thick litter layers, wet areas, coarse woody debris, and 

decaying debris) are maintained and well-distributed, within the capacity of the 

vegetation community for at-risk species.

c Riparian areas should retrain a value of more than 30 pieces coarse woody debris per 

mile (more than 18 per kilometer), diameter larger than 12 inches (larger than 30

centimeters), length over 35 feet (over 10 meters) is based on what is considered proper 

functioning condition.

d Coarse woody debris provides habitat and is being adequately recruited, to provide a 

reliable source of replacement. 

e Riparian forest vegetation provides basic life-cycle needs (e.g., nesting, foraging) for 

riparian-dependent wildlife species (e.g., Neotropical migrant birds, at-risk species). 

f Nectar sources (e.g., buttercup, monkey flower, mountain bluebell, and field mint) are 

available for at-risk species.
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Desired Conditions for Riparian and Wetland Ecosystems (FW-RWE-DC)

3 Riparian areas have a low departure from historic fire regime (0 to 33 percent similarity, 

LANDFIRE departure formula)

a Compared to surrounding uplands, perennial riparian corridors have characteristics 

(e.g., surface water and saturated soils) that reduce the frequency and severity of fire. 

Fire is limited or absent and mixed- to high-severity fire occurs very infrequently.

4 Riparian areas and wetland ecosystems meet the standards defined by proper functioning 

condition metrics (e.g., Prichard et al. 1998). RE and WE are supported by surface and 

subsurface flow regimes that contribute to stream-channel and floodplain development, 

maintenance, and function; which maintain soil moisture necessary for the regeneration of 

native plants that depend on flooding or high water tables. 

a Stream channels, riparian areas, and wetland ecosystems are resilient to ecological 

disturbances (e.g., floods, fire, drought, and changes in climate) and human activities 

(e.g., roads, livestock, and recreation). 

b RE and WE are widening or have achieved potential extent and are within their natural 

range of variability.

c Overall wetland condition score of ‘A’ or ‘B’ or equivalent rating for proper functioning 

condition (sensu Prichard et al. 2003)

Objective for Riparian and Wetland Ecosystems (FW-RWE-O)

1 Riparian ecosystems move toward desired conditions (less than a 33 percent departure from 

DC) for vegetation functional diversity, vegetation seral state, riparian corridor connectivity, 

and flood regime (frequency, duration, and magnitude) by implementing 15 miles of stream 

every 10 years.5 

Standard for Riparian and Wetland Ecosystems (FW-RWE-S)

1 Ground-disturbing activities within riparian areas and wetland ecosystems must take 

measures to avoid introducing new or spreading existing invasive species and pathogens (per 

Standard 1 in Wildlife: Nonnative and Invasive Species).

 

5Actions that could improve riparian areas would be site-specific, but could include several of the following: removing 

invasive plant species, stream channel stabilization, restoring hydrologic connectivity between stream channel and riparian 

area, planting native species, promoting natural revegetation of bare ground, and redirecting other uses (e.g., providing 

other watering sources, closing areas to camping). 
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Guidelines for Riparian and Wetland Ecosystems (FW-RWE-G)

1 Riparian management zones (RMZ) should be defined by either a site-appropriate 

delineation of the riparian area (including one site potential tree height) or a buffer of 

100 feet from the edges (e.g., each bank) of all perennial and intermittent streams, lakes, 

seeps, springs, and other wetlands or 15 feet from the edges of the ephemeral channels. The 

exact width of RMZs may vary based on ecological or geomorphic factors or by waterbody 

type, but includes those areas that provide riparian and aquatic ecosystem functions and 

connectivity. The waterbody itself is considered part of the RMZ. 

2 Within RMZs, management activities (e.g., recreation, permitted uses, structural 

developments such as livestock water gaps, pipelines, or other infrastructure) should occur 

at levels or scales that move toward desired conditions for water, soils, aquatic species 

habitat, and vegetation within the sub-watershed in which the management activity is taking 

place. Activities and facilities with a small footprint (e.g., access points, intermittent livestock 

crossing locations, water gaps, or other infrastructure) may be necessary to manage larger 

scale impacts within the RMZ, recognizing there may be trade-offs between activities and 

resources.

3 Management activities, including vegetation treatments, in riparian areas should only be 

implemented to maintain or restore the diversity of both native riparian plant species and 

vegetation structure. Activities within riparian areas should avoid or otherwise mitigate 

adverse impacts to the abundance and distribution of desirable native species. Some 

exceptions may occur if vegetation treatments are needed to protect property or cultural 

sites. 

4 Plantings to reestablish native riparian vegetation should use local sources and occur only if 

natural regeneration is not sufficient to provide shading, bank cover, and streambank 

stability. For seeding, only certified, weed-free native seed mixes of local species varieties 

should be used when commercially available. 

5 Downed woody material in stream channels should be retained except where safety is a 

concern (e.g., sections of streams where rafting is likely).

6 The use of motorized equipment should be avoided in the RMZ except when there is a 

designated stream crossing or when short-term uses are required to improve resource 

conditions and maintain infrastructure. Use site-specific conditions to delineate a subset 

within an RMZ where equipment should be excluded around perennial and intermittent 

streams. Motorized equipment working within the RMZ should be completely clean of 

petroleum-based fluid residue or use eco-friendly, biodegradable, and nontoxic hydraulic 

fluids. Lubricants and fuels should be sealed such that inundation by water should not result 

in leaks.

7 Herbivory of riparian plants should not cause long-term trends away from desired riparian 

conditions.
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Guidelines for Riparian and Wetland Ecosystems (FW-RWE-G)

8 Connectivity within FSR should be restored or maintained by protecting ecological functions, 

tree density and growth, and native understory, to reduce the risk of predation and nest 

parasitism, and to provide habitat for at-risk and other wildlife species.

9 In FSR types, fuelwood cutting or wood removal should be managed to protect understory 

species, maintain tree density (including wildlife cover and stream shading), promote large 

woody material recruitment, and avoid channel downcutting and accelerated erosion.

10 In FSR, large mature cottonwood trees should be protected from management activities that 

could degrade them as suitable habitat for at-risk species. Projects occurring in these areas 

should incorporate restoration prescriptions, to ensure persistence of this habitat type.

Management Approaches for Riparian and Wetland Ecosystems (FW-RWE-MA)

1. Pursue partnerships for collaborative management of riparian and wetland areas. 

2. Collaborate with partners to communicate the ecological significance of riparian and wetland 

systems to the broader public and to garner support for restoration activities.

3. Consider regional riparian and aquatic ecosystem strategies when formulating riparian 

management actions.

4. Consider underlying causes for degradation at the watershed scale when planning or 

implementing restoration activities.
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Wildlife, Fish, and Plants 

“Great diversity of wildlife: birds (red-tailed hawks, ravens), bears, bobcats, elk, squirrels with 

tufted ears, Jemez salamanders; seeing a mountain lion take down a deer.” 

(Public comment during the Assessment, spring 2014) 

“The Santa Fe NF has a critical role providing for the protection and restoration of habitats for 

listed species in northern New Mexico.” 

(Public comment on the Notice of Intent, summer 2016) 

At least 1,350 known native plant and animal species are found in the Santa Fe NF, all of which can 

be classified as either terrestrial (living mostly on land) or aquatic (living mostly in water). These 

species provide the biotic foundation of the ecological landscape and are important to local 

communities. The various plant and animal species found in the forest often provide food, fiber, 

medicine, and forest products for multiple users, as well as providing cultural services including

recreation; opportunities for scientific discovery and education; and cultural, intellectual, or spiritual 

inspiration. The continued existence of all native species is of utmost importance for both the 

ecological and socioeconomic health of the forest and its users.

Some wildlife species found in the Santa Fe NF are common nationally (e.g., black bears) or 

regionally (e.g., Abert’s squirrel). Others are restricted to the forest or even more specifically to one 

of the forest’s two mountain ranges (e.g., Jemez Mountain salamander) or even a single canyon (e.g.

Holy Ghost ipomopsis). For a few species, changing land use patterns outside the forest boundary 

has reduced potential habitat availability and increased their reliance on NFS lands. 

Species are dependent on the health of their habitats and the Santa Fe NF provides a home for them. 

Most wildlife, fish, and plants in the forest are not known to be at-risk. These species are managed 

using broad-scale management strategies that address habitat needs (e.g., vegetative components, 

water characteristics, etc.) or attempt to reduce broad-scale threats (e.g., uncharacteristic wildfire, 

introduction of invasives or pathogens, etc.). The most important direct drivers of change in plant 

and animal populations are habitat change (e.g., land use changes, disruption of natural processes, or 

physical modification of rivers or water withdrawal from rivers, lack of connectivity), climate 

change, invasive species, overexploitation, and pollution. Changes to ecological conditions can occur 

naturally through large-scale disturbance or unnaturally through direct or indirect consequences of 

forest management. Changing ecological conditions in and outside the forest have and can continue 

to impact the plant and animal species in the forest, both in overall numbers (population) as well as 

what species are found (biodiversity). The plan addresses species-specific threats, but more 

commonly provides guidance to maintain or enhance ecological conditions that are most important 

for species viability. 

The Santa Fe NF is primarily responsible for providing habitat to maintain species populations and 

diversity on NFS lands. The Forest Service has ultimate responsibility over NFS lands, but the New 

Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 

are the lead agencies responsible for managing most wildlife populations in New Mexico. The 

USFWS has primary responsibility for managing Federal endangered and threatened species, as well 

as migratory birds, while the NMDGF is responsible for managing all other protected vertebrates, 

mollusks, and crustaceans. Terrestrial and aquatic species and habitats are managed in conjunction 

with other resources according to the Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act of 1960 (Public Law 86-

517). For Federal endangered and threatened species in the Santa Fe NF, habitat management and 
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compatible multiple uses are determined in accordance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species 

Act, as amended (Public Law 93-205). 

Wildlife, fish, and plants are grouped into four main categories: aquatic, terrestrial, at-risk, and 

invasive species. The first three groupings (aquatic, terrestrial, and at-risk) are managed for their 

persistence in the forest, while the last grouping (invasive) is managed for eradication or control, 

because they are not native flora and fauna. 

The myriad of plant and animal species found in the Santa Fe NF provide ecosystem services that in 

turn benefit society as a whole. These include ecosystem supporting services such as nutrient cycling 

(by plants, animals, and invertebrates), soil formation and manipulation (e.g., burrowing insects and 

mammals), primary production (plants), and seed dispersal (e.g., animals). Regulating ecosystem 

services including carbon sequestration (plants), pollination (both forest plants and adjacent 

croplands by vertebrates and invertebrates), and erosion control and water storage (plants) are 

additional key ecosystem services provided. Species also provide provisioning ecosystem services 

such as food (e.g., forage, game, and wild foods), fiber, medicine, and forest products. Finally, some 

species provide cultural ecosystem services including recreation (e.g., hunting, fishing, and birdwatching); opportunities for scientific discovery and education; and cultural, intellectual, or spiritual 

inspiration. 
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Aquatic Species and Habitats

Aquatic plant and animal species include commonly found species that spend all or the majority of 

their lives in water features in the forest (e.g., streams, springs, and pools) and are usually 

represented by fish (e.g., trout, chubs, etc.), amphibians (e.g., frogs, salamanders, etc.), and 

water-dependent plants (e.g., cattails, lily-pads, etc.) and macro-invertebrates (e.g., aquatic insects, 

clams, etc.). These animals are native to the Santa Fe NF and are not considered invasive, nor is their 

persistence in the forest of concern. 

Desired Conditions for Aquatic Species and Habitats (FW-AQUASH-DC)

1 Aquatic habitats are distributed across the forest in sufficient quantity (redundancy and size) 

and with appropriate habitat components to support self-sustaining populations of native 

fish and other aquatic species. Nonnative sportfish are supported in stream reaches where 

there is strong recreational interest and where they do not conflict with native species 

repatriation efforts. High-quality habitat consists of:

a Pool-to-riffle ratio of at least 30 percent of the stream reach.

b Pool quality with average residual pool depth of 12 or more inches.

c Less than 20 percent fines (sand, silt, clay) in riffle habitat.

d Appropriate width-to-depth ratios for the stream channel type (Rosgen or equivalent).

e Streambank condition is less than 10 percent unstable banks (lineal streambank 

distance).

f At least 60 percent of woody riparian cover consists of at least three native plant species 

or where soil characteristics do not support woody vegetation, native obligate wetland 

species dominate herbaceous bank cover. 

g In forested streams, large woody debris consists of more than 30 pieces per mile, larger

than 12 inches in diameter, and over 35 feet in length.

h Large-diameter trees and snags near stream channels and riparian areas exist in a 

quantity that provide for recruitment of large woody material to stream channels.

2 Aquatic habitats and waterbodies (e.g., lakes, ponds, and reservoirs) support a complete 

assemblage of native aquatic species and are resilient to natural and human disturbances 

including projected warmer and drier climatic conditions. Habitat resiliency is maintained or 

increased when:

a Undesired and invasive aquatic species, as well as introduced pathogens, are rare or 

absent (per Desired Condition 1 in Wildlife: Nonnative and Invasive Species). 

b Desirable nonnative fish exist in less than 50 percent of aquatic habitats across the forest 

and provide for a broad range of sport-fishing opportunities.

c Water quality and quantity meet designated uses, consistent with water rights and site 

capability.
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Desired Conditions for Aquatic Species and Habitats (FW-AQUASH-DC)

3 Aquatic habitats are spatially distributed across the forest to support genetically diverse 

populations of native species and long-term viability.

4 Aquatic species’ habitat conditions provide redundancy necessary to maintain species 

biodiversity and functioning metapopulations (an interconnected group of subpopulations 

separated by space but consisting of the same species). 

a Aquatic habitats are connected and free from alterations (e.g., temperature regime 

changes, lack of adequate streamflow, and barriers to aquatic organism passage) to 

allow for species migration, connectivity of fragmented populations and genetic 

exchange. Barriers to movement are located where necessary to protect native fish from 

nonnative species.

Objectives for Aquatic Species and Habitats (FW-AQUASH-O)

1 Complete aquatic restoration on priority projects that restore 30 miles of aquatic habitat (e.g., 

increase pool quantity, provide stream cover, remove or install fish barriers, restore beaver 

populations, or treat invasive aquatic species) every 10 years to benefit aquatic species.

2 Every 10 years, restore native fish species to 20 miles of streams where nonnative fish are 

absent and where natural or human-made fish barriers exist.

Standard for Aquatic Species and Habitats (FW-AQUASH-S)

1 Equipment must not be refueled within or adjacent to the stream channel.

Guidelines for Aquatic Species and Habitats (FW-AQUASH-G)

1 Except where barriers are beneficial and necessary to achieve conservation goals for aquatic 

species, fragmentation of aquatic habitats and isolation of aquatic species should be avoided 

and passage for aquatic organisms should be maintained.

2 Human-made structures (e.g., instream structures or fencing) should be maintained to support 

the purposes for which they were built or removed when no longer needed.

3 Projects and management activities within aquatic and riparian systems should be designed or 

managed to maintain high-quality aquatic habitats (as per Desired Condition #1).

4 Management of coldwater streams should include adequate vegetation cover (as defined by 

Desired Conditions within the Riparian Ecosystems section) and width-to-depth ratio to move 

toward State of New Mexico standards for stream water temperatures for “High Quality 

Coldwater” systems. 

5 Management activities negatively impacting vital functions (e.g., reproduction or migration) of 

native or sport fish species, as well as amphibians, should be avoided except when short-term 

impacts are required to improve resource conditions and maintain infrastructure.
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Management Approaches for Aquatic Species and Habitats (FW-AQUASH-MA)

1. Work collaboratively with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and other 

organizations, individuals, and groups to plan and implement projects for the management and 

research of fish and other aquatic species and their habitats.

2. Work with partners to develop and implement conservation strategies beneficial to aquatic 

habitats (e.g., Rio Grande Cutthroat Conservation Strategy). 

3. During project planning, consider management actions to mitigate the effects of long-term and 

short-term climate fluctuations (e.g., climate change, drought, and El Niño Southern Oscillation). 

4. Prioritize restoration projects based on factors such as watershed conditions, at-risk species, 

restoration after disturbances (e.g., fire or flood), partner interest, and other immediate needs. 

5. Work with partners to promote public education and valuing of the terrestrial wildlife in the 

forest. 
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Terrestrial Species and Habitats

Terrestrial plant and animal species include commonly found species that spend all or the majority of 

their time on dry land and are usually represented by mammals (e.g., deer, rabbits, etc.), birds (e.g., 

eagles, jays, etc.), reptiles (e.g. snakes, lizards, etc.), and land-based plants (e.g., trees, grasses, etc.) 

and macro-invertebrates (e.g., beetles, snails, etc.). These animals are native to the forest and are not 

considered invasive nor is their persistence in the forest of concern.

Desired Conditions for Terrestrial Species and Habitats (FW-TERRASH-DC)

1 Terrestrial ecosystems are composed of appropriate (native) assemblages of sustainable 

populations of plant and animal species that are supported by healthy ecosystems.

a A diversity of habitat components, including biotic and abiotic features, are available at 

the appropriate spatial, temporal, compositional, and structural levels (as defined by 

Desired Conditions for each Vegetation ERU) to provide adequate opportunity for 

breeding, feeding, nesting, and other critical life history needs of wildlife, so that forest 

species remain viable and persistent on the landscape.

b Undesired nonnative and invasive terrestrial species, as well as introduced pathogens,

are rare or absent (per Desired Condition 1 in Wildlife: Nonnative and Invasive Species). 

c Terrestrial habitats allow for the maintenance and promotion of interspecific 

relationships at all trophic levels (e.g., producer-consumer and predator-prey 

relationships) across multiple scales, consistent with existing landforms and topography.

2 Habitat configuration, connectivity, and availability allow wildlife populations to adjust their 

movements in response to major disturbances (e.g., climate change or uncharacteristic fire) 

and promote genetic flow between wildlife populations.

3 Wildlife are free from harassment and human disturbance at a scale that does not impact 

vital functions of populations (e.g., breeding, feeding, and rearing young) resulting in a 

negative impact to the persistence of the species in the forest.

Objectives for Terrestrial Species and Habitats (FW-TERRASH-O)

1 Maintain, improve, or install at least one water feature per year to improve water availability for 

wildlife or livestock where natural water sources are limited. These water features can serve 

dual purposes for both wildlife and livestock and can be done in conjunction with objective for 

water features in range section.

2 Restore or enhance at least 50,000 acres of terrestrial wildlife habitat during each 10-year 

period of the life of the plan. This may be done in conjunction with objectives for treatments in 

the vegetation section.

Standard for Terrestrial Species and Habitats (FW-TERRASH-S)

1 Constructed water features (e.g., water tanks and, cattle guards) must provide safe access and 

escape for wildlife, such as ramps or other climbing features.
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Guidelines for Terrestrial Species and Habitats (FW-TERRASH-G)

1 Human-made structures (e.g., fences, steel posts, or vent pipes) should be constructed and 

maintained to minimize wildlife mortality (e.g., capped fence posts) and removed when no 

longer needed. 

2 Infrastructure (e.g., fences and roads) should be designed, modified, or removed to minimize 

impacts on wildlife movement and improve habitat connectivity.

3 Activities negatively impacting wildlife reproduction or other vital functions should be 

minimized (e.g., closures during elk calving), except if management activities are implemented 

to control wildlife populations to protect the overall health of the habitat or other populations 

(e.g., NMDGF regulations). 

4 Management activities that inhibit the reproduction of an individual raptor (disturbing the same 

nest site) should be avoided in successive years.

Management Approaches for Terrestrial Species and Habitats (FW-TERRASH-MA)

1. Work collaboratively with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and other 

organizations, individuals, and groups to plan and implement projects for the management and 

research of wildlife and their habitats.

2. Collaborate with other adjacent land ownership to encourage an all-lands approach at a scale that 

improves landscape connectivity across mixed ownerships where natural systems span multiple 

administrative boundaries. 

3. Consider seasonal road restrictions and area closures to provide refuge in small and large blocks 

of land for a wide range of species. 

4. During project planning, consider mitigations to wildlife habitat resulting from the effects of 

long-term and short-term climate fluctuations (e.g., global climate change, drought, El Niño 

Southern Oscillation), and subsequent effects of management activities. 

5. Work closely with New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, other enforcement agencies and 

local communities to reduce incidence of poaching (e.g., encourage reporting, increase signage 

or maintain barriers for road closures). 

6. Work with partners to promote public education and valuing of the terrestrial wildlife in the 

forest.

7. Work collaboratively with New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and New Mexico 

Department of Transportation as well as other organizations to identify corridors to improve or 

maintain connectivity for terrestrial species.
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Nonnative Invasive Species

Although the majority of species have evolved in the Santa Fe NF, certain species of terrestrial and 

aquatic plants and animals are considered invasive and are not desired in the forest. Invasive species 

include both aquatic and terrestrial plant or animal species that are nonnative (or alien6

) to the 

ecosystem under consideration, and which introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or 

environmental harm or harm to human health (Executive Order 13112). Invasive species generally 

possess one or more of the following characteristics: aggressive and difficult to manage; poisonous; 

toxic; parasitic; a carrier or host of serious insect or disease; and being nonnative, new, or not 

common to the United States or parts thereof. Invasive species pose an increasing threat to the 

integrity of ecosystems by decreasing native plant and animal diversity, increasing soil erosion and 

sedimentation, interfering with natural fire regimes, and threatening the quantity and quality of forest 

goods and services. Landscapes free of invasive species tend to be more resilient and have a greater 

capacity to survive natural disturbances in uncertain future environmental conditions, such as those 

affected by climate change and increasing human uses. Due to their negative impact on the 

ecosystems, invasive species are managed for their removal or reduction.

Desired Conditions for Nonnative Invasive Species (FW-INVASIVE-DC

1 Invasive species (including pathogens) are nonexistent or exist at population levels that do 

not disrupt ecological functioning, affect the sustainability of native species, cause economic 

harm, or negatively impact human health. 

2 Nonnative species do not conflict with the recovery of native species, negatively influence 

ecosystem function, or detract from existing multiple uses.

Objective for Nonnative Invasive Species (FW-INVASIVE-O)

1 Eradicate or suppress invasive plant species on at least 600 acres annually.

Standards for Nonnative Invasive Species and Habitats (FW-INVASIVE-S)

1 Forest management actions must apply best management practices (e.g., Forest Service 

Handbook, Region 3 Soil and Water Conservation Practices Handbook) to minimize the 

introduction or spread of invasive species, including:

a Decontamination procedures on vehicles and equipment

b Using weed-free products

2 Projects and authorized activities must be designed to reduce the potential for introducing

new species or spreading existing invasive or undesirable nonnative species.

3 Agency and permitted pack-animal users must use pelletized feed.

4 Treatment approaches must use integrated pest management practices to treat noxious and 

invasive species.

 

6 Some nonnative species are desirable and were intentionally released into the wild to establish self-sustaining populations 

of wildlife that meet public demands for recreation or other purposes (e.g., sport fishes). These desirable nonnative species

are not likely to cause ecosystem disruption and are not addressed in this section.
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Guidelines for Nonnative Invasive Species (FW-INVASIVE-G)

1 Certified, weed-free native seed mixes of local species varieties should be used for revegetation 

when commercially available. Sterile, nonnative, non-invasive plant material that does not 

persist long term may be used in limited situations where considered necessary to protect 

resources and stabilize soils in a timely fashion. 

2 Equipment and materials should be stored or staged in areas that are not infested with invasive 

weeds or other nonnative species.

3 Projects should use locally chipped and shredded woody materials for mulch or, if necessary, 

use certified weed-free mulch.

4 Management activities should implement procedures to prevent the spread of insects and 

diseases that impact ecosystem function.

5 As part of project implementation, new populations of invasive species found within the project 

area should be reported and recorded. 

Management Approaches for Nonnative Invasive Species (FW-INVASIVE-MA)

1. Coordinate with other agencies and pursue partnerships to manage terrestrial and aquatic 

invasive species.

2. Consider educating and informing the public to prevent the introduction of invasive species and 

limit their spread. 

3. Encourage research on invasive species and pathogens by universities and other organizations 

and agencies. Coordinate with university research and programs such as the Cooperative 

Extension Service through New Mexico State University.

4. Consider using the most recent New Mexico Department of Agriculture’s “Noxious Weed Memo 

and List” to identify and prioritize invasive plant management needs. The invasive species with 

the highest treatment priority are Class A and B noxious weeds, which have made significant 

increases in their overall population size in the plan area during the last 10 years.

5. Consider programs to address invasive plant species using integrated pest management 

strategies.

6. Consider encouraging public land users to inspect and clean motorized and mechanized trail 

vehicles of weeds and their seeds before recreating on public lands. 

7. Consider encouraging fishers and hunters to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive 

species by inspecting their equipment for invasive species and taking preventative measures 

(e.g., do not use felt-sole wading boots). 

8. Consider encouraging public pack-animal users to use pelletized, weed-free feed.
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At-Risk Species

Although most forest species appear to be thriving, there are a number of species whose continued 

persistence in the Santa Fe NF is of concern. At-risk species include both aquatic and terrestrial 

species whose persistence is known to be at-risk. Their identification allows us to better address their 

ecological needs in the plan. At-risk species consist of (1) federally recognized threatened, 

endangered, proposed, and candidate species, and (2) species of conservation concern). Species of 

conservation concern are native to, and known to occur in the Santa Fe NF; and for which there is 

substantial concern about their ability to persist in the forest based on best available science 

information. Species of conservation concern are identified by forest staff with assistance from their 

partners (government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other members of the public) 

and approved by the Regional Forester. A total of 36 at-risk species were identified—4 federally 

recognized and 32 SCC. 

At-risk species are found within all the forest’s ERUs. Although some plant, invertebrate, and 

aquatic species may be found in only one specific ERU, most terrestrial at-risk species use multiple 

ERUs to complete their basic life-cycle needs. Foraging needs and breeding behaviors of at-risk 

species often require animals to travel considerable distances spanning multiple ERUs. For example, 

northern goshawk typically nest in ponderosa pine or mixed conifer forests, but are often found 

feeding in riparian areas; therefore, vegetative conditions trending toward desired conditions in all 

three of those ERUs will increase or maintain viability for that species. For a complete listing of 

ERU use by at-risk species, see appendix C. 

Although not considered at-risk (federally listed or species of conservation concern), some species 

need additional protections due to their scarcity or limited habitat. Rare species are those that are 

very uncommon, scarce, or infrequently encountered even though they may not be endangered or 

threatened. Endemic species are found only in a given region or location and nowhere else in the 

world. Although rare and endemic species may not be at-risk, their naturally low population numbers 

or limited geographic distribution may elicit the need to manage them similar to at-risk species. 

Desired Conditions for At-Risk Species (FW-ATRISK-DC)

1 Ecological conditions (physical and biotic) contribute to the survival and recovery of federally 

listed, proposed, and candidate species; preclude the need for listing new species; and allow 

for the recovery and persistence of species of conservation concern.

2 Intact, functioning, and sufficient habitat for terrestrial and aquatic at-risk species (defined by 

Desired Conditions for each Vegetation ERU) provide for opportunity for breeding, feeding, 

nesting, and other critical life history needs of wildlife, so the species remains viable and 

persistent on the landscape.

3 At-risk species, including rare and endemic, populations and habitats are known (locations), 

intact, functioning, and sufficient for species’ persistence. 
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Guidelines for At-Risk Species (FW-ATRISK-G)

1 All authorized activities should be designed and implemented to address threats to at-risk 

species and their habitats, including, but not limited to:

a Timing restrictions to encourage reproductive success;

b Prevention of introduction of invasive, competing, or predatory species (these are 

species directly and negatively impacting at-risk species populations);

c Prevention or introduction of pathogens leading to population impacts;

d Creation or removal of obstructions that may alter natural migration or directly cause 

mortality to wildlife; and

e Avoiding or protecting small or isolated populations.

2 Project activities and special uses occurring within federally designated critical habitat 

should integrate habitat management objectives and species protection measures from the 

most recent approved U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recovery plan. 

3 Where the Forest Service has entered into signed conservation agreements that provide 

guidance on activities or actions to be carried out by the forest, those activities or actions 

should be undertaken consistent with the guidance found within those conservation 

agreements.

4 Within critical habitat for threatened and endangered species, footprints of 

ground-disturbing fire suppression activities should be as small as possible or located where 

ground disturbance has previously occurred.

5 The forest should use the most current ecological guidelines to improve nesting conditions 

for goshawk (Accipiter gentilis):

a A minimum of three goshawk nest areas and three replacement nest areas should be 

located per goshawk territory. Goshawk nest and replacement nest areas should 

generally be located in drainages, at the base of slopes, and on northerly (northwest to 

northeast) aspects. Nest areas should generally be 25 to 30 acres in size. 

b Goshawk post-fledging areas of approximately 420 acres should be designated 

surrounding nest sites. 

c In goshawk foraging areas and post-fledging family areas, groups of three to five reserve 

trees should be retained within management-created openings greater than 1 acre in 

ponderosa pine-evergreen oak and dry mixed-conifer communities, and six reserve trees 

should be retained within management-created openings greater than 0.5 acre in wet

mixed-conifer and spruce-fir communities.

d In occupied goshawk nest areas, human presence should be minimized between March 1 

and September 30 (per Guideline 1a in this section).

6 Management activities along cliff faces, rock features, and other known nesting sites should 

avoid impacts during nesting season (March 1 through August 15 as per Guideline 1a in this 

section) to the same nesting site in consecutive years for at-risk bird species. 
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Guidelines for At-Risk Species (FW-ATRISK-G)

7 As part of project implementation, new populations of at-risk, as well as rare and endemic 

species, found within the project area should be reported and recorded. 

8 Heavy equipment should be kept out of streams during spawning, incubation, and 

emergence periods (e.g., spring to early summer for fish species) of aquatic at-risk species 

(per Guideline 1a in this section) except when short-term uses are required to improve 

resource conditions and maintain infrastructure. 

9 Management of cold water streams with populations of at-risk species should include 

adequate vegetation cover and width-to-depth ratio to move toward a 7-day average 

maximum water temperature of less than 17.8 degrees Celsius.

10 In areas that produce piñon seeds, mitigation measures for the collection of forest products 

(e.g., collection of dead or down, tree diameter restrictions, restrictions on size of fuelwood 

area) should be used to reduce impacts to piñon-producing trees and benefit at-risk species.

11 Even-aged management treatments in piñon-juniper habitat should avoid creating a sharp, 

well-defined edge between dense woodlands and recovered shrublands for foraging habitat 

of at-risk species. 

12 Large mature cottonwood trees should be retained as habitat for at-risk species unless 

necessary to meet management objectives or ensure public safety.

13 Closures or other means to reduce the threat to at-risk species should be implemented in 

areas where recreational activities (e.g., target shooting or climbing) are known cause harm.

14 Management actions that reduce long-term nesting success or directly harm populations of 

at-risk bird species in alpine and tundra habitats should be avoided or mitigated.

Management Approaches for At-Risk Species (FW-ATRISK-MA)

1. Work collaboratively with other agencies (e.g., USFWS, NMDGF, New Mexico State Forestry, 

etc.), universities, and nongovernmental organizations for the research and management of 

at-risk species. Emphasis is placed on the protection and restoration of key habitats and habitat 

features that lead to their recovery and persistence. 

2. Strive to work with partners to promote public education and valuing of the at-risk species in the 

forest.

3. Prior to management actions, conduct surveys to identify sessile (immobile) at-risk species in 

areas with the following features: 

a. Limestone outcropping 

b. Gypsum soils 

c. Sandstone blended with Todilto gypsum or limestone 

d. Gray to red shales and clays of the Mancos and Chinle formations in piñon-juniper 

woodlands 

e. Volcanic pumice and unconsolidated pyroclastic ash in piñon-juniper woodland and lower 

montane coniferous forests 
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4. Consider guidance from regional or local species conservation agreements, assessments, 

strategies, or guidelines to improve the status of at-risk species. 

5. Consider using geographic information systems (GIS) as the preferred database of record to 

record findings of at-risk species, including negative surveys.

6. In coordination with New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, consider “dusting” prairie dog 

colonies with flea-controlling powder to reduce the spread of sylvatic plague. When possible, 

identify and potentially avoid burrows occupied with at-risk species prior to application.

7. Collaborate with universities, State and Federal agencies (e.g., Forest Service Research and 

Development, U.S. Geological Survey, Natural Resources Conservation Service, New Mexico 

State Forestry, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish), and other organizations (e.g., The 

Nature Conservancy, Natural Heritage New Mexico, Native Plant Society of New Mexico, Trout 

Unlimited, Audubon Society, and other non-governmental organizations), to obtain data and 

encourage research on rare and endemic species.

8. Consider alternative measures to projects that may decrease the likelihood of disease 

introduction or spread to at-risk species (e.g., do not dip firefighting buckets in waterbodies 

where didymo or whirling disease is known to exist or install drinkers instead of earthen tanks to 

prevent the spread of Chytrid fungus). 

9. Consider working with partners to promote public education and valuing of rare and narrow 

endemic species in the forest.
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Soil Resources 

“Soils are the most unique and valuable natural resource, sustaining life from beneath our feet.” 

(Estella Smith, Acting Soil and Water Program Manager for the Santa Fe NF) 

Soil is a complex and dynamic system consisting of a mineral component, organic matter, air, water, 

and various soil organisms that, together, support life. Properly functioning soil systems cycle 

nutrients, water, and energy within forest and grassland ecosystems. Because of their slow rate of 

formation, soils are essentially a non-renewable resource. 

Across the Santa Fe NF, soil temperature-moisture regimes vary from warm-dry at lower elevation 

grasslands to cold-moist alpine tundra at the highest elevations. Soils in the forest are inventoried 

and classified into 209 terrestrial ecosystem units (TEUs) based on climate, vegetation, geology and 

landform (Miller et al. 1993). 

Soil condition provides an overall picture of soil health and is based on the ability of soils to resist 

erosion, infiltrate water, and recycle nutrients. Satisfactory soil condition ratings, found in 

approximately 77 percent of the forest, are assumed to represent historical conditions prior to any 

effects of management or disturbance. Unsatisfactory soil condition ratings, found in 18 percent of 

the Santa Fe NF, indicate unstable soils with reduced nutrient cycling, which contributes to reduced 

soil fertility. Unsatisfactory soil conditions are generally found in lower elevations; specifically 

piñon-juniper grass, piñon-juniper sagebrush, and sagebrush shrubland ERUs. These unsatisfactory 

soil conditions are likely due to a lack of effective vegetative ground cover and organic matter.

The majority of the soils in the Santa Fe NF fall into the severe soil erosion hazard class (51 percent) 

and much of the remainder falls into the moderate soil erosion hazard class (48 percent). Although 

soil erosion hazard is an inherent property and not influenced by management, soil is generally at 

risk in areas where severe soil erosion hazards coexist with high fuel loadings (high risk of wildfire). 

Here there may be accelerated erosion and decreased site productivity, especially when combined 

with drought. 

Soil provides many ecosystem services on which humans and other life forms depend. Supporting 

ecosystem services are probably what first come to mind when considering soil’s contributions. Soil 

offers physical support to plants and are the foundation for ecosystem diversity. Soils also provide 

diverse habitats for microorganisms, invertebrates, fungi, and bacteria, which cycle nutrients and 

energy. Two key regulating ecosystem services provided by healthy soils are water supply and 

release, including flood mitigation, and maintenance of water quality. Satisfactory soil condition 

ratings indicate that water can infiltrate the soil and mitigate large overland flows or floods 

downstream, as well as recharge groundwater. Soils are also among the largest pools for carbon 

sequestration, another regulating ecosystem service. The protection of soils in satisfactory conditions 

and improvement of soils in unsatisfactory conditions will positively impact the ecosystems within 

the Santa Fe NF, and will ensure that ecosystem services continue to be provided into the future. 
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Desired Conditions for Soil Resources (FW-SOIL-DC)

1 Soil productivity, function, and inherent physical, chemical, and biological processes remain 

intact or are enhanced. Soils can readily absorb, store, and transmit water vertically and 

horizontally; accept, hold, and release nutrients; and resist erosion.

2 Vegetative cover and litter are distributed across the soil surface in adequate amounts to 

limit erosion and contribute to soil deposition, development, productivity, and carbon 

cycling. Soil cover and herbaceous vegetation protect soil, facilitate infiltration, and 

contribute to plant and animal diversity and ecosystem function.

3 In forested areas, logs and other woody material are retained and distributed across the soil 

surface to facilitate soil productivity and maintain key habitat features. 

4 Relatively undisturbed biological soil crusts (i.e., soil consisting of cyanobacteria, lichens, 

mosses, and algae organisms) are present or enhance recovery where the potential exists.

5 Soil productivity is not inhibited by invasive plant species.

6 Soils are free from contaminants that could alter ecosystem integrity or affect public health.

7 Soils do not exhibit accelerated or unnatural signs of erosion (e.g., pedestaling, rills, or 

gullies caused by human uses).

Standard for Soil Resources (FW-SOIL-S)

1 Best management practices (BMPs; e.g., National Core Technical Guide for BMPs (FS-990A), FSH 

2509.22 - Soil and Water Conservation Practices Handbook) and soil quality monitoring (e.g.,

Technical Guidance for Assessing and Monitoring Soil Quality in the Southwestern Region) must 

be used to minimize management impacts to ensure long-term soil productivity and 

satisfactory soil condition (soil health). 

Guidelines for Soil Resources (FW-SOIL-G)

1 Ground-disturbing management activities should be designed to minimize short- and longterm adverse impacts to soil resources (e.g., soil compaction and soil loss). Where 

disturbance cannot be avoided, project-specific soil and water conservation practices should 

be developed. When soil conditions are less than satisfactory as a result of management 

activities, restoration of soil condition should occur.

2 During forest management activities such as thinning and prescribed fire, large woody 

material should be retained to meet desired conditions relevant to the ERU to support 

nutrient cycling.

3 In project areas where ground disturbance could affect biological soil crusts, intact soil crusts 

should be identified and protected as source populations. 
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Guidelines for Soil Resources (FW-SOIL-G)

4 In areas where soils have a severe erosion hazard rating (as defined in the TEUI) or are poorly 

drained or saturated or unsatisfactory soil condition, new activities that encourage 

concentrated use (e.g., recreation, log landings, stock tanks, mineral blocks, corrals, and 

cattle collection areas) should be avoided. 

5 On soils classified as Mollisols (soils with relatively thick organic surfaces) within all 

piñon-juniper ERUs, manage areas as grasslands by removing woody encroachment, because 

these soils are typical of and generally develop under grassland conditions.

Management Approaches for Soil Resources (FW-SOIL-MA)

1. Work collaboratively with other agencies and groups that facilitate soil conservation, watershed 

improvement, and research projects.

2. Consider developing and promoting programs that educate the public on the importance of 

staying on trails and not disturbing natural plant communities including biological soil crusts 

(e.g., Don’t Bust the Crust!).

3. Consider updating the TEUI (Miller et al. 1993), which provides the basis for planning project 

activities. Work with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and other partners to share 

data and improve existing soil information, especially after large-scale soil disturbances.

4. Consider improving impaired and unsatisfactory soil condition ratings (as defined by TEUI) 

where management has resulted in degraded conditions: 

a. To restore productivity and hydrologic function of compacted soils, consider using low 

ground pressure equipment. 

b. To restore productivity and nutrient cycling, consider the application of soil amendments 

(e.g., biochar). 

5. Consider mitigating or restoring negative impacts in areas where concentrated use occurs on 

soils with severe erosion hazard rating or are poorly drained or saturated. 
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Air

“What do I value about the Santa Fe NF? The beauty, clean air, and quiet” 

(Public comment during the Assessment phase, spring 2014) 

Air resources on national forests are an important resource to be protected. Not only does the public 

value the fresh air and sweeping views that national forests can provide, but forest health, water 

quality, and fisheries can also be affected by poor air quality. The goal of air quality management is 

to meet regulatory standards that protect both human health, the environment, and visibility, as well 

as addressing and responding to other air quality concerns, such as atmospheric deposition of 

pollutants in the forest.

Human health and environmental standards are defined in the National Ambient Air Quality 

Standards (NAAQS) set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for seven pollutants 

considered harmful to public health and the environment: carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, 

particulate matter 10 microns in size or smaller (PM10), particulate matter 2.5 microns in size or 

smaller (PM2.5), ozone, and sulfur dioxide. 

To protect visibility in the national parks and wilderness areas, Congress designated all wilderness 

areas over 5,000 acres and all national parks over 6,000 acres as mandatory Federal Class I areas in 

1977, subject to the visibility protection requirements in the Clean Air Act. The Class I areas most 

likely to be impacted by activities in the Santa Fe NF are the Pecos and San Pedro Parks Wilderness

Areas managed by the Santa Fe NF, as well as Bandelier National Monument managed by the 

National Park Service and the Wheeler Peak Wilderness, managed by the Carson NF. 

Air quality and visibility conditions in the Santa Fe NF are within regulatory levels and the trends 

based on projected emission inventories appear to be stable or improving for most pollutants. In fact, 

the air quality the public experiences in and around the forest is typically some of the best in the 

country. The main challenge in the future to both the ambient air quality and visibility in the forest

could come from land use both on and off the forest, climate change and drought, which can 

contribute to windblown and fugitive dust; and wildfires, which can be a significant source of 

particulate matter. 

Air provides a wide variety of ecosystem services across the entire Santa Fe NF. This includes 

regulating ecosystem services such as air quality, respiration in plants, exchange of biological 

byproducts, climate control, and carbon and nitrogen cycling. Supporting ecosystem services include 

protection of wilderness and greater biodiversity throughout. Managing for quality air across the 

forest also facilitates cultural ecosystem services like recreation and scenery. When air quality is 

higher overall, visitors are drawn to a broader range of services and features the Santa Fe NF

provides. 
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Desired Conditions for Air (FW-AIR-DC)

1 Air quality meets or surpasses New Mexico and Federal ambient air quality standards. 

2 Visibility in designated wilderness areas (Class I and sensitive Class II areas) is free of 

anthropogenic (human-caused) impacts. 

3 Good air quality contributes to visibility, human health, quality of life, economic 

opportunities, quality recreation, and wilderness values.

4 There are no measurable exceedances to water chemistry or disturbances to biotic 

components due to atmospheric deposition of pollutants.

Guidelines for Air (FW-AIR-G)

1 Dust abatement should occur during construction and road projects where dust is a 

potential effect.

2 During wildfire incidents, techniques to minimize smoke impacts (e.g., public notification, 

timing of ignitions, mass ignitions, limiting fire spread, etc.) should be considered, including 

the identification of smoke management objectives in the wildfire decision document. 

Management Approaches for Air (FW-AIR-MA)

1. Work with agencies, organizations, tribes, and other entities to actively pursue actions designed 

to reduce the impacts of pollutants from sources within and outside the forest. These measures 

may include: 

a. Documenting evidence of potential air quality impacts that supports initial and continued 

compliance with local, New Mexico, and Federal air quality regulations

b. Active membership in local and regional air quality protection stakeholder groups 

c. Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit review 

d. Implementing air pollution mitigations where appropriate 

e. Monitoring ambient air quality 

f. Supporting visibility monitoring at San Pedro Parks 

2. Consider deploying smoke monitors when there is potential for significant impacts to the public.
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Partnerships 

“For the Santa Fe National Forest to thrive over the next 10-15 years, we will need to work closely 

with, and tap into the knowledge of, fully engaged partners. To achieve our common goals, we need 

diverse partners working closely with each other in conjunction with the Santa Fe National Forest. 

Strong relationships between the Santa Fe National Forest and our partners, including local 

communities with historic ties to the land, are vital to the sustainable health of the Forest.” 

(James Melonas, Forest Supervisor for the Santa Fe National Forest)

In recent years, the Forest Service has placed a higher priority on the relationships between national 

forests and surrounding communities. Santa Fe NF partners and users have valuable ideas and 

knowledge that can expand the forest’s capacity to “Care for the Land and Serve People.” Extensive 

public engagement during the development of this plan has provided collective insight from the 

people who use, benefit from, and are sustained by the Santa Fe NF. 

We will continue to actively engage the forest’s many public stakeholders through conservation 

education, working agreements, and partnerships and volunteers, with a particular emphasis on 

growing the capacity for partnership collaboration around trails, services, and facilities on NFS

lands. Partners will continue to build and maintain trails, restore forested and riparian areas, and 

ensure continued traditional and cultural uses. 

Successful implementation of the forest plan will require successful collaborative partnerships with 

Federal, State, and local governments; federally recognized tribes and pueblos; rural historic 

communities; land grant-merced and acequia governing bodies; rural historic communities; nonprofit organizations; private landowners; youth; and the public. Collaborative partnerships may 

include identifying, planning, funding, and implementing projects and activities together. 

Partnerships will improve trust and contribute to projects that best provide for cultural, social, and 

economic needs while increasing the capacity to do quality restoration work and to develop and 

provide improved recreation opportunities. 

Partnering with others, including across forest boundaries, will create a dynamic of shared work, 

assets, and ideas that will lead to ecological, social, and cultural projects that benefit the Santa Fe NF

and its surrounding communities. 

Partnerships Desired Conditions (FW-PARTNER-DC)

1 Partners and volunteers are a collaborative network that increases capacity for managing 

forest resources, assists in communicating with and educating the public, and is a crucial 

component to achieving short- and long-term mutually shared goals (e.g., restoration and 

sustainable recreation). 

2 Open communication with partners about expectations and partnering opportunities 

encourages growth in existing relationships and promotes new partnerships. The open 

exchange of information promotes collaborative development of forest priorities, a 

connection to place and its history, and a sense of stewardship.

3 Partnerships improve landscape-scale management across ownership boundaries to find 

solutions to ecological and societal issues.
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Partnerships Management Approach (FW-PARTNER-MA)

1. Management approaches related to partnerships are found throughout this plan, typically as the 

first management approach for each resource.
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Northern New Mexico Traditional Communities and Uses 

“Plan direction needs to recognize the historical ties people have with the Santa Fe National Forest 

and aim to protect historical and contemporary uses... People have been living on and using this 

land for thousands of years and the forest has continually provided fuelwood, grazing for traditional 

and economic importance, hunting for subsistence and cultural purposes, and gathering of forest 

products for religious and ceremonial purposes.” 

(Public comment on the Notice of Intent, summer 2016) 

A traditional community refers to a federally recognized tribe or a land-based rural community that 

has a long-standing history in and around the lands managed by the Forest Service. There are 

numerous small unincorporated communities within the boundaries of the Santa Fe NF, as well as 

several adjacent federally recognized tribes and small incorporated towns and villages. The Santa Fe 

NF is a community forest and each of these communities is geographically and historically rooted to 

a particular landscape.

The Santa Fe NF manages the natural resources and landscapes that sustain northern New Mexico 

traditional communities, their cultures, and traditions. Local heritage, culture, traditions, and values 

have been handed down over generations and predate control of this area by the United States. Longstanding use of the forest and its natural resources are fundamental to the interconnected economic, 

social, and cultural vitality of many northern New Mexico inhabitants, including federally 

recognized tribes, Spanish and Mexican land grants-mercedes and acequias, grazing permit holders, 

and other rural historic communities. In managing NFS lands, it is important to allow opportunities 

to engage with the forest staff so that continual use of the forest for cultural and subsistence needs 

are supported. These important uses or “traditional uses” include:

• Use of common waters (e.g., acequias or irrigation ditches) for drinking, irrigating crops, and 

watering livestock.

• Use of common pasture for grazing of livestock.

• Use of wood products for fuelwood, building materials, and ceremonial use.

• Collection of soils (e.g., sand, adobe, and micaceous clay) and rocks for building materials and 

other purposes (e.g., production of crafts and ceremonial use). 

• Gathering of plants and plant products for various purposes (e.g., religious, medicinal, and 

consumption). 

• Hunting and fishing for food and ceremonial purposes. 

• Religious and ceremonial uses, including for cemeteries, pilgrimages, calvarios, and shrines.

• Recreational uses for weddings, family reunions, and dispersed camping. 

Desires for the recognition and preservation of northern New Mexico traditional uses have been an 

integral part of managing the Santa Fe NF, which is reflected through various documents (e.g., 1987 

Santa Fe Land and Resource Management Plan (1987 Forest Plan), 1972 Regional Forester policy 

memo, 1968 Hassell Report). This forest plan seeks to build upon past initiatives and continues to 

recognize and support the traditional uses associated with the forest. 

The Santa Fe NF continues to have strong cultural and historic significance to the many diverse 

peoples and communities who have called northern New Mexico home for many generations. The 
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forest contributes resources and uses that are important to federally recognized tribes and pueblos, 

land grant communities, acequia associations, traditional Hispanic communities, and many 

contemporary residents all with historic, cultural, and socio-economic connections to the forest. To 

this day, these traditional communities retain a strong connection to the land and rely upon the Santa 

Fe NF and its natural resources to sustain their cultural, spiritual, and economic way of life.

Forest management needs to balance this traditional way of life, which defines the cultural identity 

of these traditional communities, and the changes brought about by increased development, tourism, 

recreation, and extractive use. The people of northern New Mexico, their culture and traditions, and 

their knowledge of the land must be recognized and treated as unique resources. When these unique 

resources are recognized, they become an asset to the agency, and the Forest Service can serve as a 

viable, helpful, and productive force in maintaining and improving the many positive values inherent 

in northern New Mexico and its people.

People continue to benefit directly and indirectly from a variety of ecosystem services obtained from 

the land. In addition to providing the necessary resources to sustain life, these landscapes also form 

an anchor for those communities, providing people a sense of identity and their place in the world.

Generations of families formed communities, adapted to their environment, and developed a way of 

life dependent upon and complementary of the mountain, upland and lowland resources at hand. 

Federally Recognized Tribes

For much of human history, American Indians were the only people to occupy and use the lands that 

encompass the Santa Fe NF. Their use of the forest and the surrounding area began with the earliest 

human occupation of the Western Hemisphere and persists to the present day. The land-based 

cultures that exist today in northern New Mexico have relied on the forests, valleys, and water of 

these public lands spanning many generations.

The Federal Government has a trust responsibility to federally recognized tribes that arises from the 

United States’ unique legal and political relationship with Tribes. It is a legally enforceable fiduciary 

obligation on the part of the United States to protect Tribal treaty rights, lands, assets, and resources, 

as well as a duty to carry out the mandates of Federal law with respect to all federally recognized 

tribes. This responsibility requires the Federal Government to consider the best interests of the Tribes 

in its dealings with them and when taking actions that may affect them. In meeting these 

responsibilities, forest managers consult with federally recognized tribes and pueblos as sovereign 

entities when proposed policies or management actions may affect their interests.

The government-to-government relationship between the Forest Service and federally recognized 

tribes is distinct from that of other interests and constituencies under a variety of Federal authorities. 

These authorities direct the agency to administer forest management activities and uses in a manner 

that is sensitive to traditional American Indian beliefs and cultural practices, and are integral in our 

relationship with federally recognized tribes. The plan components in this section are based upon 

policy and Federal authorities (e.g., American Indian Religious Freedom Act, Native American 

Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 2008 Farm Bill, Tribal Forest Protection Act). A 

comprehensive list of these authorities can be found in appendix E. 

The Forest Service manages diverse landscapes and sites that are culturally important sites and held 

sacred by federally recognized tribes. Specific locations in the forest are often held in confidence to 

protect these important values.
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The trust responsibilities are maintained through consultation and engagement between the Tribes 

and the Santa Fe NF. This consultation is critical when proposed activities have a potential to affect 

Tribal interests, including natural or cultural resources of importance. The Santa Fe NF staff consults 

with federally recognized tribes and pueblos that have aboriginal territories within and traditional ties 

to the land now administered by the forest. The Santa Fe NF maintains government-to-government 

relationships with many of these federally recognized tribes, using a variety of avenues to achieve 

meaningful consultation, with the preferred method being real-time, in-person dialogue between 

tribal leaders and forest line officers.

The Santa Fe NF shares a common boundary with the Jicarilla Apache Nation, the Pueblo of Santa 

Clara, the Pueblo of San Ildefonso, the Pueblo of Santo Domingo, the Pueblo of Jemez, the Pueblo of 

Nambe, the Pueblo of Tesuque and the Pueblo of Zia, and is near several other Tribal communities. 

Desired Conditions for Federally Recognized Tribes (FW-TRIBES-DC)

1 The uniqueness and values of the Tribal cultures in the Southwest and the traditional uses 

important for maintaining these cultures are recognized and valued as important.

2 The long history and ties of Tribal communities and uses to forest lands and resources is 

understood, appreciated, and is available to the public.

3 Forest resources important for cultural and traditional needs (e.g., osha, piñon nuts, okote 

(pitch wood), and micaceous clay) as well as for subsistence practices and economic support 

of tribal communities, are available and sustainable. 

4 Tribes have access to sacred sites, traditional cultural properties, and collection areas for 

traditional and ceremonial use.7

5 There are opportunities for solitude and privacy for traditional and cultural activities.7

6 Traditional cultural properties, sacred sites, and other locations of traditional and cultural 

use identified as important to Tribes are unimpaired.7

7 The forest provides a setting for educating tribal youth in culture, history, and land 

stewardship, and for exchanging information between tribal elders and youth.

Standard for Federally Recognized Tribes (FW-TRIBES-S)

1 Confidentiality of tribal information and resources collected during consultation must be 

maintained as allowed by law, unless permission to share this information is given.

Guidelines for Federally Recognized Tribes (FW-TRIBES-G)

1 To honor tribal privacy, requests for temporary closure orders for cultural and traditional 

purposes should be accommodated.

 

7 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA) (35 U.S.C. 3001).
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Guidelines for Federally Recognized Tribes (FW-TRIBES-G)

2 Consultation with federally recognized tribes should occur at the early stages of project 

planning and design, and tribal perspectives, needs, and concerns, as well as traditional 

knowledge, should be incorporated into project design and decisions.

3 Management activities and uses should be planned and administered to prevent or minimize 

impacts to the physical and scenic integrity of places that the tribes regard as sacred sites or 

traditional cultural properties. 

4 Requests for reburial of American Indian human remains and cultural items by Tribes should 

be accommodated.8

Management Approaches for Federally Recognized Tribes (FW-TRIBES-MA)

1. Coordinate with federally recognized tribes to develop collaborative proposals and implement 

projects of mutual benefit across shared boundaries, and use available federally authorized or 

advocated programs (e.g., Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-278) and the 

Collaborative Forest Restoration Program). 

2. Cooperatively develop interpretive and educational exhibits that focus on the history of the lands 

managed by the Santa Fe NF in collaboration with federally recognized tribes, land grant 

communities, and rural historic communities to provide the public with a greater understanding 

and appreciation of our shared history, culture, and traditions. 

3. Consider identifying sacred sites or traditional cultural properties, with tribal permission, and

developing a strategy for appropriate recognition and management, including honoring the 

Tribes’ request for maintaining confidentiality.

4. Consider providing training to forest employees so they gain an understanding of the unique 

government-to-government relationship between the Federal Government and federally 

recognized tribes; American Indian laws, customs, traditions, and values; and the tools available 

for protecting and managing sacred sites and traditional cultural properties.

5. Refer tribal requests to collect threatened and endangered species to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, the agency responsible for issuing permits for listed threatened and endangered species.

6. Consider the physical and scenic integrity of places that federally recognized tribes regard as 

sacred sites, traditional cultural properties, or as part of important cultural landscapes when 

making project decisions or issuing special-use authorizations regarding the approval, location, 

and maintenance of facilities (e.g., telecommunication sites, ski areas, and recreational trails).

7. Consider holding a workshop to inform interested tribes of Tribal Forest Protection Act 

provisions and opportunities for collaboration. 

8. Formalize working agreements with federally recognized tribes to understand their needs and 

build respectful, collaborative relationships; to develop ways of accomplishing mutually desired 

conditions and objectives; and to collaborate in ecosystem restoration efforts (such as

memoranda of understanding, stewardship, and contracts). 

 

8 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA) (35 U.S.C. 3001).
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9. Consider identifying locations in the forest that can provide a setting for educating youth in 

culture, history, land stewardship, and the health benefits of outdoor activities. 

10. Consider acknowledging locations identified as important by federally recognized tribes and 

managing them with an emphasis on the resilience and protection of natural and cultural 

resources. 

11. Consider working with Tribes to understand community needs and build respectful, collaborative 

relationships to achieve mutually desired conditions. 

12. Consider incorporating native language (e.g., Tanoan, Keres, and Athabaskan) into interpretive 

materials to highlight the American Indian culture as part of the landscape of the forest and its 

surrounding areas. 
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Rural Historic Communities

A rural historic community refers to the many peoples of northern New Mexico whose families have 

strong historical ties to the land. The Santa Fe NF and use of its resources are integral to the 

subsistence, cultural, and social values that help define the people and communities. The founding of 

the community generally predates the establishment of the Santa Fe NF or is coincident with the 

historic development of extractive activities such as logging, mining, ranching, and farming. The 

community has a significant concentration of human activity, linkage, and continuity of land use on 

and/or immediately adjacent to the forest. The day-to-day occupational activities of rural historic 

communities are rooted in the pragmatic need to make a living and evolved on a specific landscape 

within or adjacent to lands now managed as the Santa Fe NF. Occupational, subsistence, and 

cultural-based activities associated with rural historic communities may include livestock grazing, 

fuelwood gathering, logging, Christmas tree harvesting, medicinal plant collection, agriculture, and 

mining. Many of the communities within and adjacent to the forest occupy a small land base and 

have limited opportunities for growth of community facilities and uses (e.g., cemeteries, dumps, 

domestic water, wastewater, and community centers). Acknowledging the importance of these 

activities and concerns to area families and communities is crucial for understanding their way of life 

and resolving disputes over public land and resource use. The use of the Santa Fe NF provides 

opportunities for community interaction and maintenance of traditional culture. 

While the Santa Fe NF is considered a community forest, many smaller communities call the forest 

home, and rely upon its many resources and uses. Some people may identify themselves from 

Truchas, as a rancher, a member of a land grant, an acequia parciante, or possibly all of these. 

Regardless, what they have in common is a strong cultural and social tie to the lands in and around 

the Santa Fe NF. The two communities identified below are recognized by the State as governing 

bodies. 

Land Grants-Mercedes

From the late-1600s to the mid-1800s, Spain and later Mexico made land grants or ‘mercedes’ to 

individuals, groups, and towns to promote development in the frontier lands that today constitute the 

American Southwest. The two most common types of Spanish and Mexican land grants-mercedes 

made in New Mexico were “community land grants” and “individual land grants.” Community land 

grants were typically organized around a central plaza, whereby each settler received an individual 

allotment for a household and a tract of land to farm, and “common land” was set aside as part of the 

grant for use by the entire community. Individual land grants, as its name suggests, were made in the 

name of specific individuals. Between 1689 and 1846, Spain and Mexico granted community and 

individual land grants-mercedes in what is now New Mexico and southern Colorado. 

Many traditional Hispanic communities have ties to lands in the Santa Fe NF that were once 

common lands of community land grants-mercedes. The national forest maintains relationships with

several Spanish- and Mexican-era land grant-merced communities including former common lands 

now administered by the Forest Service. Common lands provided land grant-merced communities 

access to grazing land, stone and clay, wood, game, fish, medicinal plants, and other forest 

products—uses that continue today. Many land grants-mercedes are actively involved in managing 

and preserving adjacent NFS lands for traditional and cultural use. Some have boards of trustees to 

fulfill this mission through a variety of activities, including managing, protecting, and regulating 

uses of common lands; preserving cultural and historic resources; and partnering with the Forest 

Service to plan and propose forest restoration projects on NFS lands.
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Acequias

Acequias are community operated and organized water irrigation systems. Many of the State’s 

acequia associations have been in existence since the Spanish Colonial period in the 17th and 18th

centuries and were historically associated with land grants-mercedes. Acequia and community ditch 

associations are political subdivisions of the State of New Mexico and occupy a unique place in 

forest management (New Mexico Statutes Annotated 1978 §73-2-28). Acequias that existed on 

unreserved public lands for use in connection with a valid water right, prior to the withdrawal of 

public lands to create the national forests, are afforded valid rights and status under NFS

management. Much of the water diverted by acequias comes off of NFS lands and can be affected by 

forest management activities upstream. Acequias are still relevant and vital to water delivery and 

community organizing systems today. They serve as important water infrastructure for communities, 

and their associations are important community organizations throughout New Mexico.

Desired Conditions for Rural Historic Communities (FW-RURALH-DC)

1 The uniqueness and values of rural historic communities and the traditional uses important 

for maintaining these cultures are recognized and valued as important.

2 The long history and ties of rural historic communities and traditional uses (e.g., livestock 

grazing, fuelwood gathering, acequias, and hunting) to NFS lands and resources is 

understood and appreciated. 

3 Forest resources important for cultural and traditional needs (e.g., osha, piñon nuts, okote 

(pitch wood), and micaceous clay) as well as for subsistence practices and economic support 

(e.g., livestock grazing, acequias, and forest products) of rural historic communities are 

available and sustainable.

4 Rural historic communities have access to places of traditional use (e.g., spiritual places, 

individual and group ceremonies, traditional activities, and the collection of forest products) 

that are important to them.

5 Acequia systems on NFS lands are accessible for operation, maintenance, repair, and 

improvement.

6 The forest provides a setting for educating youth in culture, history, and land stewardship, 

and for exchanging information between elders and youth.
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Guidelines for Rural Historic Communities (FW-RURALH-G)

1 Traditionally used products (e.g., fuelwood, latillas, vigas, piñon, osha, and clay) should be 

available in the forest to rural historic communities, except in areas with resource concerns or 

in designated areas where such uses are not allowed, or otherwise restricted by standards or 

guidelines set forth in other sections of this plan.

2 Management activities should be analyzed and mitigated to prevent or minimize the impacts to 

the physical and scenic integrity of places that rural historic communities regard as spiritually or 

culturally important.

3 Acequia associations should be provided adequate access to operate, repair, maintain, and 

improve acequia infrastructure located on NFS lands.

4 Coordination with land grants and acequia governing bodies should occur at the early stages of 

planning and project design to include local perspectives, needs, concerns, and traditional 

knowledge.

Management Approaches for Rural Historic Communities (FW-RURALH-MA)

1. Work with traditional communities and governing bodies for land grants and acequias to 

understand their needs and build respectful, collaborative relationships; develop collaborative 

proposals and implement projects of mutual benefit across shared boundaries and with shared 

infrastructure (e.g., boundary fences or roads); develop ways of accomplishing mutually desired 

conditions and objectives; and collaborate in ecosystem restoration efforts.

2. Cooperatively develop interpretive and educational exhibits that focus on the history of the lands 

managed by the Santa Fe NF in collaboration with rural historic communities to provide the 

public with a greater understanding and appreciation of our shared history, culture, and 

traditions.

3. Consider identifying forest locations that can provide a setting for educating youth in culture, 

history, land stewardship, and the health benefits of outdoor activities. 

4. Consider acknowledging locations identified as important by rural historic communities and 

managing them with an emphasis on the resilience and protection of natural and cultural 

resources. 

5. Consider providing training for forest employees to foster an understanding of the unique 

customs, traditions, and values of rural historic communities. 

6. Coordinate with rural historic communities and governing bodies for land grants and acequias to 

develop collaborative proposals and implement projects of mutual benefit across shared 

boundaries. 

7. Consider developing approaches for rural historic communities to continue to practice 

occupational- and subsistence-based activities that are sensitive to environmental and cultural 

concerns. 

8. Work with rural historic communities to identify areas where motorized and non-motorized 

access to resources important to cultural and traditional needs are vital.

9. Consider incorporating Spanish language interpretive materials to highlight the Hispanic culture 

as part of the landscape of the forest and its surrounding areas.
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10. Consider ways to make fuelwood permits available locally in the field where the fuelwood is 

available or allow rural communities to get a fuelwood permit at the Forest Service district office 

closest to them or at another government office, rather than only at the district office 

administering the permitted area.
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Cultural Resources and Archeology 

“No other place in the United States has a continuity of occupation equal to that surrounding the 

Santa Fe NF. Evidence of stable occupation can be found dating back at least 1,000 years” 

(Mike Bremer, Forest Archaeologist for the Santa Fe National Forest)

Cultural and historic resources refer to the tangible evidence of past human occupation and behavior 

on the forest. These may consist of archaeological sites, traditional cultural properties, historic 

buildings and structures, cultural landscapes, and districts composed of multiple historic features. 

Human use and occupation began in the area over 10,000 years ago. Native Americans (American 

Indians) ancestral to the ethnic affiliations of the contemporary Pueblo and Athabaskan people have 

inhabited or utilized forest resources over much of this time. Euro-Americans and other people from 

the Old World began to occupy the area in the 16th and 17th centuries. Recent history includes the 

last hundred years that the Santa Fe NF has been under the management of the Forest Service. 

There are many cultural and historic resources on the Santa Fe NF that are significant to local 

communities, the State of New Mexico, the Southwestern region, and the United States. There are 

regions of archaeological importance associated with ancestral development of American Indian 

communities such as the Jemez Mesas, the Pajarito Plateau, the Rio Chama, and the Gallina region. 

In addition, many of these areas of archaeological significance have tribal importance to local 

American Indian Tribes. Several of these have interpretive sites being managed as cultural 

interpretive management areas (see chapter 4). Numerous sites have been listed on the National 

Register of Historic Places, including Ancestral Pueblo communities on the Jemez Mesas and 

Pajarito Plateau, historic logging railroad sites on the Jemez Mesas, Archaic sites in the Rio Chama 

area, and historic segments of the Camino Real del Tierra Adentro and Route 66. Many of these 

historic properties are also areas of tribal importance. 

Cultural and historic resources are non-renewable and, depending on the nature of the resource, can 

be particularly sensitive to management practices, and natural and human-induced environmental 

degradation. The forest is mandated by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 to evaluate 

effects of its activities on historic properties (defined as being more than 50 years in age) and listed 

or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Additionally, many sites not listed 

on the national register have been determined to be eligible and are managed as if they were listed. 

Some sites, although not eligible for the national register, are important to local communities. Some 

locations do not meet the definition of a historic property, but are nonetheless important for 

preserving traditional values within a community. 

The Santa Fe NF maintains an active program of site stewardship and public archaeology that 

contributes to overall site preservation and disseminates valuable interpretive information in 

response to the public’s interest in cultural and historic resources. The forest also maintains an active 

tribal consultation program on the disposition and treatment of sites and materials of interest to local 

American Indian communities. 

Cultural and historic resources offer cultural ecosystem services as an intrinsic component of their 

historical nature. Historic sites support today’s traditional practices as well as providing ancestral ties 

to the land. The wealth of sites provide benefits for education and research that promotes 

understanding of human adaptation over such a long period of history. Interpretive heritage tourism, 

while relatively new, can also provide new economic benefits from these sites and their research. 
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Finally, cultural traditions and long-standing connections with ecosystem functions offer forest 

management a diversity of perspectives to engage in problem-solving.

Desired Conditions for Cultural and Historic Resources (FW-ARCH-DC)

1 Cultural and historic resources (including archaeological sites, historic buildings and 

structures, traditional cultural properties) are stable and are maintained in a manner that 

does not adversely affect their integrity, including:

a Visual and aesthetic integrity and physical association with culturally significant 

landscapes

b Surrounding landscapes that are resilient to natural ecological processes

c Long-term stability with other forest uses and the absence of vandalism, looting, or 

other human impacts

d Dual roles with administrative, recreational, or infrastructure facilities. 

2 The public has opportunities for learning about, appreciating, and understanding cultural 

and historic resources as well as resources significant to traditional communities. Public 

understanding about the past occupation and use of landscapes and cultural resources 

contributes to their protection.

3 The public—including members of descendant communities—has opportunities to 

participate in the identification, stewardship and protection, and preservation of cultural 

and historic resources.

4 Heritage tourism opportunities are available for the public. 

5 Public users of historic recreation facilities and historic infrastructure learn about and enjoy 

their historic qualities.

6 Historic recreation residences and residence tracts maintain their historic integrity.

Standards for Cultural and Historic Resources (FW-ARCH-S)

1 Cultural and historic resources must be protected during projects through mitigation measures 

and design features. In cases where the protection of cultural and historic resources is not 

possible or when the benefits of a project are deemed by administrative decision to be greater 

than the adverse effects to the cultural and historic resources, adverse effects to those 

resources will be resolved or mitigated.

2 For historic or contributing recreation residences,

9 the operation and maintenance plan for the 

special-use authorization must stipulate that the maintenance and upkeep maintain historic 

characteristics of the residence lot. 

3 Contracts, permits, or leases that have the potential to affect cultural and historic resources 

must include appropriate clauses specifying site-protection responsibilities and liabilities for 

damage.

 

9 Defined as those eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic places as individual properties or as properties 

that contribute to a larger historic district (the tract).
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Guidelines for Cultural and Historic Resources (FW-ARCH-G)

1 Descendent communities should be involved in the early stages of project planning and design, 

including the identification of cultural and historic properties, assessment of their significance, 

and development of mitigations for protecting these resources. 

2 Cultural artifacts should be preserved in their original place, except where necessary to prevent 

their imminent loss. Artifacts should be curated as soon as practicable after collection.

3 When human remains and objects of cultural patrimony as defined under the NAGPRA10 are 

encountered during cultural resource investigations, affiliated communities should be notified 

and appropriate steps should be taken for repatriation.

4 Historic documents (e.g., photographs and maps) should be properly preserved and made 

available for research and interpretation by the Forest Service, contractors, other agencies, 

universities, American Indian Tribes, historic Spanish/Mexican rural communities, and the 

public.

Management Approaches for Cultural and Historic Resources (FW-ARCH-MA)

1. Consider maximizing opportunities for partnerships and volunteerism with the heritage program. 

Cooperate with local, State, and Federal agencies, as well as institutions and local Tribes in 

accomplishing program goals and objectives.

2. Collaborate with American Indian Tribes and other traditional communities to manage historic 

sites and other traditional areas of importance.

3. Collaborate with American Indian Tribes and other traditional communities to identify mitigation 

measures for historic properties, traditional cultural properties, and cultural landscapes during 

management activities.

4. Work with partners such as the American Indian Tribes, New Mexico Historic Preservation 

Division SiteWatch program, Archaeological Society of New Mexico, the National Park Service, 

and local museums to identify, study, protect, and monitor sites and artifact collections. 

5. Consider measures to improve relationships with American Indian Tribes and other traditional 

communities. 

6. Consider drafting new and updating existing memoranda of understanding with American Indian 

Tribes as needed.

7. Consider using heritage programs, interpretive presentations, publications, and interactive 

learning opportunities to provide the public with opportunities to learn about, understand, and 

experience the forest’s prehistory and history. 

8. Consider using programs (e.g., site stewards, volunteers, and Passport in Time) that engage the 

public to assist in protecting, managing, and documenting cultural resources.

9. Consider updating the Forest Overview and Cultural Resources Planning Assessment into a 

comprehensive document to include a synthesis of known cultural data as well as lists of 

priorities for non-project survey, national register nominations, site stabilization, interpretation, 

and public involvement. 

 

10 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA) (35 U.S.C. 3001).
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10. Consider restoring select historic structures for appropriate recreation or interpretive use.

11. When mitigating resource deterioration, consider implementing the following protective 

measures: vegetation treatment in and adjacent to site boundaries (provided appropriate 

protection measures are in place), signing, fencing, administrative closure, patrols, interpretive 

signs, stabilization, or data recovery.

12. Prioritize non-project-related surveys as follows: (1) areas where historic properties are 

threatened or ongoing impacts are unknown and need to be assessed; (2) areas indicated to have 

high cultural value or high density of cultural resources; (3) areas of importance to traditional 

communities; and (4) areas where additional survey will contribute to a greater understanding of 

the prehistory or history. 
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Forest Products 

“Wood harvested from the SFNF is used for heating in the winter, providing substantial relief to 

budget-stressed households.” 

(Public comment on the Notice of Intent, summer 2016) 

“gathering wood from the low lands where pinon and juniper to the high lands for pine and sugar 

pine. Herbs are gathered here from yerba del perda, yerba de la colebra, wild small strawberries, 

chamisso heyondo, oregano, and piñon gathering.” 

(Public comment for Wilderness Evaluation, fall 2016) 

Common forest products available from the Santa Fe NF include sawlogs, fuelwood, latillas, vigas, 

posts, poles, and piñon nuts. Sawlogs and fuelwood can additionally be available as byproducts of 

forest restoration or forest fuels reduction projects. Other forest products include moss rocks, gravel, 

wildlings (aspen or piñon seedlings), Christmas trees and boughs, mushrooms, floral greenery, 

medicinal plants, cones, sap, berries, and decorative wood; some of which require permits to collect. 

NFS lands were reserved with the intent of providing goods, including production of a sustainable 

supply of forest products and services to satisfy public needs over the long term. Over the last 15 to 

20 years, the Forest Service emphasis has broadened, and current land management is more focused 

on providing ecological health and ecosystem services. Timber volume outputs are derived based 

upon desired conditions and restoration objectives. Timber production activities are considered tools 

that economically contribute to restoring and maintaining ecosystem diversity and supporting a 

viable wood products processing industry. To achieve this, the focus has shifted toward supporting 

ecological restoration and reduction of wildfire hazard to communities through the removal of smalldiameter, insect-infested, and dead and dying trees. Markets will need to make use of these types of 

forest products resulting from restoration treatments. 

In northern New Mexico access to wood products continues to be an important component of the 

local social and economic fabric. Fuelwood harvest in particular is regarded as a traditional family 

activity and the Santa Fe NF is a major source of fuelwood for the many local residents who still rely 

on wood to heat their homes during the winter months. The forest is also a major source of vigas 

(heavy logs that support a roof) and latillas (peeled pieces of wood laid between vigas), which are 

essential in building and renovating pueblo-style and territorial-style adobe homes that are 

characteristic of the architecture in northern New Mexico. 

The most obvious ecosystem service of forest products include provisioning ecosystem services from 

timber. This commonly included sawlogs in the 1970s and 1980s, a practice that continues today by 

extracting sawtimber from the forest for lumber production. Extracted timber is also commonly used 

for fuelwood and miscellaneous products such as posts and poles, vigas and latillas; Christmas trees; 

and transplant stock. These products are also cultural ecosystem services as discussed above. 

Ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forests where fire has been absent commonly have dense thickets 

of small-diameter woody growth. Timber harvest is an important step in restoring these areas to their 

desired conditions, which improves regulating ecosystem services. Thinning timber to create more 

space between trees allows grasses to grow, improves water retention and nutrient cycling, and 

mitigates the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire. Ultimately, trees grow larger and sequester more 

carbon than dense stands of small trees. By staging different vegetation treatments across the 

landscape, there are a greater variety of habitats for wildlife, which is a supporting ecosystem 

service. 
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Timber Suitability

The National Forest Management Act of 1976 requires that NFS lands be classified as to their 

suitability for timber production. NFS lands were reserved with the intent of providing goods and 

services to satisfy public needs over the long term, among them is a sustainable supply of forest 

products. The 2012 Planning Rule provisions require the responsible official to identify lands not 

suitable for timber production within the area governed by the forest plan (36 CFR 219.11). 

Forest Service Manual (FSM) 1900 defines “forest land” as that which has at least 10 percent tree 

cover, or which had such tree cover in the past, and which is not currently developed for non-forest 

uses, such as agriculture, providing improved pasture, residential or administrative areas, improved 

roads of any width, and adjoining road clearing and powerline clearing of any width. It defines 

timber production as “the purposeful growing, tending, harvesting, and regeneration of regulated 

crops of trees for cutting into logs, bolts, or other round sections for industrial or consumer use.” 

Forest land may be considered as unsuited for timber production if any of the following apply: 

(a) Congress, the Secretary of Agriculture, or the Chief of the Forest Service has withdrawn it 

from the public domain; 

(b) it is not producing or capable of producing crops of industrial wood; 

(c) there is no technology available to prevent irreversible damage to soil productivity and/or 

watershed conditions; 

(d) there is no reasonable assurance based on existing technology and knowledge, that it is 

possible to restock lands within five years after final harvest, as reflected in current research 

and experience; 

(e) there is currently a lack of adequate information about responses to timber management 

activities; and/or 

(f) timber management is inconsistent with, or not cost-efficient in meeting, the management 

requirements, and multiple-use objectives specified in the forest plan. 

Table 2 shows the results of a timber suitability analysis for the Santa Fe NF. In the table, various 

categories of forest land are described, and the acres suitable for timber production are reported. 

Table 2. Classification of lands suitable for timber production on the Santa Fe NF 

Land Classification Category Acres

A. Total NFS lands in the plan area 1,545,310

B. Lands not suited for timber production due to legal or technical reasons 1,187,958

C. Lands that may be suited for timber production (A−B)11 356,943

D. Total lands suited for timber production because timber production is compatible with the 

desired conditions and objectives established by the plan

356,716

E. Lands not suited for timber production because timber production is not compatible with the 

desired conditions and objectives established by the plan (C–D)

227

F. Total lands not suited for timber production (B+E) 1,187,942 

 

11 Will not equal the total acres of Santa Fe NF administered land (A) minus lands not suited for timber production (B) 

because of gaps between datasets and the forest boundary that can be up to 500 acres. 
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The timber suitability analysis created the foundation to determine the amounts of timber and forest 

products anticipated to be harvested from the Santa Fe NF over the lifetime of the forest plan. These 

quantitative measures include sustained yield limit (SYL), which is the quantity of wood products 

that could be removed from the forest in perpetuity; projected wood sale quantity (PWSQ), which is

all woody material likely to be sold from forest harvests whether or not the woody material meets 

utilization standards; and projected timber sale quantity (PTSQ), which is a subset of the projected 

wood sale quantity, and is an estimate of the quantity of timber expected to be sold during the plan 

period. In the Santa Fe NF, SYL is 70.6 MMCF (303.4 MMBF), PTSQ is 43.6 MMCF 

(145.8 MMBF), and PWSQ is 52.7 MMCF (163.4 MMBF) for the first decade of the forest plan. 

A detailed process document for determining timber suitability, SYL, PTSQ, PWSQ, and maps of 

suitable timber lands are located in the DEIS Volume 2, Appendix C: Timber Suitability and Forest 

Products Analyses Processes. 

Desired Conditions for Forest Products (FW-FORESTRY-DC)

1 Forest products (e.g., fuelwood, latillas, vigas, Christmas trees, herbs, medicinal plants, and 

piñon nuts) are available to businesses and individuals in a sustainable manner (e.g., forest 

products recover between collections) that also effectively contributes to watershed health 

and the restoration or maintenance of desired vegetation conditions.

2 Forest products are available for traditional communities and culturally important activities 

and contribute to social and economic sustainability of local communities.

3 Forest products that are a byproduct of management activities are available for personal 

use (e.g., fuelwood) by the public. 

4 Private and commercial timber harvest supplement restoration and maintenance 

treatments at a scale that achieves landscape desired conditions and contribute to 

watershed restoration function and resilience, wildlife habitat enhancement, small and 

large business and employment opportunities, and provide wood products.

5 Harvest of dead and dying trees for economic value is consistent with the desired conditions 

of wildlife habitat, soil productivity, and ecosystem functions.

6 Unauthorized collection (e.g., theft or collection outside permitted areas) of permitted 

forest products is rare.

Objective for Forest Products (FW-FORESTRY-O)

1 Provide at least 177,000 CCF per decade to contribute to local forest product industry and for 

personal use, including 92,850 CCF (72,539 cords) per decade of fuelwood. 
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Standards for Forest Products (FW-FORESTRY-S

1 Regulated timber harvest (tree harvest for the purposes of timber production) must occur 

only on lands classified as suitable for timber production (16 U.S.C. 1604). 

a On lands suitable for timber production, timber harvest intended to create openings for 

tree regeneration must only be used when there is reasonable assurance of restocking 

within 5 years after final regeneration harvest.

b Timber harvest would occur only where soil, slope, or watershed conditions would not 

be irreversibly damaged.

c Timber will be harvested only where protection is provided for streams, streambanks, 

shorelines, lakes, wetlands, and other bodies of water.

d Timber harvest would be carried out consistent with the protection of soil, watershed, 

fish, wildlife, recreation, and aesthetic resources. 

e Timber will be harvested only where the harvesting system is not selected primarily 

because it will give the greatest dollar return or unit output of timber.

2 Harvests to meet resource objectives other than timber production (e.g., fuelwood harvest, 

protection, and habitat enhancement) are permitted on all lands (i.e., suitable and not 

suitable). 

3 The sale of timber from the national forest shall be limited to a quantity equal to or less than 

a quantity that can be removed from the forest annually in perpetuity on a sustained-yield 

basis and exceptions (departures, decade, salvage and sanitation harvests).

4 Even-aged regeneration cuts (e.g., clearcutting, seed tree cutting, etc.) during one harvest 

operation must not exceed 40 acres, unless requirements of both a and b and either c or d as 

listed below are met.

a interdisciplinary team analysis determines clear cuts to be appropriate and the optimum 

method, and

b a 60-day public notice and review by the Regional Forester occurs, and 

c it is necessary to achieve the ecological desired conditions in this plan, or

d harvest is the result of natural catastrophic conditions (e.g., stand-replacing fire, wind 

storm, or insect or disease outbreak) 

5 Even-aged regeneration cuts must be shaped and blended with the natural terrain.

6 Harvesting systems (methods) must primarily be selected for their effectiveness to move 

toward ecological desired conditions.
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Guidelines for Forest Products (FW-FORESTRY-G)

1 On suitable timberlands, regeneration harvest of even-aged stands should have reached or 

surpassed 95 percent of the culmination of mean annual increment, unless it is needed to: 

a Reduce fire hazard within the wildland-urban interface (WUI), 

b Contribute toward achieving the desired uneven-aged vegetation conditions over the 

long term, or 

c Treats unsustainable stand conditions resulting from insects, disease, or other damage 

agents. 

2 Log landing areas should be located outside of mapped sensitive areas (e.g., riparian 

management zones, wetlands, archeological sites, threatened and endangered critical 

habitat, and along Scenery Management System Concern Level I Routes). When landings

must be located in these areas, effects to the sensitive resource will be mitigated. 

3 Management activities should use information from the best available science to reduce the 

likelihood of uncharacteristic insect and disease outbreaks (per Guideline 3 in Wildlife: 

Nonnative and Invasive Species).

Management Approaches for Forest Products (FW-FORESTRY-MA)

1. When planning and implementing projects, work collaboratively with Federal, State, local 

governments, Tribes, industry, environmental groups and private landowners to promote 

integrated ecological and social-economic goals of harvesting forest products to support a 

sustainable and appropriately scaled industry.

2. Consider developing and promoting public education (e.g., brochures, signs, websites, and 

social media) on the ecological and social impacts of illegal activities and the importance of the 

sustainability of these resources.

3. Consider designing variably sized timber contracts to accommodate a range of operations based 

in northern New Mexico communities.

4. During the planning process, consider uneven- or even-aged timber harvest methods that reflect 

the scale of natural disturbances and are designed to achieve desired conditions (e.g., size class 

distribution, species composition, patch size, fuel reduction, insects and disease).

5. In addition to treatments in highly departed frequent fire ERUs (e.g., PPF, MCD), consider 

treatments within infrequent-fire ERUs (e.g., spruce-fir forest, mixed conifer with aspen, and 

piñon-juniper woodland) for ecological and socioeconomic benefits. 

6. Consider designating and managing stands of mature or over-mature piñon for the gathering of 

piñon nuts and potentially restrict the harvest of firewood in these stands.

7. Consider using woody material that results from management activities prior to on-site burning 

and chipping. 

8. Consider making fuelwood available through public access within a project area, providing 

some decked woody material along roads, or allowing collection within utility corridors being 

thinned. 
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9. Consider preparing pest control plans with forest health specialists that contain appropriate 

mitigation measures (e.g., use of resistant tree species, maintenance of species diversity, 

removal of damaged trees, and pesticides) and monitoring procedures. Monitoring procedures 

might include: 

a. Measure effectiveness of treated areas; 

b. Determine effects on non-target organisms; 

c. Determine effects on water quality; or

d. Determine effects of pesticide that enters the soil or air.
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Sustainable Rangelands and Livestock Grazing 

“We use it for our way of life – ranching...Our boys have grown up in ranching life.” 

(Public comment during Assessment, spring 2014) 

“Many rural families supplement their monetary or nutritional needs by raising livestock for a 

portion of the year on the Santa Fe NF” 

(Public comment on the Notice of Intent, summer 2016) 

Rangelands are grasslands, shrublands, woodlands, wetlands, and deserts that are grazed by domestic 

livestock or wild animals. On the Santa Fe NF, most of the land is grazed by domestic animals unless 

it is too steep or designated for special use such as the Santa Fe watershed. 

There is a long history of ranching and farming in the area prior to the establishment of the Santa Fe 

NF. “The ranching tradition in northern New Mexico is long standing, enduring across many 

generations. Livestock ownership and ranch life are powerful forces that bind families and 

communities, continuing a heritage that began with Spanish colonization. Owing to the history of 

land use and ownership in the region, many contemporary ranchers rely to a considerable degree on 

public land to graze their animals” (Raish and McSweeney 2003). The forest was initially grazed by 

cattle, sheep, swine, and goats. Today, it is grazed by cows, calves, and yearlings, with incidental use 

by permittees’ working horses. Much of this land was formerly granted to or used by traditional 

communities and the ancestors of current permit holders.

Ranching and livestock grazing continue to be traditional cultural values in the rural communities 

adjacent to the Santa Fe NF. McSweeney and Raish (2012) summarized livestock grazing of northern

New Mexico: “Retaining the livestock operation for family and future generations is a goal common 

to the permittees.” The traditional value of ranching is so important that even when it is not 

economically viable to rely on their grazing operation, ranchers work other jobs as a means of 

supplementing their income. A working ranch lifestyle, even in limited scale, carries tangible family 

and cultural benefits; Santa Fe NF permits are typically small, with herd size ranging from 1 to 374, 

and an average herd size per permit of only 39. Some families have made conscious employment 

choices to remain in the local community. In spite of the difficulties, they expressed hope for the 

future of the ranch, the land, and the family. Most permittees consider their ranching and livestock 

operations as an investment or a form of savings. “While the ranch may produce little or even a 

negative operating income, the assets have a high value which is expected to increase. Most northern 

ranchers own their homes, land and cattle, and these constitute a significant investment and form of 

savings, which often has a very high value”. Due to the history of land ownership and land grants, 

many of these operations may not be viable if unable to use public lands. (McSweeney and Raish 

2012) 

The numbers of grazing permits, grazing allotments, and maximum permitted forage consumption 

(animal unit months [AUMs]) on the Santa Fe NF have steadily increased over the past 20 years. 

Livestock management on NFS lands has shifted to an adaptive management philosophy allowing 

appropriate seasonal changes in livestock numbers (increases or decreases) or seasons of use, in 

response to changing ecological conditions (e.g., forage production, water availability, and 

precipitation patterns). Adaptive management recognizes that our knowledge about natural systems 

can be uncertain (e.g., climate variability, fire, or flooding), and future management needs to be 

flexible to adjust to meet the management objectives. When used appropriately, this flexibility better 

mimics natural processes and decreases the potential for undesired impacts on other resources. This

adaptive management strategy is codified as policy in the Forest Service Handbook on Grazing 
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Permit Administration and Rangeland Decision Making. When monitoring indicates that adjustments 

are needed, the adaptive management approach allows for changes to occur as long as they remain 

within the range analyzed in the NEPA analysis that authorized grazing for that allotment. 

Livestock grazing plays an essential role in providing ecosystem services, with cultural ecosystem 

services being one of the most prominent. Continuing this way of life on ancestral lands enhances the 

culture and heritage for future generations. Many people living in traditional communities participate 

in or have connections to ranching and identify with the associated values. Livestock grazing also 

provides provisioning ecosystem services by contributing to the livelihood of permit holders and to 

the economy of traditional communities and counties. Livestock grazing can also provide ecological 

benefits. Regulating ecosystem services include aeration of the soil through hoof action, invasive 

plant control, reduction of fine fuels, and maintaining open space off-forest. Provisioning ecosystem

services include food and hides. Supporting ecosystem services include increased water 

developments in uplands that are used by wildlife and better plan diversity and ground cover. 

Desired Conditions for Sustainable Rangelands and Livestock Grazing (FWRANGE-DC)

1 Sustainable rangeland forage provides livestock grazing opportunities that contribute to 

agricultural business and local employment, as well as traditional and generational ties to 

the land.

2 Livestock grazing contributes to the social and economic sustainability of local communities.

3 Rangelands are resilient to disturbances and variations in the natural environment (e.g., fire, 

flood, and climate variability).

4 Livestock grazing is compatible with ecological function and processes (e.g., water 

infiltration, wildlife habitat, soil stability, and natural fire regimes).

5 Native plant communities support diverse age classes of shrubs and vigorous, diverse, selfsustaining understories of grasses and forbs relative to site potential, while providing forage 

for livestock and wildlife.

6 Wetland and riparian areas consist of native obligate wetland species and a diversity of 

riparian plant communities consistent with site potential and relative to wetland riparian 

and forest, shrub, and scrub riparian desired conditions. 

7 Range infrastructure functions to maintain or improve livestock grazing management and 

the condition of forest ecological and cultural resources.
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Objectives for Sustainable Rangelands and Livestock Grazing (FW-RANGE-O)

1 Annually remove, improve, or reconstruct at least 5 percent of the forest’s range 

infrastructure that is no longer necessary or in poor or non-functional condition.

2 Maintain, improve, or install at least one water feature per year to improve water availability 

for wildlife or livestock where natural water sources are limited.

12

Standards for Sustainable Rangelands and Livestock Grazing (FW-RANGE-S)

1 Livestock management must be compatible with capacity and address ecological resources 

(e.g., forage, invasive plants, at-risk species, soils, riparian health, and water quality) that are 

departed from desired conditions, as determined by temporally and spatially appropriate 

data.13

2 New or reconstructed fencing must allow for wildlife passage, except where specifically 

intended to exclude wildlife (such as elk exclosure fence) or to protect human health and 

safety, while maintaining its effectiveness for livestock management.

3 New and reconstructed range improvements must be designed to prevent wildlife 

entrapment and provide safe egress for wildlife (e.g., escape ramps in water troughs and 

cattleguards).

Guidelines for Sustainable Rangelands and Livestock Grazing (FW-RANGE-G)

1 Forage use should be based on current and desired ecological conditions as determined by 

temporally and spatially scientific data during planning cycles (e.g., Annual Operating 

Instructions or permit renewal), to sustain livestock grazing and maintain ecological function 

and processes.14

2 Livestock grazing within riparian management zones (RMZ) should be managed to sustain 

proper15 stream channel morphology, floodplain function, and riparian vegetation desired 

conditions.

3 New livestock troughs, tanks, and holding facilities should be located to avoid long-term 

detrimental impacts to RMZs unless necessary for resource enhancement or protection. 

4 New range infrastructure (e.g., troughs or tanks) should be designed to avoid long-term 

negative impacts to soil resources (e.g., soil compaction and soil loss) to maintain 

hydrological function outside of the structure’s footprint.

5 Salting or mineral supplementation should not occur on or adjacent to areas especially 

sensitive to salt and increased ungulate traffic (e.g., riparian areas, wetlands, archeological 

sites, and at-risk species present) to protect these sites.

 

12 These water features can serve dual purposes for both wildlife and livestock and can be done in conjunction with 

objective for water features in wildlife section.

13 Guidance can be found in the Grazing Permit Administration Handbook, Regional Supplements, and best available 

science.

14 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA) (35 U.S.C. 3001). 15 Proper stream channel morphology and floodplain function as defined by BLM’s proper functioning condition protocol, 

or a similar metric.
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Guidelines for Sustainable Rangelands and Livestock Grazing (FW-RANGE-G)

6 Restocking decisions and management of grazing allotments following a major disturbance 

(e.g., wildfire) should occur on a case-by-case basis after consideration of site-specific 

resource conditions.

7 Vacant or understocked allotments should be made available to permitted livestock for 

pasture during times or events when other active allotments are unavailable and require 

ecosystem recovery as a result of natural disturbances (e.g., wildfire) or management 

activities (e.g., vegetation restoration treatments). 

8 Grazing of domestic sheep or goats should not be authorized in areas occupied by bighorn 

sheep to minimize the spread of disease between domestic and wild populations.

Management Approaches for Sustainable Rangelands and Livestock Grazing (FWRANGE-MA)

1. Forest managers cooperate, collaborate, and coordinate with permit holders to respond to 

changing resource conditions. Cooperation, collaboration, and coordination among Santa Fe NF 

and permit holders is key to improving rangeland and forest conditions for multiple uses, moving 

toward desired conditions, and contributing to the socio-economic wellbeing of local 

communities. In addition, collaboration among stakeholders is important, including local 

communities; permit holders; and Federal, State, county, and local government entities. 

2. Develop partnerships with livestock grazing permit holders, agencies, and other groups and 

individuals to develop collaborative proposals and implement projects that benefit multiple use 

on the forest. 

3. Coordination with livestock grazing permit holders should occur at the early stages of planning 

and project design to include local perspectives, needs, concerns, and traditional knowledge.

4. When livestock grazing is modified as a response to changing resource conditions and permit 

holder needs, forest managers should first consider adjusting timing (which is easier for the 

permit holder), followed by intensity and frequency. Consider adjusting intensity at permit 

renewal. In addition, collaboration among stakeholders is important including the local 

interdisciplinary team; permit holders; Federal, State, county and local government entities; and 

non-governmental organizations. 

5. Acknowledge the economic, traditional, and cultural importance of livestock grazing to northern 

New Mexico families and consider providing Forest Service employees education on the 

importance of this traditional practice.

6. Consider emphasizing large-scale landscape approaches and treatments for restoring rangelands 

and the use and perpetuation of a diversity of native plant species, with an emphasis on grass, 

forb, and shrub communities. 

7. Consider using an adaptive management strategy to manage livestock grazing in a manner that 

promotes ecosystem resiliency, sustainability, and species diversity, based on changes in range 

conditions, climate, and other resource conditions. Using the adaptive management strategy 

provides more flexibility to grazing management, while improving or maintaining rangeland 

health. 

8. Consider inviting association members and individual permit holders on range inspections. 
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9. Consider modifying, relocating, or removing existing range facilities in water resource features, 

where their presence is determined to inhibit movement toward desired riparian or aquatic 

conditions and consistent with existing water rights and water quality and quantity. 

10. Consider how ungulates (e.g., elk, deer, and livestock) have cumulative impacts on Forest 

resources. 

11. Where an allotment fence intersects a designated trail, consider using a self-closing gate (e.g., 

easy-to-use gate, walk-through gate, or horseback accessible) to provide access for recreation 

users that does not risk livestock escape. 

12. In wetland or riparian areas, consider avoiding livestock grazing in the same area during the 

same vegetative growth and reproduction periods (e.g., leafing, flowering, or seeding) in 

consecutive years to ensure that riparian pastures have vegetative recovery. 
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Recreation 

“I like to use the forest in many ways. In the winter I ski and snowshoe. In the summer, spring, and 

winter I like to mountain bike, hike, picnic, and improve the area through trail building.”

(Public comment during the Assessment, spring 2014) 

National forests of the United States provide a diversity of outdoor recreation opportunities, 

connecting people with nature in an unmatched variety of settings and activities. Participation in 

recreational activities provides an important understanding of the meaning, history, and relevance of 

public lands, as a whole. Recreation contributes greatly to the physical, mental, and spiritual health 

of individuals; bonds family and friends; instills pride in heritage; and provides economic benefits to 

communities, regions, and the Nation. Santa Fe NF recreation resources and opportunities, as defined 

in this plan, include: (1) activities associated with developed recreation sites, (2) dispersed recreation 

activities, and (3) recreation special uses. 

Use of the Santa Fe NF for recreation dates back through the past century. The first permitted 

summer homes were constructed in the forest in 1917, in Holy Ghost Canyon. In the 1920s, fishing 

and big game hunting became activities more of leisure rather than subsistence. During World War 

II, scientists at Los Alamos popularized skiing, horseback riding, and hiking. Ski Santa Fe, the only 

commercial downhill ski area in the Santa Fe NF, was founded in 1947. Today, approximately 

1.3 million people visit the forest annually, and their primary reason for visiting is recreation. The 

most popular16 activities for visitors include hiking and walking, viewing natural features, viewing 

wildlife, relaxing, driving for pleasure, nature study, cross-country skiing, fishing, downhill skiing, 

and picnicking. 

The ways in which people recreate in the forest are ever-changing. New types of recreation are 

always emerging. Mountain biking, rock climbing, zip lining, and geo-caching represent activities 

that have recently become more prominent or that may not have even existed 20 or 30 years ago. 

Current developed recreation facilities, such as single-use occupancy campsites, may not meet the 

needs of today’s recreationists who are increasingly looking for group campsites. The gap between 

supply and demand can lead to increased impacts from recreation, such as insufficient recreation 

experiences, maintenance backlogs, underutilization of developed sites, or heavily used dispersed 

sites. It is important that the Santa Fe NF have a sustainable recreation program that can adapt to 

changes in demand, available resources, and opportunities; use local volunteer efforts; and develop 

local and regional partnerships to cooperatively manage recreation sites and resources.

We use the desired recreation opportunity spectrum (ROS) to identify various development levels of 

recreation activities available to visitors. The ROS is a continuum used for managing recreation 

opportunities, based on a combination of physical, biological, social, and managerial settings, 

ranging from primeval to paved. The ROS uses the following descriptors for recreation settings 

ranging from least to most developed: primitive, semiprimitive-nonmotorized, semiprimitive 

motorized, roaded natural, rural, and urban. These ROS classifications are used in project planning to 

measure the degree of variation from the existing classification to a new classification.

Recreation provides abundant cultural ecosystem services. Activities such as camping, hiking, skiing, 

or simply going into the woods help connect individuals and families to nature. Developed recreation 

group sites are popular for family reunions during summer weekends, which is a traditional use of 

 

16 At least 8 percent of visitors indicated they participated in each of these activities (NVUM 2009). 
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national forests in northern New Mexico. Hunting; fishing; and gathering of forest products, 

especially fuelwood; are important traditional activities that locals have participated in on these lands 

for generations. These are not only cultural ecosystem services, but also provisioning ecosystem 

services in that they provide necessary goods and services for subsistence such as food, medicine, 

and the means to heat rural homes in winter. In addition, these activities can provide regulating 

ecosystem services through controlling wildlife populations and removing fuels to improve forest 

health. 

Common to All Subsections for Recreation

Desired Conditions for All Subsections for Recreation (FW-REC-DC)

1 The unique cultural, historical, and ecological resources of the forest are featured through 

recreation opportunities, education, and interpretation. Visitors have opportunities to 

connect to the importance of the past, present, and future of the forest.

2 Recreation opportunities are commensurate with the ROS setting and enhance the 

economic, cultural, and social vitality and well-being of surrounding communities. 

3 The forest is engaged with local communities, stakeholders, and volunteers to foster 

partnerships and facilitate the management of sustainable recreation.

4 Potential user conflicts are infrequent. 

5 Recreation experiences are not diminished by human disturbances (e.g., vandalism, theft, 

and overuse).

6 Sustainable recreation opportunities are variable (e.g., recreation settings, activities, and 

seasonality); adaptable to changing uses and trends; and available commensurate with 

public interest, resource capacity, and other natural and cultural resource values.

Guidelines for All Subsections for Recreation (FW-REC-G)

1 All project-level decisions and implementation activities should be moving toward the desired

ROS mapped classes and setting descriptions to sustain recreation settings and opportunities.

2 Management activities that would substantially diminish recreation experiences (e.g., 

diminishing the scenic setting, facility construction or repair, or timber cutting) should not be 

scheduled at popular developed sites on weekends or holidays during the major recreation 

season (e.g., between Memorial Day and Labor Day), except in cases of wildland fire 

management or when doing so would otherwise not achieve project goals. 
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Management Approaches for All Subsections for Recreation (FW-REC-MA)

1. Develop or enhance partnerships and collaborate with agencies, groups, communities, 

volunteers, permit holders, and other individuals to increase forest stewardship, ecological 

awareness, volunteerism, and user satisfaction; promote a sustainable recreation program; and 

support local recreation-based economic development.

2. Promote established programs and develop new conservation education programs at schools, 

youth activities, fairs, and volunteer events that help connect people to nature, reach underserved 

populations, and encourage responsible use of natural resources. 

3. Convene and encourage multi-stakeholder groups to address recreation maintenance concerns in 

specific areas. 

4. Collaborate with livestock permit holders and recreationists to resolve conflicts.

5. Consider multilingual interpretation in recreation areas popular with non-English-speaking 

visitors.

6. Consider incorporating information technology (e.g., quick response (QR) codes, web addresses, 

or interactive maps) into signs and interpretive materials to direct public to additional 

information. 

7. Consider programs to educate the public on land stewardship using minimum impact principles 

(e.g., Leave No Trace, Tread Lightly, or Don’t Bust the Crust!).

8. Consider issuing closure orders where there is excessive resource damage or to maintain public 

safety.

9. Consider using sustainable operations at developed recreation sites (e.g., recycling receptacles, 

electric maintenance vehicles, etc.). 

10. Consider issuing closure orders to establish a 14-day limit for overnight occupancy at the same 

location within the Santa Fe NF (consecutive or not) within a 90-day period, except as allowed 

by permit. 

11. Develop conservation education, visitor information, and interpretation materials to inform and 

engage visitors and local communities. These resources are readily available and encourage 

increased forest stewardship, ecological awareness, visitor orientation, and knowledge of 

recreation opportunities. 
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Developed Recreation

Developed recreation occurs in constructed Forest Service recreation sites such as campgrounds, 

picnic areas, fishing sites, trailheads, downhill ski areas, and boating ramps. Developed recreation 

provides more accessible experiences with features such as parking, shelters, running water, or 

toilets. Some developed recreation areas require fees to use them. 

Desired Conditions for Developed Recreation (FW-DEVREC-DC)

1 Developed recreation sites meet the expectations of the public, and are sustainable. 

2 Recreation facilities are safe, well maintained, and function as intended. New facilities are 

appropriate within the ROS setting.

3 Developed recreation sites complement the forest’s scenery resources and scenic character.

Objective for Developed Recreation (FW-DEVREC-O)

1 At two developed recreation sites, accomplish at least 75 percent of deferred maintenance 

projects every 3 years.

Guidelines for Developed Recreation (FW-DEVREC-G)

1 Recreation developments and improvements should be planned, designed, and managed for 

activities and capacities that allow for sustainable use while minimizing long-term resource 

damage.

2 Large group events involving fewer than 75 people should be directed to designated group sites, 

as they are not authorized by special-use permit.

3 Design, construction, and maintenance of signage (e.g., trail markings, kiosks, and interpretive 

signs) and facilities should be consistent with the scenic and cultural character of the 

surrounding landscape and the development scale appropriate to the ROS class. 

4 Recreation facilities and improvements should be designed to prevent human and wildlife 

conflicts. For example, use animal-resistant trash cans and cap or screen pipes on gates, vault 

toilet vents, and interpretive sign bases.

5 Constructed features should be maintained to support the function(s) for which they were built. 

When no longer used as intended, they should be repurposed to accommodate the new use or 

decommissioned to minimize maintenance backlog and infrastructure deterioration, and to 

protect public safety and health.

6 Managing recreational trends and uses (e.g., drones, satellite dishes, or slack-lining) at 

developed recreation sites should be considered on a case-by-case basis for protection of public 

safety, other resources, and quality recreation opportunities.
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Management Approaches for Developed Recreation (FW-DEVREC-MA)

1. Consider assessing the sustainability of the developed recreation program and prioritize sites for 

decommissioning, closing, or repurposing the facilities. 

2. Consider the volume of use, resource protection needs, and opportunities for public-private 

partnerships, geographic distribution, and operating costs, as well as public input, to determine 

the operation or closure of a site. 

3. Consider adaptively managing recreation facilities and shifting limited program resources to 

prioritized sites. 

4. Consider repurposing closed or unused facilities (e.g., fire towers, cabins, and recreation 

residences) as possible recreation rentals. 

5. Consider posting at developed recreation sites public safety and stewardship information that 

includes a welcome to the site as well as rules and regulations on recreational activities. 
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Dispersed Recreation

Dispersed recreation is any recreation outside a developed site. It includes motorized and 

non-motorized uses such as dispersed camping, backpacking, rock climbing, day hiking, horseback 

riding, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, wildlife viewing, 

driving for pleasure, and riding all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles. Experiences associated with 

dispersed recreation can be as varied as the opportunities. Since dispersed recreation is not tied to a 

Forest Service facility, it can provide access to more remote areas and more solitary experiences. 

Secluded, less-visited spots may provide better opportunities for wildlife-based recreation such as 

wildlife viewing, hunting, fishing, and foraging. Dispersed recreation also occurs in many popular 

locations in the forest. Some of the most popular camping spots and trails are managed as dispersed 

recreation. 

Desired Conditions for Dispersed Recreation (FW-DISREC-DC)

1 Dispersed recreation opportunities range from remote backcountry solitude to roadside 

sites along popular corridors. Dispersed recreation is consistent with management tools 

(e.g., the MVUM and ROS classes) and does not adversely affect ecological resources. 

2 The design, construction, and maintenance of trails creates a trail system that is sustainable 

and consistent with user desires, enhances the recreation experience, diminishes user 

conflicts, and minimizes damage to other resources. 

3 Unauthorized access (e.g., roads and trails) and non-system routes are not present on the 

landscape.

Objectives for Dispersed Recreation (FW-DISREC-O)

1 Maintain (e.g., clear, repair tread, brush, or improve drainage) at least 25 percent of system 

trails every 3 years.

2 Verify and correct proper signage and alignment of trails on the ground and with maps and 

geospatial data (i.e., cartographic accuracy) for at least 25 percent of system trails every 

3 years.

3 Undertake sustainably-designed capital improvements (e.g., alteration, expansion, or new 

construction) on at least 1 mile of poorly designed or maintained trail every 3 years. The mile 

may be contiguous or non-contiguous.
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Standards for Dispersed Recreation (FW-DISREC-S)

1 Motorized uses are prohibited in ROS settings desired to be primitive. 

2 Motorized uses are prohibited in semiprimitive-nonmotorized ROS settings, except for 

necessary administrative activities, permitted activities, and emergency access.

3 In semiprimitive-nonmotorized ROS settings, no new permanent motorized routes or areas 

shall be constructed or designated. Temporary motorized routes or road construction in 

semiprimitive-nonmotorized settings must be rehabilitated within 2 years of project 

completion. 

4 Impacts to recreation opportunities resulting from the construction of temporary roads, 

facilities, and structures needed for management activities must be mitigated upon 

completion of the project.

Guidelines for Dispersed Recreation (FW-DISREC-G)

1 Trails should be sustainably designed, constructed, rerouted, or maintained using current 

best practices.

2 NFS trails should not be used for management activities that negatively impact trail 

conditions or the user experience unless alternatives entail greater resource damage. 

Adverse impacts to system trails should be mitigated upon project completion. 

3 All trails (motorized and non-motorized) that adversely impact cultural resources or at-risk 

species should be mitigated or closed, or alternative travel routes should be developed. New 

trails should avoid the riparian management zone and have limited stream crossings.

4 Designated access points to natural waters should be developed within vulnerable 

recreation areas to protect riparian areas from widespread erosion, trampling, and the 

introduction of undesirable species. 

5 When closing or mitigating adverse effects of dispersed recreation areas, native vegetation 

and natural materials should be used. 

6 Dispersed camping sites should be closed, rehabilitated, or otherwise mitigated when:

a site conditions are no longer consistent with the area’s scenic integrity objective, 

b there are persistent user conflicts, or

c unacceptable environmental damage is occurring (e.g., large areas of denuded 

vegetation, eroded streambanks, piles of campfire ash, or human waste impacting 

natural water features).
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Management Approaches for Dispersed Recreation (FW-DISREC-MA)

1. Consider developing and implementing a plan for a forestwide trail system. 

2. Consider programs and educational techniques (e.g., brochures, signs, websites, and social 

media) that promote visitor knowledge of: 

a. Proper non-motorized and motorized trail use etiquette; 

b. “Leave no Trace” principles;

c. Fire prevention, especially how to properly extinguish campfires; and

d. At-risk species habitat 

3. Consider methods that would discourage the creation and use of non-motorized user-created 

routes (e.g., direct recreation to NFS trails). 

4. Consider methods that would discourage dispersed camping near cultural sites, sensitive habitat 

for at-risk species, interpretive sites, and water resources.

5. Consider barriers and signage to control unauthorized use in areas with a high potential for 

illegal cross-country motorized vehicle use. 

6. At heavily used dispersed recreation sites, consider monitoring use and the following actions as 

potential mitigations: relocation, conversion to designated dispersed campsites, providing 

additional bathrooms, or restricting overnight use. 

7. Consider posting information and barriers to redirect use and encourage public compliance in 

site rehabilitation efforts. 

8. Where forage is limited, consider providing information to encourage overnight campers with 

saddle or pack animals to carry weed-free cubed, pelleted, or rolled feed to limit overuse of the 

vegetation and discourage establishment or spread of noxious weeds.

9. Consider promoting clean camping practices (e.g., Leave No Trace, Pack-It-In, Pack-It-Out) at 

dispersed sites.

10. Work with other entities to connect trails in Santa Fe NF with other trails on or through adjacent 

lands. 
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Recreation Special Uses

Recreation special-use authorizations allow the use and occupancy of NFS lands when the proposed 

activity supports the Forest Service mission, meets demonstrated public needs, and aligns with the 

desired conditions for the use area. Tourism, nature-based outdoor recreation, and other special 

recreational uses encourage responsible use by visitors and local communities. Recreation special 

uses may include ski areas, outfitter and guides (e.g., hunting, rafting, and backpacking), and 

recreation events. Many recreational special uses provide economic opportunities and sustainability 

to local communities. Recreation residences and isolated cabins are dealt with in the Lands Special 

Uses section of the plan.

Desired Conditions for Recreation Special Uses (FW-RECSU-DC)

1 Recreation special-use authorizations (e.g., outfitters and guides, competitive races, family 

reunions, special events, and Ski Santa Fe) provide unique opportunities, services, and 

experiences for the recreating public and address a demonstrated demand for a specific 

recreation opportunity.

2 Recreation special-use authorizations are timely, efficient, user-friendly, and consistent 

across similar locations and uses.

3 Recreation special-use authorizations provide for public demands without causing 

movement away from desired conditions for ecological resources and multiple uses.

4 Services provided by recreation special-use authorization holders enhance the recreation 

experiences of forest visitors, ensure public health and safety, and protect natural resources 

and unique features. Recreation special uses contribute to the local economy by providing 

small business opportunities.

Standard for Recreation Special Uses (FW-RECSU-S)

1 Commercial use of domestic sheep and goats (e.g., for filming, as pack animals, etc.) must not 

be authorized in areas occupied by bighorn sheep or in areas where bighorn sheep travel, to 

prevent the spread of disease between domestic and wild populations.

Guideline for Recreation Special Uses (FW-RECSU-G)

1 Special use authorizations for recreation events and outfitting and guiding services should be 

analyzed relevant to any available capacity studies, possible use of nominal effects 

determinations, and other administrative tools. 
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Management Approaches for Recreation Special Uses (FW-RECSU-MA)

1. Collaborate with New Mexico Game and Fish, New Mexico Council of Outfitters and Guides 

(NMCOG), and other New Mexico national forests to coordinate special-use authorization

consistency for outfitters and guides. Consider convening an annual meeting between forest, 

State, and NMCOG representatives to discuss issues and management strategies.

2. Consider creating a forestwide policy for administering common recreation special-use 

authorizations and non-compliance issues.

3. Consider conducting capacity studies to determine the number of special-use authorizations that 

should be issued for popular commercial recreation activities.

4. Consider directing applicants desiring special-use authorizations on heavily used areas to 

alternative areas that can better support the desired activities.
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Roads 

“I drive the roads through this area because I would be unable to access any other way. My mother 

would not be able to access the mountains without the roads.” 

(Public comment for Wilderness Evaluation, fall 2016). 

The Santa Fe NF road system consists of thousands of miles of arterial, collector, local, and closed 

roads as well as bridges. The construction and maintenance of the road system includes the roadbed, 

culverts, cattle guards, gates, drainages, signage, and clearing of brush and overgrowth. 

Motor vehicle use maps (MVUM) identify motorized routes (roads and motorized trails) open to the 

public. This designated system provides motor vehicle access to and through the Santa Fe NF 

including private land inholdings, recreation sites, traditional uses, fuelwood and forest product 

gathering areas, and administrative and recreation facilities. Additional roads exist on the ground and 

are only available for administrative or permitted purposes, but still may require management, 

especially to prevent ecological damage. These roads provide access to range or wildlife 

developments, acequia infrastructure, residences, and management projects (e.g., restoration). 

Temporary roads are roads authorized by contract, permit, other written authorization, or are 

necessary for emergency operations. A temporary road is not an NFS road, part of the forest 

transportation system (MVUM), or necessary for long-term management. A well designed, managed, 

and maintained forest road infrastructure allows for these opportunities. 

Maintenance keeps roads and bridges safe for use and free from causing ecological damage such as 

road erosion. Routine maintenance and upkeep is performed with a dedicated road crew and 

contractors for larger and more complicated projects. Future management of roads will increasingly 

rely upon cooperative forest road agreements to maintain the ecological integrity of the road system 

as well as vehicle safety. Agreements will need to be made with State, county, and local 

governments, or with other Federal agencies. Special use authorizations (e.g., permits, easements, 

etc.) are needed with private land owners and tribal governments. 

Maintenance levels are used to describe the service provided by and maintenance required for any 

road. A maintenance level 1 road requires the least amount of maintenance and gives the user the 

lowest comfort level; these are closed to public use and open only for administrative purposes such 

as fire management or vegetation improvement projects. A maintenance level 5 road has a smooth 

surface that allows the user a moderate degree of comfort and convenience at moderate travel speeds 

but also requires the most maintenance. Level 3 and 4 roads are suitable for passenger cars and level 

1 and 2 roads are suitable for only high-clearance vehicles. The Santa Fe NF has the most miles of 

maintenance level 1 and 2 roads, while miles of maintenance level 4 roads are rare, and there are no 

maintenance level 5 roads. 

The road system allows people to gain access to the Santa Fe NF for provisioning ecosystem services 

such as food, water, recreation, and fuelwood. Many of these provisioning ecosystem services are 

also traditional uses and cultural ecosystem services in northern New Mexico. The road system 

additionally supports the ability of the forest to provide regulating ecosystem services through 

improving access to and ease of implementation of project work that promotes forest health. 
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Desired Conditions for Roads (FW-ROADS-DC)

1 Safe transportation system and infrastructure accommodate needs for public access, land 

and resource management, and permitted activities, while contributing to social and 

economic sustainability.

2 Unauthorized access and non-system routes are not causing adverse impacts to 

environmental or cultural resources.

3 Roads do not adversely affect watercourses or sensitive riparian areas.

4 Forest roads, bridges, and trails provide safe, legal, and reasonable access for traditional and 

cultural uses.

5 Use of NFS roads does not hinder wildlife movement or interrupt critical life-cycle needs 

(e.g., calving, nesting, and mating). 

6 NFS roads are well-marked and provide for traveler safety and information

Standards for Roads (FW-ROADS-S)

1 Motor vehicle use must be managed to occur as depicted on the most recently updated motor 

vehicle use map (MVUM), except as authorized (e.g., by law, permit, agreement, etc.).

2 New motorized routes or areas must not be constructed in areas designated as primitive in the 

ROS. 

Guidelines for Roads (FW-ROADS-G)

1 Road construction and maintenance should incorporate best management practices (e.g., 

FSH 2509.22 - Soil and Water Conservation Practices Handbook).

2 Bridges and transportation infrastructure found to serve as important habitat for at-risk 

wildlife should not be demolished unless demolition is necessary for safety along the travel 

route.

3 New forest roads and other infrastructure (e.g., recreation facilities, airstrips, etc.) should be 

designed and constructed to limit the delivery of sediment and pollutants to waterbodies.

4 When a practical alternative does not exist, the footprint of new roads constructed in the 

riparian management zone should be as small as practical and the design should include 

mitigations to minimize or eliminate resource damage to ecological resources. The number 

of designated stream crossings and the footprint of new roads constructed should be 

limited to as few as practical to avoid impacts to these features.

5 Decommissioning of roads at the project level should be based on resource needs. 

6 After management activities occur in areas with high potential for unauthorized motorized 

vehicle use, methods (e.g., barriers, signs, and law enforcement) should be used to prevent 

unauthorized motor vehicle use. 
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Guidelines for Roads (FW-ROADS-G)

7 Reconstruction and rehabilitation of existing roads should be emphasized over new road 

construction.

8 Temporary roads that support ecosystem restoration activities, fuels management, or other 

short-term projects should be closed and rehabilitated (restored to more natural vegetative 

conditions) upon project completion to protect watershed condition, minimize wildlife 

disturbance, and prevent illegal motorized use. 

9 Construction of new roads and trails or reconstruction and maintenance of existing roads 

intersecting fish-bearing streams should accommodate aquatic organism passage. 

10 If at-risk species are present and will be impacted by road maintenance activities, work 

should be conducted to avoid or minimize noise and habitat disturbance and outside of 

critical life-cycle periods (e.g., breeding or nesting for birds) or when animals may not be 

present (e.g., during migration).

Management Approaches for Roads (FW-ROADS-MA)

1. Collaborate with tribes to provide additional access to locations within the Santa Fe NF beyond 

what is available in the MVUM (e.g., through the Tribal Forest Protection Act). 

2. Within project areas, prioritize decommissioning of roads and routes that are redundant, 

adversely impact flow regimes, or cause resource damage.

3. Consider mitigating or closing roads that may be susceptible to landslides, rock falls, or other 

landslide movements and hazard trees.

4. Maintain relationships and communications with internal and external customers as well as 

partners. Consider notifying local governments, partners, adjacent land owners, permit holders, 

etc., of changes in road status and significant deviations in traffic patterns.

5. Prioritize road system maintenance to provide for safe travel on all roads as well as to prevent or 

mitigate resource damage. Consider continuing current maintenance agreements and entering 

into new agreements with other entities including Federal, State, tribal, and local government 

agencies, as well as private organizations and individuals.
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Facilities

“Visitor focused trail development including trailhead infrastructure such as parking, bathrooms, 

and signs attract visitors and encourage repeat visits, and lead to tourism dollars for rural 

communities.” 

(Public comment on the Notice of Intent, summer 2016) 

The Santa Fe NF has both administrative and recreation sites and facilities that it must maintain as 

safe and functional for employee and public use. Facilities and infrastructure include the site 

(driveways, parking, landscaping), buildings, and the utilities (electric, water, wastewater) that 

service the site and building. Administrative facilities are the support facilities for Forest Service 

personnel. Many of the administrative facilities are accessible to the general public for getting 

information and buying permits. The forest manages many recreation facilities and sites including 

campsites, trail heads, scenic vistas, vault toilets, and other structures that support recreation. Dams 

in the forest are also considered part of facilities and infrastructure. Other infrastructure such as fish 

barriers, range infrastructure, communication sites, and utility corridors are addressed elsewhere in 

the forest plan. Most facility maintenance and construction is completed through the use of qualified 

private contractors. 

Properly designed and maintained facilities such as dams, septic systems, and roads help people use 

the forest, while minimizing ecological impacts. Facilities help support communities economically

and socially by providing access to and enjoyment of recreational resources and experiences. Facility 

condition and maintenance needs are variable and depend on factors such as age, original 

construction, past maintenance, and location. The facility condition index is used as a standardized 

agency method to monitor facility condition. It rates buildings as good, fair, or poor by using a 

calculation based on deferred maintenance costs and replacement value. 

Facilities and infrastructure support cultural ecosystem services through campgrounds, fishing areas, 

trailheads, scenic vistas, toilets, and other infrastructure that supports recreation. Provisioning 

ecosystem services are provided by dams that hold drinking water for communities surrounding the 

forest. And, because administrative facilities sell permits for forest products, like fuelwood, they 

provide provisioning and cultural ecosystem services. 

Desired Conditions for Facilities (FW-FAC-DC)

1 Infrastructure is safe and functions as intended or is adapted to accommodate the current 

and/or anticipated demands; the facilities provide an environment free from recognized 

hazards for people, while avoiding or minimizing negative impacts to natural, cultural, and 

social resources.

2 Surrounding vegetative conditions and building materials aid in the protection of 

infrastructure from wildfire and do not consist of invasive vegetation.

3 Facilities are energy-efficient, promote resource sustainability, and effectively serve their 

intended purpose.

4 Facilities are broadly accessible to forest users, including persons with disabilities.
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Guidelines for Facilities (FW-FAC-G)

1 New structures (e.g., buildings, campgrounds, and water systems) or other above-ground 

facilities should adhere to scenic integrity objectives and should not be located in areas of very 

high and high scenic integrity unless they are designed to blend in with the general landscape.

2 Construction of new facilities in floodplains, wetlands, and other environmentally sensitive 

areas should be avoided. When this cannot be accomplished in a reasonable manner, the 

amount and area of disturbance should be as small as practical. 

3 Infrastructure design, construction, reconstruction, and maintenance should prevent or 

mitigate impacts to terrestrial and aquatic species (e.g., using no reflective surfaces that would 

cause confusion and collision by birds and accommodating appropriate movement for fish and 

other aquatic organisms) and decrease species mortality.

4 Facilities should use native plants in the design of landscape features. 

5 Exterior lighting for new and reconstructed facilities should be designed to minimize light 

pollution as much as practical, unless where necessary to provide for public safety and 

accessibility.

Management Approaches for Facilities (FW-FAC-MA)

1. Consider a comprehensive preventive maintenance program for buildings and infrastructure to 

minimize major unplanned repairs or replacements. 

2. Prioritize infrastructure needs and investments for current need and long-term planning goals as 

described in facilities master plan, sustainable recreation plan, recreation facility analysis, and 

other resource planning documents, and health and safety requirements for employees and 

visiting public. All infrastructure with employee occupancy is subject to the Occupational Safety 

and Health Administration standards and will be evaluated regularly to protect the health and 

safety of forest employees, volunteers, and the visiting public. 

3. Consider decommissioning potable water systems that no longer serve the current needs. 

4. When work is being planned for administrative facilities and infrastructure that are historic 

resources, work with the heritage program and partnerships to administer and maintain facilities 

according to the facility master plan and any developed preservation maintenance plans (historic 

property plans) 

5. Consider partnerships with local, academic, State, Federal, tribal, non-governmental 

organizations, and special interest groups to conduct maintenance or to repurpose excess 

infrastructure as outlined in facilities master plans, sustainable recreation plan, recreational 

facility analysis, and other resource planning documents, while following applicable standards 

and guidelines. 

6. During project planning and design, determine feasibility, cost, and benefits of using 

photovoltaic systems for administrative facilities, range improvements, resource monitoring, 

public safety, and recreation projects.
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Lands and Realty 

“It is important to me and my family to have access to experiencing nature.”

(Public comment during the Assessment, spring 2014).

The Santa Fe NF encompasses 1,681,028 acres, within which 135,679 acres are owned by the State 

of New Mexico, various tribes, land grants, and private entities. In addition, much of the national 

forest boundary adjoins other Federal lands like the Valles Caldera National Preserve, Bandelier 

National Monument, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Bureau of Land Management lands, and the 

Pecos National Historic Site. This section includes three subsections related to landownership 

management: (1) “all-lands,” which is the concept of cross-boundary management with adjacent land 

managers; (2) land status, which is the administration of the NFS land along with associated property 

rights and boundaries; and (3) lands special uses, which are authorizations for communication sites, 

utilities (e.g., electrical, communication, and internet lines), pipelines (e.g., natural gas, water), road 

access, sanitation, recreation residences, and commercial filming. 

Cross-Boundary Management 

Ecological processes are seldom confined by administrative and jurisdictional boundaries, so the 

impacts of management policies on adjacent lands are important to the Santa Fe NF. Restoration 

activities to improve watershed health, increase water quantity, improve water quality, generate rural 

prosperity, and meet a shared vision of healthy, resilient landscapes cannot happen in a fragmented 

manner, but must be on a scale that supersedes ownership. An all-lands approach brings landowners 

and stakeholders together across boundaries to develop common goals for the landscapes they share 

and achieve long-term objectives. An approach of collective responsibility promotes landscape-scale 

ecological health and sustainable uses, and helps provide sustainable natural resources for the public. 

Cross-boundary management has an important role in maintaining and improving ecosystem services 

that require larger landscapes. Supporting ecosystem services involved in water cycling, biodiversity, 

and pollination involve ecological systems that are not contingent upon administrative boundaries. 

Similarly, regulating ecosystem services that equilibrate key systems such as climate and water flow, 

disease, and water and air quality expand beyond the boundary of the Santa Fe NF. 

Desired Conditions for Cross-Boundary Management (FW-XBOUND-DC)

1 The transition from forest NFS lands to adjacent lands with similar desired conditions is 

seamless and does not exhibit abrupt changes in visual or ecological integrity.

2 Natural-appearing landscapes are interconnected throughout the forest, benefitting wildlife 

habitat, watershed health, and recreational opportunities.

3 A cohesive network of roads and trails connects the forest to adjacent lands, facilitating 

seamless access for multiple uses (e.g., traditional, cultural, recreation, and forest product 

collection) across forest boundaries.

4 Land exchanges foster an improved landownership pattern, sound community 

development, and more effective management of NFS lands.
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Guidelines for Cross-Boundary Management (FW-XBOUND-DC)

1 Private lands should be acquired from willing and interested sellers where Forest Service 

administration of those lands would promote connectivity and manageability.

2 The following criteria should be used to prioritize parcels identified as base-in-exchange or 

desirable lands for acquisition:

a Land sharing borders with designated and recommended wilderness areas, inventoried 

roadless areas, and other congressionally and administratively designated areas. 

b Presence of critical habitat for threatened, endangered, sensitive, or other at-risk 

species. 

c Potential to eliminate gaps in public access or to otherwise create a more cohesive trail 

system. 

d Potential to improve management of the ecosystem and reduce administrative expenses 

through consolidation of NFS ownership or split estates. 

e Presence of or proximity to sensitive wetlands and riparian management zones.

f Potential for development of private inholdings that could have adverse effects on 

surrounding forest landscapes. 

g Presence of unique cultural resources and values.

h Potential to provide access for landscape restoration projects and fire suppression 

activities. 

Management Approaches for Cross-Boundary Management (FW-XBOUND-MA)

1. Collaborative relationships with adjacent landowners, users, and public land managers are 

actively encouraged to develop contiguous road and trail systems across multiple ownerships. 

2. Collaborative relationships with traditional forest-dependent communities help ensure traditional 

and cultural uses are incorporated into the management of any newly acquired lands.

3. Work with interested stakeholders to identify suitable parcels for acquisition and explore funding 

opportunities that leverage the Land and Water Conservation Fund, grant opportunities, and 

private financing.
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Realty and Access

The lands program identifies and maintains land line locations between NFS lands and lands of other 

ownership, and administers landownership adjustments. Boundary identification is important to 

prevent encroachment onto NFS lands. Landownership adjustments consolidate and improve 

management efficiency of resources through realty conveyances within the proclaimed Santa Fe NF 

boundary. The acquisition, protection, and management of road and trail rights-of-way ensure public 

access to NFS lands, as well as access through NFS lands to private inholdings.

The manner in which land status and the boundaries of the Santa Fe NF are administered is essential 

to how the public accesses the forest. As such, it provides for cultural ecosystem services like

recreation and education opportunities. In addition, access allows people to continue finding food 

(through hunting, fishing, and gathering), water, and wood, and obtain fuelwood to heat their homes. 

These are both cultural and provisioning ecosystem services. Finally, the management of vegetative 

fuel loads in the wildland-urban interfaces around private property provides regulating ecosystem 

services by helping to protect these areas from fire. 

Desired Conditions for Land Status (FW-REALTY-DC)

1 NFS lands are largely contiguous and promote efficient and effective management of 

various lands and resources found within the forest. 

2 Rights-of-way and easements for NFS roads and trails provide access to lands within the 

forest. 

3 Owners of private inholdings have reasonable access through the forest to their property. 

4 Forest boundaries are identified and appropriately marked to avoid creating false or 

misleading boundaries, trespass, or encroachment.

5 Boundaries of areas with special management direction (e.g., designated wilderness) are 

clearly marked at access points and where unauthorized use is likely to occur. 

Standards for Land Status (FW-REALTY-S)

1 No new access points to private property will be authorized if a parcel is subdivided, unless 

public safety or natural features dictate otherwise.

2 Search for and protect existing land monuments before implementing ground-disturbing 

management activities.

3 Infrastructure serving private property must be located on private property, existing 

easement, or right-of-way.

4 Access reciprocity must be a condition of new easement authorizations if the forest desires 

access through private land to adjacent NFS land.
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Guidelines for Land Status (FW-REALTY-G)

1 Rights-of-way for roads, utilities, and communications sites should maximize use of existing 

infrastructure before new uses are authorized, with the intent to minimize impacts to other 

resources.

2 Land exchanges should result in the creation of a more contiguous land base, and should not 

create isolated NFS parcels surrounded by lands of other ownership or isolated lands of other 

ownership parcels surrounded by NFS lands, unless it is found to be a public benefit.

3 Special use authorizations for access to inholdings with multiple owners should be conveyed 

to a Road Users Association or to a subdivision of local government to ensure the equitable 

and adequate maintenance of the road and minimize the needs associated with permit 

administration.

4 Special use authorizations for access to private property through NFS lands should not be 

granted unless there are no other means of access.

Management Approaches for Land Status (FW-REALTY-MA)

1. Consider encouraging the protection of existing public access rights and the acquisition of new 

public access opportunities to NFS lands. 

2. Consider updating the existing landownership adjustment plan, which will identify lands 

desirable for acquisition, as well as identify parcels or areas as suitable for exchange or sale.

3. On easements acquired from private landowners, consider prioritizing public access interests 

over road closures.

4. Consider using the following criteria to prioritize boundary management surveys: 

a. Where known litigation is pending, a title claim has been asserted, encroachments are 

suspected, or the probability of encroachment can be reduced. 

b. Where significant resource values exist and use or manipulation of resources is planned 

(this includes the location, by survey, of easements necessary for resource management).

c. To ensure that any project that occurs near or adjacent to any Forest Service boundary line 

does not proceed until the legal national forest boundary lines are properly located and 

physically marked in the field prior to any management action. 

d. To help prevent boundary disputes and/or loss of valued NFS land and its resources. 

e. When all remaining property boundary lines have not been previously surveyed.
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Lands Special Uses

Occupancy and use of NFS lands for public and private purposes, where the use is consistent with 

natural resource management goals, occur through the issuance of special-use authorizations and 

easements. A wide range of uses may be permitted including, but not limited to, water storage and 

transmission, electric transmission and distribution lines, communications sites, alternative and 

renewable energy generating facilities, research permits, resorts, organization camps, outfitters and 

guides, recreational events, and large group gatherings. Authorizations also facilitate partnerships 

between the Forest Service and private businesses, academia, non-governmental organizations, and 

individuals. 

Lands special-use authorizations provide for provisioning ecosystem services through infrastructurerelated uses such as communication sites, electrical utilities, and pipelines (e.g., natural gas and 

water). Commercial filming and academic research authorizations support cultural ecosystem 

services. 

Desired Conditions for Lands Special Uses (FW-LANDSU-DC)

1 Special use authorizations are responsive to demands for commercial use of NFS lands, while 

protecting sensitive ecological resources and maintaining multiple uses.

2 The special-use authorization process is timely, efficient, user-friendly, and consistent across 

similar landscapes and uses.

3 Authorized roads, utilities, and communications sites and corridors have minimal impacts on 

natural resources.

4 Vegetation within energy rights-of-way (e.g., powerline corridors) allows for effective 

maintenance and operation of associated infrastructure, while retaining enough natural 

ecological characteristics to sustain wildlife and their habitats. 

5 Environmental, visual, and sound impacts of emerging technology, communication sites, 

utility corridors, and other authorized infrastructure are minimal as a result of coordination 

and co-location, and are in harmony with the surrounding landscape. 

6 Research authorized on the forest results in improved understanding of the science of natural 

and social resources and uses without negatively impacting long-term ecological conditions.

Standard for Lands Special Uses (FW-LANDSU-S)

1 Permits for utilities that require use of roads not listed on the MVUM must incorporate 

requirements for road construction, reconstruction, or maintenance. 
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Guidelines for Lands Special Uses (FW-LANDSU-G)

1 New authorized power or other utility distribution or service lines should be buried, if site 

conditions permit, to reduce fire hazard and minimize impacts to other forest resources.

2 To minimize the potential hazards associated with diesel-powered generators, propane 

generators or renewable energy sources should be used at facilities operating under a lands 

special-use permit that require onsite power generation.

3 Special-use authorizations for roads, utilities, and communications sites should maximize use of 

existing infrastructure and utility corridors before new uses are authorized, with the intent to 

reduce ground disturbance.

Management Approaches for Lands Special Uses (FW-LANDSU-MA)

1. Consult with local governments to synchronize forest decisions for authorizations, permits, 

leases, and easements with local planning and zoning ordinances where local and forest 

objectives are complementary.

2. Identify locations suitable for commercial filming for inclusion in a ‘menu’ of options subject to 

streamlined authorization.

3. Recognize and grant priority status to applications for utility developments in existing 

transmission corridors that transmit energy from renewable sources.
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Energy, Minerals, and Caves 

“The geology of the Santa Fe National Forest, ranging from the spectacular recent volcanism of the 

Jemez Mountains to the three billion year old metamorphic rocks in the Nacimiento and Pecos 

mountains, makes the forest a natural earth science classroom for all ages.” 

(Larry Gore, Geologist for the Santa Fe National Forest)

This group of resources includes the leasable, locatable, and salable minerals found within the Santa 

Fe NF. The leasable minerals include oil and natural gas as nonrenewable energy sources and 

geothermal resources as renewable energy source. The locatable minerals are things such as gold, 

silver, copper, and uranium. The salable minerals are the products such as sand, gravel, landscaping 

rock, volcanic cinders, and pumice. Alternative energy production from sources like wind, solar, and 

biomass is also included in this section. These resources are divided into three broad categories in 

this plan: Leasable Minerals, Alternative Energy, and Solid Minerals.

Mining and mineral resources provide provisioning and cultural ecosystem services important to 

communities and people around the forest. Provisioning ecosystem services are provided through 

natural gas deposits, mineral resources, renewable energy generation potential, and electric 

transmission lines that cross NFS lands. Cultural ecosystem services are provided by clay deposits 

and other stones used in artwork and traditional practices. 

Leasable Energy Minerals

Oil and natural gas were discovered on the northern end of the Cuba Ranger District in the 1940s, 

and have been continuously produced since then. The Santa Fe NF is located on the eastern edge of 

the San Juan Basin, and it is unlikely that significant undiscovered oil and gas reserves exist. Oil and 

gas production is slowly declining as the field is depleted. 

The geothermal hot springs in the Jemez Valley (Jemez Ranger District) were known and utilized by 

the native tribes prior to Spanish settlement, and several were developed into spas as early as the 

1870s. These uses continue today. There was extensive exploration to see if it would be feasible to 

build a geothermal electrical generation power plant in the 1970s, but development was not found to 

be economically viable. Most of the Jemez Valley was withdrawn from geothermal development by 

the designation of the Jemez National Recreation Area in 1993, and the geothermal leasing decision 

in 2018 closed the remainder of the Jemez Mountains to geothermal leasing.

Leasable minerals are disposed of through leases issues by the Bureau of Land Management after the 

Santa Fe NF consents to leasing and provides the appropriate stipulations for each lease. 

Development of the leases may only occur after site-specific NEPA analysis for each proposed 

development is prepared by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). 
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Desired Conditions for Leasable Energy Minerals (FW-LEASEMIN-DC)

1 Surface resource impacts resulting from energy mineral development do not have adverse 

long-term effects on ecosystem health or watershed conditions.

2 Reclamation of energy mineral extraction areas restore resource damage and remove public 

safety hazards.

Standards for Leasable Energy Minerals (FW-LEASEMIN-S)

1 Surface uses in extractive mineral energy operations must be controlled through plans of 

operation and permits that provide for the long-term protection and sustainability of all 

affected resources.

2 Lands within the 168,650-acre Geothermal Analysis Area in the Coyote, Cuba, Española, and 

Jemez Ranger Districts (figure 3) will not be leased for geothermal exploration or 

development.

17

 

17 Geothermal leasing outside of the Geothermal Analysis Area must undergo site-specific environmental analysis to 

determine if leases can be authorized and what site-specific stipulations may be required. 
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Figure 3. Santa Fe NF geothermal no-leasing area
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Renewable Energy 

This section covers renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and biomass. There is no history of 

alternative energy development in the forest and none is reasonably foreseeable. 

Desired Condition for Renewable Energy (FW-RENEWENERGY-DC)

1 Exploration, development, production, and transmission of renewable energy resources 

contribute social and economic benefits to local communities and are conducted in a manner 

that minimizes adverse long-term impacts to forest resources and uses, ecosystem health, 

and watershed conditions.

Management Approaches for Renewable Energy (FW-RENEWENERGY-MA)

1. Consider identifying areas suitable for solar and wind energy based on energy potential, access, 

and impacts on other resources. Encourage development of wind and solar energy in these areas.

2. Consider encouraging renewable energy development in areas with the highest generation 

potential and fewest resource conflicts by: 

a. providing financial incentives to developers, including less frequent adjustments to rent and 

longer phase-ins for other fees; 

b. allowing standard bonds as opposed to bonds based on full reclamation costs; 

c. awarding leases in these areas through competitive processes; and 

d. streamlining the leasing process by, for example, granting applicants site control earlier. 

3. Upon receipt of application for development of solar and wind energy facilities, consider 

modification of road designations and relocation to accommodate development of these 

renewable energy-producing facilities. 
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Solid Minerals

Solid mineral resources include locatable mineral deposits (e.g., gold, silver, copper, uranium, some 

non-metallic minerals, and rare earth elements) and salable materials (e.g., sand, gravel, cinders, 

common building stone, and flagstone). 

Locatable Minerals

Although mining has not been proven, the copper deposits in the Jemez Valley were known during 

the early Spanish settlement; and there are stories the mission bells were cast using locally produced 

copper. Copper mining in the Jemez Valley (Jemez Ranger District) and east of Cuba (Cuba Ranger 

District) is known to have begun in the 1890s. Some of these copper deposits were mined 

intermittently through the early 1970s. The Cochiti mining district (Jemez Ranger District), in Bland, 

Cochiti, and Colle Canyons, was active between 1894 and 1903, and produced gold, silver, copper, 

and lead. The Pecos Mine (Pecos Ranger District) was discovered in 1881, and was most active 

between 1916 and 1939. It produced lead and zinc. Small uranium deposits were developed and 

mined during the 1950s and 1960s, but no large deposits were found. 

The General Mining Act of 1872 (30 U.S.C. 22-42) grants U.S. citizens the right to prospect and 

explore for minerals on lands open to mineral entry. The right of reasonable access for exploration 

and development of locatable mineral is guaranteed. The Forest Service can require reasonable 

protection of surface resources and compliance with other Federal laws (i.e., Clean Water Act, 

Endangered Species Act, Archeological Resources Protection Act, etc.), but cannot deny a request to 

explore and develop the minerals on NFS lands. There are a few small-scale (hobby) mining 

operations for locatable minerals on the Santa Fe NF, but no commercial production has occurred 

since the 1970s, and none is reasonably foreseeable.

Salable Minerals

Before Spanish settlers arrived, native peoples used clay, building stone, chert and flint, and 

obsidian, along with other minerals for pigments, , and these uses continue today. Pumice and 

volcanic cinders have been mined commercially since the 1940s, for use in cinder blocks in the 

Jemez and Española Ranger Districts. During the time commercial logging has occurred, local 

sources of road materials such as gravel and crushed rock have been used to maintain forest roads.

The commercial production of salable minerals will continue at a reduced level as the deposits 

currently being used are mined out, and environmental concerns make development of new sources 

difficult. The Forest Service has the authority to allow for public use and sale of these materials and 

public lands through a variety of discretionary methods. 
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Desired Conditions for Solid Minerals (FW-MINERAL-DC)

1 Energy, mineral, and mining activities meet the legal mandates to facilitate the development 

of minerals in a manner that minimizes adverse impacts to surface and groundwater 

resources, watershed and forest ecosystem health, wildlife and wildlife habitat, scenic 

character, and other desired conditions applicable to the area.

2 Reclamation of energy, mining, and mineral activity sites provides for public safety and the 

protection of forest resources, and is conducted to return sites to a natural condition as 

nearly as possible.

3 Appropriately remediated abandoned mines are available for roosting bats, reducing the 

potential for displacement, abandonment of young, and possible mortality.

4 Caves designated or nominated as “significant” maintain those features, characteristics, 

values, or opportunities for which they were designated.

Standards for Solid Minerals (FW-MINERAL-S)

1 Surface uses in mineral operations must be controlled through plans of operation and 

permits that provide for the long-term protection and sustainability of all affected 

resources.

2 In mineral sites exceeding 5 acres, mined-out areas must be stabilized or reclaimed as new 

mine areas are opened.

3 Prior to the destruction of access to adits, shafts, and other mine workings, a biological 

inventory and assessment must be conducted to determine use by bats and other wildlife 

species. If determined to be used by wildlife, consider gating as an alternative to 

destruction.

4 Mining activities must incorporate mitigation and reclamation measures that reduce visual 

contrasts with the surrounding landscapes.

5 All mineral-related activities must include reclamation of surface resource impacts, whether 

or not a plan of operation is required

6 Reclamation must be carried out concurrently with mining; restoration of the environment 

must occur at the earliest opportunity for each area on a mine site.

7 Approval of mining activities must include the use of reclamation bonds to protect and 

restore surface resources.

8 On site disturbances where radionuclides may exist, reclamation must eliminate any 

potential for radionuclide exposure to humans and the environment. Readings for 

radionuclide levels must be taken after reclamation to ensure remediation to background 

levels or below.

9 Plans of operation must include contingencies to address stabilization and interim 

reclamation of mineral sites during periods of unforeseen shutdown (e.g., as in 36 CFR 

228.10). This contingency plan would apply any time mine activity ceases during 

development and production, and before planned closure.
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Standards for Solid Minerals (FW-MINERAL-S)

10 Structures and/or occupancy for mining purposes must be limited to only those necessary 

and incidental to approved mining operations.

11 When closing underground mine features to public entry, pre-closure inspections must be 

conducted to determine if cave-dependent species are present. Closures must be designed 

and implemented to address the needs of resident or historically occurring wildlife within 

the constraints of meeting public safety concerns.

Guidelines for Solid Minerals (FW-MINERAL-G)

1 If, in the public interest, the responsible official should respond to requests for mineral 

materials through the NEPA process, advertised sale (if appropriate), and permit 

administration. 

2 The potential to use sites for mineral collection areas or future exploration and development 

should be considered when a reclamation plan is being developed. 

Management Approach for Solid Minerals (FW-MINERAL-MA)

1. Prior to the destruction of access to adits, shafts, and other mine workings, consider providing 

opportunities to record mineral resource information when safe.
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Caves

Caves are defined as any naturally occurring void, cavity, recess, or system of interconnected 

passages beneath the surface of the Earth or within a cliff or ledge large enough to permit a person to 

enter, whether the entrance is excavated or naturally formed. Caves are unique resources, and 

provide habitat for species not found elsewhere. Caves provide conduits for groundwater flowing 

from one surface watershed to another.

The number of caves in the forest is unknown; but there are favorable formations for solutions caves 

(limestone and gypsum), lava tubes, tectonic caves (underground spaces created by the falling and/or 

sliding of rock beds), and weathering caves (alcoves created by erosion of softer units from beneath 

more resistant beds) underlying much of the forest. 

Numerous caves and rock crevices appear throughout the varied landscapes in the Santa Fe NF. One 

critical site in the area is Jemez Cave, which is on the National Register of Historic Places because of 

its cultural significance to local Pueblo people. Here, some of the earliest remnants of corn dating to 

around 2,500 years ago during the Late Archaic have been found, suggesting early beginnings of 

agriculture in the area. This is one of many caves in the Santa Fe NF with ties to federally recognized 

tribes in the area. Other caves in the forest are used for recreational activities, although this use is 

low. Some caves are closed to public access to protect their significant cultural resources from 

vandalism and recreation damage. Other caves remain open as long as monitoring does not reveal a 

prevalence of vandalism or use-related damage. 

Caves management is currently covered under several resource areas, including recreation, 

archeology and cultural resources, biology, and geology. In accordance with the law, caves can be 

managed as either permitted open with year-round use, permitted seasonally, open with 

interpretation, or closed year-round. 

Due to their cultural or ecological importance, significant caves can provide cultural ecosystem 

services or provisioning and supporting ecosystem services. As many significant caves are 

archaeological sites and have cultural or spiritual meaning for local tribal communities, the 

preservation of these sites provides important cultural ecosystem services to these peoples and to 

other forest users by maintaining a sense of place and history, and providing educational value. 

Caves also provide ecological supporting ecosystem services by supporting biodiversity through 

their provision of unique habitats, and those that support bat colonies can provide pest-reduction 

services over large areas, benefiting local agriculture. Caves role as part of the groundwater 

ecosystem is also a provisioning ecosystem service. 

Desired Conditions for Caves (FW-CAVES-DC)

1 Caves provide habitat for species that require specialized conditions for roosting and 

overwintering, such as bats. Caves maintain moisture and temperature levels consistent with 

historic conditions. They do not contain bat diseases, such as white-nose syndrome.

2 Archaeological, geological, paleontological, and biological features of caves are not adversely 

affected by visitors.
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Standards for Caves (FW-CAVES-S)

1 Prior to physically closing caves to public entry, pre-closure inspections must be conducted to 

determine if cave-dependent or other species are present. Cave closures will only occur when

it is the only viable option to protect cave resources. If a gate is utilized as part of the closure, 

it must allow free passage of bats, small animals, air, and water.

2 Caves that are important nurseries or hibernacula for sensitive and local concern bat species, 

including known bat day and night roosts, must be protected and their microclimates must be 

maintained during management activities (e.g., timber harvest, road construction, or 

recreation facilities). 

3 Recreational activities inside caves must only be promoted for designated recreational caves.

4 Public information concerning location and access to non-recreational caves must be limited. 

Guideline for Caves (FW-CAVES-G)

1 Geologic and physical features (e.g., talus slopes, cliffs, canyon slopes, or caves) should be 

protected from damage or loss to retain their importance for wildlife habitat and ecological 

functions.

Management Approaches for Caves (FW-CAVES-MA)

1. Collaborate with other State and Federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and 

universities as well as local, regional, and national speleological societies to identify significant 

caves, obtain data, encourage research on karst environments and karst-dependent species, and 

develop conservation strategies for protecting karst-dependent species and their habitats.

2. Consider limiting logging, road construction, and other uses of heavy equipment above or in the 

vicinity of a cave with a thin roof, or the course of such a cave, if there is potential for damage.

3. Consider the retention of vegetation in the vicinity of a cave or cave course to protect the cave’s 

microenvironment. 

4. If timber harvesting is permitted near a cave, consider directionally felling trees away from a 

cave and its course.

5. Consider avoiding altering cave entrances or using them as disposal sites for slash, spoils, or 

other refuse. 

6. Consider limiting management activities within any area draining into a cave, as they may affect 

the cave ecosystem with sedimentation; soil sterilization; the addition of nutrients or other 

chemicals, including pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers; or change the cave’s natural 

hydrology. 

7. Consider avoiding the diversion of surface drainage into caves.

8. Consider limiting public access to prevent damage to cave resources or when there are unusual 

safety hazards.

9. Consider avoiding advertising the location of caves to the general public in printed documents or 

with signs. 

10. Consider prohibiting camping and campfires within 200 feet of cave entrances, mines, and rock 

shelters used by at-risk species.
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11. Consider developing prescribed burn plans to avoid or minimize smoke influences at or around 

at-risk species bat caves. 

12. Consider recognizing and documenting karst features when they are found to occur across the 

landscape; these features include caves, springs, sinkholes, and losing streams.

13. Consider incorporating measures for protecting caves into project plans for road construction, 

timber harvest, tree planting, blasting near caves, and any activity that could change cave 

temperatures and drainage patterns.
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Scenic Resources 

“The Santa Fe NF is the most beautiful place on Earth.” 

“It is the backdrop of my home, the mountains in the distance.”

(Public comments during the Assessment, spring 2014)

The landscapes of the Santa Fe NF have a wide variety of features providing for spectacular scenery 

in the Southwest. People are drawn to the forest for its diversity of scenic features including 

higher-elevation spruce-fir forests, brilliant gold aspen during autumn, lush high mountain meadows 

filled with wildflowers, dramatic landforms with vibrant colors, breathtaking red rock canyons and 

cliffs, sandstone bluffs, and mountain peaks. The inspiring mountain scenery, cool mountain air, and 

flowing waters provide relief from and contrast to the surrounding desert landscape. The forest offers 

dark night skies and provides the backdrop to many communities and homes with its variety of 

scenic settings with mesas, canyons, and peaks rising from deserts, meadows, and grasslands. The 

forest also has many prehistoric and historic sites, adding richness to the character and culture. 

Research shows there is a high degree of public agreement regarding scenic preferences and people 

tend to value most highly the more visually attractive and natural-appearing landscape. Scenic 

characteristics are important in creating a sense of place for local residents and visitors alike, and 

they provide a sense of attachment and opportunities to connect with nature. Scenery is the backdrop 

and the setting for the entire Santa Fe NF, and it largely contributes to the experiences people have 

and seek when visiting the forest. All activities forest visitors experience are performed in an 

environment influenced by the surrounding scenic character.

Scenery is the arrangement of the natural elements of the landscape, along with components of the 

built environment. Scenic character is the set of physical, biological, and cultural features that give 

an area its scenic identity and contribute to its sense of place. All landscapes have definable scenic 

character attributes. In most national forest settings, scenic character attributes encompass both 

social and ecological elements, including landform, vegetative patterns, water characteristics, 

recreation opportunities, and cultural features. Combinations of these attributes define scenic 

character and embody the “image of an area.” Buildings, structures, and other human alterations are 

considered a valuable aspect of scenic integrity when these features add to the sense of place or 

reflect the cultural legacy of an area. 

Lands on the Santa Fe NF encompass designated wilderness including the Pecos, San Pedro Parks, 

Dome, and the Chama River Canyon, which provide for distinctive scenic landscape features and 

unaltered, natural scenic character. There are scenic and historic byways, providing visitors with 

exceptional views of the forest. Scenery is an outstandingly remarkable value for the forest’s three 

designated wild and scenic rivers: East Fork of the Jemez River, Rio Chama, and Pecos River. And, 

Jemez National Recreation Area provides outstanding scenery and recreation opportunities in a 

setting of dramatic landscapes with breathtaking views of sheer cliff faces, pock-marked tuff 

exposures, flat-topped mesas, and lush canyon bottoms. The outstanding scenery is one of the main 

resources drawing visitors to the Jemez National Recreation Area each year. 

The Santa Fe NF uses the Forest Service Scenery Management System to determine the importance 

of scenery and identify scenic resources as they relate to people. Scenic integrity measures the 

degree to which the scenic character attributes are intact. Scenic integrity objectives are defined by 

degrees or levels of alteration from the existing scenic character and the intent is to achieve the 

highest scenic integrity possible and move toward the desired conditions (table 3). 
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Table 3. Scenery Management System scenery integrity objectives and how they relate to public 

perceptions of scenery 

Scenic Integrity Objective Public Perceptions of Scenery

Very high Unaltered; scenic character is intact; naturally evolving

High Appears unaltered; alterations to scenic character may be present but 

are not evident; naturally appearing

Moderate Slightly altered; alterations are subordinate to scenic character being 

viewed (scenic character is dominant, not the alteration); relatively 

naturally appearing

Low Moderately altered; alterations begin to dominate the valued scenic

character being viewed. 

Very low (not represented on the 

Santa Fe NF)

Heavily altered; alterations may strongly dominate the valued scenic 

character 

The forest is divided into levels of desired scenic integrity: very high, high, moderate, and low. These 

levels set objectives for the amount of variation from the existing scenic character that is permissible 

within the scenic integrity level.

Aesthetic and scenic values of the Santa Fe NF contribute to the attractiveness of the forest and the 

general quality of life for residents. Residents and visitors experience a particular “Sense of Place,” a 

cultural ecosystem service that partially depends on the scenic backdrop the forest provides for many 

communities in northern New Mexico. 

Desired Conditions for Scenic Resources (FW-SCENIC-DC)

1 The forest contains a variety of ecologically sound, resilient and visually appealing forest 

landscapes that sustain scenic character in ways that contribute to visitors’ sense of place 

and connection with nature. 

2 The forest appears predominantly natural and includes cultural landscapes valued by forest 

users and local communities for their scenic and traditional values.

3 High-quality scenery dominates the landscape in areas the public values highly for scenery 

(such as scenic byways, major roads and trails, developed recreation sites, backcountry 

areas, and high scenic integrity areas such as wildernesses, wild and scenic rivers, and 

inventoried roadless areas).

4 Scenery reflects ecosystem diversity, enhances recreation settings, and contributes to the 

quality of life for local residents and communities as well as forest visitors. 

5 Scenery is enhanced or maintained to have long-term resilience to changing conditions 

while supporting ecological, social, and economic sustainability in the forest and the 

surrounding landscapes. 
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Guidelines for Scenic Resources (FW-SCENIC-G)

1 Constructed features, facilities, and management activities should blend with the naturalappearing landscape. The concepts of form, line, color, texture, and pattern common to the 

desired scenic character being viewed should be applied during project planning and design. 

2 Management activities should minimize visual disturbances and be consistent with or move 

the area toward achieving scenic integrity objectives (as defined by the Scenic Integrity 

Objective map). 

a In areas with very high scenic integrity objectives, the scenic character should have only 

minor, if any, deviations. The areas should appear unaltered and the majority of the area 

should be dominated by ecological changes.

b In areas with high scenic integrity objectives, the scenic character should appear intact 

but may include deviations that are not evident (e.g., completely repeat the scenic 

attributes of size, shape, form, line, color, texture, or patterns common to the scenic 

character).

c In areas with moderate scenic integrity objectives, the scenic character may appear 

slightly altered. Management activities, human-made structures and facilities should not 

dominate the scenic character (e.g., repeat the scenic attributes of size, shape, form, 

line, color, texture, or patterns common to the scenic character). 

d In areas with low scenic integrity objectives, the scenic character may appear moderately 

altered. Management activities including human-made structures and facilities may 

begin to dominate the scenic character, but use scenic attributes to blend into the 

landscape (e.g., repeat the scenic attributes of size, shape, form, line, color, texture, or 

patterns common to the scenic character). 

3 Management activities that result in short-term impacts inconsistent with the scenic 

integrity objectives should achieve the scenic integrity objectives over the long term. 

Short-term and long-term timeframes should be defined during site specific project 

planning.

4 Projects should include mitigation measures to address impacts to scenic resources. 

5 Effects to scenery from prescribed fire should be considered during project planning and 

implementation. Efforts should be made to minimize high-intensity fire along areas valued 

highly by the public for scenery (as defined by concern level 1 travelways and use areas in 

the Scenery Management System), unless necessary to meet management objectives or 

ensure public safety. 

Management Approaches for Scenic Resources (FW-SCENIC-MA)

1. Cooperate with other entities, such as the New Mexico Department of Transportation, tribal and 

local governments, and commercial and private entities to protect scenic integrity on and 

adjacent to the national forest, including along scenic byways. 

2. Consider developing public education opportunities and information about the importance and 

impacts of scenery. 
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3. Consider providing the Scenery Management Inventory and Scenic Integrity Objective map to 

neighboring land management agencies for integration into projects and plans. These maps can 

be provided to others as interest is expressed for them.

4. Consider best environmental design practices to advance environmentally sustainable design 

solutions (e.g., Sustainable Recreation Site Design Guide). 

5. Consider using the Forest Service Built Environment Image Guide in construction or 

reconstruction of Forest Service facilities to ensure consistency with the scenic character of the 

Southwestern Region 

6. Set priorities for scenic integrity rehabilitation considering the following: 

a. Foreground (within 300 feet to 0.5 mile) of high public use areas has the highest priority; 

b. Amount of deviation from the scenic integrity objectives; 

c. Length of time it would take natural processes to reduce the visual impacts so that they meet 

the scenic integrity objectives; 

d. Length of time it will take rehabilitation measures to meet the scenic integrity objectives; 

e. Benefits to other resource management objectives to accomplish rehabilitation; 

f. Restoration of scenic integrity in areas where it has been negatively impacted as other 

project work is accomplished or funds are available. and

g. Where existing scenic integrity is lower than the scenic integrity map. 

7. Prior to vegetation work in developed recreation sites or administrative facilities, consider 

developing vegetation management plans that outline activities to sustain the desired scenic 

character and key visual elements over time. 

8. Consider the following types of activities to enhance scenic resources; restore grasslands and 

aspen, decommission or rehabilitate unneeded and unauthorized system roads and routes, 

remove unnecessary fences, and paint facilities along scenic byways. 
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Chapter 3. Designated and Management Area Plan 

Components

As a collection of diverse locations with different meanings and needs, the Santa Fe NF includes 

several areas and places that require different management direction than the overall forestwide 

direction provided in chapter 2. Plan components in this chapter may differ from forestwide guidance 

by:

• Constraining an activity where forestwide direction does not;

• Constraining an activity to a greater degree than forestwide direction; or

• Providing for an exception to forestwide direction, when forestwide direction is in conflict 

with the management emphasis of the management area. 

Within the boundaries of any area addressed in this chapter, direction provided here takes precedence 

over forestwide direction. Where specific direction is silent here, but exists in forestwide plan 

components, the forestwide direction applies.

This chapter covers two types of areas, Designated Areas and Management Areas.

Designated Areas

The Santa Fe NF has areas that contain special, exceptional, or unique values that provide important 

ecosystem services. Some of these areas meet the criteria to be considered special places and become 

designated areas: 

An area or feature identified and managed to maintain its unique special character or purpose. 

Designated areas may be statutorily designated by Congress or administratively designated by 

authorities such as the Regional Forester, Secretary of Agriculture, or Forest Service Chief. Once 

established, the designation continues until a subsequent decision by the appropriate authority 

removes the designation. 

Designated areas are not only managed to forest standards, but also must be managed to additional 

standards contingent as part of their designation. Depending on the type of designation, these areas 

may be managed primarily for human recreation interests, to provide for unhindered ecosystem 

processes with only low-technology recreation, or managed for the long-term unfolding of ecological 

changes, providing a critical education benefit as system baselines. 

Overall, designated areas can contribute to the cumulative value of the various ecosystem services 

the Santa Fe NF provides. Designated areas contribute to cultural ecosystem services by providing 

recreation opportunities and connecting people to their natural and cultural heritage. They can be 

attractions for visitors, and as a result, provide supporting ecosystem services through economic 

benefits such as increased employment opportunities and supporting small businesses to surrounding 

communities. Undeveloped areas with protections associated with their designation provide 

important supporting and regulatory ecosystem services for conservation of habitats and 

connectivity, biodiversity, and climate change adaptation. Finally, designated areas provide 

regulating ecosystem services by preserving intact natural systems and their individual components.
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The designated areas within the Santa Fe NF include: 

• Four wilderness areas (figure 4-west and figure 4-east, pages 164-165) 

• Fifty-four individually named inventoried roadless areas (IRAs) (figure 4-west and 

figure 4-east, pages 164-165) 

• Two research natural areas (figure 4-west and figure 4-east, pages 164-165) 

• Three wild and scenic rivers (figure 4-west and figure 4-east, pages 164-165) 

• The Jemez National Recreational Area (figure 4-west, page 164) 

• One wild horse territory (figure 4-west, page 164) 

• Five significant caves (not disclosed on maps as per the Federal Caves Resources 

Protection Act of 1988) 

• One national scenic trail (figure 5, page 182) 

• Three national historic trails (figure 5, page 182) 

• Two national recreation trails (figure 5, page 182) 

• Six nationally designated scenic byways (figure 5, page 182) 

• Three critical habitats for federally threatened and endangered species18

All Designated Areas

Desired Condition for All Designated Areas (DA-ALLDA-DC)

1 Designated areas in the forest retain the unique or special character and purpose for which 

they were designated. 

Guidelines for All Designated Areas (DA-ALLDA-G)

1 Within designated areas, footprints of ground-disturbing fire-suppression activities should be 

as small as possible or located where ground disturbance has previously occurred.

2 Where designated areas overlap with each other or other management areas, the measures 

that restrict the ability to alter the landscape the most should be followed. 

 

18Critical habitats and their management are identified in documentation from USFWS (e.g., species’ recovery plan), and 

therefore, is not included in the forest plan. Also see FW-ATRISK-G2. 
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Wilderness Areas 

In 1964, Congress acknowledged the immediate and lasting benefits of wild places by passing 

legislation that permanently protected some of America’s most natural and undisturbed lands. The 

Wilderness Act established the National Wilderness Preservation System “. . . to secure for the 

American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of 

wilderness.” 

The Wilderness Act sets forth guidelines for the management of wilderness areas by maintaining four 

attributes used to describe wilderness character: 

• untrammeled; 

• naturalness; 

• undeveloped; and

• outstanding opportunities for solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation. 

As such, designated wilderness areas provide places where natural processes dominate and the 

impacts of people are minimized. Motorized and mechanized uses such as motorized vehicles, heavy 

machinery (such as feller bunchers or excavators), chainsaws, mountain bikes, wheelbarrows, and 

drones are not allowed in wilderness areas to protect these values. Wilderness areas are typically 

large, offering people the opportunity to escape from civilization and experience rugged and 

unaltered natural elements that can sometimes involve a high level of unregulated risk.

The Wilderness Stewardship Performance (WSP) was introduced in 2015 to manage wilderness 

attributes using seven categories that can be selected for each wilderness area: natural quality of 

wilderness character; undeveloped quality of wilderness character; untrammeled quality of 

wilderness character; outstanding opportunities for solitude or primitive and unconfirmed recreation 

quality of wilderness character; other features of value quality of wilderness character; special 

provisions; and administration.

Designated wilderness areas offer abundant ecosystem services. Their often pristine condition and 

minimal human impacts provide for excellent supporting ecosystem services such as nutrient and 

water cycling; biodiversity; and regulating ecosystem services such as water filtration, air quality 

protection, and climate change adaptation. Hunting and foraging can occur in a designated 

wilderness, allowing for provisioning ecosystem services such as food. Wilderness areas house many 

headwaters and provide high-quality water to the natural systems and communities below, another 

provisioning ecosystem service. Designated wilderness areas also provide abundant cultural 

ecosystem services in the form of recreation, opportunities to connect with nature, baselines on 

unhindered ecosystem processes for ecological research, and the preservation of cultural traditions 

and historical features. 

The Santa Fe NF manages four designated wilderness areas, comprising around 291,669 acres, or 

18.7 percent of the forest (figure 4-west and figure 4-east). Two of the wilderness areas are 

completely managed by the Santa Fe NF and the other two have shared management with the Carson 

NF. 
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Figure 4-west. Designated areas for the western half of the Santa Fe NF, from Cuba to Española. 

For legend, see Figure 4-east.
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Figure 4-east. Designated areas for the eastern half of Santa Fe NF, from Española to Las Vegas
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Chama River Canyon Wilderness

Designated in 1978, the Chama River Canyon Wilderness encompasses 50,300 acres (2,900 acres on 

the Carson NF) in the Coyote Ranger District. The wilderness offers outstanding opportunities for 

primitive recreation, including backpacking, dispersed camping, and day hiking. Varying canyon 

elevations also provide a wide range of vegetation, from low-lying piñon-juniper woodland to 

ponderosa pine and fir. Between 70 and 80 different bird varieties can be found in the Chama River 

Canyon. Raptors, hawks, and owls perch along the canyon walls and surrounding trees. Trout often 

flourish in the river, and onshore residents include mule deer, black bears, elk, coyotes, and mountain 

lions. 

For the most part the Chama River Canyon Wilderness is lightly used; trail access is poor above the 

canyon that borders the riverbanks. The Rio Chama Wild and Scenic River corridor almost bisects 

the wilderness. Only the northern portion flows within the wilderness. The southern portion of the 

river flows outside of the wilderness and has heavy use from both the public and outfitters and 

guides using the river corridor for overnight trips. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail 

crosses through the Chama River Canyon Wilderness to the Carson NF. WSP elements that are the 

areas of focus and improvement in the Rio Chama include special provisions (specifically livestock 

grazing) and administration (specifically workforce capacity). 

San Pedro Parks Wilderness

San Pedro Parks Wilderness began as a primitive area and became the San Pedro Parks Wilderness 

through the 1964 Wilderness Act. This wilderness is in both the Cuba and Coyote Ranger Districts. 

Although the elevation averages 10,000 feet above sea level, San Pedro Parks Wilderness is known 

for high, moist, rolling mountaintops with numerous meadows and large grassy “parks.” Clear 

streams wander through the forest openings and are usually abundant with trout. Frequent summer 

rainfall enables meadows to flourish with bluegrass, oat grass, sedge, rush, and Rocky Mountain iris, 

only to be covered with snow in November. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail crosses 

through the San Pedro Parks Wilderness from Cuba, New Mexico, to the Carson NF. 

The San Pedro Parks Wilderness is located just outside the Albuquerque metro area, and sees 

considerable use from the population, because the area is easy to access. WSP elements that need 

increased attention and improvement in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness include natural quality 

(specifically invasive species), untrammeled quality (specifically from agency management actions), 

and special provisions (specifically livestock grazing). 

Dome Wilderness 

Designated in 1980, the Dome Wilderness covers 5,200 acres and is in the Jemez Ranger District. 

The Dome Fire, in the 1990s, and the Las Conchas Fire, in 2011, burned and then re-burned the 

majority of the wilderness. The Bandelier Wilderness (part of Bandelier National Park) borders the 

Dome Wilderness to the east. There are primitive canyon lands and prehistoric ruins in the 

wilderness. Elevations peak at 8,200 feet, then drop to 5,800 feet at Sanchez Canyon. 

Although it is near the cities of Santa Fe and Los Alamos, the Dome Wilderness sees a low level of 

use, probably as a result of impacts from multiple fires over the last few decades to vegetation, roads, 

and trails (Dome, Cerro Grande, and Las Conchas). WSP elements that need further attention include 

natural quality (specifically invasive species and air quality), untrammeled quality (specifically 

agency management actions), and other features of value (specifically cultural resources).
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Pecos Wilderness

In 1964, Congress designated more than 167,000 acres as the Pecos Wilderness. In 1980, an 

additional 55,000 acres were added, bringing the total to just under 222,000 acres. The wilderness 

spans two national forests: just under 197,000 acres in the Española, Pecos, and Las Vegas Ranger 

Districts on the Santa Fe, and just over 25,000 acres on the Carson. Deep and narrow canyons, long 

and broad mesa tops, heavily forested slopes, and rugged ridges with peaks above the timberline 

characterize the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of the Pecos Wilderness. This small mountain chain 

comprises the extreme southern extent of the Rocky Mountains. The scenery varies from 100-footdrop waterfalls and crumbled talus slopes to dramatic rock cliffs, towering peaks, and wildflower 

meadows. 

Effects of livestock grazing, fire, and trail conditions are the issues dominating management of the 

Pecos Wilderness. WSP elements that need the most attention include untrammeled quality 

(specifically agency management actions) and special provisions (specifically livestock grazing).

Desired Conditions for Wilderness Areas (DA-WILD-DC)

1 Designated wilderness areas exhibit wilderness character. 

a Wilderness represents an environment that is essentially an unmodified and natural 

landscape. Constructed features exist only when they reflect the historic and cultural 

landscape, when they are the minimum necessary for administration of the area as 

wilderness, or for the protection of resources.

b Natural processes (e.g., insects and disease and fires) function within their natural 

ecological role. 

c Wilderness provides recreation opportunities where social encounters are infrequent 

and occur only with individuals or small groups, so there are opportunities for solitude. 

Visitors experience self-reliance, challenge, and risk while enjoying freedom to pursue 

non-motorized or mechanized activities with only the regulation necessary to protect 

wilderness character. 

2 The public values wilderness for the variety of ecosystem services and values it provides, 

including clean air and water, enhancing wildlife habitat, primitive recreation opportunities, 

and other qualities of wilderness character.

Objective for Wilderness Areas (DA-WILD-O)

1 Within the life of the plan, at least 10 miles of high-priority boundary line will be surveyed and 

posted. 
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Standards for Wilderness Areas (DA-WILD-S)

1 In designated wilderness, a single group must have no more than 15 persons and 15 livestock 

permitted, unless otherwise noted in its management plan. Exceptions may include special-use 

permits, grazing permits, formal agreements, emergency services, and management activities 

for maintaining wilderness character. 

2 Research conducted in wilderness must not adversely affect wilderness character. 

3 Nonnative species must not be introduced into any wilderness area unless for fire recovery 

purposes. 

4 Outfitter-guide activities in wilderness must include appropriate wilderness practices, such as 

Leave No Trace principles, and incorporate awareness for wilderness values in their interaction 

with clients and others.

5 A Minimum Requirements Analysis must be utilized when considering prohibited uses in 

designated wilderness. 

6 Planned ignitions in wilderness areas must not be justified for primary purposes of improving

wildlife habitat, maintaining vegetation types, improving forage production, or enhancing other 

resource values; although these additional effects may result (FSM 2324). Planned ignitions 

may be used to reduce the risks and consequences of wildfire within wilderness or escaping 

from wilderness.

Guidelines for Wilderness Areas (DA-WILD-G)

1 Fire operations within wilderness should minimize effects to wilderness character (e.g., 

minimum impact suppression techniques and the management of fire for resource benefit). 

Management activities should be consistent with the scenic integrity objective of “very high” in 

designated wilderness. 

2 To protect wilderness character, signage in wilderness should be limited to those essential for 

resource protection and user safety. 

3 Intervention in natural processes through management actions should only occur where this 

would move the area toward desired conditions, preserve wilderness character, protect public 

health and safety within and adjacent to wilderness, or uphold other Federal laws and 

regulations.

4 Nonnative, invasive species should be treated using methods and in a manner consistent with 

wilderness character to allow natural processes to predominate in designated wilderness. 

5 New trails constructed or designated in wilderness should be designed, built, and maintained as 

minimally to moderately developed (trail classes 1 or 2).
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Management Approaches for Wilderness Areas (DA-WILD-MA)

1. Collaborate with local partners, volunteers, Adopt-a-Trail organizations, and other entities to 

maintain wilderness, including trails maintenance and construction. 

2. Coordinate with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish on management of wildlife 

within wilderness using techniques consistent with preserving wilderness character.

3. Wilderness management is guided by the elements outlined in the Forest Service’s Wilderness 

Stewardship Performance (WSP) or other current guidance. This framework tracks how well the 

wilderness character is being preserved through measuring progress in 10 elements selected by 

managers for each wilderness from a suite of possible options (e.g., management of fire, range, 

and cultural resources).

4. Consider adaptive management and corrective measures if overuse causes unacceptable resource 

damage or unacceptable loss of opportunities for solitude. Use proactive approaches in 

identifying and addressing visitor use management challenges before effects to resources 

become unacceptable.

5. Prioritize the decommissioning, realignment, or reconstruction of trails in designated wilderness 

areas based on need, the amount of use it receives, and potential impacts on wilderness character 

and recreation opportunities.

6. Consider using methods to prevent unauthorized use in wilderness such as education, law 

enforcement, barriers, road closures, and trail design. 

7. Consider dispatching a Resource Advisor-Fire Line (REAF) or Resource Advisor (READ) with 

a specialized knowledge of wilderness, or wilderness program specialist in the absence of a 

wilderness REAF or READ, to fires threatening wilderness. 

8. Consider using interpretation and education to encourage visitors to adopt techniques, 

equipment, and ethics specific to wilderness. 

9. Consider educating boaters on relevant safety and resource protection regulations before they 

enter the Chama River Canyon Wilderness. Post these regulations at river access points and 

include them in outfitter-guide special-use authorizations. 

10. Consider using news releases, postings, permit issuance, and individual visitor contacts to inform 

visitors of areas of concentrated resource damage and use restrictions.

11. Consider rehabilitating human-caused disturbed areas (e.g., compacted sites) that are 

inconsistent with maintaining the natural appearance component of wilderness character. 

12. Consider reintroducing extirpated (locally extinct) or restoring populations of native species 

when consistent with ecological conditions and social values.

13. Consider clearly identifying wilderness boundaries through signage at official entry points and 

needed locations (such as informal access points), with features such as trail maps, boundary 

markers, and consistent signage. 

14. Consider removing non-conforming structures from wilderness that are no longer in use and do 

not meet the desired conditions. 
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Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs)

Inventoried roadless areas (IRAs) were identified in the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (36 

CFR Part 294). IRAs are characterized by eight values or features: (1) high quality or undisturbed 

soil, water, and air; (2) sources of public drinking water; (3) diversity of plant and animal 

communities; (4) habitat for threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate, and sensitive species and 

for those species dependent on large, undisturbed areas of land; (5) primitive, semi-primitive 

non-motorized, and semi-primitive motorized classes of dispersed recreation; (6) reference 

landscapes; (7) natural-appearing landscapes with high scenic quality; (8) traditional cultural 

properties and sacred sites, and other locally identified unique characteristics. 

Road construction, reconstruction, and timber harvest activities are limited in these areas to sustain 

their social and ecological roadless characteristics. These activities were selected because they 

commonly occur on forests and grasslands across the Nation, have the greatest likelihood of altering 

landscapes, cause significant landscape fragmentation, and result in immediate and long-term loss of 

roadless characteristics (USDA Forest Service 2000). Additional review processes at regional or 

national levels are required for projects involving any of these activities. 

In an increasingly developed landscape, IRAs provide large unfragmented tracts of land. As such, 

undisturbed landscapes that are important to biological diversity are a supporting ecosystem service 

of IRAs. They provide provisioning ecosystem services such as clean drinking water and regulating 

ecosystem services such as serving as bulwarks against the spread of nonnative invasive plant 

species. Opportunities for dispersed outdoor recreation, serving as reference areas for study and 

research, and their high scenic quality are cultural ecosystem services of IRAs.

The Santa Fe NF manages 55 IRAs (see figure 4-west and figure 4-east). The largest IRA is the 

Thompson Peak IRA with 32,979 acres, and the smallest is the Sparks Creek IRA with 80 acres. 

IRAs are found in every ranger district of the forest.

Desired Conditions for Inventoried Roadless Areas (DA-IRA-DC)

1 Inventoried roadless areas (IRAs) encompass large, relatively undisturbed and 

unfragmented landscapes that are important to biological diversity and the long-term 

survival of at-risk species. They serve as safeguards against the spread of invasive plant 

species and provide reference areas for study and research.

2 In IRAs, ecosystems are intact and function to provide a full range of ecosystem services.

3 IRAs appear natural, have high scenic quality, and provide opportunities for primitive 

recreation and solitude. 

Guidelines for Inventoried Roadless Areas (DA-IRA-G)

1 IRAs should be managed for primitive, semi-primitive non-motorized, and semi-primitive 

motorized recreation opportunity settings (ROS). 

2 Management activities should be consistent with the scenic integrity objective of high.

Management Approach for Inventoried Roadless Areas (DA-IRA-MA)

1. Prioritize roads in IRAs for road decommissioning. 
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Research Natural Areas 

Research natural areas (RNAs) are administratively designated by the Regional Forester and the 

Research Station Director, and are managed to maintain the natural features for which they were 

established. These features could include: 

• High-quality examples of widespread ecosystems,

• Unique ecosystems or ecological features, or

• Rare or sensitive species of plants and animals and their habitat.

Because of the emphasis on natural conditions, RNAs are excellent areas for studying ecosystems or 

their component parts, and for monitoring succession and other long-term ecological changes. Nonmanipulative research and monitoring activities are encouraged in RNAs and can be compared with 

manipulative studies conducted in similar areas outside the RNAs. The Forest Service RNA system 

was initiated in 1927. By 1977, 122 RNAs were established on NFS lands; currently, over 430 RNAs 

cover more than 500,000 acres. 

RNAs provide supporting ecosystem services by helping protect biological diversity at genetic 

species and ecosystem scales, which can also be a regulating ecosystem service. As ecosystems in 

relatively pristine condition, they are managed primarily for their natural ecological process, also a 

regulating ecosystem service. Their unique undisturbed qualities act as representative naturally 

functioning ecosystems and provide cultural ecosystem services such as research and education. 

There are two established RNAs on the Santa Fe NF: Monument Canyon and Mesita de los Ladrones 

(figure 4-west and figure 4-east). 

Monument Canyon Research Natural Area 

The Monument Canyon RNA encompasses approximately 640 acres on the Jemez Ranger District. 

The area is on a trail from Jemez Springs to Upper Vallecitos. The Monument Canyon RNA was set 

aside to preserve in natural state a “typical area of western yellow pine (Pinus ponderosa) forest as 

found in northern New Mexico.” The stands of western yellow pine in this region differ from those 

of the Colorado Plateau in that they are denser and more evenly spaced, with trees of relatively small 

diameter.

Mesita de los Ladrones Research Natural Area 

The Mesita de los Ladrones RNA totals approximately 500 acres of one-seed juniper (Juniperus 

monosperma) savannah in north-central New Mexico. The RNA is located in the Las Vegas Ranger 

District, in San Miguel County. Juniper savannah has been recognized as a significant open 

woodland community for protection and study in the RNA program. The forage value of the 

accompanying grass understory has resulted in few undisturbed or intact examples of this community 

type as a result of livestock grazing and management efforts to increase forage (such as chaining). 

Because it is an isolated butte with steep, 200- to 350-foot sides, Mesita de los Ladrones has a 

minimal history of grazing. The lack of disturbance has resulted in advanced stages of oneseed 

juniper savannah succession, and therefore, the area is a uniquely suitable representative of the 

ecosystem. 
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Desired Conditions for Research Natural Areas (DA-RNA-DC)

1 RNAs are natural-appearing and ecological processes (e.g., plant succession, fire, and insects 

and disease) function with limited human interference. 

2 RNAs are areas for the study of ecosystems and ecological processes, including succession, 

and serve as baseline areas for measuring ecological change from disturbances or stressors 

like climate change.

Standards for Research Natural Areas (DA-RNA-S)

1 Surface occupancy for minerals, geothermal, or oil and gas development must not be allowed. 

2 Vegetation manipulation or removal of forest products for commercial purposes and personal 

use (including firewood) must not be permitted or authorized, unless it is necessary to maintain 

the ecological process or the natural characteristics for which the RNA was designated. 

3 New trail construction must not be permitted.

4 Special-use permits must not be permitted, except for research that would not lead to 

long-term effects on the characteristics specific to the RNA.

5 Only non-motorized, day use recreational activities are allowed in the Cañada Bonito

(recommended) and the Mesita de los Ladrones RNAs. Motorized use on roads shown as open 

in the MVUM must be allowed in the Monument Canyon RNA.

6 New roads must not be constructed and closed roads must not be opened. 

7 Campfires must not be allowed.

8 New utility corridors must not be permitted or authorized.

Guideline for Research Natural Areas (DA-RNA-G)

1 Management activities should be consistent with the scenic integrity objective of the RNA.

Management Approaches for Research Natural Areas (DA-RNA-MA)

1. Collaborate with appropriate agencies and universities regarding scientific opportunities of 

RNAs.

2. Encourage partnerships and volunteers to provide onsite interpretation and monitoring for the 

RNAs.

3. Consider marking the boundary of the RNA and using kiosks to educate the public about the 

RNA purpose, permitted, and prohibited activities. 
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Wild and Scenic Rivers 

The 1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act established a system for preserving outstanding free-flowing 

rivers. As defined in Section 1(b) of the act: “...certain selected rivers of the Nation which, with their 

immediate environments, possess outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and 

wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar values, shall be preserved in free-flowing condition, and 

that they and their immediate environments shall be protected for the benefit and enjoyment of 

present and future generations.” 

Wild and scenic rivers (WSR) are classified as either wild, scenic, or recreation rivers; each 

classification has different characteristics.

• Wild rivers are free from impoundments and generally inaccessible except by trail. The water 

and shorelines are essentially primitive and waters are unpolluted. 

• Scenic rivers are free from impoundments, have shorelines or watershed that are still largely 

primitive, and have shorelines that are largely undeveloped but accessible in places by roads.

• Recreation rivers are readily accessible by road, may have some development along their 

shorelines, and may have undergone some impoundment or diversion in the past.

The free-flowing character of WSRs is a regulating ecosystem service, providing water to 

downstream sources and natural river processes (e.g., flood plain connectivity and channel 

formation). Free-flowing water can also be a supporting ecosystem service in the form of water 

cycling and a provisioning ecosystem service in terms of fresh water. The specific outstandingly 

remarkable values (ORVs) related with each WSR can have different ecosystem services: Scenic, 

recreational, historic and cultural ORVs are cultural ecosystem services, while fish, wildlife, and 

geologic features can contribute supporting ecosystem services. 

The Santa Fe NF manages three designated WSRs (figure 4-west and figure 4-east) with the 

following classifications: 

• Rio Chama: wild 21.5 miles; recreational 9.5 miles

• Pecos River: wild 13.5 miles; recreational 7.0 miles

• East Fork of the Jemez: wild 4.0 miles; scenic 5.0 miles 

Rio Chama Wild and Scenic River 

The Rio Chama WSR is approximately 120 miles long, beginning in the southern San Juan 

Mountains of south-central Colorado, it joins the Rio Grande near Española, New Mexico. The river 

was designated as a State Scenic and Pastoral River in 1978, and as a Federal WSR in 1988. The 

designated portion includes 24.6 miles that begins just below the dam at El Valdo Lake and travels 

south toward the Big Eddy takeout above Abiquiu Reservoir. Most of the river is classified as wild 

(21.6 miles total: 11.2 Bureau of Land Management, and 10.4 Forest Service) and 3.0 miles are 

classified as scenic. 

The northern section of the Rio Chama WSR runs through the Chama River Canyon Wilderness and 

is rarely used. In contrast, the Rio Chama WSR outside of the Wilderness receives a high amount of 

both day and overnight use including camping, fishing, and scenic driving. Float boating on the Rio 

Chama is the most popular use of the river and managed by permits issued by the Bureau of Land 

Management for commercial and private overnight trips or the Santa Fe NF for commercial day use. 
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A float down the river offers access to the outstanding scenery of brightly colored cliffs and 

fascinating badlands of the surrounding Rio Chama Wilderness. Many bird species that depend on 

the water and riparian vegetation can be spotted along the river corridor, which is also a flight path 

for bird migrations. 

East Fork Jemez Wild and Scenic River 

The East Fork Jemez River was designated as a WSR in 1990. The designated WSR begins at the 

boundary of the Valles Caldera National Preserve and extends south, ending at the confluence with 

San Antonio Creek. The first 4 miles of the river are classified as recreational, the next 4 miles are 

classified as wild, and the last 5 miles are classified as scenic. The East Fork Jemez WSR has ORVs 

for scenery, recreation, geology, ecology, fish, and wildlife. 

As part of the congressionally designated Jemez National Recreation Area, the East Fork Jemez 

WSR is very popular for visitors and recreationists. Where accessible, the river is sought after for 

visiting Jemez Falls, fishing, and swimming in some of the larger pools. A large part of the 

designated WSR is less accessible with canyons, steep gradients, and numerous boulders. The river 

also provides important habitat for a high diversity of vegetation, some of which is rare, such as 

bunchberry dogwood and giant helleborine. 

Pecos Wild and Scenic River

The Pecos WSR is about 20.5 miles long and runs through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of 

northern New Mexico. It was designated in 1990. The 13.5-mile wild segment is entirely within the 

Pecos Wilderness, where it is only accessible by trail. Here, the water runs clear, unpolluted, and 

cold. Outside the Pecos Wilderness is the 7.0-mile recreational segment, which is more easily 

accessible, includes cabins and other modifications in places, and is paralleled by a road for most of 

its length. The ORVs include scenery, recreation, and cultural and historic values. 

Trout fishing along this river is regionally and nationally renowned. The landscapes along the river 

are dramatic and include canyons, mountain meadows, and waterfalls. Cultural attributes are 

abundant and include pre-historic artifacts, remnants of Spanish prospecting from the 1600s, the 

mountain man “Beatty’s” cabin, cemeteries, and Civilian Conservation Corps campsites. 

Desired Conditions for Designated Rivers (DA-WSR-DC)

1 Designated wild and scenic rivers are free-flowing and possess the ORVs for which they were 

designated.

2 The public enjoys water-based recreation opportunities, yet the majority of the riparian 

zones remain largely undisturbed from long-term recreational impacts (e.g., camping and 

access points).
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Standards for Designated Rivers (DA-WSR-S)

1 Management of designated wild, scenic, and recreational rivers must comply with the most 

recent version of their individual comprehensive river management plans (CRMP). The 

following CRMPs and any future versions must be incorporated by reference and are part of 

the forest plan, although best available science can be used in lieu of the comprehensive 

plan if the plan is out of date with science.

a East Fork Jemez Wild and Scenic River Management Plan

b Pecos Wild and Scenic River Management Plan

c Rio Chama Management Plan

2 The classification (wild, scenic, or recreational) for designated wild and scenic rivers must 

be maintained or enhanced when implementing projects. 

3 Designated wild and scenic rivers must be managed to protect or enhance existing ORVs. 

Proposed water resources projects, including activities within the bed and banks and below 

the ordinary high water mark of the river, must require a free-flow analysis and cannot 

have a direct adverse impact on free flow. 

4 Road and motorized trail access to rivers must be consistent with river classification, travel 

management direction, and the ROS classification. 

5 Existing or new mining activity must minimize surface disturbance, sedimentation, 

pollution, and visual impairment.

6 Within designated wild segments, new structures must not be constructed, except to 

preserve or restore native fish populations, as long as those structures do not alter the free 

flow of the river. 

7 Utility rights-of-way within designated recreational and scenic segments must only be 

permitted when there are no feasible alternative locations outside the WSR corridor. 

8 Utility rights-of-way within designated wild segments must not be permitted.

Guidelines for Designated Rivers (DA-WSR-G)

1 Wild sections of the Rio Chama, Pecos, and East Fork of the Jemez Rivers should:

a be kept free of impoundments; 

b meet or exceed State standards for water quality; 

c be accessible only by trail; and 

d have shorelines kept in an essentially primitive condition (e.g., essentially free of 

structures, diversion works, and modifications of the waterway such as rip-rapping and 

channelization).

2 Within scenic sections of the East Fork of the Jemez, the river should:

a remain free of impoundments; 

b have largely primitive shorelines and shoreline development; and 

c be accessible by roads only at certain points. 
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Guidelines for Designated Rivers (DA-WSR-G)

3 When shorelines of recreational sections of the Rio Chama and Pecos Rivers are paralleled 

by roads, development, or resource management, the surrounding areas and waterways 

should be predominantly natural and riverine in appearance. 

4 Mitigations should be implemented to protect and enhance ORVs, free-flowing 

characteristics, and riparian habitats from range management activities in the Rio Chama 

WSR corridor.

5 Expansion of structural improvements in recreational and scenic segments (outside 

designated wilderness) should be allowed as long as they meet scenic integrity objectives 

and provide user access. 

6 Management activities should be consistent with the scenic integrity objectives of:

a Very high in designated wild rivers,

b High in designated scenic rivers, and

c Moderate to high in designated recreational rivers.

7 Management activities should be consistent with the ROS classes of:

a Semiprimitive-nonmotorized to semiprimitive motorized in designated scenic rivers, and

b Semi-primitive to roaded natural in designated recreational rivers.

Management Approach for Designated Rivers (DA-WSR-MA)

1. Coordinate planning and management of the boating aspects of the Rio Chama with the (BLM, 

in consultation with the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department; 

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish; and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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Jemez National Recreation Area

The Jemez National Recreation Area (JNRA) was designated by Congress in 1993, and covers 

57,650 acres, 48,300 of which are located in the Santa Fe NF19 (figure 4-west). The only national 

recreation area in the Southwestern Region, the JNRA is located in north-central New Mexico, 

within the Jemez Mountains of Sandoval County. The western boundary follows the Rio Guadalupe 

corridor, the southeastern portion consists of the Jemez River corridor and San Diego Canyon, and 

the northeastern portion follows the southern edge of the Valles Caldera National Preserve. 

Elevations range from around 5,800 feet above sea level along the lower Jemez River near Cañon to 

over 10,100 feet at Los Griegos (just north of Cerro Pelado). Two main river corridors flow through 

the area—the Rio Guadalupe and the Jemez Rivers.

With its close proximity to the Albuquerque metro area, the area is popular and receives many 

visitors each year. The Rio Guadalupe and Jemez River corridors receive the most recreational use 

within the JNRA, and the area as a whole receives a very high level of visitation relative to its size. 

Ecosystem services supported by the JNRA are both cultural and supporting. Recreational 

opportunities are a major part of cultural ecosystem services in the area, and include an assortment of 

dispersed and developed activities. From a supporting ecosystem services standpoint, the JNRA 

promotes biodiversity. It contains habitat for many wildlife and plant species, including some listed 

as threatened, endangered, or sensitive. The management of these species is culturally valuable as 

well. Overall, the values listed in the Federal designation include recreational, ecological, cultural, 

religious, and wildlife resources.

Desired Conditions for Jemez National Recreation Area (DA-JNRA-DC)

1 The recreational, ecological, cultural, traditional, and wildlife resource values for which the 

Jemez National Recreation Area (JNRA) was designated are maintained along with visitor 

access and use.

2 Recreational opportunities support the needs and expectations of the diverse population in 

the surrounding area (e.g., urban visitors, rural residents, youth, people with disabilities, 

aging populations, and traditional and cultural users).

Standards for Jemez National Recreation Area (DA-JNRA-S)

1 The area must be managed consistent with the most recent version of the JNRA Management

Plan.

2 Mineral extraction must not occur within the JNRA, as it was withdrawn from all mineral entry.

3 Within the Jemez National Recreation Area, Stage 1 Fire Restrictions (e.g., fires outside 

developed sites are prohibited, smoking is prohibited) as described in the Southwest 

Interagency Fire Restrictions and Closure Master Operating Plan shall be enforced at all times.

 

19 The remaining acres are on private land and not subject to guidance here or within the JNRA
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Guideline for Jemez National Recreation Area (DA-JNRA-G)

1 Management practices should not threaten the recreational, ecological, cultural, traditional, 

and wildlife resource values for which the JNRA was designated.

Management Approaches for Jemez National Recreation Area (DA-JNRA-MA)

1. Work with volunteer groups, partners, local governments, and adjacent landowners to: 

a. protect the condition and character of the surrounding landscape, and 

b. facilitate support that promotes ‘Leave No Trace’ principles and reduces user conflicts. 
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Wild Horse Territory (WHT) 

The Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burros Act of 1971, as amended by the Federal Land Policy and 

Management Act of 1976 and the Public Rangeland Improvement Act of 1978, directs the protection 

and management of wild horses and burros on public lands. The Forest Service, by authority of the 

Secretary of Agriculture, is responsible for managing the Nation’s wild horses and burros on NFS 

lands. The Santa Fe NF has one active designated wild horse territory (WHT) (figure 4-west)—the 

Caja del Rio Wild Horse Territory. Two WHT and one Burro Territory on the Santa Fe NF have had 

their appropriate management level (AML) set to zero through the NEPA analysis process. 

Therefore, this plan only extends to the Caja del Rio WHT. 

The Caja del Rio WHT consists of 8,728 acres of NFS lands in the Caja Plateau administered by the 

Española Ranger District. Vegetation is primarily steppe grasslands and piñon-juniper. Horses have 

frequented the area since at least 1934, but the herd history is not well known. Observations indicate 

the animals appear similar to quarter horses and were largely sorrel or bay in color. No herd 

supplementation or reduction has occurred since the herd was designated in 1971. 

Management of WHTs are guided by individual management plans. Pursuant to the Wild FreeRoaming Horse and Burros Act of 1971, a census of wild horses and burros on NFS lands should be 

taken every 3 to 4 years to assess population size and growth rate, and genetic monitoring should be 

used to establish health of the population. Wild horse populations can double approximately every 

5 years (18 percent recruitment rate), horses in excess of what the ecosystem can sustain should be

periodically gathered and removed from WHTs. 

Wild horses and burros are an important social and cultural ecosystem service in the Santa Fe NF. 

The history of the Caja del Rio herd is tied to that of local communities, and many Americans from 

all backgrounds have an emotional attachment to wild horses as cultural symbols. WHTs help protect 

and preserve cultural traditions and values surrounding wild horses. 

Desired Conditions for the Caja del Rio Wild Horse Territory (DA-WHT-DC)

1 A biologically sound and genetically viable horse population is supported by healthy 

ecosystems, essential ecological processes, and land stewardship activities, and reflects the 

diversity, quantity, quality, and capability of natural habitats in the forest. 

2 Rangelands are resilient to disturbances, fluctuations, and extremes in the natural 

environment. 

3 Forage, browse, and cover needs of wild horses, wildlife, and authorized livestock are 

available and are at or moving toward a healthy, persistent state relative to site potential. 

Standard for the Caja del Rio Wild Horse Territory (DA-WHT-S)

1 Once a territory plan has been implemented, an AML has been established, and aerial 

monitoring shows that horse numbers exceed those set in the territory plan, humane methods 

must be used to gather animals. 
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Guideline for the Caja del Rio Wild Horse Territory (DA-WHT-G)

1. Once a territory plan has been implemented and an AML established, horse numbers should 

align with the appropriate management levels they describe. 

Management Approaches for Caja del Rio Wild Horse Territory (DA-WHT-MA)

1. Consider developing partnerships with other Federal Government agencies such as the Bureau of 

Indian Affairs, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, the State 

of New Mexico, universities, cattle and range organizations, advocate organizations, Native 

American Tribes, adjacent land owners, and grazing permittees. 

2. Consider developing an AML and management plan, including coordinating with the BLM and 

the Pueblo of Cochiti. 

3. Monitor horse numbers within active territories at least every 3 to 4 years.
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Significant Caves

Significant caves are considered invaluable and irreplaceable parts of the Nation’s natural heritage 

and in some cases, they are threatened due to improper use, increased recreational demand, urban 

spread, and a lack of specific statutory protection. Of the numerous caves and rock crevices 

throughout the varied landscapes in the Santa Fe NF, five are designated as significant in accordance 

with §290.3(e). These caves meet criteria in §290.3(c) or (d), which are based on geologicmineralogic-paleontologic values; biota; cultural values; hydrologic values; and recreational, 

educational or scientific values that the cave possesses. 

The Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988 (16 U.S.C. 4301-4309; 102 Stat. 4546) requires 

the Secretary of Agriculture to consider significant caves in the preparation of any land management 

plan and keep the locations of significant caves confidential unless it is determined that disclosure 

will not create a risk of harm, theft, or destruction to cave resources. Caves determined to be 

significant will be governed under provisions of the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act with an 

objective to secure, protect, and preserve significant caves for the perpetual use, enjoyment, and 

benefit of all people, and to foster increased cooperation and exchange of information with those 

who utilize caves for scientific, educational, or recreational purposes. Caves not determined 

significant will be managed under the standards and guidelines of the forest plan for non-significant 

caves (found under Energy, Minerals, and Caves), FSM 2372, FSM 2882.6 and 36-CFR; §261-

Prohibitions. 

Depending upon the criteria of each significant cave, they can provide supporting ecosystem services 

(geologic-mineralogic-paleontologic values or biota), regulating ecosystem services (hydrologic 

values), and cultural ecosystem services (cultural values; recreational, educational, or scientific 

values).

Desired Condition for Significant Caves (DA-SIGCAVES-DC) 

1 Significant cave resources’ aesthetic, cultural, and scientific values remain intact, and are 

protected from damage to provide for uses either by people (traditional cultural uses) or 

wildlife.

Management Approach for Significant Caves (DA-SIGCAVES-MA)

1. Consider measures to prevent human-caused changes in cave ecosystem, water, 

sediment, nutrient, chemical, airflow, humidity, or temperature regimes. 
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Figure 5. Designated national trails and national scenic byways on the Santa Fe NF 

National Historic Trails, particularly the El Camino Real NHT and Old Spanish NHT, have multiple alignments. Some of the alignments pass through the Santa Fe 

NF and are shown in this map. However, not all alignments may be indicated here for ease of viewing this map. Please see the National Park Service for 

information and maps regarding all alignments related to NHT.
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National Trails

The National Trails System Act of October 2, 1968 (16 U.S.C. 1241–1249), created a network of 

recreation, scenic and historic trails across the country in response to President Johnson’s 1965 

“Natural Beauty” message. The President called for a cooperatively developed and protected system 

of trails across America: “we can and should have an abundance of trails for walking, cycling, and 

horseback riding, in and close to our cities. In the backcountry we need to copy the great 

Appalachian Trail in all parts of America.” The purpose of the National Trails System is to provide 

for the ever-increasing outdoor recreation needs of an expanding population and promote the 

preservation of, public access to, travel within, and enjoyment and appreciation of the open-air 

outdoor areas and historic resources of the Nation. 

The National Trails System Act is the primary guiding act for nationally designated trails. Congress 

designates national scenic and historic trails, but national recreation trails are designated by the 

Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, who delegated it to Regional Foresters for 

NFS lands. National trails are managed cooperatively among multiple agencies and states in 

accordance with numerous requirements, which include the development of a trail comprehensive 

plan. A comprehensive plan is required for national scenic and national historic trails. These plans 

provide overall policy for management and administration of these congressionally designated areas. 

The National Trail System supports a number of cultural ecosystem services. Trails provide for 

outdoor recreation needs; promote the enjoyment, appreciation, and preservation of outdoor areas 

and historic resources; and encourage public access and citizen involvement. Trails can also support 

rural communities through recreation-spending, which is another aspect of cultural ecosystem 

services. 

The Santa Fe NF has one national scenic trail, three national historic trails, and two national 

recreation trails (see figure 5).

National Scenic Trail

Continental Divide National Scenic Trail

According to the National Trails System Act, national scenic trails “will be extended trails so located 

as to provide for maximum outdoor recreation potential and for the conservation and enjoyment of 

nationally significant scenic, historic, natural, and cultural qualities of the area through which such 

trails may pass.” 

The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST) was designated by an Act of Congress in 

1978. It runs 3,100 miles between Mexico and Canada, traversing 20 national forests, 4 National 

Park Service units, 13 BLM field offices, and State and private lands in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, 

Colorado, and New Mexico.i The CDNST is one of the highest, most rugged, and most spectacular 

trails in the United States, showcasing ecosystems as varied as the 14,270-foot summit of Gray’s 

Peak, great coniferous forests, mountain meadows, remote valleys, and high-desert landscapes. In the 

Santa Fe NF, the trail passes through 42 miles of the Coyote and Cuba Ranger Districts, before 

entering the Carson NF in the north (figure 5). 

According to the original 1976 Study Report, “the basic goal of the trail is to provide the hiker and 

rider an entree to the diverse country along the Continental Divide in a manner, which will assure a 
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high quality recreation experience while maintaining a constant respect for the natural 

environment.”ii These traditional uses persist, joined by a growing diversity of modern recreation.

iii

The CDNST is managed cooperatively among agencies and multiple partners, following the 2009 

amended Comprehensive Plan.

iv The Forest Service’s Region 2 has the administrative lead overall, 

while in New Mexico, the BLM maintains public information online. 

Ecosystem services unique to the CDNST include cultural services such as providing for outdoor 

recreation and connection with the diverse cultural and natural landscapes existing along the spine of 

the Rocky Mountains. Cultural ecosystem services, as well as provisioning services like natural 

resources, are also supported under the purpose of the CDNST: “...to conserve natural, historic, and 

cultural resources along the CDNST corridor.” 

Desired Conditions for the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (DACDNST-DC)

1 The CDNST is a well-defined trail in a highly scenic setting that provides for high-quality 

primitive hiking and horseback riding opportunities, and other compatible nonmotorized trail activities. Significant scenic, natural, historic, and cultural resources 

along the CDNST’s corridor are conserved. 

2 Viewsheds from the CDNST have high scenic values. The CDNST provides visitors with 

expansive views of the natural landscapes along the Continental Divide. The foreground 

of the CDNST (up to 0.5 mile on either side) is natural-appearing. 

3 The CDNST has access points that provide various opportunities to select the type of 

terrain, scenery, and trail length (e.g., ranging from long-distance to day use) that best 

provide for compatible outdoor recreation experiences.

a Wild and remote backcountry segments of the CDNST provide opportunities for 

solitude, immersion in natural landscapes, and primitive outdoor recreation.

b Front-country and easily accessible trail segments complement local community 

interests and needs and help contribute to their sense of place.

4 Visitors are aware of the CDNST corridor and the nature and purposes of the trail 

designation. 

5 Conflicts among users are rare and easily resolved.

6 The trail is well-maintained, signed, and passable. Alternate routes are made available in 

the case of temporary closures resulting from natural events, such as fire or flood, or 

land management activities

Objective for the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (DA-CDNST-O)

1 During the life of the plan, connect the remaining unconnected segments (5 miles on NFS lands 

and approximately 7 miles within San Pedro Parks Wilderness) in the Cuba Ranger District. 
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Standards for the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (DA-CDNST-S)

1 Management of the CDNST must comply with the most recent version of the CDNST 

Comprehensive Plan. Best available science can be used in lieu of the comprehensive 

plan if the plan is out-of-date with science.

2 Motorized use shall not be allowed on newly constructed segments of the CDNST. 

Existing motorized use may continue on the CDNST (where it overlaps with existing 

roads or motorized trails).

3 Surface occupancy for geothermal energy leasing activities must not occur within the 

CDNST corridor.

4 Common variety mineral extraction (e.g., limestone, gravel, pumice) must not occur 

within the CDNST corridor.

5 Motorized events and motorized special-use permits must not be permitted or 

authorized on the CDNST.

Guidelines for the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (DA-CDNST-G)

1 The corridor around the CDNST should be defined by either the foreground (0.5 mile on 

either side) or based on the Scenery Management System viewshed, which shows the 

landscape area visible from the trail based on topography.

2 To retain or promote the character for which the CDNST was designated, the corridor 

should be consistent with primitive or semi-primitive non-motorized ROS classes.

a The corridor may intermittently pass through more developed settings.

b The CDNST provides for a continuous route through predominately undeveloped 

settings.

c New or relocated trail segments should be located primarily within these settings.

d Road and motorized trail crossings and other signs of modern development should 

be avoided.

3 To protect or enhance the scenic qualities of the CDNST, management activities should 

be consistent with scenic integrity objectives of high or very high within the foreground 

of the trail (up to 0.5 mile either side).

4 If management activities result in short-term impacts to the scenic character along the 

CDNST, mitigation measures should be included (e.g., screening, feathering, and other 

scenery management techniques) to minimize visual impacts and achieve mapped 

scenic integrity objectives in the trail corridor. 

5 To promote a non-motorized setting, the CDNST should not be permanently re-located 

onto routes open to motor vehicle use.
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Guidelines for the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (DA-CDNST-G)

6 The minimum trail facilities necessary to accommodate the amount and types of use 

anticipated on any given segment along the CDNST should be provided to protect 

resource values and for health and safety (not for the purpose of promoting user 

comfort) to preserve or promote a natural-appearing setting. 

7 To protect the CDNST’s scenic values, new communication sites, utility corridors, and 

renewable energy sites developed under special-use authorizations should not be 

visually apparent within visible foreground (up to 0.5 mile) and should be visually 

subordinate in the middleground viewshed (up to 4 miles).

8 Linear utilities and rights-of-way should be limited to a single crossing per special-use 

authorization of the CDNST unless additional crossings are documented as the only 

prudent and feasible alternative.

9 New temporary and permanent road or motorized trail construction across or adjacent 

to the CDNST should be avoided unless necessary for resource protection, access to 

private lands, or to protect public health and safety.

10 Except where the CDNST follows a road, the trail should not be used for landings (e.g., 

timber, slash, decking) or as a temporary road. Hauling or skidding along the trail itself 

should be allowed only when design features are used to minimize impacts to the trail 

infrastructure and:

a where the CDNST is currently located on an open road, and

b no other haul route or skid trail options are available.

11 Unplanned fires in the foreground (up to 0.5 mile) of the CDNST should be managed 

using minimum impact suppression tactics or other tactics appropriate for protecting 

CDNST values. Prescribed fires in the foreground of the trail should be managed to 

incorporate the values of the CDNST. Heavy equipment fireline construction within the 

CDNST corridor should not be allowed unless necessary for emergency protection of life 

and property.

12 Uses that could conflict with the nature and purpose of the CDNST should be prohibited 

when it is determined that the use would interfere with the nature and purpose of the 

trail.

Management Approaches for the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (DACDNST-MA)

1. Work with volunteer groups, partners, local governments, and adjacent landowners to maintain 

CDNST corridors, the condition and character of the surrounding landscape, and to facilitate 

CDNST user support that promotes ‘Leave No Trace’ principles and reduces user conflict.

2. Consider working with partners to promote public education about the history, purpose, and 

benefits of the CDNST.

3. Consider ensuring that incident management teams are aware of the CDNST as a resource to be 

protected during wildfire suppression activities. Consider clearly identifying fire suppression 

rehabilitation and long-term recovery of the CDNST corridor as high priorities for incident 
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management teams, burned area emergency response teams, and post-fire rehabilitation 

interdisciplinary teams.

4. Consider establishing appropriate visitor use levels for specific segments of the CDNST and 

taking appropriate actions if there is a trend away from the desired condition.

5. Consider evaluating proposed trail relocations or new trail segments to locate the CDNST as 

close as possible to the geographic Continental Divide.

6. Consider identifying and pursuing opportunities to acquire lands or rights-of-way within or 

adjacent to the CDNST as they become available.

7. Consider providing consistent signage along the CDNST corridor at road crossings to adequately 

identify the trail and including interpretation at trailheads.

8. Consider using side and connecting trails to access points of interest or supplying points away 

from the CDNST. 
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National Historic Trails

National historic trails (NHT) were created through an amendment to the National Trails System Act 

in 1978. They are extended trails that follow the original routes of historically significant trails or 

roads, with the purpose of identifying and protecting the historic quality of the route and its remnants 

and artifacts. To qualify, a trail had to be: A route established by historic use; significant to the entire 

Nation as a result of that use; and possessing significant potential for recreational use or historic 

interest by the public due to historic interpretation and appreciation.v

 

Through multi-agency management, these NHTs are stewarded in concert with trail-specific 

comprehensive management plans put forth by the Federal administrator for these trails, and ongoing 

forest management efforts, to seamlessly protect unique cultural landscapes across jurisdictions. 

NHTs in the Santa Fe provide cultural ecosystem services through recreational experiences that 

connect visitors to the past through ongoing management of trail access, maintenance, interpretation, 

and education. They also act to preserve important historical and cultural markers on the landscape, 

contributing to sense of place. 

Segments of three NHTs traverse the Santa Fe NF: the El Camino Real del Tierra Adentro National 

Historic Trail, the Santa Fe National Historic Trail, and the Old Spanish National Historic Trail (see 

figure 5). 

El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail

The El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, or the Royal Road of the Interior Lands, was added to the 

National Trails System in 2000—the result of long-term collaboration between land management 

agencies in both the United States and Mexico. It is one of the longest, oldest, and most historic trails 

in the Americas. El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro NHT runs more than 400 miles through New 

Mexico and Texas. Approximately 9.5 miles of the trail are located in the Santa Fe NF, passing 

through portions of the Española Ranger District, rising from the community of La Bajada, and 

paralleling the Santa Fe River Canyon (figure 5). The trail has been listed on the National Register of 

Historic Places in many areas of the forest, and 4.6 miles of the trail are considered high-potential 

routes, as wagon ruts from the original trail are viewable. 

Historically, El Camino Real de Tiera Adentro was a 1,600-mile-long trade route between Mexico 

City, Mexico, and Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico. It is the earliest European trade route between 

Zacatecas and the historic interior lands of Mexico, now modern-day New Mexico. For nearly 300 

years (A.D. 1598 to 1885), the trail was the principal trade route that made possible the settlement,

conquest, military occupation, and religious conversion of the borderlands. El Camino Real de Tierra 

Adentro represents a symbol of early cultural interaction between nations and multiple ethnic groups 

in the Southwest.

El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro NHT is jointly administered by the National Park Service and the 

Bureau of Land Management, who then collaborate with the Mexican government on trail 

management spanning the border. The goals set forth in the trail’s comprehensive management plan 

are to provide for a high-quality visitor experience, coordinated interpretation and education, 

effective administration, and active resource protection. 
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Santa Fe National Historic Trail

In 1987, Congress and President Reagan added the route to the National Trails System. The Santa Fe 

NHT extends 1,203 miles across the Great Plains through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, 

and New Mexico. Approximately 8 miles of the Santa Fe NHT cross the Santa Fe NF (figure 5). The 

most traveled section of this trail lies between Glorieta Pass and the Santa Fe NF in the Pecos Ranger 

District. The remaining miles are smaller segments of the trail and secondary connector trails.

The identified period of significance for the Santa Fe NHT is from 1821 to 1880, when the trail 

played a critical role in the westward expansion of the United States between Franklin, Missouri, and 

Santa Fe, New Mexico. During the United States Territorial Period, beginning in 1848, the trail 

provided military support for trade caravans, settlers, and the construction of forts. 

The Santa Fe NHT comprehensive management plan identified 194 high-potential sites, and 30 highpotential route segments consisting of intact wagon ruts, along the length of the trail. The 1990 Santa 

Fe comprehensive management plan focuses on the protection, historical interpretation, recreation 

use, and management of the trail corridor. 

Old Spanish National Historic Trail

The Old Spanish NHT was designated by Congress and President George W. Bush in 2002. The 

2,700-mile trail extends through New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona, ending in 

California. Approximately 23.5 miles of the trail cross the Española, Coyote, and Cuba Ranger 

Districts of the Santa Fe NF (see figure 5). Two routes included in the trail can be found in the forest: 

the Northern Route and the Armijo Route. The Northern Route follows U.S. Highway 84 north of 

Santa Fe, while the Armijo Route breaks from U.S. Highway 84 and continues west along State 

Highway 96. 

Commercial use of the trail started in 1829, and supported commercial ventures for the next 

20 years. It served as a route for immigrants and trade goods moving west to California. Use of the 

rugged trail declined with the start of the United States Territorial Period in 1848, as more passable 

trails became available. 

The Old Spanish NHT is co-administered by the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park 

Service. These two agencies co-authored the 2016 Old Spanish NHT Comprehensive Administration 

Strategy, which prioritizes resource identification, including protection, monitoring, and mapping 

resource inventories; and trail user experience, including interpretation, recreation, and health and 

safety.
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Desired conditions for National Historic Trails (DA-NHT-DC)

1 NHT segments in the forest follow routes of historic significance, within an intact 

cultural landscape, as closely as possible. Significant route segments, historical sites, and 

artifacts are protected for public use and enjoyment.

2 Within the trail corridors, natural processes (e.g., insects, disease, or fire) function 

within their natural ecological role.

3 Trail users appreciate, enjoy, and understand the multicultural influence and historical

significance of the NHTs and related sites. The NHTs provide users with a diversity of 

recreational experiences that highlight the natural, cultural, and heritage resources that 

are unique to the region the trail is passing through.

4 Visitor experience and historic integrity is seamless between forest lands and adjacent 

ownership.

Standards for National Historic Trails (DA-NHT-S)

1 Management of the NHTs must comply with the most recent version of respective 

comprehensive management plans (CMP). This includes the following:

a Follow interpretive themes and subthemes identified in approved CMPs; 

b Follow guidelines for intended visitor use types as directed by approved CMPs;

c Follow guidelines for approved signs and images as directed by approved CMPs;

d Follow trail maintenance guidelines identified in approved CMPs.

Guidelines for National Historic Trails (DA-NHT-G)

1 Management activities in NHT corridors should be consistent with, or make progress 

toward achieving, scenic integrity objectives of high or very high within the foreground 

of the trail (up to 0.5 mile either side) or within the identified trail viewshed, the 

landscape area visible from the trail based on topography. 

2 Forest health projects should be used to achieve management objectives within trail 

corridors only to the extent necessary to accomplish plan objectives (e.g., vegetation) 

while protecting the nature and purpose of the NHT and minimizing scenic and physical 

impacts of vegetation treatments on the trail and its corridor. 

3 Where concerns for the protection of cultural resources do not allow for development 

of the trail on the historic route, a route should be selected that provides a vicarious 

experience within the cultural landscape and as close as possible to the historic route. 
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Management Approaches for National Historic Trails (DA-NHT-MA)

1. Rely on the cooperative management efforts and support of State, local, and private interests, 

including trail advisory councils, to ensure the protection of trail-related resources, to provide 

outdoor recreational opportunities, to maintain and build trail facilities, and to accomplish the 

objectives of interpretive programs with a focus on assisting visitors to understand and 

appreciate the trails’ history and significance. 

2. Consider inventory and identification of intact trail segments (including reroutes and alternative 

alignments) in coordination with the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management, as 

appropriate. These agencies are the administrative agencies for the Santa Fe Trail and El Camino 

Real de Tierra Adentro, and the Old Spanish Trail, respectively. Consider working 

collaboratively to ensure that signs installed along the route follow the sign plan indicated in 

each trail’s comprehensive plan.

3. Request a landscape architect or other scenery specialist to analyze all proposed projects for 

impacts to scenery in all distance zones (foreground, middleground, and background) associated 

with an NHT corridor. 

4. Consider implementing controlled surface use stipulations within the trail corridor on Federal 

lands and on lands of other ownership where Federal subsurface rights exist. 
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National Recreation Trails 

National Recreation Trails (NRT) are local or regionally significant trails that represent outstanding 

recreation opportunities for diverse communities. They provide day-use or extended trail experience 

for a variety of recreation opportunities accessible from urban areas (FSM 2350). There are over 

1,000 trails in all 50 states. These trails offer spectacular views and high-quality recreation 

opportunities. 

NRTs are cooperatively managed among a number of agencies, including the Forest Service, for the 

primary purpose of outdoor recreation. Regional Foresters may establish national recreation trails 

(FSM 2353.04) as provided in section 4 of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1243). 

Ecosystem services supported by NRTs are largely cultural in nature. The trails provide exemplary 

outdoor recreation opportunities, which encourage connection with the landscape and promote 

physical and mental health. 

The Santa Fe NF is home to two NRTs: the Cañones National Recreation Trail and the Winsor 

National Recreation Trail (figure 5).

Cañones National Recreation Trail

Cañones NRT is 10.9 miles long. It begins at Cerro Pavo Trailhead in the Coyote Ranger District and 

ends where it meets with trail 102. This trail offers spectacular views of the Cañones Canyon walls. 

The canyon provides habitat for numerous types of wildlife. The trail is open to hiking, fishing, 

horseback riding, and other non-motorized recreational uses. 

Winsor National Recreation Trail

Winsor NRT is a 9-mile, continuous trail composed of two short segments of the NFS trail system 

located within the Española District of the Santa Fe NF-part of Winsor trail (trail #254) and Chamisa 

trail (trail #183). The trail begins at the end of State Road 475 in the lower parking lot in the Santa 

Fe Ski Basin, also known as Aspen Basin, and proceeds in a southwesterly direction downhill 

following mountain contours and ridge lines until it drops into the valley of Big Tesuque Creek. 

From there, the trail follows the creek 2 miles downstream before turning south into a small drainage 

on trail #183, climbs a ridge, and drops into Chamisa Canyon leading back to State Road 475. The 

trail passes through three vegetation zones of the New Mexico Uplands and touches a fourth.

Desired Conditions for National Recreation Trails (DA-NRT-DC)

1 NRTs provide opportunities for non-motorized recreation in various locations as well as 

a diversity of experiences with different components of solitude, remoteness, and 

development.

2 Conflicts among trail users are rare and easily resolved.
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Guidelines for National Recreation Trails (DA-NRT-G)

1 Management activities within foreground views (up to 0.5 mile) from the trail should meet a 

scenic integrity objective of at least high. 

2 Management activities in the middleground (up to 4 miles) and background (from 

middleground to horizon) should meet or exceed a scenic integrity objective of at least 

moderate. 

3 Special-use permits that affect NRTs should include scenery management best practices. 

4 Management activities should maintain safe public access to NRTs. 

5 NRTs should be consistent with management direction in the trail establishment reports as well 

as the maintenance standards for trail class and use.

Management Approaches for National Recreation Trails (DA-NRT-MA)

1. Work with volunteer groups, partners, local governments, and adjacent landowners to: 

a. maintain trail corridors, 

b. maintain the condition and character of the surrounding landscape, and

c. facilitate support by trail users that promotes ‘Leave No Trace’ principles and reduces user

conflict.
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Scenic Byways

The National Scenic Byways Program was established in 1991, to recognize, preserve, and enhance 

selected roads throughout the Nation. The program aims to promote tourism and economic 

development in rural communities and provide opportunities to explore the beauty, history, and 

natural heritage of the national forests. 

The National Scenic Byways Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, 

Federal Highway Administration. The U.S. Secretary of Transportation recognizes these designated 

roads based on one or more intrinsic qualities—archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, 

recreational, or scenic (DOT 1995). 

The most important management tool and metric associated with scenic byways is the Scenery 

Management System, which is used to manage, maintain, and improve the viewshed associated with 

the designated byway. Secondary is the ROS, which further defines the recreation setting, 

development levels, and opportunities to users within the byway corridor. 

Scenic byways provide the important cultural ecosystem service of access to and experience of 

natural settings. In some cases, people who may not be able to hike trails can still access the Santa Fe 

NF and its accompanying cultural, historical, and social values and traditions via motorized 

recreation on scenic byways. Scenic views can also contribute to psychological and emotional health, 

which are important cultural ecosystem services. When people use the scenic byways to view 

outstanding scenic views or historical elements, they also spend time and money in small 

communities; the scenic qualities created by nurturing supporting, regulating, and provisioning 

ecosystem services thereby support rural economic development. The scenic byways may also 

contribute to these other ecosystem services by drawing people away from more sensitive areas for 

their recreation, thereby, providing space for biodiversity and other supporting and regulating 

ecosystem services to function undisturbed. 

Five national scenic byways are within the Santa Fe NF (see figure 5): 

■ Route 66 (pre-1937 alignment) National Scenic Byway is sometimes called “The Mother 

Road.” The Secretary of Transportation designated it as a national scenic byway in October 

2009. Only Arizona, Illinois, New Mexico, and Oklahoma have designated Route 66 as a 

national scenic byway. The entire route is 2,448 miles long, and runs from Chicago to Los 

Angeles. However, the length of the designated national scenic byway is 1,409 miles, with a 

604-mile-long segment crossing New Mexico (USDA Forest Service 2015). Coming into 

Santa Fe, the historic route runs parallel to Interstate 25 (I-25). The route travels through the 

Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District, traveling close to the Pecos River at various points. 

Finally, the historic route goes south on Highway 84. This byway also carries a historic state 

designation. The Historic Route 66 National Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan 

(Tidwell and Rosoff 2009) guides the management of this byway. 

■ El Camino Real National Scenic Byway was designated in September 2005. It is 

299 miles long and runs from El Paso, Texas, through New Mexico, nearly to the Colorado 

border. It follows the Rio Grande River and the I-25 corridor. El Camino Real also carries a 

New Mexico State designation, and is also designated El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro 

National Historic Trail (2000). Stretching 1,150 miles from Mexico City to Santa Fe, the 

highway was for three centuries the Southwest’s main conduit for traders, settlers, and social 

change. The route of the Camino is now paralleled by modern highwaysthe Pan-American 

Highway of Mexico, Interstate 10 from El Paso to Las Cruces, and I-25 from Las Cruces to 

Santa Fe. Sites along the way include the Pueblo of San Felipe, El Rancho de las 
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Golondrinas, and the city of Santa Fe (New Mexico Highway and Transportation Department 

1998). 

■ Jemez Mountain Trail is 163 miles long and passes geological formations, ancient Indian 

ruins, and an Indian pueblo. The area is rich in logging, mining, and ranching heritage. 

Roughly 65 miles of this lengthy trail are located in the Santa Fe NF. Beginning north of 

Albuquerque in the village of San Ysidro at the junction of New Mexico 44 and New Mexico 

4, this trail winds through the Jemez Mountains. Along the route are the towns of Jemez 

Pueblo, Jemez Springs, and Cuba, among others. There are also great stop-offs at Soda Dam 

(a natural dam formed by thousands of years of minerals from a natural spring), Seven 

Springs, and the ancient cliff dwellings at Bandelier National Monument. 

■ Santa Fe National Forest Scenic Byway. This nationally recognized strip of highway 

starts in the historic downtown plaza in Santa Fe, follows New Mexico Highway 475, and 

ends after 16 miles at the Santa Fe Ski Area. Spring and summer wildflowers dot the uphill 

road cuts and slopes below the road. The drive is most scenic in autumn when the aspen 

colors are in full effect. The Santa Fe National Forest Scenic Byway has an Interpretive 

Master Plan available to help guide managers make this an available and useful resource to 

visitors (USDA Forest Service no date). There are many great stops on the way. Vista 

Grande Overlook, near the top of the byway, has spectacular views of the Rio Grande Valley 

between the Jemez Mountains to the west and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The cities of 

Santa Fe, Los Alamos, White Rock, and on clear days, even Albuquerque are visible from 

this vista. Big Tesuque and Aspen Vista both have great views of the fall foliage. There are a 

number of campgrounds and picnic areas along the way.

■ Santa Fe Trail National Scenic Byway. In 1821, the Santa Fe Trail became America's 

first great international commercial highway, and for nearly 60 years thereafter was one of 

the Nation's great routes of adventure and western expansion. Mindful of this, the Santa Fe 

Trail Association was created in 1986, to help protect and preserve it. The U.S. Congress 

likewise recognized the significance of the trail to American history by proclaiming it a 

national historic trail in 1987 (Santa Fe Trail Association). 

Desired Conditions for Scenic Byways (DA-SB-DC)

1 Viewsheds from scenic byways are consistent with desired conditions for scenery and 

appear natural, with only minimal evidence of human activities.

2 Scenic byways provide access to and appreciation of the forest while supporting rural 

community economic development.

Guidelines for Scenic Byways (DA-SB-G)

1 Visual impacts from management activities and infrastructure should meet scenery objectives 

as identified on the Scenic Integrity Objective Map.

2 Management activities within the foreground (up to 0.5 mile on either side) should be 

consistent with the scenic integrity objective of high.
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Management Approaches for Scenic Byways (DA-SB-MA)

1. Work with the New Mexico Department of Transportation and county highway departments to 

manage hazard trees within the immediate foreground of scenic byways (up to 300 feet on either 

side).

2. Work with the New Mexico Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, 

and local communities to improve services and interpretive opportunities on byways.

3. Consider using signs, kiosks, exhibits, and other educational tools (e.g., brochures, auto tours, 

websites, and social media) to provide interpretive, educational, and safety information along 

scenic byways, in adjacent recreation sites, and at visitor contact points (e.g., ranger stations).
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Management Areas

The Santa Fe NF has several areas requiring different management that cannot be met through 

forestwide plan components and are not designated areas. These areas are identified as management 

areas. Management areas are similar to designated areas, but differ in that they are defined as part of 

the forest plan and not designated by Congress or administratively established. Management areas 

can include proposed designated areas, such as proposed research natural areas, recommended 

wilderness, or eligible wild and scenic rivers that are managed as management areas until they are 

designated. A management area represents a management emphasis for an area or several similar 

areas across the landscape. 

Management areas identified in this plan for the Santa Fe NF are:

Caja del Rio Wildlife and Cultural Management Area 

Cañada Bonita Recommended Research Natural Area

Cultural Interpretive Management Area

Oil and Gas Leasing Management Area

Recommended Wilderness Management Area 

Eligible Wild and Scenic River Management Area
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Figure 6-west. Management areas for the western half of the Santa Fe NF, from Cuba to Española. For 

legend see figure 6-east. 
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Figure 6-east. Management areas for the eastern half of the Santa Fe NF, from Española to Las Vegas
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Caja Del Rio Wildlife and Cultural Interpretive Management Area

The Caja del Rio Management Area runs down the middle of the Caja del Rio plateau, which is 

about 15 miles west of the city of Santa Fe (figure 6-west). Moving west from this management area 

lies Santa Fe NF recommended wilderness along the Rio Grande River, designated wilderness across 

the river and within Bandelier National Monument (National Park Service), and then the designated 

Dome Wilderness in the Santa Fe NF. Outside of the management area, the eastern part of the plateau 

is more heavily used with a network of motorized routes, mountain biking and horseback riding 

trails, and structures to support livestock grazing. This area is covered by a variety of land 

jurisdictions, including the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State, Santa 

Fe County, and private land. Along the northeastern boundary of the plateau is the Buckman Direct 

Diversion facility, which provides water throughout Santa Fe County. 

The landscape is generally flat to rolling with more rugged terrain along the western edge above the 

Rio Grande River. The entire plateau is bound by cliffs or escarpments, many with rivers or Canadas: 

White Rock Canyon and the Rio Grande River on the northwestern edge; a large escarpment “La 

Bajada” easily visible from I-25 along the western edge; the Santa Fe River runs through a canyon 

along the southern edge; and the ephemeral stream, Canada Ancha, along the northeastern edge, but 

outside of the management area.

The Caja is diverse in plant and animal species, both in overall numbers (population) as well as what 

species are found in the area (biodiversity). The plateau does not conform to the typical notion of 

forest land: juniper grass, Colorado Plateau Great Basin, piñon-juniper shrub, piñon-juniper 

woodland, and piñon-juniper sagebrush ERUs make up the management area. Its grasslands and 

other ecosystems provide habitat for many sensitive species. The area is also an important bird area; 

declining grassland bird species can be found on the plateau, as well as other birds such as golden 

and bald eagles and peregrine falcons. Other habitats, such as intermittent ponds and playas, support 

aquatic life. The interplay between the locally diverse environments and bird and animal species is 

unique when compared to other areas of the forest, including the range from steep canyon riparian to 

open grassland on the south end and rugged volcanic country on the plateau above the river. The 

remote setting, limited motorized routes, and continuity with recommended and designated 

wilderness as well as IRAs along the corridor of the Rio Grande River provide habitat connectivity 

for daily and seasonal wildlife movement along and across the river and the potential for longdistance range shifts of species. 

The area also contains nationally significant cultural resources including the ancestral homes of 

modern Pueblo communities, numerous petroglyph localities, and the intact remains of historic roads 

and trails such as the original alignment of Route 66 and the El Camino Real del Tierra Adentro. The 

archeological integrity of these features, which consists of their location and physical environment, 

materials and workmanship, and design help preserve their aesthetic or historic sense that make them 

valuable. 

Once only moderately accessible, construction of the New Mexico-599 (NM-599) bypass has made 

local access easier and increased the popularity of the area. The area provides abundant and 

accessible recreational opportunities in a remote setting with limited motorized routes. 

The Caja del Rio Wildlife and Cultural Interpretive Management Area provides supporting 

ecosystem services through the rich biodiversity found there. It also provides abundant cultural 

ecosystem services through the preservation of sites that are an important part of the historic fabric 
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of this region. Finally, the education opportunities this site offers, specifically regarding wildlife and 

culture, are another cultural ecosystem service.

Desired Conditions for Caja Del Rio Wildlife and Cultural Interpretive 

Management Area (MA-CAJA-DC)

1 The natural character of the Caja del Rio supports wildlife diversity and connectivity, 

and maintains the cultural and archeological integrity found there, while providing 

interpretive opportunities for the public to learn and value these resources, in an area 

easily accessible to metropolitan Santa Fe.

2 The biological and cultural value of the area is recognized both internally and by the 

public. 

3 Education and recreation opportunities exist for national historic trails that have local 

and national interest, including the Camino Real del Tierra Adentro and Route 66.

Objectives for Caja Del Rio Wildlife and Cultural Interpretive Management 

Area (MA-CAJA-O)

1 Within 5 years of plan implementation, develop off-site interpretive materials (e.g., 

remote exhibits, brochures, or website information) for:

a Portions of the national historic trails in the Caja del Rio to promote a sense of 

discovery for visitors.

b Opportunities to view and protect the unique flora and fauna in the area.

Standard for Caja Del Rio Wildlife and Cultural Interpretive Management Area (MACAJA-S)

1 Maximize use of existing utility line corridors for additional utility line needs. New utility 

corridors and communication sites will not be allowed. 

Guidelines for Caja Del Rio Wildlife and Cultural Interpretive Management 

Area (MA-CAJA-G)

1 The designation of motorized cross-country areas and the construction of permanent or 

temporary roads should be avoided unless required by a valid permitted activity or for 

management actions that would help meet desired conditions (e.g., wildlife, ecological 

health, or managing cultural resources). Roads should be constructed and maintained at 

the lowest maintenance level needed for their intended purpose. Maintenance and 

reconstruction should be allowed on existing roads and trails.
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Guidelines for Caja Del Rio Wildlife and Cultural Interpretive Management 

Area (MA-CAJA-G)

2 Range improvements should be designed to improve wildlife habitat and connectivity:

a Water developments should be considered to discourage livestock use in natural 

watering holes.

b New fences and corrals should not be constructed. Maintenance and reconstruction 

of fences should prioritize wildlife-friendly designs to reduce impacts to migrations. 

3 Low-flying altitude maneuvers for permitted military activities should only be allowed 

during times that avoid breeding seasons for known populations of at-risk species. 

4 To promote a sense of discovery and preserve the wild and natural characteristics and 

features, interpretation about the wildlife and cultural features of the Caja del Rio 

should not include permanent developed interpretive facilities in the Caja del Rio.

Management Approaches for Caja Del Rio Wildlife and Cultural Interpretive 

Management Area (MA-CAJA-MA)

1. Use cross-agency collaboration (e.g., National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, 

Cochiti Pueblo, and Los Alamos National Laboratory) and tribal consultation to facilitate 

wildlife connectivity and protection of important archaeological, cultural, and sacred sites.

2. Consider closures (e.g., for activities such as target shooting or drone use) to protect wildlife and 

maintain increased potential for wildlife-viewing opportunities. 

3. Consider conducting condition assessments and developing stabilization plans on significant 

ancestral pueblos.

4. Consider discouraging take-off and landing of drones in or near canyons to avoid effects to atrisk wildlife species.
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Cañada Bonita Recommended Research Natural Area

The Cañada Bonito grassland is nestled in the Jemez Mountains on the western portion of the Santa 

Fe NF several miles west of the community of Los Alamos. The Thurber fescue grassland is perched 

on a southwest-facing slope of up to a 40 percent grade covering an elevation band between 9,200 to 

9,800 feet (Mohlenbrock 1988). Thurber fescue grasslands are montane grasslands, nestled in mixedconifer forests, and were once found on most high-elevation south-facing ridges and peaks 

throughout the Jemez Mountains and the Southwest. These grasslands are some of the most 

productive native grasslands in New Mexico and have diverse plant and animal communities. At this 

site, the adjoining forest includes remnant patches of old-growth mixed-conifer and spruce-fir 

forests, including some of the oldest aspen ever documented. Although restricted in where it can 

occur, this grassland type was once regionally widespread. Based on the well-developed Mollisol 

(prairie-type) soils, these grasslands are known to be thousands of years old. However, in the past 

century conifer tree invasion, livestock grazing, and fire suppression have limited their extent and 

occurrence from their historic distribution. This particular site has retained its characteristics because 

it has been protected from livestock grazing since 1943, as part of a protected buffer zone associated 

with work occurring at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

The Cañada Bonito recommended research natural area (RNA) management area offers an example 

of an outstanding high-elevation Thurber fescue (Festuca thurberi) grassland community at or very 

near its climax expression. This management area provides the best, and possibly the only, 

opportunity for maintenance of a Thurber fescue meadow within the Southwestern Region. Thus, the 

Cañada Bonita Management Area is a recommended RNA because of its high-quality Thurber fescue 

grassland. Similar to designated RNAs, this management area would be an excellent area for 

studying this type of ecosystem and for monitoring long-term ecological change. The area also has 

an extensive history of research on the grasslands, soils, adjoining forest vegetation, including treering studies on fire history, forest age patterns, and tree invasion of the grassland; and wildlife, 

including the endangered Jemez Mountain salamander. This research provides a solid baseline for 

future studies on these ecosystems. 

Cañada Bonita was managed as a proposed RNA in the 1987 Forest Plan. An environmental analysis 

for the area was conducted as part of the environmental impact statement for the 1987 Forest Plan 

and supported designation of the area as an RNA, although the area was never officially designated. 

Today, this area still meets the requirements of an RNA and is, therefore, being re-recommended in 

this forest plan. RNAs are administratively designated by the Regional Forester and the Research 

Station Director. 

The Cañada Bonita recommended RNA provides supporting ecosystem services through the 

maintenance and preservation of the rare Thurber fescue grassland. In addition, the research and 

educational opportunities associated with this community type are cultural ecosystem services.
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Desired Conditions for Cañada Bonita Recommended Research Natural Area

(MA-CANBON-DC)

1 The Cañada Bonito MA is natural-appearing and ecological processes (e.g., plant 

succession, fire, and insect and disease) function with limited human influences. 

2 The Cañada Bonito MA is an area for the study of ecosystems and ecological processes, 

including succession, and serves as a baseline area for measuring ecological change 

from disturbances or stressors like climate change.

Standards for Cañada Bonita Recommended Research Natural Area (MACANBON-S)

1 No surface occupancy for minerals, geothermal, or oil and gas extraction shall be allowed. 

2 Vegetation manipulation or removal of forest products for commercial purposes and personal 

use (including firewood) shall not be permitted or authorized, unless it is necessary to maintain 

the ecological process or the natural characteristics that make the Cañada Bonito MA suitable 

for designation as an RNA. 

3 New trail construction shall not be permitted.

4 Special-use permits must not be permitted, except for research that would not lead to longterm effects on the characteristics specific to the Cañada Bonito MA.

5 Only non-motorized, day-use recreational activities are allowed in the Cañada Bonito MA. 

6 New roads must not be constructed and closed roads shall not be opened. 

7 Campfires are not allowed.

8 New utility corridors must not be permitted or authorized.

Guideline for Cañada Bonita Recommended Research Natural Area (MACANBON-G)

1 Management activities should be consistent with the corresponding scenic integrity objective

(as defined by the Scenic Integrity Objective Map). 

Management Approaches for Cañada Bonita Recommended Research Natural 

Area (MA-CANBON-MA)

1. Collaborate with appropriate agencies and universities regarding scientific opportunities.

2. Encourage partnerships and volunteers to provide onsite interpretation and monitoring. 

3. Consider marking the boundary of the Cañada Bonito MA and using kiosks to educate the public 

about the MA purpose, and permitted and prohibited activities.
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Cultural Interpretive Management Area

Humans have occupied and used the land in and around the Santa Fe NF for over 10,000 years. In 

these early years, indigenous populations were the only people to occupy and use this land, which is 

concurrent with the earliest human occupation of the Western Hemisphere. Cultural resource sites 

reflect a record of these early inhabitants and are important in the identity of local communities, the 

state of New Mexico, the region, and the Nation. About 10,000 cultural resources have been recorded 

in just under 35 percent of the forest.

Tourists are attracted to cultural resources because of their nature and significance, as well as the 

character of traditional communities. Interpreted cultural resource sites provide opportunities for the 

public, especially youth, to learn about the lifeways of the people who have lived on this land. 

Contemporary uses of cultural resource sites are critical for maintaining the identity of both historic 

and modern communities. Cultural tourism also contributes to the economy of local communities. 

The sites within this management area have long attracted the interest of archaeologists and 

recreationists. Information about each site and its location is readily available online and in print, and 

the sites receive frequent visitation from private recreationists and guided tours. Each site has

varying levels of excavation, preservation, and interpretive development. Some sites have been 

stabilized to protect them while continuing to support visitation and access. The areas surrounding 

each core site and interpretive trail provides additional opportunities for visitors to experience lessdeveloped sites and acquire an additional sense of discovery and wonder about what life was like in 

the past. 

The Cultural Interpretive Management Area provides cultural ecosystem services such as education 

and recreation opportunities, as well as spiritual connections to the past. 

This management area contains four archaeological sites and their associated interpretive 

development located across three districts of the Santa Fe NF (figure 6-west). 

Nogales Cliff House

Nogales Cliff House consists of a cliff dwelling complex of mud and stone structures constructed on 

the west side of the wall of Spring Canyon in the Cuba Ranger District. The site is the largest known 

grouping of cliff dwellings in the Gallina Region. The Gallina culture is defined as a pre-contact 

period group of Ancestral Pueblo people defined by archaeologists as living between the San Juan 

Basin and the Rio Chama, and south of the San Juan River, but north of the Jemez Mountains. The 

cliff house is located in a scenic and steep-sided canyon, but is surrounded by the remains of an 

extensive 12th and 13th century occupation. Nogales Cliff House may have formed the central 

location for the more extensive community toward the end of its occupation. This type of site is rare 

in the area, but the architecture is characteristic of the region, although sites more typically occurred 

in the open. 

Nogales Cliff House was excavated in the late 1930s. In the 1990s, interest in the site increased and a 

recreation trail was constructed from the bottom of Spring Canyon to provide access. 

Poshuouinge

Poshuouinge is a large Ancestral Tewa pueblo and consists of the architectural remains of a doubleplaza multi-room pueblo. It is located on a bench above the Rio Chama in the Española Ranger 

District, near the village of Abiquiú. One of a number of large Classic Period pueblos occupying the 
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basin of the Rio Chama, Poshuouinge was inhabited by the ancestors of modern day Tewa pueblo 

communities that live throughout the Española Valley. The pueblo had multiple stories that were 

constructed primarily from adobe turtlebacks shaped blocks formed from baskets of mud that were 

laid up in courses, with the occasional cobble for reinforcement. Built around A.D. 1420, 

Poshuouinge was abandoned before A.D. 1500, and prior to the entry of Europeans to the Northern 

Hemisphere. The pueblo had line of site visibility to a number of other large Classic Period pueblos 

occupied around the same time. Other early historic materials from Spanish, Ute, and Apache visitors 

can also be found on the site because of its proximity to the historic town of Abiquiú. 

The site was excavated in the early 20th century using crew members from modern Tewa 

communities. Its scenic beauty and location near the highway and Abiquiú makes Poshuouinge 

popular for locals and recreational visitors. In the early 1990s, an interpretive trail was constructed 

leading from a hardened parking lot at the foot of the bench to where the site lies. A short trail leads 

to two separate overlooks above the site and limits disturbance to the site. The management area 

boundary includes a large area that likely encompasses the majority of the Poshuouinge community 

located on public land. The site serves the same purpose as a local city park for many locals and the 

trail receives intensive use by locals for exercise. 

Rattlesnake Ridge

Rattlesnake Ridge consists of a large, widely distributed set of archaeological resources including pit 

houses, surface houses, surface features and other site elements. The site is located on a large ridge in 

the north end of the Cuba Ranger District. Rattlesnake Ridge is associated with the archaeologically 

defined Gallina culture and was occupied from the 12th to the middle of the 13th centuries. 

The archaeological remains on the mesa consist of a number of clusters of architectural features, as is 

typical of Gallina open sites. The site was excavated in the 1950s and 1980s. In the 1990s, a 

recreation trail was constructed from a new road and parking area. This trail was designed to provide 

an accessible rural experience for physically challenged individuals and is well-suited for 

interpretive signs. 

Tsipinuouinge

Tsipinuouinge is a large Ancestral Tewa pueblo and consists of the architectural remains of a single 

multi-room pueblo. It is located on a prominent mesa in the Coyote Ranger District and is the 

northernmost pueblo of a sequence of large Classic Period pueblos occupying the basin of the Rio 

Chama. Tsipinuouinge was inhabited by the ancestors of the modern day Tewa pueblo communities 

that live throughout the Española Valley. Built around A.D. 1275, and abandoned before A.D. 1450, 

the pueblo is constructed from loaf-shaped blocks of volcanic tuff and stands multiple stories high

with cavate rooms on the eastern side. This construction must have presented a formative image to 

people entering the basin of the Rio Chama. The pueblo also stood as a gatehouse to the stone tool 

raw material sources of Cerro Pedernal and Cerro Polvadera. 

Tsipinuouinge has never been formally excavated, but is popular because of its scenic beauty and 

superlative archaeology. In the 1990s, a new switchback trail was built from the top of Polvadera 

Mesa down to the south edge of the site. Access to the site is by permit only. While the focus of 

community life in Tsipin would have included the canyons surrounding Cañones, some of this occurs 

on private land. The management area boundary includes the access trail as well as the canyon and 

mesa top, demarking the area on public land that is most likely to have comprised the immediate 

community for the occupants of Tsipin. 
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Desired Conditions for Cultural Interpretive Management Area (MA-CULTINTDC)

1 The structures and trails are stable and in good condition and provides accessible, 

quality, viewing experiences for the sites without further impacts to the architectural 

remains.

a Tsipinuouinge trail follows local conditions and steep terrain, and is a challenging 

experience for physically capable visitors.

b Rattlesnake Ridge trail is in sufficient condition to provide a rural accessible 

experience for all, including physically challenged visitors.

c The adobe walls and other structural fabric of the Nogales Cliff House and its 

associated structures is structurally sound and in good condition.

d The trail to Poshuouinge is in sufficient condition to provide a rural, but moderately 

accessible experience for visitors as well as a quality visitor experience to view the 

site.

2 Interpretation and educational materials provide a sense of what life was like in these 

communities in the 12th through 15th centuries.

3 Opportunities exist for research, exploration, and documentation of these historic sites. 

Objectives for Cultural Interpretive Management Area (MA-CULTINT-O)

1 Within 10 years, develop at least one on-site interpretive tool that provides interpretation and 

educational information about each site.

2 Within 8 years, complete and stabilize the entire trail on each site to provide for site protection 

and visitor safety.

Guidelines for Cultural Interpretive Management Area (MA-CULTINT-G)

1 Architectural elements should be stabilized using National Park Service Historic Preservation 

standards.

2 New trails, trail reroutes, and viewing areas should be constructed to avoid impacts to the 

archeological integrity of a site, while still allowing for visitor appreciation. 

a Tsipinuouinge trail should be maintained in the original alignment which, although steep, 

provides an opportunity to view the site without damaging its archeological integrity. 

b When the sites’ architectural elements are damaged, they should be closed to visitors 

until the damage has been remediated and mitigation measures against future damages 

have been implemented.
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Management Approaches for Cultural Interpretive Management Area (MACULTINT-MA)

1. Coordinate with tribes, pueblos, and local communities to discuss local access and needs on the 

sites, construction of trails, and development of interpretive materials.

2. Consider providing a Forest Service representative (e.g., staff, law enforcement, volunteers, 

tribal members) at the sites during high-use holiday weekends to ensure site protection as well as 

provide interpretive information. 

3. Consider an intensive cultural resource survey of the entire management area to document the 

full extent of the site itself and better understand its context in the surrounding landscape.

4. Consider developing a management plan for the interpretation and stabilization of each site, 

including: 

a. A baseline condition and stabilization needs assessment of the sites, and 

b. Periodic follow-up assessments every 2 years to evaluate the impacts to the sites.
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Oil and Gas Leasing Management Area

The San Juan Basin is a geologic region of northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado 

that is known for its reserves of oil and natural gas. The western edge of the Santa Fe NF contains a 

small portion of the easternmost part of the San Juan Basin (figure 6-west), although this area is 

outside the most productive oil and gas formations within the basin.

Even though the BLM issues the leases for oil and gas, the Forest Service must verify that the lands 

have been analyzed in a forest plan-level leasing analysis prior to authorizing that the BLM can issue 

any leases. This analysis was conducted as part of the 2008 and 2012 oil and gas leasing 

environmental impact statements, which amended the 1987 plan and are being carried forward into 

this plan. Prior to individual developments on the ground, the Forest Service must conduct a second 

level of NEPA analysis based on the site-specific location, as well as the specific plans of operations. 

The Oil and Gas Leasing Management Area provides stipulations to protect resources from actions 

associated with oil and gas leasing in the portion of the forest where there is the potential for these 

activities. These stipulations are used to provide agency recommendations to the BLM for issuing 

new leases on NFS lands. Stipulations include “no surface occupancy,” “controlled surface use,” and

“timing limitations” to protect wildlife and surface resources. Conditions of approval and mitigation 

measures are developed and applied during the second-level NEPA site-specific analysis conducted 

for individual leases.

The Oil and Gas Leasing Management Area provides protections for abundant supporting ecosystem

services such as water, wildlife, and soil; regulating ecosystem services associated with riparian 

zones; and cultural ecosystem services associated with cultural resources. In addition, the 

management area provides protection of deer and elk winter ranges, and fawning periods help keep 

game populations steady, thus providing provisioning ecosystem services such as food. The 

availability of oil and gas leasing and development in the forest provides for the provisioning 

ecosystem services of energy and fuel.

Desired Conditions for Oil and Gas Leasing Area (MA-OGLEASE-DC)

1 Oil and gas activities meet the legal mandates to facilitate the development of minerals 

in a manner that minimizes adverse impacts to surface and groundwater resources, 

watershed and forest ecosystem health, wildlife and wildlife habitat, scenic character, 

and other desired conditions applicable to the area.

2 Reclamation of oil and gas extraction areas restores resource damage and removes 

public safety hazards.
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Standards for Oil and Gas Leasing Area (MA-OGLEASE-S)

1 The following timing limitations apply to drilling operations and construction activities. 

These do not apply to daily operation and maintenance of producing wells.

a Prohibited during the Mexican spotted owl’s critical nesting and breeding period

(between March 1 and August 31) to ensure reproductive and post-fledgling success 

within Mexican spotted owl protected activity centers. An exception, modification, 

or waiver to the timing limitation may be granted if surveys according to protocol are 

conducted and the area is not used for nesting. A public notice and comment period 

is required prior to waiver, exception, or modification waiver of this stipulation.

b Prohibited during the northern goshawk’s critical nesting and breeding period 

(between March 1 and September 30) to ensure reproductive and post-fledgling 

success within northern goshawk nesting post-fledging area. An exception, 

modification, or waiver to the timing limitation may be granted if northern goshawk 

surveys show that the area is not used for nesting.

c Prohibited during the peregrine falcon’s critical nesting and breeding period 

(between March 1 and August 15) to ensure reproductive and post-fledgling success 

within designated peregrine falcon eyries. An exception, modification or waiver to 

the timing limitation may be granted if surveys show that the area is not used for 

nesting. 

d Prohibited in the deer and elk winter range along the northwestern edge of the oilgas study area (between December 15 and March 15). An exception, modification, or 

waiver to the timing limitation may be granted if the operator demonstrates that the 

drilling and construction location would not disrupt deer and elk winter habitat.

e Prohibited during the critical deer fawning and elk calving period (between June 1 

and July 31) to minimize risks to herd reproduction within important deer fawning 

and elk calving area within an area in the southern portion of the oil-gas study area 

that has been identified as important to the success of deer fawning and elk calving. 

An exception, modification, or waiver to the timing limitation may be granted if the 

operator demonstrates that the drilling and construction location would not disrupt 

deer fawning and elk calving.

f To protect and limit disturbances from drilling activities to at-risk species and other 

critical wildlife habitat areas, timing restrictions outlined in current and future 

Federal recovery plans or forest-defined protected activity centers must be followed.

Guidelines Oil and Gas Leasing Area (MA-OGLEASE-G)

1 No surface occupancy should be allowed in the following areas:

a Generally narrow areas consisting of slopes of 40 percent or greater that have high 

erosion and mass wasting potential. An exception, modification, or waiver may be 

granted if onsite inspection shows that unstable or steep slopes do not exist on the 

specific site, or if the operator can demonstrate in a surface use plan of operations 

that adverse effects can be minimized and activities safely conducted without loss of 

long-term site productivity. A public notice and comment period is required prior to 

waiver, exception, or modification waiver of this stipulation.
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Guidelines Oil and Gas Leasing Area (MA-OGLEASE-G)

b Inventoried roadless areas. An exception, modification, or waiver may be granted if 

the forest plan designation changes so that the area is no longer classified as semiprimitive non-motorized (ROS), or if the operator can demonstrate in a surface use 

plan of operations that the activity can be conducted with minimal impacts on the 

semi-primitive non-motorized characteristics within a site-specific locale. A public 

notice and comment period is required prior to waiver, exception, or modification 

waiver of this stipulation. 

c Designated areas encompassing and surrounding Nogales Cliff House (110 acres) and 

Rattlesnake Ridge (90 acres). An exception, modification, or waiver may be granted if 

a site-specific surface use plan of operations demonstrates that adverse impacts to 

the cultural resources can be completely avoided, and clearance is obtained from the 

forest archeologist and State Historic Preservation Officer. A public notice and 

comment period is required prior to waiver, exception, or modification waiver of this 

stipulation.

d Within a 1-mile protection zone for New Mexico Office of the State Engineer 

recognized drinking water sources. An exception or modification may be granted if 

the operator’s surface and subsurface hydrology studies and mitigation plans were 

to show that there is no reasonable risk to the quality or quantity at a water source. 

Roads and power lines may cross a water source protection zone if the operator can 

demonstrate that it would have less environmental impact than other routes and 

that adverse effects could be minimized.

2 To avoid adverse impacts to riparian and wetland resources, access roads and pipelines 

should not be located in riparian TEUs (or equivalent survey system) or where vegetation 

data indicates riparian or wetland conditions, unless there are no practical alternative 

locations and they are located and designed to minimize adverse impacts to riparian or 

wetland resources.

3 Within high scenic integrity objectives, surface-disturbance activities should be located 

and designed to protect visual quality or to reclaim disturbed areas to meet the visual 

quality within 3 years from project startup.

4 Well pads, roads, or other surface disturbance activities that would impact highly valued 

cultural resources should be avoided or minimized. An exception, modification, or waiver 

may be granted if a site-specific surface use plan of operations demonstrates that 

adverse impacts to the cultural resources can be completely avoided and clearance is 

obtained from the forest archeologist and State Historic Preservation Officer. A public 

notice and comment period is required prior to waiver, exception, or modification waiver 

of this stipulation.
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Recommended Wilderness Management Area 

Lands that the Forest Service has determined, through land management planning, to have the 

potential to be included in the Wilderness Preservation System comprise the Recommended 

Wilderness Management Area. Congress reserves the authority to make final decisions on wilderness 

designation. The intent of this management area is to provide management direction that preserves 

the existing wilderness characteristics in these areas, so they are present if Congress acts to designate 

them. Management of recommended wilderness areas does not alter or restrict existing rights. A 

detailed process document explaining the wilderness recommendation is located in the DEIS Volume 

2, Appendix I: Documentation of Wilderness Recommendation Process. 

Ecosystem services provided by recommended wilderness management areas include supporting

ecosystem services such as nutrient and water cycling; biodiversity; and regulating ecosystem 

service such as water filtration, air quality protection, and climate change adaptation. Provisioning 

ecosystem services of food from hunting and foraging also occur here. Recommended wilderness 

management areas also provide abundant cultural ecosystem services in the form of recreation, 

opportunities to connect with nature, providing baselines on unhindered ecosystem processes for 

ecological research, and the preservation of cultural traditions and historical features. 

This management area consists of five areas across four districts of the Santa Fe NF (figure 6-west

and figure 6-east).

Dark Canyon Recommended Wilderness Management Area is 2,218 acres and located in the 

Coyote Ranger District. It lies north of the Chama River Canyon Wilderness and south of the Rio 

Chama Wilderness Study Area on Bureau of Land Management land just across the Forest Service 

boundary. The topography of this area is steep and rugged with three canyons that incise the polygon. 

Vegetation is dense and the dominant vegetation type is mixed conifer and Gambel oak with pockets 

of ponderosa pine and piñon-juniper in the southern portion of the area. The polygon has many 

common forest species as well as rare species such as Rio Grande chub and Rio Grande sucker. No 

developments exist in the area. This terrain contributes to a level of challenge and self-reliance 

within the area and a sense of solitude. 

White Rock Canyon Recommended Wilderness Management Area is 10,280 acres and located in 

the Española Ranger District. It lies on the western portion of the Caja del Rio plateau and along the 

Rio Grande River. Across the river is the Bandelier Wilderness in Bandelier National Monument. 

The terrain includes White Rock Canyon and several arroyos. Vegetation is dominated by piñonjuniper, sagebrush, open grassland, and ponderosa pine patches along the western edge. Wildlife is 

diverse, in part because the area covers both grasslands and the riparian area around the Rio Grande. 

The area is an important bird area and includes species such as piñon jay, gray vireo, southwestern 

willow flycatcher, western burrowing owl, and golden eagle. Evidence of man is predominated by 

historic petroglyphs and archeological sites. The western portion of the Caja del Rio is difficult to 

access and terrain across the area is varied, from rolling grasslands to more rugged cliffs and 

escarpments along the boundaries. Although close to the metropolitan centers of Santa Fe and Los 

Alamos, a sense of solitude can be easily achieved in this rarely visited and expansive area.

Thompson Peak Recommended Wilderness Management Area is 11,599 acres and located in the 

Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District. Its western boundary follows the Pecos Wilderness and Santa Fe 

watershed and extends south to Thompson Peak. The vegetation is dominated by ponderosa pine and 

mixed conifer with some aspen. The topography is rugged and includes many drainages with 
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perennial and seasonal streams. This terrain and the lack of amenities provides a high level of 

challenge or risk for visitors. The area offers many high quality primitive recreation opportunities 

such as hiking, hunting, and backpacking. 

Enchanted Lake and Grace Tract Recommended Wilderness Management Areas are 925 acres 

and 945 acres, respectively. Both are located in the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District, in the 

northwestern corner of the Santa Fe NF and adjacent to the Pecos Wilderness. Vegetation consists of 

spruce-fir and aspen, with some ponderosa pine along the lower elevations of the east slopes. 

Enchanted Lakes has more scrub oak and vegetated rocky areas. The topography for both areas is 

rugged and steep and the Grace Tract area includes a waterfall. No improvements are found within 

these areas and both have abundant opportunities for primitive recreation and solitude. 

Desired Conditions for Recommended Wilderness Areas (MA-RECWILD-DC)

1. Recommended wilderness management areas maintain the wilderness characteristics 

they were evaluated to possess until their designation as wilderness or other use is 

determined by Congress. 

a Recommended wilderness management areas represent environments that are 

essentially unmodified and natural landscapes. Constructed features exist only when 

they reflect the historic and cultural landscape, when they are the minimum 

necessary for administration of the area as a recommended wilderness management 

area, or for the protection of resources.

b Natural processes (e.g., insects and disease, blowdown, or fires) function within their 

natural ecological role or are mimicked (e.g., prescribed fire). Human-caused fires, 

which are an unnatural occurrence, are suppressed. 

c Recommended wilderness management areas provide recreation opportunities 

where social encounters are infrequent and occur only with individuals or small 

groups, so there are opportunities for solitude. Visitors experience self-reliance, 

challenge, and risk while enjoying freedom to pursue non-motorized or mechanized 

activities with only the regulation necessary to protect wilderness characteristics. 

2 Livestock grazing and acequia management contribute to the long-term socioeconomic 

diversity and stability of local communities and cultural identity tied to a recommended 

wilderness management area.

3 Recommended wilderness management areas are valued by the public for the 

ecosystem services they provide including contributing to clean air and water, enhancing 

wildlife habitat, primitive recreation and solitude, and other wilderness characteristics.
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Standards for Recommended Wilderness Areas (MA-RECWILD-S)

1 Natural processes shall be maintained within recommended wilderness management 

areas. 

a Fires shall function in their natural ecological role.

b Insect and disease infestations shall be allowed to run their natural course except 

where they unacceptably threaten wilderness characteristics.

c Nonnative invasive species shall be treated using methods and in a manner 

consistent with wilderness characteristics, or in order to allow natural processes to 

occur in a recommended wilderness management area.

2 The following projects or activities are not allowed in recommended wilderness 

management areas.

a No new permanent or temporary roads, motorized trails, or mechanized (e.g., 

mountain bike) trails for public access shall be constructed in or designated in 

recommended wilderness management areas.

b Commercial timber harvest is prohibited in recommended wilderness management 

areas.

c New energy developments or leases shall not be permitted.

d Development of existing mining claims (e.g., hard rock mining) within a 

recommended wilderness area shall be subject to valid existing rights.

e Sales or extraction of common variety minerals shall not be permitted in 

recommended wilderness. 

f Motorized travel and uses shall not be allowed, unless specifically authorized for 

emergency use or the limited needs required for management of a grazing 

allotment.

g Mechanized recreation shall not be allowed.
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Guidelines for Recommended Wilderness Areas (MA-RECWILD-G)

1 Activities in recommended wilderness management areas should maintain or improve 

the wilderness characteristics until such time as Congress acts on the recommended 

area, either making it designated wilderness or releasing it for other management. 

2 Intervention in natural processes through management activities should only occur 

where this would move the area toward desired conditions, preserve wilderness 

characteristics, protect public health and safety within and adjacent to the 

recommended wilderness management area, or uphold other Federal laws and 

regulations. 

a Unplanned and planned ignitions should be allowed to reduce the risks and 

consequences of uncharacteristic wildfire to increase apparent naturalness, or to 

enhance ecosystem function.

b Mechanized uses for management activities (e.g., chainsaws or wheelbarrows) 

should be allowed in recommended wilderness areas if they do not permanently 

degrade wilderness characteristics of the area. 

3 Recommended wilderness areas should be managed to preserve or enhance a very high 

scenic integrity objective. 

4 Recommended wilderness areas should be managed for primitive recreation 

opportunity spectrum classes. 

5 Existing structures necessary for administration of the area should be maintained, but 

not expanded, to protect the area’s wilderness characteristics. Maintenance of existing 

structures should be carried out in a manner that does not expand the evidence of 

motor vehicle and mechanized equipment use beyond current conditions within the 

recommended wilderness area. 

6 Competitive events should not be permitted in recommended wilderness areas.
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Eligible Wild and Scenic River Management Area

Eligible wild and scenic rivers meet the basic criteria for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic 

Rivers System. They are free-flowing and possess at least one outstandingly remarkable value

(ORV). Preliminary classifications of eligible rivers as wild, scenic, or recreation follow the same 

characteristics as designated wild and scenic rivers, and are based on the condition and development 

level in and around the river at the time it was deemed eligible. A detailed document explaining the 

eligible wild and scenic rivers evaluation process is located in the DEIS Volume 3, Appendix J: 

Documentation of Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers Evaluation Process. 

In 2017, all rivers in the Santa Fe NF were evaluated to determine their eligibility. This evaluation 

resulted in 12 river segments totaling approximately 74 miles that have been identified as eligible to 

be included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System (table 4, figure 6-west, and figure 6-east). 

Table 4. Eligible river segments in the Santa Fe NF including their location by ranger district, ORV(s), 

and length of the river segment

River Name District ORVs Classification Miles

Canoñes Creek Coyote Recreation, Scenery, 

Prehistory, Botanical, Fish

Wild 9.98

Rio Guadalupe Jemez Scenery, Prehistory, 

Recreation

Scenic 13.23

Rio del Oso Espanola History, Prehistory Recreational 10.22

Rito Anastacio East Cuba Scenery, Botanical, Fish Wild 2.07

Rio Puerco Cuba Scenery, Botanical, Fish Wild 8.33

Jemez River Jemez Prehistory Wild 4.34

Pecos River Pecos-Las Vegas History Scenic 6.75

Rio de las Vacas Cuba Scenery, Botanical, Fish Wild 7.20

Rio Molino Espanola Fish Wild 4.45

Rio Valdez Pecos-Las Vegas Fish Wild 2.25

Beaver Creek Pecos-Las Vegas Fish, Scenery Wild 3.05

Bear Creek Pecos-Las Vegas Fish Wild 3.40 

Eligible wild and scenic rivers must be managed to maintain the free flow and ORVs they possess at 

the time of eligibility unless a determination of ineligibility or non-suitability is made. If an eligible 

river is determined through a suitability study to be not suitable, it shall no longer be considered 

eligible and plan direction in this management area will no longer apply. If an eligible river is 

determined to be suitable and is designated by Congress as a wild and scenic river, the designation 

would not affect existing water rights or the existing jurisdiction of states and the Federal 

Government, as determined by established laws. 

The free-flowing character of eligible wild and scenic rivers is a regulating ecosystem service 

providing water to downstream sources. Free-flowing water can also be a supporting ecosystem 

service in the form of water cycling and a provisioning ecosystem service in terms of fresh water. 

The specific ORVs of each wild and scenic river can have different ecosystem services: Scenic, 

recreational, historic, and cultural ORVs are cultural ecosystem services, while the fish ORV 

contributes to supporting ecosystem services.
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Desired Conditions for Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers (MA-ELIGWSR-DC)

1 Eligible wild and scenic rivers retain their free-flowing condition and specific ORVs. 

Recommended preliminary classifications (wild, scenic, or recreational) remain in place 

until further study is conducted or until designation by Congress.

2 Water-based recreation opportunities are enjoyed by the public, yet recreational 

activities (such as camping or use of access points) are not altering the free flow and 

ORVs. 

Standards for Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers (MA-ELIGWSR-S)

1 Eligible wild and scenic rivers must be managed to protect or enhance the ORVs for which they 

were determined to be eligible and to maintain their classification until they are designated or 

released from consideration. Eligible rivers found unsuitable for inclusion shall be released from 

further consideration and restrictions of this section.

2 Any authorized water resources project in an eligible river segment must not adversely modify 

the river’s free-flowing character.20

3 A suitability study must be completed for all eligible wild and scenic river segments prior to 

initiating activities that may compromise the ORVs, potential classification, or free-flowing 

character.

4 Activities in eligible wild and scenic river corridors must comply with interim protective 

measures outlined in Forest Service Handbook 1909.12, 84.3, or most current version. 

 

20 Water resources projects include all modifications to the stream channel or banks below the ordinary high water mark of 

a river or stream. Proposed water resources projects must be analyzed to determine their effects on free flow, specifically 

whether they alter or restrict the natural function of the river (i.e., bank erosion, channel shifting, bed-load or debris 

movement). Water resources projects that modify free-flowing character may occur only when they mimic natural river 

processes, restore more natural river function, and are otherwise consistent with the river’s eligibility.
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Guidelines for Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers (MA-ELIGWSR-G)

1 New roads or motorized trails should not be constructed within 0.25 mile of a wild 

eligible river segment.

2 Management activities should be consistent with the scenic integrity objectives of:

a Very high in eligible wild rivers,

b High in eligible scenic rivers, and

c Moderate to high in eligible recreational rivers.

3 Management activities should be consistent with the ROS classes of:

a Semi-primitive non-motorized in eligible wild rivers,

b Semi-primitive non-motorized to semi-primitive motorized in eligible scenic rivers, 

and 

c Semi-primitive to roaded natural in eligible recreational rivers.

Management Approach for Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers (MA-ELIGWSR-MA)

1. Opportunities for enhancing ORVs may be considered in all project management activities 

within an eligible wild and scenic river corridor.
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Chapter 4. Geographic Areas

Places matter. Across the 1.6 million acres of the Santa Fe NF, there are diverse communities and 

cultures, recreation uses, and restoration needs. Compared to other national forests, the Santa Fe NF 

is surrounded by very diverse landscapes as well as unusually diverse communities and cultures with 

roots going back hundreds and thousands of years. Nationwide, not all forest plans use geographic 

areas (GAs), but to recognize and best manage the similarities and differences that exist across 

distinct landscapes on the Santa Fe NF, seven GAs have been identified. Each of the seven GAs has 

different restoration needs, sustainable recreation opportunities, connections to nearby communities, 

and partnerships with the public. Each GA is described in the context of local communities, uses, and 

restoration needs and describes differences in the social, cultural, and ecological landscapes across 

the Santa Fe NF. 

From west to east, the seven GAs are:

• Canadas and Nacimiento

• Jemez Mesas and Canyons 

• North Jemez Mountains 

• West Sangres and Caja

• Pecos River Canyon 

• East Sangres 

• Rowe Mesa and Anton Chico 

GAs are made up of the unique cultural identities, ecology, and types of use specific to different 

places in the forest. These features may align with ranger districts, county lines, watersheds, or other 

geographical and socioeconomic boundaries. Where people travel from as they access different parts 

of the forest was also considered in defining boundaries. Therefore, GAs can also represent many 

small “community” forests within the larger Santa Fe NF. Local community culture, economic 

drivers, natural and human-made landscape features, ecology, types of recreation, and restoration 

needs shaped the GAs, which are delineated by easily recognized natural features and infrastructure 

(e.g., waterways, roads, and ridges). 
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Figure 7. Santa Fe NF geographic areas
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Canadas and Nacimiento

Description

The Canadas and Nacimiento Geographic Area, composed of two non-contiguous portions of NFS 

land totaling over 242,523 acres, lies along the western edge of the Santa Fe NF. The landscape 

varies greatly from mesas, canyons, and knife ridges in the Canadas, to heavily forested mountains, 

meadow valleys, and flowing waterways throughout the Nacimiento. 

Canadas borders Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land to the west, the Jicarilla Apache Nation 

Reservation to the north, and Chama River Canyon Wilderness to the east. Deadman’s Lookout, a 

historic fire tower visible throughout the north end of this GA, serves as a primary landmark for 

locals and visitors alike. 

Nacimiento borders the towns of Cuba, Regina, and La Jara on the west and the Nacimiento Range 

and Valles Caldera National Preserve to the east. Nacimiento encompasses the San Pedro Parks 

Wilderness, which is over 40,000 acres, and includes meadows and rivers as well as the Continental 

Divide National Scenic Trail. The GA also has grazing operations, including numerous small, 

family-owned grazing operations that provide income to local families. 

Parts of designated areas within the Canadas and Nacimiento GA include: 

• 2 Designated Wilderness Areas

♦ Chama River Canyon (less than 1 acre, less than 1 percent of this wilderness within the 

Santa Fe NF is in this GA)

♦ San Pedro Parks Wilderness (24,335 acres, 59 percent is in this GA)

• 1 Wild and Scenic River 

♦ Rio Chama Wild River (13 acres, less than 1 percent is in this GA)

• 1 National Recreation Area

♦ Jemez National Recreation Area (124 acres, less than 1 percent is in this GA)

• 4 Inventoried Roadless Areas

♦ Chama Wilderness (286 acres, 22 percent is in this GA)

♦ Chama Wild and Scenic River (85 acres, 2 percent is in this GA)

♦ Pollywog (8,556 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ San Pedro Parks (5,793 acres, over 99 percent is in this GA)

• 1 Wild Horse and Burro Territory 

♦ Mesa De Las Viegas Wild Horse Territory (7,054 acres, 49 percent is in this GA)

• 1 National Hiking Trail 

♦ Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (10 miles, 26 percent of the trail within the Santa 

Fe NF is in this GA)
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• 1 Scenic Byway

♦ Jemez Mountain Scenic Byway (17 miles, 27 percent of this scenic byway within the 

Santa Fe NF is in this GA)

Management areas within the Canadas and Nacimiento GA include: 

• Oil and Gas Leasing Area

• Nogales Cliffhouse Cultural Interpretive Area

• Rattlesnake Ridge Cultural Interpretive Area

• Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers include:

♦ Rito Anastacio East: Wild (2.1 miles of the Rio Guadalupe watershed) 

♦ Rio Puerco: Wild (8.3 miles of the Arroyo San Jose-Rio Puerco watershed) 

♦ Rio de las Vacas: Wild (7.2 miles of the Rio Guadalupe watershed) 

Local Communities and Human Use

Rugged mesas and wide canyons in the Canadas provide a barrier to casual recreational access, 

though small- and large-scale grazing operations as well as hunting are commonplace. Commercial 

oil and gas development thrives on the western portion of the GA, and it provides employment for 

regional residents who reside in surrounding communities or live as far away as Farmington. A 

limited number of meadows and streams attract large game, most notably providing elk winter range. 

Mule deer and bear, as well as elk, are common and attract hunters in the fall. 

Nacimiento is easily accessible, which allows for the ongoing access integral to local traditional uses 

by land grants, tribes, and pueblos. Nacimiento includes headwaters for clean flowing water that 

feeds park-like meadows, such as Church Meadow, which is a common recreation site for picnicking 

and car camping. Streams in this GA supply downstream acequias with high-quality dependable 

water that sustains regional agriculture and cultural traditions. Wood gathering by land grant 

communities, tribes, and pueblos for heating homes and cooking, in addition to firewood gathering 

by visitors from surrounding cities, is typical. These traditional uses occur alongside recreational 

uses like outfitting, fishing, dispersed camping, and horseback riding. 

Restoration Needs

Ponderosa pine and piñon-juniper forest restoration and meadow protection is needed throughout this 

GA. The thinning of dense, small-diameter trees and shrubs in combination with prescribed burning, 

will support long-range restoration efforts and reinstate natural fire regimes. Restoration will result in 

decreased woody encroachment of meadows, restored and preserved grasslands, improved watershed 

health, and greater wildlife diversity. In addition, traditional cultural uses and recreation in the GA, 

ranging from wood gathering, hunting, and acequia irrigation to camping, hiking, and picnicking, 

will benefit from improved forest health and waterway function.
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Desired Conditions (GA-CANNAC-DC)

1 Headwaters are bountiful with high water quality and support ecological resources and 

multiple uses, including acequias.

2 Recreation is well distributed across the GA and includes diverse experiences such as 

designated and dispersed camping for individuals and larger groups (e.g., Church 

Meadows), hunting, cultural interpretive areas, wilderness experiences in San Pedro Parks, 

and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. 

3 Oil and gas development as well as other commercial uses contribute to the local 

economies of surrounding communities.

Jemez Mesas and Canyons 

Description

The 286,938-acre Jemez Mesas and Canyons Geographic Area skirts the Valles Caldera National 

Preserve to the east and south as well as Jemez and Zia Pueblos to the west. Bandelier National 

Monument and the community of Los Alamos lie along the southeastern boundary, and the GA also 

encompasses the 5,000-acre Dome Wilderness. A tributary to the Rio Grande, the Jemez River, 

transects the GA, flowing year-round from its headwaters at the Valles Caldera National Preserve. 

The presence of water in this GA, exemplified by the Rio Cebolla, provides diverse habitats like 

wetlands, meadows, and forests essential to threatened and endangered species like the New Mexico 

meadow jumping mouse, Jemez Mountain salamander, and the Mexican spotted owl. 

Thermal activity in this GA contributes to multiple hot springs, which attract visitors interested in 

soaking and viewing unique geologic features at Soda Dam, San Antonio, Spence, and McCauley 

Hot Springs. In addition to the river and hot springs, Fenton Lake, a human-made reservoir on the 

northern edge of this GA, is a landmark and popular recreation site for water sports. 

Recreation is the main use throughout the GA, and the Jemez National Recreation Area (over 

57,000 acres) is designated specifically for recreation ranging from rock climbing to hunting. The 

Jemez Mesas and Canyons GA draws New Mexicans from across the state, as well as tourists from 

out of state, who are able to access the GA year-round via the well-travelled Jemez Mountain Trail 

National Scenic Byway. The GA also has grazing operations, including numerous small, familyowned grazing operations that provide income to local families. 

Designated areas within the Jemez Mesas and Canyons GA include: 

• Dome Wilderness (5,181 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

• 9 Inventoried Roadless Areas

♦ Alamo Canyon (8,628 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Bearhead Peak (8,274 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Canada Bonito RNA (487 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Cerro La Jara (1,122 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Ghost Town (219 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)
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♦ Guaje Canyon (6,101 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Peralta Ridge (4,025 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Rendija (2,175 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Virgin Canyon (6,067 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

• 1 Scenic Byway

♦ Jemez Mountain Scenic Byway (46 miles, 73 percent of this scenic byway within the 

Santa Fe NF is in this GA)

• 2 Wild Horse and Burro Territories 

♦ Dome Wild Burro Territory (3,426 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ San Diego Wild Horse Territory (2,274 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

• 1 National Recreation Area

♦ Jemez National Recreation Area (57,594 acres, over 99 percent is in this GA)

• 3 Wild and Scenic Rivers 

♦ East Fork Jemez Recreation River (586 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ East Fork Jemez Scenic River (1,378 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ East Fork Jemez Wild River (1,103 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

• 2 Research Natural Areas

♦ Canada Bonita, Proposed Research Natural Area (434 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Monument Canyon, Research Natural Area (583 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

Management areas within the Jemez Mesas and Canyons GA include: 

• Oil and Gas Leasing Area

• Canada Bonito Proposed Research Natural Area

• Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers include:

♦ Rio Guadalupe: Scenic (13.2 miles of the Rio Guadalupe watershed) 

♦ Jemez River: Wild (4.3 miles of the Upper Jemez River watershed) 

Local Communities and Human Use

The Jemez Mesas and Canyons Geographic Area has been used for thousands of years by the Towa 

and Tewa people. With over 7,000 known archaeological sites, the GA has the highest density of 

archaeological sites in the country. Surrounding tribes, pueblos, and land grant communities continue 

to live in the region and use this part of the forest daily for sustenance and traditional uses like 

hunting, harvesting fuelwood, grazing, and collecting forest products for cultural ceremonies. 

Recreation is the most popular modern use of the Jemez Mesas and Canyons GA. While locals enjoy 

walking in the forestlands around their homes, visitors are attracted to dispersed recreation, ATV use, 

RV camping, hiking, fishing, and accessing hunting (e.g., elk and turkey) through the Jemez 

Mountain Scenic Byway. Accessibility to picturesque vistas not only attracts tourists and 
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recreationists, but also draws the commercial film industry, which regularly uses the GA as a 

backdrop. 

The staggering volume of archaeological resources, and proximity to Los Alamos and Sandia 

National Laboratories, locality of the Rocky Mountain United States Geological Survey Station, and 

the Valles Caldera National Preserve have established this GA as a cornerstone of archaeological 

research and land management initiatives in the western United States and has attracted researchers 

from across the country. For example, implementation of the Southwest Jemez Collaborative 

Landscape Restoration Project introduced an influx of researchers eager to study fire and fuels 

management as well as landscape-scale forest restoration. 

Restoration Needs

The history of uncharacteristic wildfire and ongoing high-use recreation have demanded forest 

restoration efforts and recreation management. The Southwest Jemez Collaborative Restoration 

Project is aimed at forest and riparian restoration throughout this GA, and riparian restoration is 

needed along major tributaries of the Jemez River to ensure greater water quality in the future. In 

response to fuel thinning needs in the forest, the Pueblo of Jemez established the Walatowa Timber 

Industries in 2012. Walatowa Timber Industries has partnered with the Santa Fe NF, Valles Caldera 

National Preserve, and private landowners to thin wood and brush, harvest timber, and sell lumber, 

latillas and firewood, connecting indigenous livelihoods to landscape-scale forest management 

efforts.

High-use recreation across the Canadas and Nacimiento GA, predominantly overnight camping 

along waterways and along NFS Road 376, has negatively impacted vegetation and water quality. 

Compaction of soils from vehicles parked alongside roads, illegal dumping, and noise and air 

pollution require management of dispersed camping to promote a healthy watershed. Hot springs and 

geologic features that attract high volumes of recreational visitors, like Soda Dam, pose public safety 

hazards and are vulnerable to both degraded water quality and damage to geologic formations.

Restoration in this GA will serve both modern and traditional user communities that depend on the 

forest for traditional and cultural uses as well as livelihoods. Furthermore, restoration will restore 

and preserve grasslands, as well as ensure sustainable high-quality recreation opportunities, while 

protecting invaluable natural resources found in this GA. 

Desired Conditions (GA-JEMMC-DC)

1 Restored ponderosa pine, mixed conifer forests, and riparian systems are regionally 

significant examples of these healthy vegetation types within the Southwest.

2 Recreation opportunities abound, including wilderness experiences, especially in association 

with the Jemez National Recreation Area. Vulnerable features (e.g., waterways, hot springs, 

and geologic features such as Soda Dam) are protected for the enjoyment of future 

generations even in areas of heavy use (e.g., NFS Road 376).

3 Water quality and availability are keystone features that ensure excellent watershed 

function for the Jemez River, its tributaries, the downstream Rio Grande, and acequias.
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North Jemez Mountains 

Description

The 404,168-acre North Jemez Mountains Geographic Area rises from the San Juan Basin on the 

west to mesas, knife ridges, and remote meadows that drop into the Chama River Canyon Wilderness 

on the east, and borders the Valles Caldera National Preserve and San Pedro Parks Wilderness on the 

south. Borrego Mesa on the northwest corner of the eastern side of the Santa Fe NF is included in the 

North Jemez Mountains GA because the terrain is similar, and local communities predominantly use 

these parts of the forest in the same way. The rugged nature of the GA and roadless wilderness along 

the Chama River Canyon Wilderness allows wildlife to thrive.

The geology of the northwestern portion of this GA, which borders the Nacimiento GA, has potential 

for oil and gas development and the greatest number of grazing permittees in the forest. The GA has 

grazing operations, and while some are large-scale, there are also numerous small, family-owned 

grazing operations that provide income to local families. 

Designated areas within the North Jemez Mountains GA include: 

• 2 Designated Wilderness Areas

♦ San Pedro Parks Wilderness (16,965 acres, 41 percent is in this GA)

♦ Chama River Canyon Wilderness (43,072 acres, 100 percent of this Wilderness within the 

Santa Fe NF is in this GA)

• 17 Inventoried Roadless Areas

♦ Arroyo de la Presa (6,171 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Arroyo de los Frijoles (5,275 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Cañones Creek (3,937 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Chama Wilderness (1,006 acres, 78 percent is in this GA)

♦ Chama WS River (4,080 acres, 98 percent is in this GA)

♦ Clara Peak (787 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ El Invierno (29,911 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ El Lagunito (6,796 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Lemitas (8,122 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Mesa Alta (1,868 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Oso Vallecitos (1,116 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Polvadera (2,486 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Polvadera Peak (6,289 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Pueblo Mesa (3,538 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Rio Medio (2,841 acres, over 99 percent is in this GA)

♦ San Pedro Parks (26 acres, less than 1 percent is in this GA)
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♦ Youngsville (6,117 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

• 1 Scenic Byway

♦ Old Spanish Trail (25 miles, 100 percent of this scenic byway within the Santa Fe NF is in 

this GA)

• 2 National Hiking Trails

♦ Cañones Creek National Recreation Trail (11 miles, 100 percent of this trail within the 

Santa Fe NF is in this GA)

♦ Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (30 miles, 74 percent of the trail within the Santa 

Fe NF is in this GA)

• 2 Wild Horse and Burro Territories 

♦ Chicoma Wild Horse Territory (2,893 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Mesa De Las Viegas Wild Horse Territory (7,368 acres, 51 percent of is in this GA)

• 4 Wild and Scenic Rivers 

♦ Rio Chama Management Segment (522 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Rio Chama Scenic River (1,443 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Rio Chama Study River (1,175 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Rio Chama Wild River (2,695 acres, over 99 percent is in this GA)

Management areas within the North Jemez Mountains GA include: 

• Oil and Gas Leasing Area

• Tsipinuouinge Cultural Management Area 

• Poshuinge Cultural Interpretive Area 

• Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers include:

♦ Cañones Creek: Wild (10.0 miles of the Abiquiu Reservoir watershed) 

♦ Rio del Oso: Recreational (10.2 miles of the Rio Ojo Caliente-Rio Chama watershed) 

Local Communities and Human Use

The iconic mesa peak Cerro Pedernal, made famous by the paintings of Georgia O’Keeffe, is the 

dominant landmark in the GA, and has long been a sacred site in Tewa ancestral lands and the 

Jicarilla Apache origin story. Tea Kettle Rock, a unique geologic feature, provides a local landmark

and also represents the border between this GA and the Valles Caldera National Preserve. 

Traditional cultural uses by surrounding communities for hunting, grazing cattle, piñon harvesting, 

and fuelwood gathering is the leading human use of the North Jemez Mountains GA. Small local 

communities that dot the landscape between forestland boundaries, and occupy inholdings 

throughout this GA, have depended on forest access and products for centuries and continue to rely 

on the GA to sustain local livelihoods and culture. Further, indigenous communities including Tewa, 

Jicarilla Apache, and Navajo peoples access the GA to visit sacred sites, gather forest products for 

ceremonies, and hunt game. Numerous cultural sites that have sacred meaning to these groups exist 

in this GA, and protection of those sites and access for kin is crucial for local cultural tradition. 
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Visitors come to the GA and its surrounding lands to visit Ghost Ranch Event Center and explore 

Georgia O’Keefe’s historic home, camp along the Chama River and high alpine meadows (e.g., the 

popular Resumidero Campsite), and pass through on the way to Abiquiu Reservoir, El Vado Lake, 

and Heron Lake State Parks. 

Restoration Needs

Thinning of dense, small-diameter vegetation and prescribed burning will support long-range 

restoration efforts and reinstate natural fire regimes. Restoration will result in decreased woody 

encroachment of meadows, restored and preserved grasslands, improved watershed health, and 

greater wildlife diversity. In addition, traditional cultural uses and recreation in the GA, ranging from 

wood gathering, hunting, and acequia irrigation to camping, hiking, and picnicking, will benefit from 

improved forest and waterway function. 

Desired Conditions (GA-NJEMM-DC)

1 Prescribed and natural fires protect, maintain, and enhance resources and move toward 

vegetative desired conditions on a landscape scale throughout the North Jemez Mountains 

Geographic Area, especially around reservoirs. 

2 Forest users have frequent opportunities to connect with the unique cultural, historical, and 

ecological resources in the North Jemez Mountain Geographic Area including the Rio Chama 

corridor, the Chama River Canyon Wilderness, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, 

and NFS Road 96. Existing trails, like the Cañones Creek National Recreation Trail, improve 

access and expand use. Outside of developed areas, recreation opportunities are rugged 

backcountry experiences where solitude can be found.

3 Rural communities have access to the forest for subsistence and traditional uses such as 

fuelwood, piñon picking, hunting, recreating with families and youth, and small family 

grazing operations.

West Sangres and Caja 

Description

The West Sangres and Caja Geographic Area starts south of Borrego Mesa and stretches over

203,903 acres along the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range to Grasshopper 

Canyon south of Shaggy Peak. Small streams throughout the West Sangres and Caja GA support 

dense forests that rise from piñon-juniper woodlands to spruce-fir alpine peaks. A municipal 

watershed for the city of Santa Fe is close to recreational trails, comprising 17,000 acres of the 

uppermost reaches of the Santa Fe River. The Santa Fe Ski Basin attracts locals and visitors

throughout year.

The West Sangres and Caja GA includes the Caja del Rio Plateau, a mesa non-contiguous with the 

rest of the GA, which lies west of the city of Santa Fe, north of Cochiti Pueblo, and is only separated 

from Bandelier National Monument and Bandelier Wilderness by the Rio Grande River. While the 

indigenous communities and residents of the city of Santa Fe consider the Caja del Rio part of their 

local landscape, this part of the West Sangres and Caja GA is unique in terrain and use. The Caja del 

Rio is an arid mesa, and the recreation experiences there are less developed and more exploratory 
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than other parts of the West Sangres and Caja GA. Tetilla Peak, Whiterock, and Diablo Canyon are 

the iconic landmarks of this GA. The GA also has grazing operations, including numerous small, 

family-owned grazing operations that provide income to local families. 

Designated areas within the West Sangres and Caja GA include: 

• Pecos Wilderness (76,624 acres, 39 percent of this wilderness within the Santa Fe NF is in this 

GA)

• 12 Inventoried Roadless Areas

♦ Arroyo Montoso (6,267 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Black Canyon (1,920 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Caja (5,297 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Juan de Gabaldon Grant (8,016 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Little Tesuque (814 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ McClure Reservoir (375 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Nichols Reservoir (1,517 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Pacheco Canyon (1,007 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Rancho Viejo (3,825 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Rio Medio (less than 1 acre, less than 1 percent is in this GA)

♦ Tesuque Creek (810 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Thompson Peak (18,984 acres, 58 percent is in this GA)

• 3 Scenic Byways

♦ Santa Fe National Forest Scenic Byway (15 miles, 100 percent of this scenic byway within 

the Santa Fe NF is in this GA)

♦ Route 66 Pre-1937 Alignment (1 acre, 24 percent of this scenic byway within the Santa Fe 

NF is in this GA)

♦ El Camino Real (6 acres, 100 percent of this scenic byway within the Santa Fe NF is in 

this GA)

• 1 National Hiking Trail

♦ Winsor National Recreational Trail (14 miles, 57 percent of this trail within the Santa Fe 

NF is in this GA)

• 1 Wild Horse and Burro Territory 

♦ Caja Wild Horse Territory (8,809 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

Management areas within the West Sangres and Caja GA include: 

• Caja del Rio Cultural/Interpretive/Biological Management Area

• Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers include:

♦ Rio Molino: Wild (4.5 miles of the Santa Cruz River watershed) 
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Local Communities and Human Use

Much of the GA is adjacent to indigenous pueblos, residential communities, and urban areas, 

resulting in heavy human use including small-scale grazing operations, hunting, fuelwood gathering, 

and recreation. Parts of this GA are adjacent to the city of Santa Fe and are used heavily for 

recreation by locals and tourists who frequent a broad network of trails primarily for day uses such as 

hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The Winsor National Recreation Trail as well as 

Tesuque and Atalaya peaks provide leading recreation opportunities, with uses ranging from 

mountain biking to hiking and skiing. The Santa Fe Ski Basin provides recreational opportunities 

including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, chairlift rides, and disc golf. Aspen viewing in the fall is a 

favorite activity along Hyde Park Road; the golden aspens can also be easily spotted from the city of 

Santa Fe and by those on I-25 as they summit La Bajada!

Restoration Needs

The West Sangres and Caja GA is a popular recreation destination for locals and tourists, which has 

resulted in increased pressure on developed campsites and trails. Recreation requires new strategies 

to improve high-use and developed recreation while decreasing user conflicts. In addition, overly 

dense forests in this GA increase the risk of uncharacteristic, stand-replacing wildfire in the 

extensive wildland-urban interface along the border of the city of Santa Fe and the Santa Fe 

Municipal watershed, requiring forest restoration such as thinning and prescribed burning of dense, 

small-diameter vegetation. The Caja del Rio Plateau, within the West Sangres and Caja GA, requires 

restored and preserved woodlands and grasslands. Forest restoration and improved recreation 

management will improve public safety, access, ecological health and function, and sustain longterm continued enjoyment and dependence by locals and tourists. 

Desired Conditions (GA-WSANCAJA-DC)

1 Most fire burns with low and moderate intensity and there is a very low risk of 

uncharacteristic wildfire in the wildland-urban interface of Santa Fe and the city of Santa 

Fe’s water sources (e.g., Santa Fe watershed and Buckman Diversion).

2 In the mountains above Santa Fe, diverse non-motorized recreation opportunities (e.g., 

hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, skiing, and wilderness experiences) are popular 

and users find well-marked and maintained trails, frequent encounters with other 

recreationists without conflict, and facilities (e.g., parking and bathrooms) appropriate for 

the recreation level and in balance with ecological resources and other multiple uses.

3 Recreation opportunities on the Caja del Rio are rugged and exploratory. Motorized and 

mechanized recreation occur on the east side of the Caja del Rio.

4 Collaborative partnerships with local communities and visitors across jurisdictional 

boundaries support the local economy promote sustainable recreation and restored 

ecosystems.
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Pecos River Canyon 

Description

The Pecos River Canyon Geographic Area begins at the dramatic alpine peaks and lakes that feed the 

Pecos River headwaters, supporting mixed conifer forests, abundant wildlife, and human 

communities downriver. This 178,484-acre GA includes part of the second largest wilderness in New 

Mexico, the 220,000-acre Pecos Wilderness, and spans predominantly rugged ridgetops, where highquality water is abundant, and the rare Holy Ghost ipomopsis thrives (Holy Ghost Canyon is home to 

the only naturally occurring population of this endangered plant). As elevation declines southward, 

windswept tundra and lush meadows drop into steep granite canyons with flowing water and dense 

forests. Increased accessibility in the south of the Pecos River Canyon GA allows plentiful and 

diverse human use opportunities. The Santa Barbara Divide, an alpine ridge that delineates the 

northern edge of the Pecos Basin and Pecos Wilderness, is a notable landmark and recreation 

destination, providing breathtaking views of many high peaks. 

South of the Pecos Wilderness, the narrow Pecos River Canyon cuts through steep and rocky 

hillsides on either side. The Pecos River—the heart of life and activity in the GA—is paralleled by 

an arterial road that leads locals and visitors up tributary drainages throughout the canyon. The Pecos 

River is an integral part of life for local communities and provides the foundation for the local 

economy, especially recreation-based businesses that rely on recreation activities in the canyon. 

Recent wildfires have changed vegetation composition and scarred the landscape in the canyon, 

while also impacting local communities economically and socially. The Viveash (2000), Dalton 

(2002), Tres Lagunas (2013), and Jaroso (2013) fires closed the canyon intermittently over the 

course of 15 years, each time impacting the social fabric and economic viability of local 

communities. Historically, as well as currently, areas such as Dalton, Alamitos, and Davis Willow 

provided forest products such as firewood, vigas, and timber for lumber. These areas were also 

harvested to support the mining operations at Terrero. The GA also has grazing operations, including 

numerous small, family-owned grazing operations that provide income to local families.

Designated areas within the Pecos River Canyon GA include: 

• Pecos Wilderness (84,983 acres, 43 percent is in this GA)

• 7 Inventoried Roadless Areas

♦ Grass Mountain (3,251 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Holy Ghost (2,351 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Jacks Creek (740 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Pecos WS River (5,392 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Thompson Peak (13,993 acres, 42 percent is in this GA)

♦ Wesner Spring (15 acres, 3 percent is in this GA)

♦ Willow Creek (1,476 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

• 2 Scenic Byways

♦ Rt. 66 Pre-1937 Alignment (2 miles, 36 percent of this scenic byway within the Santa Fe 

NF is in this GA)
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♦ Old Santa Fe Trail (3 miles, 34 percent of this scenic byway within the Santa Fe NF is in 

this GA)

• 1 National Hiking Trail 

♦ Winsor National Recreational Trail (11 miles, 43 percent of this NHT within the Santa Fe 

NF is in this GA)

• 1 Wild and Scenic River (One designation with two categories, recreation and wild)

♦ Pecos Recreational River (2,432 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Pecos Wild River (4,385 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

Management areas within the Pecos River Canyon GA include: 

• Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers include:

♦ Rio Valdez: Wild (2.3 miles of the Cow Creek-Pecos River watershed) 

♦ Bear Creek: Wild (2.4 miles of the Cow Creek-Pecos River watershed) 

Local Communities and Human Use

If the Pecos River is the heart of the canyon, the surrounding communities are the pulse. With deep 

connection to the Pecos River, along with surrounding mountains and streams, locals regularly camp, 

fish, and hunt in the GA. Beyond the GA, locals still depend on the Pecos River headwaters to 

irrigate agricultural operations that stretch from the GA all the way to Texas. Though this GA is near

the city of Santa Fe, the culture is distinct with roots, traditions, and uses of the land going back 

hundreds and thousands of years. Adding to the cultural context of the Pecos River corridor, 

prehistoric use during the Paleo-Indian, Archaic, Basketmaker, and Puebloan periods likely involved 

hunting, fishing, gathering herbs and other plants, and some farming. As early as 1600, Spanish 

explorers began scouting the upper Pecos River Valley for mineral wealth. With the coming of more 

permanent European and Hispanic settlers in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the GA saw 

increased use for grazing, logging, hunting, trapping, and mining. 

Large game animals including deer, elk, and bighorn sheep flourish amongst the peaks and provide 

excellent hunting opportunities, often guided by local outfitters. Numerous trailheads at the 

wilderness boundary provide access to backpacking, hunting, and horseback riding, as well as access 

to fishing along the Wild and Scenic Pecos River and accompanying streams. The historic Beatty’s 

Cabin, Beatty’s Flats, and high mountain lakes (e.g., Lake Katherine, Stuart, Pecos Baldy and 

Truchas Lakes) are popular destinations. Lower reaches of the Pecos River Canyon are used heavily 

for both high-use recreation and traditional uses. Small cattle operations support local livelihoods 

and cultural traditions.

Recreation has become increasingly popular in the lower portion of the Pecos River Canyon GA, 

where motorized and non-motorized recreation occur side by side. Motorized vehicles are used for 

recreation and traditional uses such as gathering products like herbs, Christmas trees, piñon, and 

fuelwood. Dispersed camping is common in the GA because of motorized access, numerous private 

inholdings, and recreational residents. Special uses are also common, varying from family reunions 

and large recreation events, to commercial filming of blockbuster westerns. The Pecos River Canyon 

GA supports the local economy within and outside the forest by raising revenue from recreation, 

providing forest products, and providing land for grazing, all of which are integral to traditional 

culture and livelihoods, and support local tourism through frequent visitation. 
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Restoration Needs

The upper portions of the Pecos River Canyon GA are key for the restoration and reintroduction of 

Rio Grande cutthroat trout. This restoration effort includes the installation of fish barriers to mitigate 

competitive, nonnative fish species (e.g., rainbow and brown trout). Fuel treatments will be 

implemented to lower the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire as well as protect water quality and 

quantity. The thinning of dense, small-diameter trees and shrubs in combination with prescribed 

burning, will support long-range restoration efforts and reinstate natural fire regimes. Restoration 

will result in decreased woody encroachment of meadows, restored and preserved grasslands, 

improved watershed health, and greater wildlife diversity.

A single canyon, Holy Ghost Canyon, is home to the only naturally occurring population of the 

endangered Holy Ghost ipomopsis. The biennial plant has been established in other parts of the 

Pecos River Canyon in attempts to ensure the resiliency and persistence of the species. 

The lower reaches of the canyon would also benefit from vegetation treatments and prescribed 

burning, particularly adjacent to the wildland-urban interface. Dispersed camping and motorized uses 

in the lower portion of the GA have resulted in soil compaction and vegetation degradation. 

Restoration of these areas, such as restrictions and revegetation, is needed in addition to managing 

popular dispersed camping sites. However, these lower reaches come with unique challenges to 

restoration efforts. The steep and rocky terrain, as well as a patchwork of private inholdings, limit 

access for land managers. Despite these challenges, successful restoration of soil and riparian areas 

(e.g., at the Dalton Campsite) have been completed. Where practical around the wildland-urban 

interface, there is a need to treat fuels by thinning.

Desired Conditions (GA-PECOSRIV-DC)

1 The Pecos River corridor south of the wilderness boundary, within the Pecos River Canyon 

Geographic Area, is a high-use region for a diversity of recreation activities (e.g., hiking, 

fishing, horseback riding, hunting, camping in developed sites, motorized recreation, family 

reunions, and movie filming) that co-exist without conflict, contribute to the economy of the 

surrounding communities, and complement more developed recreation opportunities on 

State-owned land (e.g., New Mexico Department of Game and Fish properties).

2 The Pecos Wilderness is an exemplary wilderness area that contributes to local 

recreationists, tourists, commercial users, and traditional users.

3 Bountiful headwaters feed streams, rivers, and acequias while supporting populations of Rio 

Grande cutthroat trout and are protected from nonnative fish species.

4 Populations of the endangered Holy Ghost ipomopsis are stable and thriving. 

5 Partnerships with traditional communities, new residential community members, and 

established organized groups are collaborative, decrease user conflict, and support both 

restoration and sustainable recreation opportunities in the forest. 
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East Sangres 

Description

The forested slopes of the East Sangres Geographic Area encompasses 137,593 acres of steep granite 

mesas, lush river-fed meadows, and small streams. The city of Las Vegas lies to the east of the GA

and is the largest surrounding community, but several villages lie to the southeast including Bernal, 

San Jose, San Pablo, San Juan, Mineral Hill, and Colonias. To the east of the GA lie small 

communities like Mora and the even smaller settlements of Ledoux, Rio de la Casa, Sapello, 

Panderais, and Rociada. Many small communities, ranches, and farms dot the landscape and 

comprise the populations that rely on this GA most. 

Locals and visitors frequent easily accessible recreation hotspots in the GA like Gallinas Canyon, 

Barillas Peak, Walker Flats, and Hermit Peak. The viewshed of Jicarillita Peak and Gascon Point are 

important to surrounding communities. The GA has several grazing operations; while some are largescale, most are small, family-owned operations that provide income to local families. 

Designated areas within the East Sangres GA include: 

• Pecos Wilderness (35,055 acres, 18 percent of this wilderness within the Santa Fe NF is in this 

GA)

• 10 Inventoried Roadless Areas

♦ Bear Mountain (1,382 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Enchanted Lakes (1,275 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Falls (2,475 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Gallinas (13,198 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Grace Tract (999 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Lost Lake (469 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Maestas (474 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Sparks Creek (80 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Valle Del Toro (1,861 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

♦ Wesner Spring (583 acres, 98 percent is in this GA)

Management areas within the East Sangres GA include:

• Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers include:

♦ Beaver Creek: Wild (3.1 miles of the Headwaters Gallinas River watershed) 

Local Communities and Human Uses

The East Sangres GA is the “backyard” of the city of Las Vegas and the surrounding land grant 

communities on the east side of the Pecos River. The GA is used primarily by locals for traditional 

uses like fuelwood gathering, grazing, and dispersed recreation. The forests and private inholdings in 

this GA, especially surrounding the village of Mora, provide many of the Christmas trees transported 

throughout New Mexico and surrounding states, like Texas. The primary source of drinking water for 

the city of Las Vegas, Gallinas Creek, is a municipal watershed that has been the focus of extensive 
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vegetative restoration efforts throughout the past decade. The Gallinas Creek Canyon is popular for 

recreation and includes developed camp sites, picnic sites, fishing, and horseback riding 

opportunities. Though there is less recreational pressure on this GA than other parts of the forest due 

to relatively remote access, backcountry recreation by locals is common in areas where ATV 

accessible fishing and hunting are primary activities (e.g., Cow Creek, Bull Creek, Walker Flats, and 

Capulin).

Restoration Needs

The East Sangres GA, like much of the Santa Fe NF, is overgrown with an excess of small-diameter, 

densely packed vegetation. Much of this GA needs forest restoration such as thinning and prescribed 

burning, as well as efforts to restore and preserve grasslands, such as those on Johnson Mesa. The 

thinning of dense, small-diameter trees and shrubs in combination with prescribed burning, will 

support long-range restoration efforts and reinstate natural fire regimes. Restoration will result in 

decreased woody encroachment of meadows, restored and preserved grasslands, improved watershed 

health, and greater wildlife diversity.

Desired Conditions (GA-ESAN-DC)

1 The Gallinas watershed supports acequias and provides a sustainable drinking water source 

for the city of Las Vegas and surrounding communities. Vegetation within this watershed has 

very low risk of uncharacteristic wildfire. 

2 Local access to the forest for cultural and subsistence uses contributes to traditional practices 

and lifestyles such as livestock grazing, Christmas tree cutting, fuelwood gathering, piñon 

collecting, medicinal herb collection, wild berry picking, access for recreation (e.g., day hiking, 

dispersed camping, and wilderness experiences), and supplying the local forestry industry 

with wood products to support restoration needs.

3 Partnerships with traditional communities and new residential community members are 

collaborative, decrease user conflict, and support restoration in the forest. 

Rowe Mesa and Anton Chico

Description

The Rowe Mesa and Anton Chico Geographic Area includes two noncontiguous areas on the 

southeastern side of Santa Fe NF. Rowe Mesa and Anton Chico are separated by the Pecos River, 

with Glorieta Mesa and Hurtado Mesa (locally and collectively referred to as Rowe Mesa) to the 

west and Anton Chico to the east. The Rowe Mesa and Anton Chico GA includes 117,427 acres of 

arid terrain that is primarily vegetated by piñon-juniper forests and grasslands, due to its relatively 

low elevation.

Positioned south of I-25, Rowe Mesa is a prominent land feature, with Anton Chico lying to the east, 

and the villages of Ilfeld, Rowe, and San Jose to the north. The Rowe Mesa and Anton Chico GA is 

dominated by piñon-juniper interspersed with large swaths of ponderosa pine forests and shrubs. 

Grasslands are iconic of this GA, but encroachment on wide spanning grasslands by piñon-juniper 

have demanded aggressive restoration efforts. The GA also has grazing operations, including 

numerous small, family-owned grazing operations that provide income to local families.
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Designated areas within the Rowe Mesa and Anton Chico GA include: 

• 1 Inventoried Roadless Area 

♦ Ladrones Mesa RNA (701 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

• 2 Scenic Byways

♦ Rt. 66 Pre-1937 Alignment (2 miles, 41 percent of this scenic byway within the Santa Fe 

NF is in this GA)

♦ Old Santa Fe Trail (5 miles, 66 percent of this scenic byway within the Santa Fe NF is in 

this GA)

• 1 Research Natural Area

♦ Mesita De Los Ladrones, Research Natural Area (629 acres, 100 percent is in this GA)

Management areas within the Rowe Mesa and Anton Chico GA include:

• Mesita de los Ladrones Research Natural Area

• Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers include:

♦ Pecos River: Scenic (6.8 miles of the Tecolote Creek - Pecos River watershed) 

Local Communities and Human Uses

The Rowe Mesa and Anton Chico GA provides abundant small forest products like latillas, 

fuelwood, and piñon as well as plentiful opportunities for hunting big game and turkey. Roads 

braided across the GA illustrate the high volume of locals enjoying this GA for motorized recreation, 

often accompanied by year-round recreational shooting, hunting, and fuelwood gathering. Small 

grazing operations use this GA throughout the year, and occasionally, military exercises occur. 

Restoration Needs

Piñon pine forests and juniper woodlands throughout the Rowe Mesa and Anton Chico GA require 

restoration such as thinning and burning to restore and preserve grasslands. These restoration efforts 

will support continued access for traditional uses, recreation, and grazing by surrounding local 

communities. The thinning of dense, small-diameter trees and shrubs in combination with prescribed 

burning will support long-range restoration efforts and reinstate natural fire regimes. Restoration will 

result in decreased woody encroachment of meadows, restored and preserved grasslands, improved 

watershed health, and greater wildlife diversity.

Desired Conditions (GA-RMAC-DC)

1 Restored productivity and reintroduced fire within grasslands, piñon pine forests, and

juniper woodlands are free from meadow encroachment.

2 Restored and productive ERUs contribute to wildlife habitat and traditional uses for local 

communities accessing forest products and sustainably grazing livestock. 

3 Local, traditional, and subsistence uses (e.g.,piñon picking, firewood gathering, livestock 

grazing, and recreation) occur almost year-round in lower elevation areas.
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Chapter 5. Forest Plan Monitoring Program

Monitoring provides feedback for the forest planning cycle by testing assumptions, tracking relevant 

conditions over time, measuring management effectiveness, and evaluating effects of management 

practices. Monitoring information should enable the responsible official to determine if a change in 

plan components or other plan content that guides management of resources on the plan area may be 

needed, forming a basis for continual improvement and adaptive management. Direction for the 

monitoring and evaluation of forest plans is found under the 2012 Planning Rule at 36 CFR 219.12. 

Under the 2012 Planning Rule, monitoring consists of two elements: the plan monitoring program 

developed by the forest, and broader-sale monitoring strategies developed by the Regional Forester.

The plan monitoring program addresses the most critical components to inform management of the 

forest’s resources (see table 5). Every monitoring question links to one or more desired condition, 

objective, standard, or guideline. Not every plan component has a corresponding monitoring question 

due to financial and technical constraints of the agency. Monitoring questions are chosen to provide 

the information necessary to evaluate whether plan components are effective and appropriate, and 

whether management is being effective in maintaining or achieving progress toward the desired 

conditions and objectives for the plan area. Indicators are specific resource measures that provide 

quantitative or qualitative measurements and can show trends in conditions that are relevant to the 

monitoring questions. A monitoring implementation guide (to be developed after this forest plan is 

finalized) will provide more detailed information and methodology on how to implement the 

monitoring program, including monitoring protocols, frequency, data sources, and storage. 

In addition to the requirements above, a plan monitoring program must contain one monitoring 

question and associated indicators to address each of the nine following elements. These are the 

minimum monitoring requirements as specified in the 2012 Planning Rule (36 CFR 219.12(a)(5)):

i. The status of select watershed conditions.

ii. The status of select ecological conditions including key characteristics of terrestrial and 

aquatic ecosystems.

iii. The status of focal species to assess the ecological conditions required under § 219.9.

iv. The status of a select set of the ecological conditions required under § 219.9 to contribute to 

the recovery of federally listed threatened and endangered species, conserve proposed and 

candidate species, and maintain a viable population of each species of conservation concern.

v. The status of visitor use, visitor satisfaction, and progress toward meeting recreation 

objectives.

vi. Measurable changes in the plan area related to climate change and other stressors that may 

be affecting the plan area.

vii. Progress toward meeting the desired conditions and objectives in the plan, including for 

providing multiple-use opportunities. 

viii. The effects of each management system to determine that they do not substantially and 

permanently impair the productivity of the land (16 U.S.C. 1604(g)(3)(C)).(36 CFR 

219.12(a) 

ix. Address the plan contributions to communities, social and economic sustainability of 

communities, multiple-use management in the plan area, or progress toward meeting the 
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desired conditions and objectives related to social and economic sustainability (FSH 

1909.12, Chapter 30, section 32.13f). 

A biennial monitoring evaluation report is prepared to help indicate whether a change to the forest 

plan or the monitoring program is warranted based on the new information, whether a new 

assessment may be needed, or whether there is no need for change at that time. The biennial 

monitoring evaluation does not need to evaluate all questions or indicators on a biennial basis, but 

must focus on new data and results that provide information regarding management effectiveness. 

The monitoring evaluation report will be made available to the public.

This monitoring program is not intended to depict all monitoring, inventorying, and data-gathering 

activities undertaken in the forest; nor is it intended to limit monitoring to just the questions and 

indicators listed in this chapter of the plan. Consideration and coordination with broader-scale 

monitoring strategies; multi-party monitoring collaboration; and cooperation and coordination with 

other agencies, organizations, and individuals where practicable will increase efficiencies and help 

track changing conditions beyond the forest boundary. Project and activity monitoring may also be 

used to gather information for the plan monitoring program. 

The proposed monitoring program for the expected 10- to15-year lifespan of the draft forest plan is 

depicted in table 5. The table is separated by resource areas and lists desired conditions and plan 

components applicable to answering the monitoring question. Indicators that will be able to discern 

movement toward desired conditions and assess how the management practices are affecting the 

resource are also listed. The table also lists the required elements (see above) that are covered by the 

monitoring question and the frequency at which monitoring is anticipated to occur. 
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Table 5. Forest plan monitoring program for the Santa Fe NF 

Watersheds, Air Quality, and Soils

Selected Plan Components

Monitoring 

Questions Indicators

9 

Monitoring 

Topics

Monitoring 

Frequency

Watersheds

Desired Condition: Watersheds are functioning properly.

Desired Condition: Water quality across the forest meets 

or exceeds the State's water quality standards and 

provides for the attainment of designated uses.

Objective: Complete projects that improve conditions in 

at least 2 "impaired" or "functioning-at-risk" watersheds 

every 10 years.

Objective: Over 10 years, improve watershed function by 

decommissioning or mitigating impacts (e.g., 

maintenance, reroutes, or improvements) to 100 miles of 

routes (e.g., system roads, unauthorized routes or trails) 

to the point of restoring hydrologic and ecological 

function.

Standard: Best management practices must be used to 

minimize management impacts to maintain water quality.

Are management 

activities 

maintaining or 

improving 

watershed function 

and implementing 

best management 

practices to 

minimize impacts 

and improve water 

quality?

Percentage of forest

watersheds in proper 

functioning condition

Number of acres treated that 

improve watershed condition 

and ecological function

Number of fully implemented 

and fully effective best 

management practice 

evaluations versus

unimplemented and 

ineffective best management 

practice evaluations

(i), (vii) 5 years

Air Quality

Desired Condition: Air quality meets or surpasses New 

Mexico and Federal ambient air quality standards.

Desired Condition: Water chemistry and biotic 

components are not impacted by atmospheric deposition 

of pollutants.

Desired Condition: Visibility in designated Wilderness 

Area is free of human-caused impacts.

Is air quality 

meeting defined 

standards for all 

classes of airsheds 

within the plan 

area?

Particulate matter

Visibility

(i), (ii)
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Selected Plan Components

Monitoring 

Questions Indicators

9

Monitoring 

Topics

Monitoring 

Frequency

Soils

Desired Condition: Soil productivity, function, and 

inherent physical, chemical, and biological processes 

remain intact or are enhanced. Soils can readily absorb, 

store, and transmit water vertically and horizontally; 

accept, hold, and release nutrients; and resist erosion.

Desired Condition: Vegetative cover and litter are 

distributed across the soil surface in adequate amounts 

to limit erosion and contribute to soil deposition and 

development. Soil cover and herbaceous vegetation 

protect soil, facilitate infiltration, and contribute to plant 

and animal diversity and ecosystem function.

Standard: Best Management Practices, FSH 2509.18 - 

Soil Management Handbook must be used to minimize 

management impacts to ensure long-term soil 

productivity and condition.

Guideline: Ground-disturbing management activities 

should be designed to minimize short- and long-term 

adverse impacts to soil resources. Where disturbance 

cannot be avoided, project-specific soil and water 

conservation practices should be developed. When soil 

conditions are less than satisfactory as a result of 

management activities, restoration of soil condition 

should occur.

Are management 

actions maintaining 

or improving soil 

(ground) cover, 

contributing to 

improved soil 

condition?

Are management 

actions resulting in 

significant changes 

to the productivity 

of the land?

Soil Condition Rating

Ground cover percent and 

composition

Watershed condition 

framework soil indicator – 

percent improving

(vii), (viii), 

(ii)
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Ecological Processes and Conditions for Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems

Selected Plan Components

Monitoring 

Questions Indicators

9 

Monitoring 

Topics

Monitoring 

Frequency

Riparian Areas

Desired Condition: Vegetation composition and structure within 

riparian areas consists of appropriate plant species and seral state 

proportions.

Objective: Move toward desired conditions for riparian vegetation 

types that are outside or trending away from their natural range of 

variability by restoring the composition and structure of 100 acres 

of impaired riparian or wetlands every 5 years.

Objective: Treat and control invasive species on at least 2 stream 

reaches every year, with an objective of 10 miles treated every 10 

years.

Guideline: Management activities should maintain or improve the 

age class distribution and diversity of native riparian plant species, 

thereby providing habitat for wildlife in wetland and riparian areas.

1. Are management 

actions maintaining 

or moving riparian 

vegetation toward 

desired conditions?

1.a Key indicators 

from the 

Watershed 

Condition 

Framework: 

condition class, 

biota, and habitat.

1.b Plant 

composition and 

structure

1.c Acres of 

impaired riparian 

vegetation 

restored 

(ii), (vii)
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242

Selected Plan Components

Monitoring 

Questions Indicators

9 

Monitoring 

Topics

Monitoring 

Frequency

Riparian Habitat

Focal Species: Rio Grande cutthroat trout, northern leopard frog, 

plumbeous vireo (below 7,500 feet), Cordilleran flycatcher (above 

7,500 feet) 

Desired Condition: Aquatic habitats and water bodies (e.g., lakes, 

ponds, reservoirs) support a complete assemblage of native aquatic 

species and are resilient to natural and human disturbances 

including projected warmer and drier climatic conditions.

Objective: Complete aquatic restoration on priority projects that 

restore 30 miles of aquatic habitat (e.g., increase pool quantity, 

provide stream cover, remove or install of fish barriers, restore 

beaver populations, treat invasive aquatic species, etc.) every 

10 years to benefit aquatic species.

Are forest 

management 

activities within 

riparian areas 

increasing 

biodiversity or 

populations of 

riparian obligate 

species?

Management 

activity impacts on 

abundance and 

distribution of 

riparian obligate 

focal species: 

cutthroat trout, 

northern leopard 

frog, plumbeous 

vireo (below 

7,500 feet) and 

Cordilleran 

flycatcher (above 

7,500 feet).

(iii)
Draft Land Management Plan

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Selected Plan Components

Monitoring 

Questions Indicators

9 

Monitoring 

Topics

Monitoring 

Frequency

Aquatic Habitats

Desired Condition: Aquatic habitats are distributed across the 

forest in sufficient quantity and with appropriate habitat 

components to support self-sustaining populations of native fish 

and other aquatic species.

Objective: Complete aquatic restoration on priority projects that 

restore 30 miles of aquatic habitat (e.g., increase pool quantity, 

provide stream cover, remove or install fish barriers, restore beaver 

populations, treat invasive aquatic species, etc.) every 10 years to 

benefit aquatic species.

Guideline: Except where barriers are beneficial and necessary to 

achieve conservation goals for aquatic species, fragmentation of 

aquatic habitats and isolation of aquatic species should be avoided 

and passage for aquatic organisms should be maintained.

Guideline: Management of coldwater streams should include 

adequate vegetation cover and width-to-depth ratio to move 

toward State of New Mexico standards for stream water 

temperatures for "High Quality Coldwater" systems.

Is aquatic habitat 

distributed, 

connected, and in a 

condition capable of 

supporting native 

aquatic species?

Miles of aquatic 

habitat restored

Stream 

temperature

Number of 

beneficial barriers 

created and 

number of harmful 

barriers removed 

Large woody debris

(ii), (vi), 

(vii)
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Selected Plan Components

Monitoring 

Questions Indicators

9 

Monitoring 

Topics

Monitoring 

Frequency

Terrestrial Habitats

Desired Condition: Terrestrial ecosystems are composed of 

appropriate assemblages of sustainable populations of plant and 

animal species that are supported by healthy ecosystems.

Desired condition: Habitat configuration, connectivity, and 

availability allow wildlife populations to adjust their movements in 

response to major disturbances (e.g., climate change or

uncharacteristic fire) and promote genetic flow between wildlife 

populations.

Objectives: Maintain, improve, or install at least one water feature 

per year to improve water availability for wildlife where natural 

water sources are limited. This may be done in conjunction with 

water features for range.

Objective: Restore or enhance at least 50,000 acres of terrestrial 

wildlife habitat during each 10-year period of the life of the plan.

Are management 

activities moving 

terrestrial habitat 

toward desired 

conditions?

Seral state 

proportions and 

species 

compositions of 

Terrestrial ERUs

Acres of terrestrial 

habitat restored or 

enhanced

Number of water 

features 

maintained, 

improved, or 

installed for wildlife 

benefit

(ii), (vi), 

(vii)
Draft Land Management Plan

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Selected Plan Components

Monitoring 

Questions Indicators

9 

Monitoring 

Topics

Monitoring 

Frequency

Wildlife Connectivity –Aquatic and Terrestrial Habitats

Focal Species: American beaver

Desired Conditions: 

Aquatic habitats are connected and free from alterations (e.g., 

temperature regime changes, lack of adequate streamflow, or 

barriers to aquatic organism passage) to allow for species migration, 

connectivity of fragmented populations and genetic exchange. 

Barriers to movement are located where necessary to protect 

native fish from nonnative species. 

Habitat configuration, connectivity, and availability allow wildlife 

populations to adjust their movements in response to major 

disturbances (e.g., climate change or uncharacteristic fire) and 

promote genetic flow between wildlife populations.

Are aquatic and 

terrestrial habitats 

connected and do 

they provide the 

necessary ecological 

conditions to allow 

animals to move 

freely about the 

forest?

Distribution of 

American beaver

(ii), (iii), 

(vii)
Draft Land Management Plan

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246

Selected Plan Components

Monitoring 

Questions Indicators

9 

Monitoring 

Topics

Monitoring 

Frequency

Grassland Ecosystems

*Highly departed non-forested ERUs are juniper grass (JUG), piñon 

juniper grass (PJG), Colorado Plateau Great Basin grassland (CPGB), 

sagebrush shrubland (SAGE), and montane subalpine grassland 

(MSG).

Desired Condition: Ecosystems maintain all of their essential 

components, processes, and functions.

Desired Condition: Ecosystems are productive, sustainable, 

resilient, and adaptive to disturbances and provide goods and 

services over the long-term despite changing and uncertain future 

environmental conditions.

Desired Condition: The ecological attributes and processes that 

provide habitat for native biota and/or historic and cultural values 

are maintained.

Objectives: Over a 10-year period, complete 2,500 to 50,000 acres 

of combined vegetation treatments in highly departed non-forested 

ERUs* to move vegetation toward desired conditions (i.e., 

restoration). Treatments may include mechanical treatments, 

prescribed fire or naturally ignited wildfires, seeding, or other 

techniques still to be determined by best available science 

depending on the specific ERU.

Management Approach: Consider management actions that 

replicate natural disturbance regimes.

Are management 

practices moving 

grassland vegetation 

ERUs with plan 

objectives toward 

desired conditions 

and increasing their 

resilience to future 

disturbances?

Vegetation species

structure, density, 

and composition 

Ground cover (%) 

of native species

Acres of tree 

encroachment 

removal

(ii), (vii), 

(vi)

2 to 3 years
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Selected Plan Components

Monitoring 

Questions Indicators

9 

Monitoring 

Topics

Monitoring 

Frequency

Forested Ecosystems

Desired Condition: Vegetative conditions (composition, structure, 

and function) are broadly resilient to disturbances of varying 

frequency, extent, and severity. The forest landscape is a 

functioning ecosystem that contains all its components, processes, 

and conditions that result from endemic levels of disturbances (e.g., 

insects, diseases, fire, and wind), including old trees, downed logs, 

and snags. Fire and other disturbances are sufficient to maintain 

desired overall tree density, structure, species composition, coarse 

woody debris, and nutrient cycling. 

Desired Condition: Ecosystems are productive, sustainable, 

resilient, and adaptive to disturbances and provide goods and 

services over the long term, despite changing and uncertain future 

environmental conditions.

Desired Condition: Restoration and fuel treatments result in 

ecological resources that are adaptable to changing climate 

conditions.

Objectives: Treat between 60,000 to 280,000 acres of MCD and 

between 165,000 and 350,000 acres of PPF using mechanical 

treatments and fire (prescribed and natural ignitions) over 10 years.

Management Approach: In areas of high vulnerability to climate 

change, consider increasing resiliency by using a diversity of 

treatments to facilitate natural adaptation to changing conditions 

such as, managing in favor of early- to mid-seral species over lateseral species in ecotones, as species characteristics of lower life 

zones are adapted for warmer and drier conditions. Consider 

managing tree basal area at the low end of the range of desired 

conditions to mitigate water stress.

Are management 

practices moving 

forested ERUs with 

plan objectives (MCD 

and PPF) toward 

desired conditions 

and increasing their 

resilience to future 

disturbances?

Vegetation species 

structure, density, 

and composition

Acres of Insect and 

Disease 

Infestations

Acres of fuel and 

restoration 

treatments 

returning 

conditions to 

within the natural 

range of variability.

(ii), (vii), 

(vi)

2 to 3 years
Draft Land Management Plan

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248

Selected Plan Components

Monitoring 

Questions Indicators

9 

Monitoring 

Topics

Monitoring 

Frequency

Ponderosa Pine

Focal Species: Northern goshawk

Desired Condition: The PPF vegetation community is composed of 

trees of varying ages in a mosaic of seral stages and structures. The 

forest arrangement on the landscape is similar to historic patterns, 

with groups and patches generally of variably-sized and aged trees 

(uneven-aged) and occasional patches of even-aged structure, 

interspersed within variably-sized openings of grass/forb/shrub 

vegetation associations. Denser stand conditions exist in some 

locations, such as north-facing slopes and canyon bottoms. (See 

FW-PPF-DC-1a for detailed seral states) 

Guideline: The forest should use the most current ecological 

guidelines to improve nesting conditions for goshawk (Accipiter 

gentilis): (a.) A minimum of three goshawk nest areas and three 

replacement nest areas should be located per goshawk territory. 

Goshawk nest and replacement nest areas should generally be 

located in drainages, at the base of slopes, and on northerly 

(northwest to northeast) aspects. Nest areas should generally be 25 

to 30 acres in size. (b.) Goshawk post-fledging areas of 

approximately 420 acres in size should be designated surrounding 

nest sites. (c.) In goshawk foraging areas and post-fledging family 

areas, groups of three to five reserve trees should be retained 

within management-created openings greater than 1 acre in 

ponderosa pine-evergreen oak, and dry mixed-conifer 

communities, and six reserve trees should be retained within 

management-created openings greater than 0.5 acre in wet mixedconifer and spruce-fir communities. (d.) In occupied goshawk nest 

areas, human presence should be minimized between March 1 and 

September 30 (per Guideline 1a in this section).

Are conditions within 

ponderosa pine 

systems providing the 

structural 

components that are 

representative of 

reference seral state 

conditions?

Management 

activity impacts on 

abundance and 

distribution of focal 

species northern 

goshawks in upland 

forests. 

(iii), (iv)
Draft Land Management Plan

Santa Fe National Forest

249

Selected Plan Components

Monitoring 

Questions Indicators

9 

Monitoring 

Topics

Monitoring 

Frequency

Piñon juniper woodlands

Focal Species: Gray vireo

Desired Condition: Persistent piñon-juniper woodlands consist of 

even-aged patches of piñons and junipers that at the landscape 

level form multi-aged woodlands. Very old trees (more than 

300 years old) are present. (Table with detailed seral state 

included.) 

Guideline: In areas that produce piñon seeds, mitigation measures 

for the collection of forest products (e.g., collection of dead or 

down; tree diameter restrictions, restrict size of fuelwood area) 

should be used to reduce impacts to piñon-producing trees and 

benefit at-risk species.

Guideline: Even-aged management treatments in piñon-juniper 

habitat should avoid creating a sharp, well-defined edge between 

dense woodlands and recovered shrublands for foraging habitat of 

at-risk species.

Are conditions within 

piñon-juniper 

systems providing 

the ecological 

conditions that are 

representative of 

reference seral state 

conditions (e.g.,

structural 

components, percent 

canopy, and 

composition)?

Management 

activity impacts on 

abundance and 

distribution of focal 

species gray vireo 

in pinyon-juniper.

(iii) 

Invasive Species

Desired Condition: Invasive species are nonexistent or exist at 

population levels that do not disrupt ecological functioning, affect 

the sustainability of native species, cause economic harm, or 

negatively impact human health.

Objective: Eradicate or suppress invasive plant species on at least 

300 acres annually.

Standard: Forest management actions must apply best 

management practices to minimize the introduction or spread of 

invasive species.

What is the status 

and trend of invasive 

plant species in the

plan area?

Acres of invasives 

treated 

Acres of invasives 

inventoried

(ii), (vi), 

(vii)
Draft Land Management Plan

Santa Fe National Forest

250

Fire and Fuels

Selected Plan Components Monitoring 

Questions Indicators

9

Monitoring 

Topics

Monitoring 

Frequency

Desired Condition: Wildland fire protects, maintains, and enhances 

resources and moves ecosystems toward desired conditions on a 

landscape scale. It is allowed to function in its natural ecological role 

on a landscape scale and across administrative boundaries, under 

conditions where safety and values at risk can be protected.

Desired Condition: Wildland fires burn within the range of severity 

and frequency of historic fire regimes for the affected vegetation 

communities. High-severity fires rarely occur where they were not 

historically part of the fire regime.

Objective: Reduce the potential for active crown fire and restore 

frequent fire by improving mixed conifer-frequent fire forests that are 

outside or trending away from their natural range of variability by 

annually treating 6,000 to 28,000 acres on average through the use of 

wildland fire (natural and prescribed), mechanical (e.g., thinning or 

timber harvest), planting, or other methods that would accomplish 

this objective and move toward desired conditions.

Objective: Reduce the potential for active crown fire and restore 

frequent fire by improving ponderosa pine forests that are outside or 

trending away from their natural range of variability by annually 

treating 16,500 to 35,000 acres, on average, through the use of 

wildland fire (natural and prescribed), mechanical (e.g., thinning or 

timber harvest), planting, or other methods that would accomplish 

this objective and move toward desired conditions.

Guideline: Naturally occurring fires should be allowed to perform, as 

much as possible, their natural ecological role to meet multiple 

resource objectives and facilitate progress toward desired conditions.

Is wildland fire 

being used to 

maintain desired 

fuel levels and 

vegetation 

characteristics, at 

frequencies and 

severities 

consistent with 

the natural range 

of variability?

Number and 

acres of fires 

managed for 

multiple 

objectives by 

ERU and severity

Number and 

acres of high-risk 

fires suppressed

Acres of mixed 

conifer-frequent 

fire treated

Acres of 

ponderosa pine 

forest treated

Burn severity 

mapping 

following fires

(prescribed and 

natural starts)

(ii), (vii)
Draft Land Management Plan

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251

Species Conservation

Selected Plan Components Monitoring 

Questions Indicators 8 Monitoring Topics

Desired Condition: Ecological conditions contribute to the survival 

and recovery of federally listed, proposed, and candidate species; 

preclude the need for listing new species; and allow for the recovery 

and persistence of species of conservation concern.

Guideline: Project activities and special uses occurring within 

federally-designated critical habitat should integrate habitat 

management objectives and species protection measures from the 

most recent approved USFWS recovery plan. Deviation from recovery 

plans may occur through consultation with USFWS.

Are forest 

management activities 

and/or natural events 

affecting the 

ecological conditions 

that contribute to the 

recovery of the 

federally listed 

species?

Endangered species 

specific habitat 

requirements

Management actions 

completed to improve 

habitat (acres improved)

(iv)
Draft Land Management Plan

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252

Designated Areas and Progress toward Meeting Recreation Objectives

Selected Plan Components Monitoring Questions Indicators

8 Monitoring 

Topics

Developed sites

Desired Condition: Developed sites meet the expectations of the 

public within the limits of resource sustainability.

Desired Condition: Recreation resources and facilities are well 

maintained and function as intended. Changes in recreation use are 

appropriate within the recreation setting.

Objective: At 2 developed recreation sites, accomplish at least 

75 percent of deferred maintenance projects every 3 years.

Are developed 

recreation sites 

meeting the needs, 

desires, and 

expectations of 

visitors? 

Comparison of deferred 

maintenance costs at start 

of FY versus actual 

expenditures on 

maintenance. 

Visitor satisfaction surveys

Number of campsite 

reservations

(v) 

Trails

Desired Condition: The design, construction, and maintenance of 

trails are consistent with user desires, enhance the recreation 

experience, diminish user conflicts, and minimize damage to other 

resources.

Objective: Conduct maintenance on at least 25 percent of system 

trails every 3 years.

Objective: Verify and correct signage and cartographic accuracy for 

at least 25 percent of system trails every 3 years.

Objective: Undertake sustainably designed capital improvements on 

at least 1 mile (contiguous or not) of poorly-designed trail every three 

years.

Guideline: Trails should be sustainably designed and constructed, 

rerouted, or maintained using current best practices.

1 Are system trails 

located and 

maintained to prevent 

resource degradation 

and to support 

allowable uses?

2 Are system trails 

meeting the needs, 

desires, and 

expectations of 

multiple users?

1.a Miles of trails 

maintained

1.b Miles of trails 

accurately mapped and 

signed

 

1.c Miles of capital 

improvements on trails

 

2.a Trail user surveys

2.b NRM database User 

Surveys

(v)
Draft Land Management Plan

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253

Selected Plan Components Monitoring Questions Indicators

8 Monitoring 

Topics

Wilderness

Desired Condition: Wilderness character in designated wilderness 

areas is retained or restored.

Objective: Within 10 years of plan approval, wilderness areas show 

improvement in the four qualities of wilderness character as 

measured by a 60 percent score or better in upward reporting for 

Wilderness Stewardship Performance.

Are management 

activities improving 

wilderness character 

in our designated 

wilderness areas?

Score in Wilderness 

Stewardship Performance

Dispersed campsite 

monitoring in wilderness 

areas

(v)

Cultural Resources and Traditional Uses

Selected Plan Components Monitoring Questions Indicators 8 Monitoring 

Topics

Desired Condition: Forest resources important for cultural and 

traditional needs as well as for subsistence practices and economic 

support of rural historic communities are available and sustainable.

Guideline: Traditionally used products should be available in the 

forest to rural historic communities, except in areas with resource 

concerns or in designated areas where such uses are not allowed, or 

otherwise restricted by standards or guidelines set forth in other 

sections of this Plan.

Is the forest providing 

resources important 

for subsistence and 

economic support to 

rural historic and 

tribal communities in 

quantities sufficient to 

meet their needs?

#of permits sold for:

Fuelwood

Vigas

Collection 

Latillas 

Christmas trees

(vii), (ix)

Trends in satisfaction

Consultations with Tribes
Draft Land Management Plan

Santa Fe National Forest

254

Selected Plan Components Monitoring Questions Indicators 8 Monitoring 

Topics

Desired Condition: Traditional cultural properties, sacred sites, and 

other locations of traditional and cultural use identified as important 

to the Tribes are unimpaired.

Guideline: Consultation with federally recognized tribes should occur 

at the early stages of project planning and design, and Tribal 

perspectives, needs, and concerns, as well as traditional knowledge, 

should be incorporated into project design and decisions.

Guideline: Project activities and uses should be administered in a 

manner that prevents or minimizes impacts to the physical and scenic 

integrity of places that the Tribes regard as sacred sites, traditional 

cultural properties, or as part of an important cultural landscape.

1. Are cultural and 

historic resources 

being identified and 

are mitigation 

measures taken to 

provide adequate 

protections from 

management actions, 

looting, and other 

disturbances?

2. Are projects 

complying with 

cultural resources 

reports?

1.a # of sites impacted by 

Federal actions, looting, 

management actions, and 

natural disturbances. 

1.b information from Tribal 

Consultation and MOU 

meetings.

2.Cultural resource reports 

completed and complied 

with

(vii), (ix)

Desired Condition: The public has opportunities for learning about, 

appreciating, and understanding cultural and historic resources as 

well as resources significant to traditional communities. Public 

understanding about the past occupation and use of landscapes and 

cultural resources contribute to their protection.

To what extent is 

public education and 

interpretation 

provided on cultural 

and historic 

resources?

Number of interpretive sites

Number of interpretive 

opportunities (talks, tours, 

activities, etc.)

Volunteer hours logged 

(v), (vii), (ix)
Draft Land Management Plan

Santa Fe National Forest

255

Multiple Uses

Selected Plan Components Monitoring Questions Indicators 8 Monitoring 

Topics

Forest Products

Desired Condition: Forest products are available to businesses and 

individuals in a sustainable manner that also effectively contributes to 

watershed health and restoration or maintenance of desired 

vegetation conditions.

Desired Condition: Private and commercial timber harvest 

supplement restoration and maintenance treatments at a scale that 

achieves landscape desired conditions and contribute to watershed 

restoration function and resilience, wildlife habitat enhancement, 

small and large business and employment opportunities, and provide 

wood products.

Objective: Provide at least 177,000 CCF per decade to contribute to 

local forest product industry and for personal use, including 

92,850 CCF (72,539 cords) per decade of fuelwood. 

Standard: On lands suitable for timber production, timber harvest 

intended to create openings for tree regeneration shall only be used 

when there is reasonable assurance of restocking within 5 years after 

final regeneration harvest.

Standard: The sale of timber shall be equal to or less than the 

quantity that can be removed annually in perpetuity on a sustainedyield basis with the following exceptions: vegetation departures, 

salvage and sanitation harvests, and annual removals that may 

exceed sustained yield limits as long as the decadal average is within 

annual sustained-yield parameters.

Are outputs of timber and 

other forest products being 

produced at a rate

consistent with projections 

and in quantities sufficient 

to meet needs for personal 

use and local timber 

industries? 

CCF provided for 

industry

CCF for fuelwood

Sales to be offered

% of regeneration 

harvests restocked in 

5 years

Amount of timber 

harvested relative to 

annual amount 

allowed for 

sustainable-yield, 

and according to 

PTSQ/ PWSQ.

(vii), (ix)
Draft Land Management Plan

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256

Selected Plan Components Monitoring Questions Indicators 8 Monitoring 

Topics

Sustainable livestock grazing

Desired Condition: Sustainable livestock grazing contributes to the 

long-term socioeconomic diversity and stability of local communities, 

and cultural identity tied to traditional uses.

Is the forest moving toward 

desired condition by 

providing grazing 

opportunities in support of 

our local economies?

Level of permitted 

livestock grazing

Number of closed 

and vacant 

allotments

Number of acres of 

rangeland 

restoration

Pastures 

administered to 

standard

Number of permits in 

non-compliance 

(vii), (ix)
Draft Land Management Plan

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257

List of Preparers

Except where indicated, all specialists below were employees of the Santa Fe NF. Many others not 

included in the list below made significant contributions to the development of the draft forest plan 

including district specialists, detailers (short-term employees of 2 to 4 months), and Regional Office 

employees. In addition, comments from the public and Cooperating Agencies played a crucial role in 

shaping the document. 

Interdisciplinary Team

Devin Black, Planning Ecologist

Abie Carabajal, Planning Ecologist 

Charles Clark, Collaboration Specialist

Jennifer Cramer, Forest Planner 

Jessica Dunn, Designated Areas Planning Specialist 

Jonathan Hayden, Planning Specialist for Socioeconomic Resources 

Daryl Ratajczak, Wildlife Planner

Extended Team

Raulin Amy, Wildlife Program Manager

Paul Archual, Planning Specialist (detail)

Erin Barton, Planning Specialist 

Christine Bishop, Range Program Manager 

Mike Bremer, Forest Archaeologist

Sherele Brooks, Student Intern 

Dennis Carril, Fuels Program Manager

Mary Emerick, Natural Resource Specialist, Enterprise Program

Larry Gore, Forest Geologist 

Patricia Goude, Writer-editor, Enterprise Program 

Mary Greenwood, Recreation Planner, Enterprise Program 

Josh Hall, Air and Water Quality Specialist/Liaison with NMED

Nicole Hill, Landscape Architect, Enterprise Program
Draft Land Management Plan

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258

Hillary Hudson, GIS Specialist 

Rebecca Lloyd, Soil and Water Program Lead 

Julie Luetzelschwab, GIS Manager

Albert Martinez, Forest Engineer

Jason McInteer, Assistant Forest Archaeologist

Reuben Montes, Tribal Relations/ Collaborative Forest Restoration Program /SRS

Dave Park, Soil and Watershed Program Manager

Ken Reese, Silviculturalist

Cecil Rich, Fish and Aquatic Program Manager

Karen Yori, Recreation Program Manager
Draft Revised Land and Resource Management Plan

Santa Fe National Forest

259

Glossary

Acequia or community ditch. A historical community ditch in New Mexico that carries snow 

runoff, spring flows, or river water to irrigate fields and is administered by a governing board.

Adaptation. Adjustment in natural or human systems to a new or changing environment. 

Adaptation includes, but is not limited to, maintaining primary productivity and basic ecological 

functions, such as energy flow; nutrient cycling and retention; soil development and retention; 

predation and herbivory; and natural disturbances. Adaptation occurs primarily by organisms 

altering their interactions with the physical environment and other organisms.

Adaptive capacity. The ability of ecosystems to respond, cope, or adapt to disturbances and 

stressors, including environmental change, to maintain options for future generations. As 

applied to ecological systems, adaptive capacity is determined by:

1. Genetic diversity within species in ecosystems, allowing for selection of individuals with 

traits adapted to changing environmental conditions.

2. Biodiversity within the ecosystem, both in terms of species richness and relative abundance, 

which contributes to functional redundancies.

3. The heterogeneity and integrity of ecosystems occurring as mosaics within broader-scaled 

landscapes or biomes, making it more likely that some areas will escape disturbance and 

serve as source areas for re-colonization.

Adaptive management. Adaptive management is the general framework encompassing the three 

phases of planning: assessment, plan development, and monitoring (36 CFR 219.5). This 

framework supports decision-making that meets management objectives while simultaneously 

accruing information to improve future management by adjusting the plan or plan 

implementation. Adaptive management is a structured, cyclical process for planning and 

decision-making in the face of uncertainty and changing conditions with feedback from 

monitoring, which includes using the planning process to actively test assumptions, track 

relevant conditions over time, and measure management effectiveness.

All lands is the concept that ecosystems transcend land ownership boundaries, thus, effective 

land management requires cooperation and collaboration among the Forest Service, other land

managing agencies, federally recognized tribes, and private landowners. This plan was 

developed using an approach that considers the greater landscape and the Santa Fe NF’s 

ecological, social, and economic role in that landscape.

Alpine fellfield. Areas on alpine slopes where cycles of freezing and thawing (frost events) and 

wind create niche habitats for plants within small interspaces in rocks and scree (Cooper et al. 

1997). 

Airshed. A geographic area that, because of topography, meteorology, and/or climate is 

frequently affected by the same air mass.

Assessment. For the purposes of the land management planning regulation at 36 CFR part 219 

and this Handbook, an assessment is the identification and evaluation of existing information to 

support land management planning. Assessments are not decision-making documents, but 

provide current information on select topics relevant to the plan area, in the context of the 

broader landscape (36 CFR 219.19).
Draft Revised Land Management Plan

Santa Fe National Forest

260

At-risk species are federally recognized as endangered, threatened, proposed, and candidate 

species, or species of conservation concern (SCC). SCCs are species other than federally 

recognized threatened, endangered, proposed, or candidate species known to occur on the 

Santa Fe NF and for which the Regional Forester has determined that the best available scientific 

information indicates substantial concern about the species’ capability to persist over the long 

term in the forest. For SCC, habitat management and compatible multiple uses will be 

accomplished in a way that ensures species’ persistence on the Santa Fe NF, in accordance with 

the 2012 Planning Rule (36 CFR § 219.9(b)). For many at-risk species, essential ecological 

conditions can be provided through “coarse filter” plan components, such as desired conditions 

and standards and guidelines, for specific vegetation communities (e.g., ALP, MCD, PJO). These 

may be adequate to ensure persistence of at-risk species and maintain viable populations on the 

Santa Fe NF. For other at-risk species, fine-filter plan components that are species-specific 

(timing restrictions, etc.) may be required to ensure persistence. In this forest plan, at-risk 

species associated with a vegetation community (see ERUs) are listed after plan components, 

but are not in a text box, since their identification is not a forest plan decision, as are plan 

components. At-risk species can be changed based on new scientific information throughout the 

life of the forest plan, without an amendment (FSH 1909.12, 21.22b). 

Authorized livestock numbers. Year to year actual stocking of livestock on a grazing allotment, 

based on forage and water availability, condition of range improvements, climatic conditions, 

personal convenience for the permittee, or resource protection. Authorized numbers are not 

necessarily the number on the permit.

Basal area. The cross-sectional area at breast height (4.5 feet above the ground) of trees 

measured in square feet. Basal area is a way to measure how much of a site is occupied by trees.

Best management practices (BMPs). Methods, measures, or practices selected by an agency to 

meet its nonpoint source control needs. BMPs include but are not limited to structural and 

nonstructural controls and operation and maintenance procedures. BMPs can be applied before, 

during, and after pollution-producing activities to reduce or eliminate the introduction of 

pollutants into receiving waters (36 CFR 219.19).

Biological soil crusts. Crusts of soil particles formed by living organisms (such as algae, mosses, 

lichens) in arid areas. They hold soil in place, help retain moisture, and improve soil nutrients by 

fixing atmospheric nitrogen.

Broader landscape. For land management planning pursuant to 36 CFR 219, the plan area and 

the lands surrounding the plan area. The spatial scale of the broader landscape varies depending 

upon the social, economic, and ecological issues under consideration.

Candidate species (36 CFR 219.19).

1. For species under the purview of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), a species for 

which the USFWS possesses sufficient information on vulnerability and threats to support a 

proposal to list as endangered or threatened, but for which no proposed rule has yet been 

published by the USFWS.

2. For species under the purview of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), a species 

that is:
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a. The subject of a petition to list as a threatened or endangered species and for which the 

(NMFS) has determined that listing may be warranted, pursuant to section 4(b)(3)(A) of 

the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(3)(A)), or

b. Not the subject of a petition but for which the (NMFS) has announced in the Federal 

Register the initiation of a status review.

Climate change. A change in global or regional climate patterns, in particular a change apparent 

from the mid to late 20th century onward and attributed largely to the increased levels of 

atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels. Climate change is addressed 

throughout this plan, indirectly through desired conditions in the form of functional ecosystems 

and resilient landscapes, and directly through management approaches and the monitoring plan 

where appropriate. This plan is designed around strategies that are responsive to an uncertain 

and changing climate, including maintaining and restoring resilient native ecosystems; adaptive 

management; anticipating increased disturbance; increasing water conservation and planning 

for reduced supply; and anticipating increased recreational use (increased number of summer 

visitors and extended summer season of use).

Coarse woody debris (CWD). Fallen dead trees and the remains of large branches on the ground 

in forests and in rivers or wetlands.

Collaboration or collaborative process. A structured manner in which a collection of people with 

diverse interests share knowledge, ideas, and resources, while working together in an inclusive 

and cooperative manner toward a common purpose. Collaboration, in the context of the land 

management planning regulation at 36 CFR part 219 and this Handbook, falls within the full 

spectrum of public engagement described in the Council on Environmental Quality’s publication 

of October, 2007: Collaboration in NEPA— A Handbook for NEPA Practitioners (36 CFR 219.19). 

Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). A comprehensive community based planning and 

prioritization approach for protection of life, property, and critical infrastructure in the wildlandurban interface. Protection plans may take a variety of forms based on the needs of the 

community, but must be collaboratively developed, identify and prioritize areas for hazardous 

fuel reduction treatments, recommend treatment types and methods, and recommend 

measures that homeowners and communities can take to reduce the ignitability of structures. 

The planning process may also identify management options and implications in the surrounding 

landscape. The Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) of 2003 instructed the US Forest Service 

to give consideration of community priorities as outlined in a CWPP during planning and 

implementation of hazardous fuel reduction projects.

Connectivity. Ecological conditions that exist at several spatial and temporal scales that provide 

landscape linkages that permit the exchange of flow, sediments, and nutrients; the daily and 

seasonal movements of animals within home ranges; the dispersal and genetic interchange 

between populations; and the long distance range shifts of species, such as in response to 

climate change (36 CFR 219.19). 

Conservation. The protection, preservation, management, or restoration of natural 

environments, ecological communities, and species (36 CFR 219.19). 
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Conserve. For the purpose of meeting the requirements of 36 CFR 219.9, to protect, preserve, 

manage, or restore natural environments and ecological communities to potentially avoid 

federally listing of proposed and candidate species (36 CFR 219.19).

Critical habitat. For a threatened or endangered species, (1) the specific areas within the 

geographical area occupied by the species, at the time it is listed in accordance with the 

provisions of section 4 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1533), on which are found 

those physical or biological features (a) essential to the conservation of the species, and (b) 

which may require special management considerations or protection; and (2) specific areas 

outside the geographical area occupied by the species at the time it is listed in accordance with 

the provisions of section 4 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1533), upon a determination by the Secretary 

that such areas are essential for the conservation of the species. ESA, sec. 3 (5)(A), (16 U.S.C. 

1532 (3)(5)(A)). Critical habitat is designated through rulemaking by the Secretary of the Interior 

or Commerce. ESA, sec. 4 (a)(3) and (b)(2) (16 U.S.C. 1533 (a)(3) and (b)(2)). 

Cumulative effects or impacts. The impact on the environment that results from the incremental 

impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future 

actions, regardless of what agency (Federal or non-Federal) or person undertakes such actions. 

Cumulative impacts can result from individually minor, but collectively significant actions, taken 

place over a period of time.

Decommission. Treated in such a manner so as to no longer function as intended. Usually in 

reference to decommissioning of a road so that it no longer is apparent on the landscape.

Defensible space. An area either natural or manmade where material capable of allowing a fire 

to spread has been treated, cleared, reduced, or changed to act as a barrier between an 

advancing wildland fire and property or resources. In practice, “defensible space” is defined as 

an area a minimum of 30 feet around a structure that is cleared of flammable brush or 

vegetation.

Departure. The degree to which the current condition of a key ecosystem characteristic is unlike 

the reference condition.

Designated area. An area or feature identified and managed to maintain its unique special 

character or purpose. Some categories of designated areas may be designated only by statute 

and some categories may be established administratively in the land management planning 

process or by other administrative processes of the Federal executive branch. Examples of 

statutorily designated areas are national heritage areas, national recreational areas, national 

scenic trails, wild and scenic rivers, wilderness areas, and wilderness study areas. Examples of 

administratively designated areas are experimental forests, research natural areas, scenic 

byways, botanical areas, and significant caves (36 CFR 219.19). 

Decision document. A record of decision, decision notice, or decision memo (36 CFR 220.3). 

Designated road, trail, or area. A National Forest System road, a National Forest System trail, or 

an area on National Forest System lands that is designated for motor vehicle use pursuant to 36 

CFR 212.51 on a motor vehicle use map (36 CFR 212.1).
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Desirable nonnative. Nonnative species that were intentionally released into the wild to 

establish self-sustaining populations of wildlife that meet public demands for recreation or other 

purposes (e.g., sport fishes). These desirable nonnative species are not likely to cause ecosystem 

disruption.

Desired conditions reflect either natural or desired variation in the composition and structure 

within a community or resource area. Desired conditions may or may not be the same as historic 

conditions and may have wide ranges of values due to spatial variability in soils, elevation, 

aspect, or social values. For the purposes of the land management planning regulation at 36 CFR 

219, desired conditions give a description of specific social, economic, and/or ecological 

characteristics of the plan area (or a portion of the plan area) toward which management of the 

land should be directed. Desired conditions must be described in terms that are specific enough 

to allow progress toward their achievement to be quantified, but do not include completion 

dates (36 CFR 219.7(e)(1)(i)). Desired conditions are achievable, and may reflect social, 

economic, or ecological attributes, including ecosystem processes and functions. 

Disturbance. Any relatively discrete event in time that disrupts ecosystem, watershed, 

community, or species population structure and/or function and changes resources, substrate 

availability, or the physical environment (36 CFR 219.19). 

Disturbance regime. A description of the characteristic types of disturbance on a given 

landscape; the frequency, severity, and size distribution of these characteristic disturbance 

types; and their interactions (36 CFR 219.19).

Diversity. An expression of community structure; high if there are many equally abundant 

species; low if there are only a few equally abundant species. The distribution and abundance of 

different plant and animal communities and species within the area covered by a land 

management plan. 

Easement. A type of special-use authorization (usually granted for linear rights-of-way) that is 

utilized in those situations where a conveyance of a limited and transferable interest in National 

Forest System land is necessary or desirable to serve or facilitate authorized long-term uses, and 

that may be compensable according to its terms (36 CFR 251.51).

Ecological conditions. The biological and physical environment that can affect the diversity of 

plant and animal communities, the persistence of native species, and the productive capacity of 

ecological systems. Ecological conditions include habitat and other influences on species and the 

environment. Examples of ecological conditions include the abundance and distribution of 

aquatic and terrestrial habitats, connectivity, roads and other structural developments, human 

uses, and invasive species (36 CFR 219.19). 

Ecological integrity. The quality or condition of an ecosystem when its dominant ecological 

characteristics (e.g., composition, structure, function, connectivity, and species composition and 

diversity) occur within the natural range of variation and can withstand and recover from most 

perturbations imposed by natural environmental dynamics or human influence (36 CFR 219.19). 

Ecological process. The physical, chemical, and biological actions or events that link organisms 

and their environment including decomposition, production (of plant matter), nutrient cycling, 

and fluxes of nutrients and energy.
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Ecological response unit (ERU). A classification of a unit of land that groups sites by similar plant 

species composition, succession patterns, and disturbance regimes, such that similar units will 

respond in a similar way to disturbance, biological processes, or manipulation. Each ERU 

characterizes sites with similar composition, structure, function, and connectivity, and defines 

their spatial distribution on the landscape.

Ecological sustainability. See sustainability.

Ecological system. See ecosystem.

Economic sustainability. See sustainability.

Ecosystem. (36 CFR 219.19) A spatially explicit, relatively homogeneous unit of the Earth that 

includes all interacting organisms and elements of the abiotic environment within its 

boundaries. An ecosystem is commonly described in terms of its:

Composition. The biological elements within the different levels of biological organization, 

from genes and species to communities and ecosystems.

Structure. The organization and physical arrangement of biological elements, such as, snags 

and down woody debris, vertical and horizontal distribution of vegetation, stream 

habitat complexity, landscape pattern, and connectivity.

Function. Ecological processes that sustain composition and structure, such as energy flow, 

nutrient cycling and retention, soil development and retention, predation and herbivory, 

and natural disturbances, such as wind, fire, and floods.

Connectivity. See connectivity above.

Ecosystem diversity. The variety and relative extent of ecosystems (36 CFR 219.19).

Ecosystem integrity. See ecological integrity.

Ecosystem Services are those products and processes in functional ecosystems that people 

enjoy or from which they benefit. The description of each resource in the plan includes a 

discussion of the ecosystem services that it provides. Benefits that people obtain from 

ecosystems may be grouped into four broad categories: 

1. Supporting ecosystem services are those that are necessary for the production of other 

ecosystem services, such as pollination, seed dispersal, soil formation, and nutrient 

cycling. 

2. Regulating ecosystem services are the benefits people obtain from the regulation of 

ecosystem processes, such as long term storage of carbon; climate regulation; water 

filtration, purification, and storage; soil stabilization; flood and drought control; and 

disease regulation. 

3. Provisioning ecosystem services are the products people obtain from ecosystems, such 

as clean air and fresh water, energy, food, fuel, forage, wood products or fiber, and 

minerals. 
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4. Cultural ecosystem services are the nonmaterial benefits people obtain from 

ecosystems such as educational, aesthetic, spiritual, and cultural heritage values, 

recreational experiences, and tourism opportunities (36 CFR 219.19). 

Ecotone. The transition zone between two adjoining ecological communities.

Encroachment. An increase in the density and cover of trees or shrubs in grasslands that reduces 

grass biomass, density, and cover.

Endangered species. Any species that the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce 

has determined is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. 

Endangered species are listed at 50 CFR sections 17.11, 17.12, and 224.101. 

Endemic. (1) Describes a population that has unique genetic characteristics and likely exists in a 

very limited geographic area. (2) Describes a population of native insects, diseases, plants, or 

animals which perform a functional role in the ecosystem when they are present at low levels, or 

constantly attack just a few hosts throughout an area but can become potentially injurious when 

they increase or spread to reach outbreak (epidemic) levels.

Environmental impacts. Possible adverse effects caused by a development, industrial, or 

infrastructural project or by the release of a substance in the environment.

Ephemeral stream. A stream that flows only in direct response to precipitation in the immediate 

locality (watershed or catchment basin), and whose channel is at all other times above the zone 

of saturation.

Even-aged stand. A stand of trees composed of a single age class (36 CFR 219.19).

Federally listed species. Threatened or Endangered species listed under the Endangered Species 

Act, as amended. Candidate and proposed species are species which are being considered for 

Federal listing.

Federally recognized tribe. An Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or 

community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges to exist as an Indian Tribe under the 

Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, 25 U.S.C. 479a (36 CFR 219.19).

Fire intensity. The product of the available heat of combustion per unit of ground and the rate of 

spread of the fire, interpreted as the heat released per unit of time for each unit length of fire 

edge. The primary unit is British thermal unit per second per foot (Btu/sec/ft.) of fire front. See 

also fire severity.
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Fire regime. The pattern, frequency, and severity of wildfire that prevails in an area over long 

periods of time across a landscape and its immediate effects on the ecosystem in which it 

occurs. The LANDFIRE project classifies fire regimes into five groups based on a combination of 

fire frequency and fire severity:

Group * Frequency Severity Severity Description 

I 0 – 35 years Low /Mixed Generally low-severity fires replacing less than 

25% of the dominant overstory vegetation; can 

include 

Mixed-severity fires that replace up to 75% of the 

overstory. 

II 0 – 35 years Replacement High-severity fires replacing greater than 75% of 

the dominant overstory vegetation 

III 35 – 200 years Mixed/Low Generally mixed-severity; can also include lowseverity fires 

IV 35 – 200 years Replacement High-severity fires 

V 200+ years Replacement/ Any 

severity 

Generally replacement-severity; can include any 

severity type in this frequency range 

*Table is based on FRCC Guidebook version 3.0, September 2010. 

Fire severity. Degree to which a site has been altered or disrupted by fire; also used to describe 

the product of fire intensity and residence time; usually defined by the degree of soil heating or 

mortality of vegetation.

Forested land. Land that is at least 10 percent occupied by forest trees of any size or formerly 

having had such tree cover and not currently developed for non-forest use.

Frequent fire-dependent ecosystem. A vegetation community that requires a fire regime 1 (>35 

year fire frequency) in order to maintain its natural function, structure, and species composition.

Functional ecosystem. A system with intact abiotic and biotic processes. Function focuses on the 

underlying processes that may be degraded, regardless of the structural condition of the 

ecosystem. Functionally restored ecosystems may have a different structure and composition 

than the historical reference condition. As contrasted with ecological restoration that tends to 

seek historical reference condition, function refers to the dynamic processes that drive structural 

and compositional patterns. Functional restoration is the manipulation of interactions among 

process, structure, and composition in a degraded ecosystem to improve its operations. 

Functional restoration aims to restore functions and improve structures with a long-term goal of 

restoring interactions between function and structure. It may be, however, that a functionally 

restored system will look quite different than the reference condition in terms of structure and 

composition and these disparities cannot be easily corrected because some threshold of 

degradation has been crossed or the environmental drivers, such as climate, that influenced 

structural and (especially) compositional development have changed.

Groundcover. The layer of dead and living vegetation that provides protection of the topsoil from 

erosion and drought.

Groundwater-dependent ecosystem. Community of plants, animals, and other organisms whose 

extent and life processes depend on groundwater. Examples include many wetlands, 

groundwater-fed lakes and streams, cave and karst systems, aquifer systems, springs, and seeps.
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Habitat. The physical location or type of environment in which an organism or biological 

population lives or occurs.

Habitat fragmentation. The process by which habitat loss results in the division of large, 

continuous habitats in smaller more isolated remnants.

Habitat type. A land or aquatic unit, consisting of an aggregation of habitats having equivalent 

structure, function, and responses to disturbance.

Herbivory. Loss of vegetation due to consumption by another organism.

Hydrologic unit code (HUC). A unique hierarchical hydrologic unit based on the area of land that 

drains to a single stream mouth or outlet at each level, and nested levels are identified by 

successively longer codes. A HUC 8 sub-basin is 700 square miles or larger and is divided into 

multiple HUC 10 watersheds that range from 62 to 390 square miles. HUC 12 sub-watersheds are 

15 to 62 square miles and nest inside HUC 10 watersheds.

Infill. An increase in trees per acre in forests and woodlands, resulting in a decrease in the 

quality and size of interspaces.

Information. For information collection from the public pursuant to 5 CFR part 1320, any 

statement or estimate of fact or opinion, regardless of form or format, whether in numerical, 

graphic, or narrative form, and whether oral or maintained on paper, electronic or other media. 

“Information” does not generally include items in the following categories; however, OMB may 

determine that any specific item constitutes “information”:

1. Affidavits, oaths, affirmations, certifications, receipts, changes of address, consents, or 

acknowledgments; provided that they entail no burden other than that necessary to identify 

the respondent, the date, the respondent's address, and the nature of the instrument (by 

contrast, a certification would likely involve the collection of “information” if an agency 

conducted or sponsored it as a substitute for a collection of information to collect evidence 

of, or to monitor, compliance with regulatory standards, because such a certification would 

generally entail burden in addition to that necessary to identify the respondent, the date, 

the respondent's address, and the nature of the instrument);

2. Samples of products or of any other physical objects;

3. Facts or opinions obtained through direct observation by an employee or agent of the 

sponsoring agency or through nonstandardized oral communication in connection with such 

direct observations;

4. Facts or opinions submitted in response to general solicitations of comments from the 

public, published in the Federal Register or other publications, regardless of the form or 

format thereof, provided that no person is required to supply specific information pertaining 

to the commenter, other than that necessary for self-identification, as a condition of the 

agency's full consideration of the comment;

5. Facts or opinions obtained initially or in follow-on requests, from individuals (including 

individuals in control groups) under treatment or clinical examination in connection with 

research on or prophylaxis to prevent a clinical disorder, direct treatment of that disorder, or 

the interpretation of biological analyses of body fluids, tissues, or other specimens, or the 

identification or classification of such specimens;
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6. A request for facts or opinions addressed to a single person;

7. Examinations designed to test the aptitude, abilities, or knowledge of the persons tested and 

the collection of information for identification or classification in connection with such 

examinations;

8. Facts or opinions obtained or solicited at or in connection with public hearings or meetings;

9. Facts or opinions obtained or solicited through nonstandardized follow-up questions 

designed to clarify responses to approved collections of information; and

10. Like items so designated by OMB (5 CFR 1320.3(h)).

Infrastructure. Infrastructure the forest manages includes all vertical and horizontal constructed 

structures. Infrastructure is broken into three categories: 

1. Transportation infrastructure includes both the road and trail systems. The road system 

infrastructure is all forest roads, drainage ditches, culverts, signage, and bridges. The trail 

system includes all motorized and non-motorized trails, signage, and bridges.

2. Facilities infrastructure includes administrative and recreation building and sites (e.g., 

driveways, parking, or landscaping); support utilities (e.g., electrical, water, or wastewater); 

dams, and other support buildings.

3. Other infrastructure directly supports natural resources, which includes fish barriers, wildlife 

drinkers, and range infrastructure (e.g., fencing, trick tanks, water gaps, or cattleguards).

Inherent capability of the forest. The ecological capacity or ecological potential of an area 

characterized by the interrelationship of its physical elements, its climatic regime, and natural 

disturbances (36 CFR 219.19). 

Integrated resource management. Multiple use management that recognizes the 

interdependence of ecological resources and is based on the need for integrated consideration 

of ecological, social, and economic factors (36 CFR 219.19).

Integration recognizes and identifies key relationships between various plan resources and 

activities. Plan components are integrated to address a variety of ecological and human needs. 

For example, desired conditions for ponderosa pine incorporate habitat needs for a variety of 

species, as well as the scenic components that recreationist’s desire. Interrelationships between 

parts of the plan are identified with crosswalks to show their systematic nature. In electronic 

versions of the plan, these crosswalks are hyperlinked (indicated by italicized text) to allow users 

to be easily redirected to the other relevant sections of the plan. 

Intermittent stream. A stream or reach of stream channel that flows, in its natural condition, 

only during certain times of the year or in several years, and is characterized by interspersed, 

permanent surface water areas containing aquatic flora and fauna adapted to the relatively 

harsh environmental conditions found in these types of environments. Intermittent streams are 

identified as dashed blue lines on USGS 7 1/2-inch quadrangle maps. 

Invasive species. An alien species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or 

environmental harm or harm to human health. A species that causes, or is likely to cause, harm 

and that is exotic to the ecosystem it has infested. Invasive species infest both aquatic and

terrestrial areas and can be identified within any of the following four taxonomic categories: 
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Plants, Vertebrates, Invertebrates, and Pathogens (Executive Order 13112). Sometimes referred 

to as nonnative invasives or exotic species.

Land grant-merced. A grant of land made by the Government of Spain or of Mexico to a 

community, town, colony, pueblo, or person for the purpose of founding or establishing a 

community, town, colony, or pueblo.

Land grant-merced governing body. A community land grant-merced recognized under a State of 

New Mexico law, statute, or code, with a duly elected or appointed governance body charged 

with management, care and protection of land grant-merced common lands.

Landscape. A defined area irrespective of ownership or other artificial boundaries, such as a 

spatial mosaic of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, landforms, and plant communities, 

repeated in similar form throughout such a defined area (36 CFR 219.19). 

Leave No Trace. Guidelines that help protect the land and lessen the sights and sounds of forest 

visitors. http://www.lnt.org/

Line officer. A Forest Service official who serves in a direct line of command from the Chief (36 

CFR 219.62). 

Litter. Dead, unattached organic material on the soil surface that is effective in protecting the soil 

surface from raindrop splash, sheet, and rill erosion and is at least 1⁄2 inch thick. Litter is 

composed of leaves, needles, cones, and woody vegetative debris including twigs, branches, and 

trunks.

Maintain. In reference to an ecological condition: To keep in existence or continuance of the 

desired ecological condition in terms of its desired composition, structure, and processes. 

Depending upon the circumstance, ecological conditions may be maintained by active or passive 

management or both (36 CFR 219.19). 

Management actions. Any alterations to ecosystems or activities that the Forest Service 

conducts or authorizes on NFS lands. These may include mechanical thinning, prescribed 

burning, permitted grazing, permitted fuelwood gathering, vehicular access, stream restoration 

treatments, seeding, trail construction, fencing, among others.

Management area. A land area identified within the planning area that has the same set of 

applicable plan components. A management area does not have to be spatially contiguous (36 

CFR 219.19). 

Mechanical treatment. For the purposes of this plan, mechanical treatments include most 

vegetation treatments except fire. They may include mechanized cutting, hand thinning, and 

other silvicultural treatments.

Memorandum of understanding (MOU). A bilateral or multilateral agreement between two or 

more parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended 

common line of action. It is often used in cases where parties either do not imply a legal 

commitment or in situations where the parties cannot create a legally enforceable agreement. It 

is a more formal alternative to a handshake agreement.
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Minimum requirements analysis. Required by law whenever land managers are considering a 

use prohibited by Section 4(c) of the Wilderness Act of 1964, and is a process that was 

developed by the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center to help land managers 

make informed, defensible decisions that comply with the Wilderness Act.

Mitigate. To avoid, minimize, rectify, reduce, or compensate the adverse environmental impacts 

associated with an action. 

Monitoring. A systematic process of collecting information to evaluate effects of actions or 

changes in conditions or relationships (36 CFR 219.19). 

Mosaic. Mix of recurring patterns of forested and non-forested areas at the identified scale (e.g., 

landscape, watershed, mid-scale). Patterns are variable and may change over time.

Motor vehicle. Any vehicle that is self-propelled, other than:

1. A vehicle operated on rails; and

2. Any wheelchair or mobility device, including one that is battery-powered, that is designed 

solely for use by a mobility-impaired person for locomotion, and that is suitable for use in an 

indoor pedestrian area (36 CFR 212.1, 36 CFR 261.2).

Motor vehicle use map (MVUM). A map reflecting designated roads, trails, and areas on an 

administrative unit or a ranger district of the National Forest System (36 CFR 212.1).

Multiple use. The management of all the various renewable surface resources of the National 

Forest System so that they are utilized in the combination that will best meet the needs of the 

American people; making the most judicious use of the land for some or all of these resources or 

related services over areas large enough to provide sufficient latitude for periodic adjustments in 

use to conform to changing needs and conditions; that some land will be used for less than all of 

the resources; and harmonious and coordinated management of the various resources, each 

with the other, without impairment of the productivity of the land, with consideration being 

given to the relative values of the various resources, and not necessarily the combination of uses 

that will give the greatest dollar return or the greatest unit output, consistent with the MultipleUse Sustained-Yield Act of 1960 (16 U.S.C. 528–531) (36 CFR 219.19). 

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). A United States environmental law (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 

seq.), enacted January 1, 1970 that established a U.S. national policy promoting the 

enhancement of the environment. Additionally, it established the President's Council on 

Environmental Quality (CEQ).

National Forest System. Includes National Forests, National Grasslands, and the National 

Tallgrass Prairie (36 CFR 219.62). 

National Forest System Road. A forest road other than a road which has been authorized by a 

legally documented right-of-way held by a State, county or other local public road authority (36 

CFR 212.1, 36 CFR 251.51, 36 CFR 261.2).

National Forest System Trail. A forest trail other than a trail which has been authorized by a 

legally documented right-of-way held by a State, county or other local public road authority (36 

CFR 212.1).
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Native species. An organism that was historically or is present in a particular ecosystem as a 

result of natural migratory or evolutionary processes and not as a result of an accidental or 

deliberate introduction into that ecosystem. An organism’s presence and evolution (adaptation) 

in an area are determined by climate, soil, and other biotic and abiotic factors (36 CFR 219.19).

Natural variability. Is a reference to past conditions and processes that provide important 

context and guidance relevant to the environments and habitats in which native species evolved. 

Disturbance driven spatial and temporal variability is vital to ecological systems. Biologically 

appropriate disturbances provide for heterogeneous conditions and subsequent diversity. 

Conversely, “uncharacteristic disturbance”, such as high-intensity fire in plant communities that 

historically had a frequent low intensity fire regime can have the effect of reducing diversity, 

increasing homogeneity, and may result in permanently altered conditions.

Objective. A concise, measurable, and time-specific statement of a desired rate of progress 

toward a desired condition or conditions. Objectives should be based on reasonably foreseeable 

budgets. 

Off-highway vehicle (OHV). Any motorized vehicle designed for or capable of cross-county travel 

on or immediately over land, water, sand, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other natural terrain; 

except that term excludes (A) any registered motorboat, (B) any fire, military, emergency or law 

enforcement vehicle when used for emergency purposes, and any combat or combat support 

vehicle when used for national defense purposes, and (C) any vehicle whose use is expressly 

authorized by the respective agency head under a permit, lease, license, or contract (EO 11644 

as amended by EO 11989). See also FSM 2355. 01 - Exhibit 01.

Old growth characteristics. Old-growth forests are forests that have accumulated specific 

characteristics related to tree size, canopy structure, snags and woody debris and plant 

associations. Ecological characteristics of old-growth forests emerge through the processes of 

succession. Certain features—presence of large, old trees, multilayered canopies, forest gaps, 

snags, woody debris, and a particular set of species that occur primarily in old-growth forests—

do not appear simultaneously, nor at a fixed time in stand development. Old-growth forests 

support assemblages of plants and animals, environmental conditions, and ecological processes 

that are not found in younger forests (younger than 150 to 250 years) or in small patches of 

large, old trees. Specific attributes of old-growth forests develop through forest succession until 

the collective properties of an older forest are evident.

Online. Refers to the appropriate Forest Service Website or future electronic equivalent (36 CFR 

219.62). 

Openings. Generally persistent treeless areas having a fairly distinct shape or size, occurring 

naturally due to differences in soil types as compared to sites that support forests or woodlands. 

Openings include meadows, grasslands, rock outcroppings, and wetlands. In contrast, created 

openings result from disturbances like severe fire or windthrow, or management activities to 

intentionally create space for new tree regeneration. Natural and created openings are not the 

same as interspaces found in the frequent-fire forests or woodlands. See interspaces.
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Outstanding natural resource water (ONRW). Streams, lakes and wetlands that receive special 

protection against degradation under New Mexico’s water quality standards and the Federal 

Clean Water Act. They are designated by the Water Quality Control Commission. Waters eligible 

for ONRW designation include waters that are part of a national or state park, wildlife refuge or 

wilderness areas, special trout waters, waters with exceptional recreational or ecological 

significance, and high quality waters that have not been significantly modified by human 

activities (NMED 2015). 

Participation. Activities that include a wide range of public involvement tools and processes, 

such as collaboration, public meetings, open houses, workshops, and comment periods (36 CFR 

219.19). 

Perennial stream. A stream or reach of a channel that flows continuously or nearly so 

throughout the year and whose upper surface is generally lower than the top of the zone of 

saturation in areas adjacent to the stream. These streams are identified as solid blue on the 

USGS 7 1/2-inch quadrangle maps.

Permit area. Area in which an activity is authorized through a special-use permit.

Persistence. Continued existence (36 CFR 219.19). 

Plan or land management plan. A document or set of documents that provide management 

direction for an administrative unit of the NFS developed under the requirements of the land 

management planning regulation at 36 CFR part 219 or a prior planning rule (36 CFR 219.19). 

Plan area. The NFS lands covered by a plan (36 CFR 219.19), specifically lands managed by the 

Forest Service as the Santa Fe NF.

Plan components. The parts of a land management plan that guide future project and activity 

decision-making. Specific plan components may apply to the entire plan area, to specific 

management areas or geographic areas, or to other areas as identified in the plan. Every plan 

must include the following plan components: Desired conditions; Objectives; Standards; 

Guidelines; Suitability of Lands. A plan may also include Goals as an optional component. 

Plan development. The second phase in the forest plan revision process. Plan development 

follows the NEPA process and plan revision requires preparation of an environmental impact 

statement (EIS). It is grounded in the information developed during the assessment phase and 

other information relevant to the plan area, it addresses needs for change, and it involves the 

public. Every plan must have management areas or geographic areas or both and may identify 

designated or recommended designated areas (36 CFR 219.7).

Plan monitoring program. An essential part of the land management plan that sets out the plan 

monitoring questions and associated indicators, based on plan components. The plan monitoring 

program informs management of resources on the plan area and enables the responsible official

to determine if a change in plan components or other plan content that guide management of 

resources on the plan area may be needed. 
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Planned ignition (or planned fire). The intentional initiation of a wildland fire by hand-held, 

mechanical, or aerial device where the distance and timing between ignition lines or points and 

the sequence of igniting them is determined by environmental conditions (e.g., weather, fuel, or 

topography), firing technique, and other factors that influence fire behavior and fire effects. See 

prescribed fire. 

Plant and animal community. A naturally occurring assemblage of plant and animal species living 

within a defined area or habitat (36 CFR 219.19). 

Prescribed fire. A wildland fire originating from a planned ignition to meet specific objectives 

identified in a written, approved, prescribed fire plan for which NEPA requirements have been 

met prior to ignition. Also referred to as a planned ignition or planned fire.

Productivity. The capacity of NFS lands and their ecological systems to provide the various 

renewable resources in certain amounts in perpetuity. For the purposes of the land management 

planning regulation at 36 CFR part 219 and this Land Management Plan, productivity is an 

ecological term, not an economic term (36 CFR 219.19). 

Project. An organized effort to achieve an outcome on NFS lands identified by location, tasks, 

outputs, effects, times, and responsibilities for execution (36 CFR 219.19).

Proper functioning condition (PFC). Methodology for assessing the physical functioning of 

riparian and wetland areas. The term PFC is used to describe both the assessment process, and a 

defined, on-the-ground condition of a riparian-wetland area. In either case, PFC defines a 

minimum or starting point.

Proposed species. Any species of fish, wildlife, or plant that is proposed by the U. S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service in the Federal Register to be listed 

under Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act. (36 CFR 219.19) 

Rangelands. Forage-producing forested and non-forested lands.

Recovery. For the purposes of the land management planning regulation at 36 CFR part 219 and 

with respect to threatened or endangered species: The improvement in the status of a listed 

species to the point at which listing as federally endangered or threatened is no longer 

appropriate (36 CFR 219.19). 

Recreation opportunity. An opportunity to participate in a specific recreation activity in a 

particular recreation setting to enjoy desired recreation experiences and other benefits that 

accrue. Recreation opportunities include non-motorized, motorized, developed, and dispersed 

recreation on land, water, and in the air (36 CFR 219.19). 

Recreation opportunity spectrum (ROS): A system, by which existing and desired recreation 

settings are defined, classified, inventoried, and monitored. Recreation settings are divided into 

six distinct classes (primitive, semiprimitive-nonmotorized, semiprimitive motorized, roaded

natural, rural, and urban). Classifications are based on physical, social, and managerial setting 

characteristics. The ROS framework integrates individual recreation setting characteristics 

(including access and scenic character) to function collectively in providing distinct recreation 

opportunities. 
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Recreation setting. The social, managerial, and physical attributes of a place that, when 

combined, provides a distinct set of recreation opportunities. The Forest Service uses the 

recreation opportunity spectrum to define recreation settings and categorize them into six 

distinct classes: primitive, semi-primitive non-motorized, semi-primitive motorized, roaded 

natural, rural, and urban (36 CFR 219.19). 

Redundancy. The presence of multiple occurrences of ecological conditions such that not all 

occurrences may be eliminated by a catastrophic event. 

Reference conditions. Environmental conditions that infer ecological sustainability. When 

available, reference conditions are represented by the characteristic natural range of variation 

(not the total range of variation), prior to European settlement and under the current climatic 

period. For many ecosystems, the natural range of variation also reflects human-caused 

disturbance and effects prior to settlement. It may also be necessary to refine reference 

conditions according to contemporary factors (e.g., invasive species) or projected conditions 

(e.g., climate change). Reference conditions are most useful as an inference of sustainability 

when they have been quantified by amount, condition, spatial distribution, and temporal 

variation.

Regulated timber harvest. Tree harvest for the purposes of timber production, as opposed to 

tree harvest for other purposes, such as habitat and watershed improvement or fuelwood.

Representativeness. The presence of a full array of ecosystem types and successional states, 

based on the physical environment and characteristic disturbance processes. 

Resilience. The ability of an ecosystem and its component parts to absorb, or recover from the 

effects of disturbances through preservation, restoration, or improvement of its essential 

structures and functions and redundancy of ecological patterns across the landscape (FSM 

2020.5). 

Responsible official. The official with the authority and responsibility to oversee the planning 

process and to approve a plan, plan amendment, and plan revision (36 CFR 219.62).

Restoration, ecological. The process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been 

degraded, damaged, or destroyed. Ecological restoration focuses on reestablishing the 

composition, structure, pattern, and ecological processes necessary to facilitate terrestrial and 

aquatic ecosystems sustainability, resilience, and health under current and future conditions (36 

CFR 219.19). 

Restore. To renew by the process of restoration. See restoration (36 CFR 219.19). 

Riparian areas. Three-dimensional ecotones (the transition zone between two adjoining 

communities) of interaction that include terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems that extend down 

into the groundwater, up above the canopy, outward across the floodplain, up the near-slopes 

that drain to the water, laterally into the terrestrial ecosystem, and along the water course at 

variable widths (36 CFR 219.19). 

Riparian management zone. The interface between land and a river or stream. Plant habitats and 

communities along the river margins and banks are called riparian vegetation, characterized by 

hydrophilic plants.
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Risk. A combination of the likelihood that a negative outcome will occur and the severity of the 

subsequent negative consequences (36 CFR 219.19). 

Road. A motor vehicle route over 50 inches wide, unless identified and managed as a trail (36 

CFR 212.1).

Road Maintenance Levels (ML): 

ML1. Roads that are closed to vehicular traffic intermittently for periods that exceed 1 year. 

Can be operated at any other maintenance level during periods of use.

ML2. Roads that are open and maintained for use by high-clearance vehicles; surface 

smoothness is not a consideration. Most have native material surface (not paved and no 

aggregate surface).

ML3. Roads that are open and maintained for use by standard passenger cars. Most have 

gravel surface.

ML4. Roads that are open and maintained for use by standard passenger cars and to provide 

a moderate degree of user comfort and convenience at moderate travel speeds. Most 

are paved or have an aggregate surface.

ML5. Roads that are open and maintained for use by standard passenger cars

Routine maintenance. Work that is planned to be accomplished on a continuing basis, generally 

annually or more frequently (FSH 7709.58, 13.41).

Scenery Management System. A classification system that recognizes scenery as the visible 

expression of dynamic ecosystems functioning within “places,” which have unique aesthetic and 

social values. It recognizes that in addition to naturally occurring features, positive scenery 

attributes associated with social, cultural, historical, and spiritual values, including human 

presence and the built environment, can also be valued elements of the scenery. The Scenery 

Management System also allows for “seamless” analysis and conservation beyond National 

Forest System lands into adjacent communities and other jurisdictions, through the application 

of varying scenery “themes” within a single analysis. It is structured to emphasize "naturalappearing” scenery.

Scenic character. A combination of the physical, biological, and cultural images that gives an area 

its scenic identity and contributes to its sense of place. Scenic character provides a frame of 

reference from which to determine scenic attractiveness and to measure scenic integrity (36 CFR 

219.19).

Scenic integrity objective. A desired level of excellence based on physical and sociological 

characteristics of an area. Refers to the degree of acceptable alterations to the valued attributes 

of the characteristic landscape. Objectives include very high, high, moderate, and low.

Seral stage (seral state). One of a series of transitional plant communities that develop during 

gradual successive change following disturbance.

Snags. Standing dead or partially dead trees (snag topped), often missing many or all limbs. They 

provide essential wildlife habitat for many species and are important for forest ecosystem 

function.
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Soil condition rating. A qualitative rating developed within the Southwestern Region of the 

Forest Service that provides an overall picture of soil condition vital in sustaining ecosystems. It 

is based on three soil functions: the ability of soil to resist erosion, infiltrate water, and recycle 

nutrients. There are four soil condition ratings:

• Satisfactory. Soil function is being sustained and soil is functioning properly and normally.

• Impaired. The ability of the soil to function properly and normally has been reduced or 

there exists an increased vulnerability to degradation.

• Unsatisfactory. Degradation of vital soil functions result in the inability of the soil to 

maintain resource values, sustain outputs or recover from impacts.

• Inherently unstable. These soils are eroding faster than they are renewing themselves.

Species of conservation concern. A species, other than federally recognized threatened, 

endangered, proposed, or candidate species, that is known to occur in the plan area and for 

which the Regional Forester has determined that the best available scientific information 

indicates substantial concern about the species' capability to persist over the long term in the 

plan area (36 CFR 219.9(c)). 

Stand. A contiguous group of trees generally uniform in age class distribution, composition, 

condition, and structure, and growing on a site of generally uniform quality, to be a 

distinguishable unit, such as mixed, pure, even-aged, and uneven-aged stands. A stand is the 

fundamental unit of silviculture reporting and record keeping.

Standard. A mandatory constraint on project and activity decision-making, established to help 

achieve or maintain the desired condition or conditions, to avoid or mitigate undesirable effects, 

or to meet applicable legal requirements. 

Stressors. For the purposes of the land management planning regulation at 36 CFR part 219, 

factors that may directly or indirectly degrade or impair ecosystem composition, structure, or 

ecological process in a manner that may impair its ecological integrity, such as an invasive 

species, loss of connectivity, or the disruption of a natural disturbance regime (36 CFR 219.19). 

Sustainable operations is the commitment by the Forest Service to use energy efficiently and 

reduce consumption of resources in daily operations. By doing work differently in six Footprint 

Focus Areas, the Santa Fe NF is reducing its environmental impact. 

1. Energy - Improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, through the 

reduction of energy. Shift toward renewable energy, such as solar power and biomass. 

2. Water - Reduce water consumption in Forest Service buildings, grounds, and related 

facilities. 

3. Green Purchasing - Increase the sustainability performance of purchased goods and 

services, and the performance of suppliers, contractors, and partners. Increase the 

number of Forest Service buildings that are Leadership in Energy and Environmental 

Design (LEED) certified. 

4. Fleet and Transportation - Improve our transportation and travel practices, which in turn 

will reduce harmful emissions, increase operational and fuel efficiency, and reduce the 

use of non-renewable fuel. 
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5. Waste Prevention and Recycling - Minimize waste generation and reduce landfill use. 

Reduce, reuse and recycle materials. 

6. Sustainability Leadership - Make strong efforts to meet or exceed the requirements of 

Executive Orders and policies related to sustainable operations. Leadership and 

management have a commitment to communicate the agency’s vision for sustainable 

operations. 

Sustainability. The capability to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising 

the ability of future generations to meet their needs. For the purposes of the land management 

planning regulation at 36 CFR part 219 and this Land Management Plan ‘‘ecological 

sustainability’’ refers to the capability of ecosystems to maintain ecological integrity; ‘‘economic 

sustainability’’ refers to the capability of society to produce and consume or otherwise benefit 

from goods and services including contributions to jobs and market and nonmarket benefits; and 

‘‘social sustainability’’ refers to the capability of society to support the network of relationships, 

traditions, culture, and activities that connect people to the land and to one another, and 

support vibrant communities (36 CFR 219.19). 

Sustainable recreation. The set of recreation settings and opportunities on the National Forest 

System that is ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable for present and future 

generations (36 CFR 219.19).

Sustainable Yield Limit (SYL). The sustained yield limit is an estimate of the amount of 

commercial wood products that may be sustainably harvested over a long period of time.

Sub-watershed. A HUC 12 hydrologic unit, the smallest subdivision considered in this 

assessment. 

Terrestrial ecosystem. All interacting organisms and elements of the abiotic environment in 

those vegetation and soil types, which are neither aquatic nor riparian.

Terrestrial ecosystem survey (TES). An inventory of soil types or terrestrial ecosystem units 

(TEUs) in the Santa Fe NF. It contains predictions and limitations of soil and vegetation behavior 

for selected land uses. This survey also highlights hazards or capabilities inherent in the soil and 

the impact of selected uses on the environment. At the context scale, upland ecological 

response units are derived from the Santa Fe NF Terrestrial Ecosystem Survey (USDA FS Santa Fe 

1987).

Terrestrial ecosystem unit (TEU). The classification unit used in the Terrestrial Ecosystem Survey 

(TES). A spatially explicit area with a similar combination of soils, land types, and vegetation. 

Threatened species. Any species that the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce 

has determined is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future 

throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Threatened species are listed at 50 CFR 

sections 17.11, 17.12, and 223.102.

Timber harvest. The removal of trees for wood fiber use and other multiple use purposes (36 

CFR 219.19). 
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Timber production. The purposeful growing, tending, harvesting, and regeneration of regulated 

crops of trees to be cut into logs, bolts, or other round sections for industrial or consumer use 

(36 CFR 219.19). 

Traditional community. A land-based rural community that has a long-standing history in and 

around the lands managed by the Forest Service.

Traditional cultural property. A property that is eligible for inclusion in the National Register of 

Historic Places based on its associations with the cultural practices, traditions, beliefs, lifeways, 

arts, crafts, or social institutions of a living community.

Tribal consultation. The timely, meaningful, and substantive dialogue between Forest Service 

officials who have delegated authority to consult, and the official leadership of federally 

recognized Indian Tribes, or their designated representatives, pertaining to USDA Forest Service 

policies that may have tribal implications.

Tree size. The diameter of the bole of a tree measured at breast height (dbh). 

• Seedling/Sapling: 0.0 to 4.9 inches diameter

• Small tree: 5.0 to 9.9 inches diameter

• Medium tree: 10 to 19.9 inches diameter

• Large tree: 20.0 inches or larger diameter

Uncharacteristic wildfire. An increase in wildfire size, severity, and resistance to control 

compared to reference conditions which occurred historically. These fires result as a 

consequence of more continuous canopy cover, ladder fuels, and accumulated live and dead 

woody material. Uncharacteristic wildfires burn with more intensity; cause higher tree mortality; 

degrade watersheds; sterilize soils; and threaten adjacent communities, forest infrastructure, 

and wildlife habitat. See reference conditions.

Ungulate. A hooved animal, which includes wildlife (e.g., pronghorn, deer, and elk) and domestic 

livestock (e.g., sheep, cattle, and horses).

Unplanned ignition. The initiation of a wildland fire by lightning or unauthorized and accidental 

human-caused fires. See wildfire.

Upland. May refer to areas, species, systems, or conditions that are characteristic of terrestrial 

ecosystems, as opposed to riparian or aquatic ecosystems.

Vegetation community is a group of sites that have similar plant species composition, 

successional patterns, and disturbance regimes, such that similar sites will respond in similar 

ways to disturbance, biological, and physical processes. In some areas there is a difference 

between the existing vegetation on a site and the vegetation community it belongs to, such as 

where historic grasslands are currently invaded by trees. The desired vegetation community, not 

the existing vegetation, determines which desired conditions apply. Most vegetation 

communities correspond to a mapped ecological response unit (ERU), though it is appropriate to 

base management for a particular vegetation community on local conditions, including soils and 

other site-specific indicators. 
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Vegetation structure. Both vertical and horizontal arrangement of vegetation. Horizontal 

structure may refer to tree size, tree density, and to patterns of trees or groups of trees and their 

adjoining openings. Vertical structure may refer to the layers, appearance, and composition of 

vegetation between the ground and the top of the vegetation canopy and includes any grasses, 

forbs, shrubs, and trees.

Watershed. A region or land area drained by a single stream, river, or drainage network; a 

drainage basin (36 CFR 219.19). Specifically, an HUC 10 hydrologic unit, larger than a subwatershed, and nested in a sub-basin. 

Watershed condition. The state of a watershed based on physical and biogeochemical 

characteristics and processes (36 CFR 219.19). 

Wetlands. A specific subtype within the wetland riparian group of vegetation communities. In 

wetlands, saturation with water is the dominant factor determining the nature of soil 

development and plant and animal communities. “For regulatory purposes under the Clean 

Water Act, the term wetlands means ‘those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or 

groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal 

circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil 

conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs and similar areas.’ [taken from 

the EPA Regulations listed at 40 CFR 230.3(t)].” (USEPA 2015) The wetland riparian vegetation 

community as defined in this plan is slightly more inclusive and includes open water wetlands 

and cienegas that may not be considered wetlands for regulatory purposes. 

Wild and scenic river. A river designated by Congress as part of the National Wild and Scenic 

Rivers System that was established in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (16 U.S.C. 1271 

(note), 1271–1287) (36 CFR 219.19). 

Wilderness. Any area of land designated by Congress as part of the National Wilderness 

Preservation System that was established in the Wilderness Act of 1964 (16 U.S.C. 1131–1136) 

(36 CFR 219.19).

Wildfire. Unplanned ignition of a wildland fire (e.g., fires caused by lightning or unauthorized 

and accidental human-caused fires) and escaped prescribed fires. See unplanned ignition.

Wildfire hazard. A fuel complex, defined by volume, type condition, arrangement, and location, 

that determines the degree or ease of ignition and of resistance to control.

Wildland. An area in which development is essentially nonexistent, except for roads, railroads, 

power lines, and similar transportation facilities. Structures, if any, are widely scattered.

Wildland-urban interface (WUI). That area where human development adjoins public or private 

natural areas, or an intermix of rural and urban land uses. From a natural resource perspective, 

the wildland-urban interface is an area where increased human influence and land-use 

conversion are changing natural resource goods, services, and management techniques 

(Hermansen-Baez et al. 2009). 

Woodland. Lands with over 10 percent tree canopy cover where the majority of the trees are 

non-timber species (e.g., piñon pine and juniper) not traditionally used for industrial wood 

products.
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References

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Appendix A. Maps

This appendix includes maps showing scenic integrity objectives (SIO) and desired recreation 

opportunity spectrum (ROS). These maps can be used as references for general locations of SIO and 

ROS categories referenced in plan components throughout chapters 2 and 3. When used in project 

planning, more detail can be obtained using GIS.
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Figure 8-west. Scenic integrity objectives for the western half of the Santa Fe NF, from Cuba to 

Española. For legend see figure 8-east.
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Figure 8-east. Scenic integrity objectives for the eastern half of the Santa Fe NF, from Española to Las 

Vegas
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Figure 9-west. Desired recreation opportunity spectrum for the western half of the Santa Fe NF, from 

Cuba to Española. For legend see figure 9-east.
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Figure 9-east. Scenic integrity objectives for the eastern half of the Santa Fe NF, from Española to Las 

Vegas
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Appendix B. Fire Return Intervals 

There are 11 terrestrial ERUs on the Santa Fe NF that are fire-adapted and have naturally occurring 

fire regimes, spanning various frequencies and intensities (see Vegetation and Fire in the DEIS). The 

ERUs and their associated fire return intervals are given in Table B-1, where the return interval is 

shown divided into low, mid, and high frequencies. Within each ERU, each frequency is paired with 

the number of acres that would need to be treated annually to return the ERU to its reference 

(historic) fire return interval. 

Table B-1. Fire return intervals* for ecological response units (ERU) on Santa Fe NF 

Fire Return Interval

ERU** Forest Acres

by ERU

Most 

Frequent

(years)

Acres Mid 

Frequency

(years)

Acres Least 

Frequent

(years)

Acres

MCD 429,967 5 85,993 13 33,074 21 20,475

PPF 403,915 4 100,979 17 23,760 30 13,464

JUG 97,470 8 12,184 19 5,130 30 3,249

CPGB 41,639 10 4,164 20 2,082 30 1,388

PJG 43,356 8 5,420 22 1,971 36 1,204

MSG 17,707 2 8,854 12 1,476 22 805

PJO 231,508 30 7,717 215 1,077 400 579

SAGE 37,457 12 3,121 41 914 70 535

SFF 250,481 200 1,252 300 835 400 626

PJS 30,449 50 609 75 406 100 304

MCW 40,174 50 803 275 146 500 80

Annual Total (All ERUs): 231,096 70,870 42,710

*Reference fire return intervals found in: Wright and Bailey 1982, Swetnam and Dietrich 1985, Allen 1989, Baisan and 

Swetnam 1990 and 1995, Dick-Peddie 1993, Gottfried et al. 1995, Grissino-Mayer et al. 1995, Floyd et al. 2000, Miller and 

Tausch 2000, White 2002, Muldavin et al. 2003, Floyd et al. 2004, Gruell et al. 2004, Heinlein et al. 2005, Hauser 2007, 

Poulos et al. 2009, Romme et al. 2009, Margolis 2014, and O’Connor et al. 2014.

** For ERU abbreviation description refer to the Forest Land Management Plan.

The values in Table B-1 were used to determine vegetation treatment acreages given in the plan 

objectives for vegetation (FW-VEG-0). For the MCD and non-forest ERUs, the least frequent return 

interval was used to define high end objectives for vegetation treatment acreages, while the high end 

of PPF ERU objective acres were determined from the mid-frequency fire interval. PPF was based 

off of the mid-frequency fire interval instead of the low-frequency fire interval due to the high degree 

of departure from desired conditions that currently characterizes this ERU. Furthermore, PPF makes 

up 24 percent of the Santa Fe NF, so by returning a natural fire return interval to this ecosystem at a 

faster rate, the forest at large would receive greater ecological benefit (see Vegetation and Fire in the 

DEIS). 
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Appendix B References

Allen, G.D. 1989. Changes in the landscape of the Jemez Mountains, New Mexico. University of 

California Berkeley.

Baison, C.H., and T.W. Swetnam. 1990. Fire history on a desert mountain range: Rincon Mountain 

Wilderness, Arizona, USA. Can. J. Forest Res. 20: 1559-1569. 

Baison, C.H., and T.W. Swetnam. 1995. Historical fire occurrence in remote mountains of 

southwestern New Mexico and northern Mexico. In: J.K. Brown, R.W. Mutch, C.W. Spoon, 

and R.H. Wakimoto, (eds.), Proceedings of the Symposium on Fire in Wilderness and Park 

Management. USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-320. Intermountain Research 

Station, Ogden, UT. pp. 153–156. 

Dick-Peddie, W. 1993. New Mexico vegetation: past, present, and future. Univ. New Mexico Press, 

Albuquerque. 

Floyd, M.L., D.D. Hanna, and W.H. Romme. 2004. Historical and recent fire regimes in Piñonjuniper woodlands on Mesa Verde, USA. Forest Ecology and Management 198:269–289. 

Floyd, M. L., W. H. Romme, and D. D. Hanna. 2000. Fire history and vegetation pattern in Mesa 

Verde National Park, Colorado, USA. Ecological Applications 10:1666–1680. 

Gottfried, G.J., T.W. Swetnam, G.D. Allen, J.L. Betancourt, and A.L. Chung-MacCoubrey. 1995. 

Pinyon-juniper Woodlands. Chapter 6. Finch, D.M., J.A. Tainter, Tech. Eds. Ecology, 

diversity, and sustainability of the Middle Rio Grande Basin. General Technical Report 

PM_GTR-268. Fort Collins, CO: USDA, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range 

Experiment Station. 186 pp. 

Grissino-Mayer, H.D., C.H. Baisan, and T.W. Swetnam. 1995. Fire history in the Pinaleño Mountains 

of southeastern Arizona: effects of human-related disturbances. L. Debano et al. tech. 

coords., Biodiversity and Management of the Madrean Archipelago: The Sky Islands of 

Southwestern United States and Northwestern New Mexico, September 19-23, 1994, 

Tucson, Arizona, USDA Forest Service General Technical Report RM-GTR-264 399-407. 

Gruell, G.E., L.E. Eddleman, and R. Jaindl. 1994. Fire history of the pinyon-juniper woodlands of 

Great Basin National Park. USDI National Park Service Technical Report 

NPSIPNROSUINRTR-94/01. Seattle WA. 27 pp. 

Hauser, A. Scott. 2007. Juniperus pinchotii. In: Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. 

Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ accessed May 11, 2018. 

Heinlein, T.A., M.M. Moore, P.Z. Fulé, and W.W. Covington. 2005. Fire history and stand structure 

of two ponderosa pine-mixed conifer sites: San Francisco Peaks, Arizona, USA. 

International Journal of Wildland Fire 14:307–320. 

Margolis, E.Q. 2014. Fire regime shift linked to increased forest density in a piñon–juniper savanna 

landscape. International Journal of Wildland Fire 23:234–245. 
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Miller, R.F., and R.J. Tausch. 2000. The role of fire in pinyon and juniper woodlands: a descriptive 

analysis. Pages 15–30 in Proceedings of the invasive species workshop: the role of fire in the 

control and spread of invasive species. Fire conference.

Muldavin, E, C. Baisan, T. Swetnam, L. DeLay, and K. Morino. 2003. Woodland Fire History 

Studies in the Oscura and Northern San Andres Mountains, White Sands Missile Range, 

New Mexico. Final report. WNR-ES-ES Research Study No. 92F018. White Sands Missile

Range, New Mexico.

O’Connor, C.D., D.A. Falk, A.M. Lynch, and T.W. Swetnam. 2014. Fire severity, size, and climate 

associations diverge from historical precedent along an ecological gradient in the Pinaleño 

Mountains, Arizona, USA. Forest Ecology and Management 329:264–278. 

Poulos, H.M., R.G. Gatewood, and A.E. Camp. 2009. Fire regimes of the pinon-juniper woodlands 

of Big Bend National Park and the Davis Mountains, west Texas, USA. Can. J. For. Res. 39: 

1236-1246. 

Romme, W.H., M.L. Floyd, D. Hanna, and E.J. Bartlett. 2009. Historical Range of Variability and 

Current Landscape Condition Analysis: South Central Highlands Section, Southwestern 

Colorado and Northwestern New Mexico. Colorado Forest Restoration Institute. 

Swetnam, T.W., and J.H. Dieterich. 1985. Fire history of ponderosa pine forests in the Gila 

Wilderness, New Mexico.in Proceedings—symposium and workshop on wilderness fire. 

Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-182, Ogden, UT: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 

White, M.R. 2002. Characterization of, and changes in the subalpine and montane grasslands, 

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, Arizona.

Wright, H.A., and A.W. Bailey. 1982. Fire ecology: United States and southern Canada. John Wiley 

& Sons. 
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Appendix C. At-Risk Species and Associated 

Ecological Response Units

The Assessment Phase of Forest Plan Revision required the development of an at-risk species list. 

This list included all federally listed species including endangered, threatened, candidate, and 

proposed species found in the forest. The assessment also identified Species of Conservation 

Concern (SCC). SCCs are species where best available science suggests there is considerable risk 

of their continued persistence in the forest. The SCC list developed by forest staff and their 

partners and is approved by the Regional Forester.

To assist in the development of plan components, each at-risk species on the Santa Fe NF is 

associated with a primary ERU where most of their life-cycle requirements are secured. 

Occasionally, additional ERUs are identified if they contribute to a substantial portion of their 

life-cycle requirements. Coarse-filter plan components address the majority of habitat needs for 

at-risk species, while fine-filter plan components address all other needs for at-risk species.

Scientific Name Common Name Associated ERUs

Mammals

Zapus hudsonius luteus* NM Meadow Jumping Mouse RIP

Cynomys gunnisoni Gunnison’s Prairie Dog PJ systems, CPGB

Euderma maculatum Spotted Bat SFF, MCW

Lepus americanus Snowshoe Hare SFF 

Martes caurina Pacific (American) Marten SSF, RIP

Sorex cinereus Masked Shrew SFF, RIP

Sorex palustris Water Shrew RIP

Birds

Strix occidentalis lucida* Mexican Spotted Owl PPF, MCD, MCW

Accipiter gentilis Northern Goshawk PPF, MCD, RIP

Aegolius funereus Boreal Owl SFF 

Athene cunicularia hypugaea Western Burrowing Owl PJ systems, CPGB

Cypseloides niger Black Swift RIP, SFF

Falco peregrinus anatum American Peregrine Falcon PPF, MCD, MCW

Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus Pinyon Jay PJS, PJO

Lagopus leucurus White-tailed Ptarmigan AT 

Melanerpes lewis Lewis’s Woodpecker PPF 

Amphibian

Plethodon neomexicanus* Jemez Mountains Salamander PPF, MCD, MCW

Lithobates pipiens Northern Leopard Frog RIP
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Scientific Name Common Name Associated ERUs

Fish

Oncorhynchus clarkii virginalis Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout RIP

Catostomus plebeius Rio Grande Sucker RIP

Gila pandora Rio Grande Chub RIP

Invertebrate

Ashmunella ashmuni Jemez Woodlandsnail JUG, PPF, MCD

Gastrocopta ruidosensis Ruidoso Snaggletooth JUG

Pisidium lilljeborgi Lilljeborg’s peaclam RIP

Plant 

Ipomopsis sancti-spiritu* Holy Ghost Ipomopsis PPF, MCD

Abronia bigelovii Tufted Sand Verbena JUG, SAGE

Asclepias uncialis var. uncialis Greene’s Milkweed PJO, PJG

Astragalus micromerius Chaco Milkvetch PJO, PJS, PJG

Calochortus gunnisonii var.

perpulcher

Gunnison's Mariposa Lily MSG

Cypripedium parviflorum var. 

pubescens

Large Yellow Lady’s-Slipper MCW, SFF

Erigeron subglaber Pecos fleabane SFF 

Lilium philadelpihcum Wood Lily PPF 

Mentzelia conspicua Chama Blazing Star PJO 

Mentzelia springeri Springer’s Blazing Star PJO 

Draba heilii Heil’s Alpine Whitlow Grass AT 

Salix arizonica Arizona Willow RIP, SFF

* Denotes federally listed species.
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Appendix D. Proposed Probable and Possible 

Future Actions

Introduction 

This appendix describes some of the proposed and possible management actions that may take 

place in the Santa Fe NF at the project or activity level during the planning period (approximately 

10 to 15 years) to maintain or move toward desired conditions as described in this plan. Proposed 

actions are based off objectives described in chapters 2 and 3 of the plan and are designed to be 

clearly measurable outcomes that advance the specified resource toward desired conditions. 

Possible actions are management approaches drawn from chapters 2 and 3 that describe potential 

actions or strategies compatible with achieving desired resource conditions and objectives. 

Program strategies, inventories, assessments, resource analyses, and ongoing work with partners 

and cooperating agencies anticipated during the next 15 years are outlined below. Any objectives 

listed in chapters 2 and 3 have been modified to meet the directive requirements of possible 

projects within a 3- to 5-year timeframe (FSH 1909.12 Chapter 22.34). 

This list is not intended to be all-inclusive; it is simply a list of possible actions that may take 

place based on the plan objectives and management approaches. This information is not a 

commitment to take any action and is not a “proposal” as defined by the Council on 

Environmental Quality regulations for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA). During the life of the plan, the Santa Fe is not limited to these possible actions when 

proposing projects and activities. A plan amendment is not required to change of modify the 

possible actions. These probable and possible future actions can be updated at any time through 

an administrative change of the plan. 

Proposed Management Actions

Objectives as outlined within chapter 2 and 3 of the plan represent projects or activities intended 

to be accomplished during the next 3 to 5 years of the planning period. These are listed below. 

All Vegetation Types

Objective 1: Over a 10-year period, complete at least the following treatments to move 

vegetation resources toward desired conditions:

Vegetation ERU Mechanical Treatment 

(acres)

Prescribed Fire and 

Naturally Ignited 

Wildfire (acres)

Mixed Conifer with 

Frequent Fire (MCD) 10,000–80,000 50,000–200,000

Ponderosa Pine (PPF) 15,000–100,000 150,000–250,000

Objective 2: Over a 10-year period, complete 2,500 to 50,000 acres of combined vegetation 

treatments in highly departed non-forested ERUs* to move vegetation toward desired conditions 

(i.e., restoration). Treatments may include mechanical treatments, prescribed fire or naturally 
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ignited wildfires, seeding, or other techniques still to be determined by best available science, 

depending on the specific ERU.

*Highly departed non-forested ERUs are juniper grass (JUG), piñon juniper grass (PJG), 

Colorado Plateau Great Basin grassland (CPGB), sagebrush shrubland (SAGE), and montane 

subalpine grassland (MSG).

Water 

Objective 1: Maintain "properly functioning" and improve at least two “impaired” or 

“functioning at-risk” watersheds (Watershed Classification Framework) every 10 years using the 

objectives from Vegetation ERUs, Aquatic Species, Water Resources, and Riparian Management 

Zones and Wetland Ecosystems.

Objective 2: Over 10 years, improve watershed function by decommissioning or mitigating 

impacts (e.g., maintenance, improvements, reroutes) on at least 100 miles of route (e.g., system 

roads, unauthorized routes, or trails) to the point of restoring hydrologic and ecological function.

Riparian and Wetland Ecosystems

Objective 1: Riparian ecosystems move toward desired conditions (less than a 33 percent 

departure from desired condition) for vegetation functional diversity, vegetation seral state, 

riparian corridor connectivity, and flood regime (frequency, duration, and magnitude) by 

implmenting15 miles of stream every 10 years. Actions that could improve riparian areas would 

be site–specific, but could include several of the following: removing invasive plant species, 

stabilizing the stream channel, restoring hydrologic connectivity between stream channel and 

riparian area, planting native species, promoting natural revegetation of bare ground, redirecting 

other uses (e.g., providing other watering sources, closing areas to camping). 

Aquatic Species and Habitats

Objective 1: Complete aquatic restoration on priority projects that restore 30 miles of aquatic 

habitat (e.g., increase pool quantity, provide stream cover, remove or install fish barriers, restore 

beaver populations, or treat invasive aquatic species) every 10 years to benefit aquatic species.

Objective 2: Every 10 years, restore native fish species to 20 miles of streams where nonnative 

fish are absent and where natural or human-made fish barriers exist.

Terrestrial Species and Habitats

Objective 1: Maintain, improve, or install at least one water feature per year to improve water 

availability for wildlife or livestock where natural water sources are limited. These water features 

can serve dual purposes for both wildlife and livestock and can be done in conjunction with 

objective for water features in range section.

Objective 2: Restore or enhance at least 50,000 acres of terrestrial wildlife habitat during each 

10-year period of the life of the plan. This may be done in conjunction with objectives for 

treatments in the vegetation section.

Nonnative Invasive Species

Objective 1: Eradicate or suppress invasive plant species on at least 600 acres annually. 
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Forest Products

Objective 1: Provide at least 177,000 CCF per decade to contribute to local forest product 

industry and for personal use, including 92,850 CCF (72,539 cords) per decade of fuelwood. 

Sustainable Rangelands and Livestock Grazing

Objective 1: Annually remove, improve, or reconstruct at least 5 percent of the forest’s range 

infrastructure that is no longer necessary or in poor or non-functional condition.

Objective 2: Maintain, improve, or install at least one water feature per year to improve water 

availability for wildlife or livestock where natural water sources are limited.

21.

Developed Recreation

Objective 1: At two developed recreation sites, accomplish at least 75 percent of deferred 

maintenance projects every 3 years.

Dispersed Recreation

Objective 1: Maintain (clear, repair tread, brush, or improve drainage) on at least 25 percent of 

system trails every 3 years.

Objective 2: Verify and correct proper signage and alignment of trails on the ground and with 

maps and geospatial data (i.e., cartographic accuracy) for at least 25 percent of system trails every 

3 years.

Objective 3: Undertake sustainably designed capital improvements (e.g., alteration, expansion, or 

new construction) on at least 1 mile of poorly designed or maintained trail every 3 years. The 

mile may be contiguous or non-contiguous. 

Wilderness Areas

Objective 1: Within the life of the plan, at least 10 miles of high-priority boundary line will be 

surveyed and posted. 

Continental Divide National Scenic Trail

Objective 1: During the life of the plan, connect the remaining unconnected segments (5 miles on 

NFS lands and approximately 7 miles within San Pedro Parks Wilderness) in the Cuba Ranger 

District. 

Caja Del Rio Wildlife and Cultural Interpretive Management Area

Objective 1: Within 5 years of plan implementation, develop off-site interpretive materials (e.g., 

remote exhibits, brochures, or website information) for:

Objective 2: Portions of the National Historic Trails on the Caja del Rio to promote a sense of 

discovery for visitors.

Objective 3: Opportunities to view and protect the unique flora and fauna in the area. 

 

21 These water features can serve dual purposes for both wildlife and livestock and can be done in conjunction with 

objective for water features in wildlife section.
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Cultural Interpretive Management Areas 

Objective 1: Within 10 years, develop at least one on-site interpretive tool that provides 

interpretation and educational information about each site.

Objective 2: Within 8 years, complete and stabilize the entire trail on each site to provide for site 

protection and visitor safety. 

Possible Management Actions

Management approaches as outlined within chapters 2 and 3 of the plan describe some of the 

possible management actions for achieving desired conditions and objectives. These are 

summarized below by resource area.

All Vegetation Types

• Consider management actions that replicate natural disturbance regimes.

• In support of restoration activities, consider using seeds or planting stock that is adapted to 

the ecological unit (or similar in elevation, soil type, and ecosystem) and to potential future 

conditions, to build resiliency in vegetative communities. 

• In site-specific cases, consider scheduling management activities that result in 

accumulations of green slash to minimize potential impacts from bark beetles and avoiding 

accumulating green slash (greater than 3 inches in diameter) before overwintering beetles 

emerge (generally April to June) in areas highly susceptible to outbreaks. 

Fire and Fuels

• Consider collaborating with stakeholders and partnering agencies early and often to 

successfully meet resource objectives through the use of fire. Educate internally and 

externally the potential challenges and tradeoffs of wildland fire.

• Coordinate management of wildland fire across jurisdictional boundaries whenever there is 

potential for managing a wildfire or a prescribed fire on more than one jurisdiction (e.g., 

Federal, State, county, local, tribal governments, and land grants, etc.). This includes water 

sources, access, and land use agreements. This is done with the understanding that fireadapted ecosystems and communities transcend jurisdictional boundaries. These are all 

foundational concepts of the collaboratively developed National Cohesive Wildland Fire 

Management Strategy.

• When planning and implementing fuels projects and all hazard response, work 

collaboratively with Federal, State, local governments, and private landowners; consider 

promoting public safety and reducing the risk of wildfire on lands of other ownership by 

supporting the development and implementation of community wildfire protection plans 

(CWPPs) or similar assessments and management plans to mitigate negative impacts of 

wildfire. CWPPs are also important tools for mitigation efforts such as wildfire 

preparedness, evacuation planning, and other mitigations that will aid in wildfire response. 

• When conditions facilitate safe progress toward desired conditions, consider managing 

naturally ignited fires to meet multiple resource objectives concurrently (i.e., protection and 

resource enhancement), which can change as the fire spreads across the landscape. 

• Wildfire objectives are based on interdisciplinary assessment of site-specific values such as 

desired conditions, existing fuel conditions, current and expected weather, fire location, 
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resource availability, social and economic considerations, and values to enhance or protect; 

and consider courses of action to protect or enhance those values.

• Consider the use of planned and unplanned fire in areas such as steep and rugged terrain or 

remote areas, as this may be the only viable tool where mechanical treatments are not 

feasible.

• Consider implementing treatments where they provide the most benefit (e.g., values-at-risk) 

and improve or maintain ecological integrity (e.g., vegetative departure). 

• When managing planned ignitions, consider creating conditions that enable future 

unplanned ignitions to mimic their historical role or to serve as a tool to achieve resource 

objectives and to move ecosystems closer to desired conditions.

• In areas departed or trending away from desired conditions, consider combining the use of 

fire with mechanical treatments as this is often the most effective approach to restoring 

forest structure and function. 

• In areas highly vulnerable to climate change, consider increasing resiliency by using a 

diversity of treatments to facilitate natural adaptation to changing conditions such as, 

managing in favor of early- to mid-seral species over late-seral species in ecotones, as 

species characteristic of lower life zones are adapted for warmer and drier conditions. 

Consider managing tree basal area at the low end of the range of desired conditions to 

mitigate water stress. 

• Consider the importance of developing practices and protocols to reduce non-prescribed 

human ignitions by providing timely and disseminating widely fire danger and fire 

restriction information. Consider educating the public on their responsibility to help reduce 

human-caused wildfires by providing information in the form of signage, public contacts, 

and fire restrictions in locations such as trailheads and designated recreation areas. 

• Consider the scenic effects from prescribed fire during project planning and 

implementation. Blackened and scorched vegetation may be visible in project areas in the 

short term following treatments, but take into consideration the long-term scenic integrity 

objectives. 

• In wildland and managed fire areas that are not expected to reseed naturally, consider 

seeding with native vegetation and implement other site rehabilitation practices, as 

necessary. Consider that fire suppression support activities and facilities (including 

constructed fire lines, fuel breaks and safety areas, fire camps, staging areas, heli-bases, and 

heli-spots), follow the same site rehabilitation practices.

• Consider collaborating with scientists (e.g., from universities, Forest Service research and 

development, U.S. Geological Survey, or Ecological Restoration Institute) to conduct 

research on areas impacted by uncharacteristic wildfire to understand how fire has altered 

the ecological conditions outside the natural range of variation and develop strategies to 

better manage these areas.

• Consider using the Wildfire Strategic Response Zones to facilitate informed and transparent 

decision making that will allow beneficial fires to burn under the right conditions, and 

informs aggressive strategies when fires need to be suppressed. Five strategic zones were 

developed for the Santa Fe NF: (1) maintain, (2) restore, (3) protect, (4) exclusion, and 

(5) high complexity. These zones are dynamic over time and space and will change as 

conditions change, affecting management opportunities. For example, an area currently 
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identified as ‘Restore’ zone could become a ‘Maintain’ zone after treatment (mechanical or 

fire). Conversely, a ‘Restore’ zone could become a ‘Protect’ zone if changing fuel 

conditions change expected fire behavior and effect such that fire would not meet forest 

plan desired conditions. 

• Consider providing educational resources and outreach so that residents living within and 

adjacent to the forest are knowledgeable about wildfire protection of their homes and 

property, including providing for defensible space. 

• Managers should consider using a decision support process to guide and document wildfire 

management decisions. The process will provide situational assessment, analyze hazards 

and risk, define implementation actions, and document decisions and rationale for those 

decisions.

• Wildland fire is understood, both internally and by the public, as a necessary disturbance 

process integral to the function and sustainability of ecosystems.

Water Resources

• Work with local, State, and Tribal governments, land grants, non-governmental

organizations, and other stakeholders to identify improvement projects, priorities for 

protection and management of watersheds especially in priority watersheds (Watershed 

Condition Class Framework), and high quality areas (e.g., designated and eligible Wild and 

Scenic Rivers, Outstanding National Resource Waters, or Wetland Jewels).

• Work closely with New Mexico Environment Department on water quality management in 

the forest (e.g., maintaining Memorandum of Understanding, development of Total 

Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) determinations, development of watershed-based plans, 

design and implementation of 319 grants). 

• Work with acequia associations and permittees to maintain diversion structures and ditches 

in properly functioning condition and to remedy impacts (e.g., downcut channels, enlarged 

channels, or loss of riparian habitat) that are caused by water diversions. 

• Consider opportunities to secure instream flows (water rights) for the purposes of 

improving or sustaining aquatic and riparian ecosystems. 

• Consider developing watershed-specific plans that prioritize specific roads for 

decommissioning to result in improved water quality and a smaller road system 

(administrative or public). 

Riparian and Wetland Ecosystems

• Pursue partnerships for collaborative management of riparian and wetland areas. 

• Collaborate with partners to communicate the ecological significance of riparian and 

wetland systems to the broader public and to garner support for restoration activities. 

• Consider regional riparian and aquatic ecosystem strategies when formulating riparian 

management actions.

• Consider underlying causes for degradation at the watershed scale when planning or 

implementing restoration activities.
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Aquatic Species and Habitats

• Work collaboratively with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and other 

organizations, individuals, and groups to plan and implement projects for the management 

and research of fish and other aquatic species and their habitats.

• Work with partners to develop and implement conservation strategies beneficial to aquatic 

habitats (e.g., Rio Grande Cutthroat Conservation Strategy). 

• During project planning, consider management actions to mitigate the effects of long-term 

and short-term climate fluctuations (e.g., climate change, drought, and El Niño Southern 

Oscillation). 

• Prioritize restoration projects based on factors such as watershed conditions, at-risk species, 

restoration after disturbances (e.g., fire or flood), partner interest, and other immediate 

needs. 

• Work with partners to promote public education and valuing of the terrestrial wildlife in the 

forest. 

Terrestrial Species and Habitats

• Work collaboratively with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and other 

organizations, individuals, and groups to plan and implement projects for the management 

and research of wildlife and their habitats.

• Collaborate with other adjacent land ownership to encourage an all-lands approach at a 

scale that improves landscape connectivity across mixed ownerships where natural systems 

span multiple administrative boundaries. 

• Consider seasonal road restrictions and area closures to provide refuge in small and large 

blocks of land for a wide range of species. 

• During project planning, consider mitigations to wildlife habitat resulting from the effects 

of long-term and short-term climate fluctuations (e.g., global climate change, drought, El 

Niño Southern Oscillation), and subsequent effects of management activities. 

• Work closely with New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, other enforcement agencies 

and local communities to reduce incidence of poaching (e.g., encourage reporting, increase 

signage, or maintain barriers for road closures). 

• Work with partners to promote public education and valuing of the terrestrial wildlife in the 

forest. 

• Work collaboratively with New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and New Mexico 

Department of Transportation as well as other organizations to identify corridors to improve 

or maintain connectivity for terrestrial species.

Nonnative Invasive Species

• Coordinate with other agencies and pursue partnerships to manage terrestrial and aquatic 

invasive species.

• Consider educating and informing the public to prevent the introduction of invasive species 

and limit their spread. 
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• Encourage research on invasive species and pathogens by universities and other 

organizations and agencies. Coordinate with university research and programs such as the 

Cooperative Extension Service through New Mexico State University.

• Consider using the most recent New Mexico Department of Agriculture’s “Noxious Weed 

Memo and List” to identify and prioritize invasive plant management needs. The invasive 

species with the highest treatment priority are Class A and B noxious weeds, which have 

made significant increases in their overall population size in the plan area during the last 

10 years.

• Consider programs to address invasive plant species using integrated pest management 

strategies.

• Consider encouraging public land users to inspect and clean motorized and mechanized 

trail vehicles of weeds and their seeds before recreating on public lands.

• Consider encouraging fishers and hunters to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive 

species by inspecting their equipment for invasive species and taking preventative measures 

(e.g., do not use felt-sole wading boots). 

• Consider encouraging public pack-animal users to use pelletized, weed-free feed.

At-Risk Species

• Work collaboratively with other agencies (e.g., USFWS, New Mexico Department of Game 

and Fish, New Mexico State Forestry, etc.), universities, and non-governmental

organizations for the research and management of at-risk species. Emphasis is placed on the 

protection and restoration of key habitats and habitat features that lead to their recovery and 

persistence. 

• Strive to work with partners to promote public education and valuing of the at-risk species 

in the forest.

• Prior to management actions, conduct surveys to identify sessile (immobile) at-risk species 

in areas with the following features:

♦ Limestone outcropping 

♦ Gypsum soils

♦ Sandstone blended with Todilto gypsum or limestone 

♦ Gray to red shales and clays of the Mancos and Chinle formations in piñon-juniper 

woodlands 

♦ Volcanic pumice and unconsolidated pyroclastic ash in piñon-juniper woodland and 

lower montane coniferous forests 

• Consider guidance from regional or local species conservation agreements, assessments, 

strategies, or guidelines to improve the status of at-risk species. 

• Consider using geographic information systems (GIS) as the preferred database of record to 

record findings of at-risk species, including negative surveys.

• In coordination with New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, consider “dusting” prairie 

dog colonies with flea-controlling powder to reduce the spread of sylvatic plague. When 
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possible, identify and potentially avoid burrows occupied with at-risk species prior to 

application. 

• Collaborate with universities, State and Federal agencies (e.g., Forest Service Research and 

Development, U.S. Geological Survey, Natural Resources Conservation Service, New 

Mexico State Forestry, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish), and other 

organizations (e.g., The Nature Conservancy, Natural Heritage New Mexico, Native Plant 

Society of New Mexico, Trout Unlimited, Audubon Society, and other non-governmental 

organizations), to obtain data and encourage research on rare and endemic species.

• Consider alternative measures to projects that may decrease the likelihood of disease 

introduction or spread to at-risk species (e.g., do not dip firefighting buckets in waterbodies 

where didymo or whirling disease is known to exist or install drinkers instead of earthen 

tanks to prevent the spread of Chytrid fungus). 

• Consider working with partners to promote public education and valuing of rare and narrow 

endemic species in the forest.

Soil Resources

• Work collaboratively with other agencies and groups that facilitate soil conservation, 

watershed improvement and research projects.

• Consider developing and promoting programs that educate the public on the importance of 

staying on trails and not disturbing natural plant communities including biological soil 

crusts (e.g., Don’t Bust the Crust!).

• Consider updating the TEUI (Miller et al. 1993), which provides the basis for planning 

project activities. Work with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and other partners 

to share data and improve existing soil information, especially after large-scale soil 

disturbances. 

• Consider improving impaired and unsatisfactory soil condition ratings (as defined by 

TEUI) where management has resulted in degraded conditions: 

♦ To restore productivity and hydrologic function of compacted soils, consider using low 

ground pressure equipment. 

♦ To restore productivity and nutrient cycling, consider the application of soil 

amendments (e.g., biochar). 

• Consider mitigating or restoring negative impacts in areas where concentrated use occurs 

on soils with severe erosion hazard rating or are poorly drained or saturated.

Air

• Work with agencies, organizations, tribes, and other entities to actively pursue actions 

designed to reduce the impacts of pollutants from sources within and outside the forest. 

These measures may include: 

♦ Documenting evidence of potential air quality impacts that supports initial and 

continued compliance with local, New Mexico, and Federal air quality regulations

♦ Active membership in local and regional air quality protection stakeholder groups 

♦ Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit review 
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♦ Implementing air pollution mitigations where appropriate 

♦ Monitoring ambient air quality 

♦ Supporting visibility monitoring at San Pedro Parks 

• Consider deploying smoke monitors when there is potential for significant impacts to the 

public. 

Partnerships

• Management approaches related to partnerships are found throughout this plan, typically as 

the first management approach for each resource.

Federally Recognized Tribes

• Coordinate with federally recognized tribes to develop collaborative proposals and 

implement projects of mutual benefit across shared boundaries and use available federally 

authorized or advocated programs (e.g., Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (Public Law 

108-278) and the Collaborative Forest Restoration Program). 

• Cooperatively develop interpretive and educational exhibits that focus on the history of the 

lands managed by the Santa Fe NF in collaboration with federally recognized tribes, gand 

grant communities, and rural historic communities to provide the public with a greater 

understanding and appreciation of our shared history, culture, and traditions. 

• Consider identifying sacred sites or traditional cultural properties, with tribal permission, 

and developing a strategy for appropriate recognition and management, including honoring 

the Tribes’ request for maintaining confidentiality.

• Consider providing training to forest employees so they gain an understanding of the 

unique government-to-government relationship between the Federal Government and 

federally recognized tribes; American Indian laws, customs, traditions, and values; and the 

tools available for protecting and managing sacred sites and traditional cultural properties.

• Refer tribal requests to collect threatened and endangered species to the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, the agency responsible for issuing permits for listed threatened and 

endangered species.

• Consider the physical and scenic integrity of places that federally recognized tribes regard 

as sacred sites, traditional cultural properties, or as part of important cultural landscapes 

when making project decisions or issuing special-use authorizations regarding the approval, 

location, and maintenance of facilities (e.g., telecommunication sites, ski areas, and 

recreational trails).

• Consider holding a workshop to inform interested tribes of Tribal Forest Protection Act 

provisions and opportunities for collaboration. 

• Formalize working agreements with federally recognized tribes to understand their needs 

and build respectful, collaborative relationships; to develop ways of accomplishing 

mutually desired conditions and objectives; and to collaborate in ecosystem restoration 

efforts (e.g., memoranda of understanding, stewardship, contracts). 

• Consider identifying locations in the forest that can provide a setting for educating youth in 

culture, history, land stewardship, and the health benefits of outdoor activities. 
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• Consider acknowledging locations identified as important by federally recognized tribes 

and managing them with an emphasis on the resilience and protection of natural and 

cultural resources. 

• Consider working with Tribes to understand community needs and build respectful, 

collaborative relationships to achieve mutually desired conditions. 

• Consider incorporating native language (e.g., Tanoan, Keres, and Athabaskan) into 

interpretive materials to highlight the American Indian culture as part of the landscape of 

the forest and its surrounding areas. 

Rural Historic Communities

• Work with traditional communities and governing bodies for land grants and acequias to 

understand their needs and build respectful, collaborative relationships; develop 

collaborative proposals and implement projects of mutual benefit across shared boundaries 

and with shared infrastructure (e.g., boundary fences or roads); develop ways of 

accomplishing mutually desired conditions and objectives; and collaborate in ecosystem 

restoration efforts. 

• Cooperatively develop interpretive and educational exhibits that focus on the history of the 

lands managed by the Santa Fe NF in collaboration with rural historic communities to 

provide the public with a greater understanding and appreciation of our shared history, 

culture, and traditions.

• Consider identifying forest locations that can provide a setting for educating youth in 

culture, history, land stewardship, and the health benefits of outdoor activities. 

• Consider acknowledging locations identified as important by rural historic communities 

and managing them with an emphasis on the resilience and protection of natural and 

cultural resources. 

• Consider providing training for forest employees to foster an understanding of the unique 

customs, traditions, and values of rural historic communities. 

• Coordinate with rural historic communities and governing bodies for land grants and 

acequias to develop collaborative proposals and implement projects of mutual benefit 

across shared boundaries.

• Consider developing approaches for rural historic communities to continue to practice 

occupational- and subsistence-based activities that are sensitive to environmental and 

cultural concerns. 

• Work with rural historic communities to identify areas where motorized and non-motorized 

access to resources important to cultural and traditional needs are vital.

• Consider incorporating Spanish language interpretive materials to highlight the Hispanic 

culture as part of the landscape of the forest and its surrounding areas.

• Consider ways to make fuelwood permits available locally in the field where the fuelwood 

is available or allow rural communities to get a fuelwood permit at the Forest Service 

district office closest to them or at another government office, rather than only at the district 

office administering the permitted area.
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Cultural and Historic Resources

• Consider maximizing opportunities for partnerships and volunteerism with the heritage 

program. Cooperate with local, State, and Federal agencies, as well as institutions and local 

tribes in accomplishing program goals and objectives.

• Collaborate with American Indian Tribes and other traditional communities to manage 

historic sites and other traditional areas of importance.

• Collaborate with American Indian Tribes and other traditional communities to identify 

mitigation measures for historic properties, traditional cultural properties, and cultural 

landscapes during management activities.

• Work with partners such as the American Indian Tribes, New Mexico Historic Preservation 

Division SiteWatch program, Archaeological Society of New Mexico, the National Park 

Service, and local museums to identify, study, protect, and monitor sites and artifact 

collections.

• Consider measures to improve relationships with American Indian Tribes and other 

traditional communities.

• Consider drafting new and updating existing memoranda of understanding with American 

Indian Tribes as needed.

• Consider using heritage programs, interpretive presentations, publications, and interactive 

learning opportunities to provide the public with opportunities to learn about, understand, 

and experience the forest’s prehistory and history. 

• Consider using programs (e.g., site stewards, volunteers, and Passport in Time) that engage 

the public to assist in protecting, managing, and documenting cultural resources. 

• Consider updating the Forest Overview and Cultural Resources Planning Assessment into a 

comprehensive document to include a synthesis of known cultural data as well as lists of 

priorities for non-project survey, National Register nominations, site stabilization, 

interpretation, and public involvement.

• Consider restoring select historic structures for appropriate recreation or interpretive use.

• When mitigating resource deterioration, consider implementing the following protective 

measures: vegetation treatment in and adjacent to site boundaries (provided appropriate 

protection measures are in place), signing, fencing, administrative closure, patrols, 

interpretive signs, stabilization, or data recovery.

• Prioritize non-project-related surveys as follows: (1) areas where historic properties are 

threatened or ongoing impacts are unknown and need to be assessed; (2) areas indicated to 

have high cultural value or high density of cultural resources; (3) areas of importance to 

traditional communities; and (4) areas where additional survey will contribute to a greater 

understanding of the prehistory or history. 

Forest Products

• When planning and implementing projects, work collaboratively with Federal, State, local 

governments, Tribes, industry, environmental groups and private landowners to promote 

integrated ecological and social-economic goals of harvesting forest products to support a 

sustainable and appropriately scaled industry.
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• Consider developing and promoting public education (e.g., brochures, signs, websites, and 

social media) on the ecological and social impacts of illegal activities and the importance of 

the sustainability of these resources.

• Consider designing variably sized timber contracts to accommodate a range of operations 

based in northern New Mexico communities. 

• During the planning process, consider uneven- or even-aged timber harvest methods that 

reflect the scale of natural disturbances and are designed to achieve desired conditions (e.g., 

size class distribution, species composition, patch size, fuel reduction, insects and disease). 

• In addition to treatments in highly-departed frequent fire ERUs (e.g., PPF, MCD), consider 

treatments within infrequent-fire ERUs (e.g., spruce-fir forest, mixed conifer with aspen, 

and piñon-juniper woodland) for ecological and socioeconomic benefits. 

• Consider designating and managing stands of mature or over-mature piñon for the 

gathering of piñon nuts and potentially restrict the harvest of firewood in these stands. 

• Consider using woody material that results from management activities prior to on-site 

burning and chipping. 

• Consider making fuelwood available through public access within a project area, providing 

some decked woody material along roads, or allowing collection within utility corridors 

being thinned. 

• Consider preparing pest control plans with forest health specialists that contain appropriate 

mitigation measures (e.g., use of resistant tree species, maintenance of species diversity, 

removal of damaged trees, and pesticides) and monitoring procedures. Monitoring 

procedures might include: 

♦ Measure effectiveness of treated areas; 

♦ Determine effects on non-target organisms; 

♦ Determine effects on water quality; or

♦ Determine effects of pesticide that enters the soil or air.

Sustainable Rangelands and Livestock Grazing

• Forest managers cooperate, collaborate, and coordinate with permit holders to respond to 

changing resource conditions. Cooperation, collaboration, and coordination among Santa 

Fe NF and permit holders is key to improving rangeland and forest conditions for multiple 

uses, moving toward desired conditions, and contributing to the socio-economic wellbeing 

of local communities. In addition, collaboration among stakeholders is important, including 

local communities; permit holders; Federal, State, county, and local government entities.

• Develop partnerships with livestock grazing permit holders, agencies, and other groups and 

individuals to develop collaborative proposals and implement projects that benefit multiple 

use in the forest. 

• Coordination with livestock grazing permit holders should occur at the early stages of 

planning and project design to include local perspectives, needs, concerns, and traditional 

knowledge. 

• When livestock grazing is modified as a response to changing resource conditions and 

permit holder needs, forest managers should first consider adjusting timing (which is easier 
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for the permit holder), followed by intensity and frequency. Consider adjusting intensity at 

permit renewal. In addition, collaboration among stakeholders is important including the 

local interdisciplinary team; permit holders; Federal, State, county and local government 

entities; and non-governmental organizations. 

• Acknowledge the economic, traditional, and cultural importance of livestock grazing to 

northern New Mexico families and consider providing Forest Service employees 

educations on the importance of this traditional practice.

• Consider emphasizing large-scale landscape approaches and treatments for restoring 

rangelands and the use and perpetuation of a diversity of native plant species, with an 

emphasis on grass, forb, and shrub communities. 

• Consider using an adaptive management strategy to manage livestock grazing in a manner 

that promotes ecosystem resiliency, sustainability, and species diversity, based on changes 

in range conditions, climate, and other resource conditions. Using the adaptive management 

strategy provides more flexibility to grazing management, while improving or maintaining 

rangeland health. 

• Consider inviting association members and individual permit holders on range inspections. 

• Consider modifying, relocating, or removing existing range facilities in water resource 

features, where their presence is determined to inhibit movement toward desired riparian or 

aquatic conditions and consistent with existing water rights and water quality and quantity. 

• Consider how ungulates (e.g., elk, deer, and livestock) have cumulative impacts on Forest 

resources. 

• Where an allotment fence intersects a designated trail, consider using a self-closing gate 

(e.g., easy-to-use gate, walk-through gate, or horseback accessible) to provide access for 

recreation users that does not risk livestock escape. 

• In wetland or riparian areas, consider avoiding livestock grazing in the same area during the 

same vegetative growth and reproduction periods (e.g., leafing, flowering, or seeding) in 

consecutive years to ensure that riparian pastures have vegetative recovery. 

All Recreation

• Develop or enhance partnerships and collaborate with agencies, groups, communities, 

volunteers, permit holders, and other individuals to increase forest stewardship, ecological 

awareness, volunteerism, and user satisfaction; promote a sustainable recreation program; 

and support local recreation-based economic development. 

• Promote established programs and develop new conservation education programs at 

schools, youth activities, fairs, and volunteer events that help connect people to nature, 

reach underserved populations, and encourage responsible use of natural resources. 

• Convene and encourage multi-stakeholder groups to address recreation maintenance 

concerns in specific areas. 

• Collaborate with livestock permit holders and recreationists to resolve conflicts.

• Consider multilingual interpretation in recreation areas popular with non-English-speaking 

visitors.
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• Consider incorporating information technology (e.g., quick response (QR)-codes, web 

addresses, or interactive maps) into signs and interpretive materials to direct public to 

additional information. 

• Consider programs to educate the public on land stewardship using minimum impact 

principles (e.g., Leave No Trace, Tread Lightly, and Don’t Bust the Crust!).

• Consider issuing closure orders where there is excessive resource damage or to maintain 

public safety. 

• Consider using sustainable operations at developed recreation sites (e.g., recycling 

receptacles, electric maintenance vehicles, etc.). 

• Consider issuing closure orders to establish a 14-day limit for overnight occupancy at the 

same location within the Santa Fe National Forest (consecutive or not) within a 90-day 

period, except as allowed by permit.

• Develop conservation education, visitor information, and interpretation materials to inform 

and engage visitors and local communities. These resources are readily available and 

encourage increased forest stewardship, ecological awareness, visitor orientation, and 

knowledge of recreation opportunities. 

Developed Recreation

• Consider assessing the sustainability of the developed recreation program and prioritize 

sites for decommissioning, closing, or repurposing the facilities. 

• Consider the volume of use, resource protection needs, and opportunities for public-private 

partnerships, geographic distribution, and operating costs, as well as public input, to 

determine the operation or closure of a site. 

• Consider adaptively managing recreation facilities and shifting limited program resources 

to prioritized sites. 

• Consider repurposing closed or unused facilities (e.g., fire towers, cabins, and recreation 

residences) as possible recreation rentals. 

• Consider posting at developed recreation sites public safety and stewardship information 

that includes a welcome to the site as well as rules and regulations on recreational 

activities. 

Dispersed Recreation

• Consider developing and implementing a plan for a forestwide trail system. 

• Consider programs and educational techniques (e.g., brochures, signs, websites, and social 

media) that promote visitor knowledge of: 

♦ Proper non-motorized and motorized trail use etiquette;

♦ “Leave no Trace” principles; 

♦ Fire prevention, especially how to properly extinguish campfires; and

♦ At-risk species habitat 

• Consider methods that would discourage the creation and use of non-motorized usercreated routes (e.g., direct recreation to NFS trails). 
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• Consider methods that would discourage dispersed camping near cultural sites, sensitive 

habitat for at-risk species, interpretive sites, and water resources.

• Consider barriers and signage to control unauthorized use in areas with a high potential for 

illegal cross-country motorized vehicle use. 

• At heavily used dispersed recreation sites, consider monitoring use and the following 

actions as potential mitigations: relocation, conversion to designated dispersed campsites, 

providing additional bathrooms, or restricting overnight use. 

• Consider posting information and barriers to redirect use and encourage public compliance 

in site rehabilitation efforts. 

• Where forage is limited, consider providing information to encourage overnight campers 

with saddle or pack animals to carry weed-free cubed, pelleted, or rolled feed to limit 

overuse of the vegetation and discourage establishment or spread of noxious weeds.

• Consider promoting clean camping practices (e.g., Leave No Trace, Pack-It-In, Pack-ItOut) at dispersed sites.

• Work with other entities to connect trails in Santa Fe NF with other trails on or through 

adjacent lands.

Recreation Special Uses

• Collaborate with New Mexico Game and Fish, New Mexico Council of Outfitters and 

Guides (NMCOG), and other New Mexico national forests to coordinate special-use 

authorization consistency for outfitters and guides. Consider convening an annual meeting 

between forest, State, and NMCOG representatives to discuss issues and management 

strategies.

• Consider creating a forestwide policy for administering common recreation special-use 

authorizations and non-compliance issues.

• Consider conducting capacity studies to determine the number of special-use authorizations 

that should be issued for popular commercial recreation activities.

• Consider directing applicants desiring special-use authorizations on heavily-used areas to 

alternative areas that can better support the desired activities.

Roads

• Collaborate with tribes to provide additional access to locations within the Santa Fe NF 

beyond what is available in the MVUM (e.g., through the Tribal Forest Protection Act). 

• Within project areas, prioritize decommissioning of roads and routes that are redundant, 

adversely impact flow regimes, or cause resource damage.

• Consider mitigating or closing roads that may be susceptible to landslides, rock falls, or 

other landslide movements and hazard trees. 

• Maintain relationships and communications with internal and external customers as well as 

partners. Consider notifying local governments, partners, adjacent land owners, permit 

holders, etc. of changes in road status and significant deviations in traffic patterns.

• Prioritize road system maintenance to provide for safe travel on all roads as well as to 

prevent or mitigate resource damage. Consider continuing current maintenance agreements 
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and entering into new agreements with other entities including Federal, State, tribal, and 

local government agencies, as well as private organizations and individuals.

Facilities

• Consider a comprehensive preventive maintenance program for buildings and infrastructure 

to minimize major unplanned repairs or replacements. 

• Prioritize infrastructure needs and investments for current need and long-term planning 

goals as described in facilities master plan, sustainable recreation plan, recreation facility 

analysis, and other resource planning documents, and health and safety requirements for 

employees and visiting public. All infrastructure with employee occupancy is subject to the 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards and will be evaluated regularly to 

protect the health and safety of the forest's employees, volunteers, and the visiting public. 

• Consider decommissioning potable water systems that no longer serve the current needs. 

• When work is being planned for administrative facilities and infrastructure that are historic 

resources, work with the heritage program and partnerships to administer and maintain 

facilities according to the facility master plan and any developed preservation maintenance 

plans (historic property plans). 

• Consider partnerships with local, academic, State, Federal, tribal, nongovernmental 

organizations, and special interest groups to conduct maintenance or to repurpose excess 

infrastructure as outlined in facilities master plans, sustainable recreation plan, recreational 

facility analysis, and other resource planning documents while following applicable 

standards and guidelines.

• During project planning and design, determine feasibility, cost, and benefits of using 

photovoltaic systems for administrative facilities, range improvements, resource 

monitoring, public safety, and recreation projects. 

Cross-Boundary Management

• Collaborative relationships with adjacent landowners, users, and public land managers are 

actively encouraged to develop contiguous road and trail systems across multiple 

ownerships. 

• Collaborative relationships with traditional forest-dependent communities help ensure 

traditional and cultural uses are incorporated into the management of any newly acquired 

lands. 

• Work with interested stakeholders to identify suitable parcels for acquisition and explore 

funding opportunities that leverage the Land and Water Conservation Fund, grant 

opportunities, and private financing. 

Land Status

• Consider encouraging the protection of existing public access rights and the acquisition of 

new public access opportunities to NFS lands.

• Consider updating the existing landownership adjustment plan, which will identify lands 

desirable for acquisition, as well as identify parcels or areas as suitable for exchange or 

sale.
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• On easements acquired from private landowners, consider prioritizing public access 

interests over road closures.

• Consider using the following criteria to prioritize boundary management surveys: 

♦ Where known litigation is pending, a title claim has been asserted, encroachments are 

suspected, or the probability of encroachment can be reduced. 

♦ Where significant resource values exist and use or manipulation of resources is 

planned (this includes the location, by survey, of easements necessary for resource 

management).

♦ To ensure that any project that occurs near or adjacent to any Forest Service boundary 

line does not proceed until the legal national forest boundary lines are properly located 

and physically marked in the field prior to any management action. 

♦ To help prevent boundary disputes and/or loss of valued NFS land and its resources. 

♦ When all remaining property boundary lines have not been previously surveyed.

Lands Special Uses

• Consult with local governments to synchronize forest decisions for authorizations, permits, 

leases, and easements with local planning and zoning ordinances where local and forest 

objectives are complementary. 

• Identify locations suitable for commercial filming for inclusion in a ‘menu’ of options 

subject to streamlined authorization.

• Recognize and grant priority status to applications for utility developments in existing 

transmission corridors that transmit energy from renewable sources. 

Renewable Energy

• Consider identifying areas suitable for solar and wind energy based on energy potential, 

access, and impacts on other resources. Encourage development of wind and solar energy 

in these areas.

• Consider encouraging renewable energy devel9pment in areas with the highest generation 

potential and fewest resources conflicts by:

♦ providing financial incentives to developers, including less frequent adjustments to rent 

and longer phase-ins for other fees; 

♦ allowing standard bonds as opposed to bonds based on full reclamation costs; 

♦ awarding leases in these areas through competitive processes; and

♦ streamlining the leasing process by, for example, granting applicants site control earlier.

• Upon receipt of application for development of solar and wind energy facilities, consider 

modification of road designations and relocation to accommodate development of these 

renewable energy-producing facilities. 

Solid Minerals 

• Prior to the destruction of access to adits, shafts, and other mine workings, consider 

providing opportunities to record mineral resource information when safe. 
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Caves

• Collaborate with other State and Federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and 

universities as well as local, regional, and national speleological societies to identify 

significant caves, obtain data, encourage research on karst environments and karstdependent species, and develop conservation strategies for protecting karst-dependent 

species and their habitats.

• Consider limiting logging, road construction, and other uses of heavy equipment above or 

in the vicinity of a cave with a thin roof, or the course of such a cave, if there is a potential 

for damage. 

• Consider the retention of vegetation in the vicinity of a cave or cave course to protect the 

cave’s microenvironment. 

• If timber harvesting is permitted near a cave, consider directionally felling trees away from 

a cave and its course. 

• Consider avoiding altering cave entrances or using them as disposal sites for slash, spoils, 

or other refuse. 

• Consider limiting management activities within any area draining into a cave as they may 

affect the cave ecosystem with sedimentation, soil sterilization, the addition of nutrients or 

other chemicals, including pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, or change the cave’s 

natural hydrology. 

• Consider avoiding the diversion of surface draining into caves.

• Consider limiting public access to prevent damage to cave resources or where there are 

unusual safety hazards. 

• Consider avoiding advertising the location of caves to the general public in printed 

documents or with signs. 

• Consider prohibiting camping and campfires within 200 feet of cave entrances, mines, and 

rock shelters used by at-risk species. 

• Consider developing prescribed burn plans to avoid or minimize smoke influences at or 

around at-risk species bat caves.

• Consider recognizing and documenting karst features when they are found to occur across 

the landscape; these features include caves, springs, sinkholes, and losing streams.

• Consider incorporating measures for protecting caves into project plans for road 

construction, timber harvest, tree planting, blasting near caves, and any activity that could 

change cave temperatures and drainage patterns.

Scenic Resources

• Cooperate with other entities, such as the New Mexico Department of Transportation, tribal 

and local governments, and commercial and private entities to protect scenic integrity on 

and adjacent to the national forest, including along scenic byways. 

• Consider developing public education opportunities and information about the importance 

and impacts of scenery. 
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• Consider providing the Scenery Management Inventory and Scenic Integrity Objective map 

to neighboring land management agencies for integration into projects and plans. These 

maps can be provided to others as interest is expressed for them.

• Consider best environmental design practices to advance environmentally sustainable 

design solutions (e.g., Sustainable Recreation Site Design Guide). 

• Consider using the Forest Service Built Environment Image Guide in construction or 

reconstruction of Forest Service facilities to ensure consistency with the scenic character of 

the Southwestern Region 

• Set priorities for scenic integrity rehabilitation considering the following: 

♦ Foreground (within 300 feet to 0.5 mile) of high public use areas has the highest 

priority; 

♦ Amount of deviation from the scenic integrity objectives; 

♦ Length of time it would take natural processes to reduce the visual impacts so that they 

meet the scenic integrity objectives; 

♦ Length of time it will take rehabilitation measures to meet the scenic integrity 

objectives; 

♦ Benefits to other resource management objectives to accomplish rehabilitation; 

♦ Restoration of scenic integrity in areas where it has been negatively impacted as other 

project work is accomplished or funds are available; and

♦ Where existing scenic integrity is lower than the scenic integrity map. 

• Prior to vegetation work in developed recreation sites or administrative facilities, consider 

developing vegetation management plans that outline activities to sustain the desired scenic 

character and key visual elements over time. 

• Consider the following types of activities to enhance scenic resources; restore grasslands 

and aspen, decommission or rehabilitate unneeded and unauthorized system roads and 

routes, remove unnecessary fences, and paint facilities along scenic byways. 

Wilderness Areas

• Collaborate with local partners, volunteers, Adopt-a-Trail organizations, and other entities 

to maintain wilderness, including trails maintenance and construction. 

• Coordinate with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish on management of wildlife 

within wilderness using techniques consistent with preserving wilderness character.

• Wilderness management is guided by the elements outlined in the Forest Service’s 

Wilderness Stewardship Performance (WSP) or other current guidance. This framework 

tracks how well the wilderness character is being preserved through measuring progress in 

10 elements selected by managers for each wilderness from a suite of possible options (e.g., 

management of fire, range, and cultural resources).

• Consider adaptive management and corrective measures if overuse causes unacceptable 

resource damage or unacceptable loss of opportunities for solitude. Use proactive 

approaches in identifying and addressing visitor use management challenges before effects 

to resources become unacceptable.
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• Prioritize the decommissioning, realignment, or reconstruction of trails in designated 

wilderness areas based on need, the amount of use it receives, and potential impacts on 

wilderness character and recreation opportunities.

• Consider using methods to prevent unauthorized use in wilderness such as education, law 

enforcement, barriers, road closures, and trail design. 

• Consider dispatching a Resource Advisor-Fire Line (REAF) or Resource Advisor (READ) 

with a specialized knowledge of wilderness, or wilderness program specialist in the absence 

of a Wilderness REAF or READ, to fires threatening wilderness. 

• Consider using interpretation and education to encourage visitors to adopt techniques, 

equipment, and ethics specific to wilderness. 

• Consider educating boaters on relevant safety and resource protection regulations before 

they enter the Chama River Canyon Wilderness. Post these regulations at river access 

points and include them in outfitter guide special-use authorizations. 

• Consider using news releases, postings, permit issuance, and individual visitor contacts to 

inform visitors of areas of concentrated resource damage and use restrictions.

• Consider rehabilitating human-caused disturbed areas (e.g., compacted sites) that are 

inconsistent with maintaining the natural appearance component of wilderness character. 

• Consider reintroducing extirpated (locally extinct) or restoring populations of native 

species when consistent with ecological conditions and social values.

• Consider clearly identifying wilderness boundaries through signage at official entry points 

and needed locations (such as informal access points), with features such as trail maps, 

boundary markers, and consistent signage. 

• Consider removing non-conforming structures from wilderness that are no longer in use 

and do not meet the desired conditions. 

Inventoried Roadless Areas

• Prioritize roads in IRAs for road decommissioning. 

Research Natural Areas

• Collaborate with appropriate agencies and universities regarding scientific opportunities of 

RNAs.

• Encourage partnerships and volunteers to provide onsite interpretation and monitoring for 

the RNAs.

• Consider marking the boundary of the RNA and using kiosks to educate the public about 

the RNA purpose, permitted, and prohibited activities. 

Wild and Scenic Rivers

• Coordinate planning and management of the boating aspects of the Rio Chama with the 

Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in consultation with the New Mexico Energy, 

Minerals, and Natural Resources Department; New Mexico Department of Game and Fish; 

and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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Jemez National Recreational Area

• Work with volunteer groups, partners, local governments, and adjacent landowners to: 

♦ protect the condition and character of the surrounding landscape, and 

♦ facilitate support that promotes ‘Leave No Trace’ principles and reduces user conflicts. 

Caja del Rio Wild Horse Territory

• Consider developing partnerships with other Federal Government agencies such as the 

Bureau of Indian Affairs, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Fish and Wildlife, 

the State of New Mexico, universities, cattle and range organizations, advocate 

organizations, Native American Tribes, adjacent landowners, and grazing permittees.

• Consider developing an AML and management plan, including coordinating with the BLM 

and the Pueblo of Cochiti. 

• Monitor horse numbers within active territories at least every 3 to 4 years.

Significant Caves

• Consider measures to prevent human-caused changes in cave ecosystem, water, sediment, 

nutrient, chemical, airflow, humidity, or temperature regimes.

Continental Divide National Scenic Trail

• Work with volunteer groups, partners, local governments, and adjacent landowners to 

maintain CDNST corridors, the condition and character of the surrounding landscape, and 

to facilitate CDNST user support that promotes ‘Leave No Trace’ principles and reduces 

user conflict.

• Consider working with partners to promote public education about the history, purpose, and 

benefits of the CDNST.

• Consider ensuring that incident management teams are aware of the CDNST as a resource 

to be protected during wildfire suppression activities. Consider clearly identifying fire 

suppression rehabilitation and long-term recovery of the CDNST corridor as high priorities 

for incident management teams, burned area emergency response teams, and post-fire 

rehabilitation interdisciplinary teams.

• Consider establishing appropriate visitor use levels for specific segments of the CDNST 

and taking appropriate actions if there is a trend away from the desired condition.

• Consider evaluating proposed trail relocations or new trail segments to locate the CDNST 

as close as possible to the geographic Continental Divide. 

• Consider identifying and pursuing opportunities to acquire lands or rights-of-way within or 

adjacent to the CDNST as they become available.

• Consider providing consistent signage along the CDNST corridor at road crossings to 

adequately identify the trail and including interpretation at trailheads.

• Consider using side and connecting trails to access points of interest or supplying points 

away from the CDNST. 
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National Historic Trails

• Rely on the cooperative management efforts and support of state, local, and private 

interests, including trail advisory councils, to ensure the protection of trail-related 

resources, to provide outdoor recreational opportunities, to maintain and build trail 

facilities, and to accomplish the objectives of interpretive programs with a focus on 

assisting visitors to understand and appreciate the trails’ history and significance. 

• Consider inventory and identification of intact Trail segments (including reroutes and 

alternative alignments) in coordination with the National Park Service and Bureau of Land 

Management as appropriate. These agencies are the administrative agencies for the Santa 

Fe Trail and El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, and the Old Spanish Trail, respectively. 

Consider working collaboratively to ensure that signs installed along the route follow the 

sign plan indicated in each trail’s comprehensive plan.

• Request a landscape architect or other scenery specialist to analyze all proposed projects for 

impacts to scenery in all distance zones (foreground, middleground and background) 

associated with a NHT corridor. 

• Consider implementing controlled surface use stipulations within the trail corridor on 

federal lands and on lands of other ownership where Federal subsurface rights exist.

National Recreation Trails

• Work with volunteer groups, partners, local governments, and adjacent landowners to: 

♦ maintain trail corridors, 

♦ maintain the condition and character of the surrounding landscape, and

♦ facilitate support by trail users that promotes ‘Leave No Trace’ principles and reduces 

user conflict.

Scenic Byways

• Work with the New Mexico Department of Transportation and county highway departments 

to manage hazard trees within the immediate foreground of scenic byways (up to 300 feet 

on either side). 

• Work with the New Mexico Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway 

Administration, and local communities to improve services and interpretive opportunities 

on byways. 

• Consider using signs, kiosks, exhibits, and other educational tools (e.g., brochures, auto 

tours, websites, and social media) to provide interpretive, educational, and safety 

information along scenic byways, in adjacent recreation sites, and at visitor contact points 

(e.g., ranger stations).

Caja Del Rio Wildlife and Cultural Interpretive Management Area

• Use cross-agency collaboration (e.g., National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, 

Cochiti Pueblo, and Los Alamos National Laboratory) and tribal consultation to facilitate 

wildlife connectivity and protection of important archaeological, cultural and sacred sites. 

• Consider closures (e.g.,for activities such as target shooting or drone use) to protect wildlife 

and maintain increased potential for wildlife viewing opportunities. 
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• Consider conducting condition assessments and developing stabilization plans on 

significant ancestral pueblos.

• Consider discouraging take-off and landing of drones in or near canyons to avoid effects to 

at-risk wildlife species.

Cañada Bonita Recommended Research Natural Area

• Collaborate with appropriate agencies and universities regarding scientific opportunities.

• Encourage partnerships and volunteers to provide onsite interpretation and monitoring. 

• Consider marking the boundary of the Cañada Bonito MA and using kiosks to educate the 

public about the MA purpose, and permitted and prohibited activities. 

Cultural Interpretive Management Areas 

• Coordinate with tribes, pueblos, and local communities to discuss local access and needs on 

the sites; construction of trails; and development of interpretive materials.

• Consider providing a Forest Service representative (e.g., staff, law enforcement, volunteers, 

tribal members) at the sites during high-use holiday weekends to ensure site protection as 

well as provide interpretive information. 

• Consider an intensive cultural resource survey of the entire management area to document 

the full extent of the site itself and better understand its context in the surrounding 

landscape.

• Consider developing a management plan for the interpretation and stabilization of each site, 

including: 

♦ A baseline condition and stabilization needs assessment of the sites, and 

♦ Periodic follow-up assessments every 2years to evaluate the impacts to the sites.

Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers

• Opportunities for enhancing outstandingly remarkable values may be considered in all 

project management activities within an eligible wild and scenic river corridor. 
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Appendix E. Relevant Laws, Regulations, and 

Policy

The operating environment for managing NFS lands comes from a variety of sources. This 

appendix contains a partial listing of relevant statues, regulations, policies, and agreements which 

impact land management on the Santa Fe NF. Santa Fe NF projects and activities are developed to 

be consistent with the direction found in the plan, as well as applicable laws, regulations, and 

executive orders. Other relevant sources that provide varying levels of guidance include, but are 

not limited to, Forest Service Handbooks and Manuals, programmatic agreements, memoranda of 

understanding, memoranda of agreement, and existing decisions. 

Federal and State Statutes 

The following is a partial list of relevant laws which have been enacted by Congress. A Federal

statute, or law, is an act or bill which has become part of the legal code through passage by

Congress and approval by the President (or via congressional override). Although not always 

specified below, many of these laws have been amended. 

American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) as amended (42 U.S.C. 1996) 

Protects and preserves for American Indians their inherent right of freedom to believe, express, and 

exercise the traditional religions of the American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, and Native Hawaiians, including 

but not limited to access to sites, use, and possession of sacred objects and the freedom to worship through 

ceremonial and traditional rites.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Provides a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against 

individuals with disabilities; for clear, strong, consistent, and enforceable standards addressing 

discrimination against individuals with disabilities; to ensure that the Federal Government plays a central 

role in enforcing the standards established in this act on behalf of individuals with disabilities; and to 

invoke the sweep of congressional authority, including the power to enforce the fourteenth amendment and 

to regulate commerce, in order to address the major areas of discrimination faced by people with 

disabilities.

Anderson-Mansfield Reforestation and Revegetation Act of October 11, 1949 

Provides for the reforestation and revegetation of National Forest System lands and other lands

under the administration or control of the Forest Service.

Antiquities Act of 1906 (16 U.S.C. 431-433) 

Prevents the appropriation, excavation, injury, or destruction of any historic or prehistoric ruin or 

monument, or any object of antiquity, situated on lands owned or controlled by the United States, without 

permission. Provides for permits, for misdemeanor-level penalties for unauthorized use, and authorizes the 

President to declare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other 

objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated upon lands owned or controlled by the United States 

to be national monuments, and to reserve as a part thereof parcels of land needed for the proper care and 

management of the objects to be protected. The Archaeological Resources Protection Act has replaced the 

Antiquities Act as the authority for special-use permits if the resource involved is 100 years old or greater.
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Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974 (AHPA) (16 U.S.C. 469) 

This act is also known as the Archaeological Recovery Act. AHPA amended and expanded the Reservoir 

Salvage Act of 1960 and was enacted to complement the Historic Sites Act of 1935 by providing for the 

preservation of significant scientific, historical, and archaeological data which might be lost or destroyed as 

the result of the construction of a federally authorized dam or other construction activity. AHPA also 

allows for any Federal agency responsible for a construction project to appropriate a portion of project 

funds for archaeological survey, recovery, analysis, and publication of results.

Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 as amended (ARPA) (16 U.S.C. 470 aa et seq.) 

The act establishes permit requirements for removal or excavation of archaeological resources from Federal 

and Indian lands. Provides criminal and civil penalties for the unauthorized excavation, removal, damage, 

alteration, defacement, or the attempted unauthorized removal, damage, alteration, or defacement of any 

archaeological resource more than 100 years of age found on Federal or Indian lands. Prohibits the sale, 

purchase, exchange, transportation, receipt, or offering of any archaeological resource obtained from public 

lands or Indian lands. The act further directs Federal land managers to survey land under their control for 

archaeological resources and create public awareness programs concerning archaeological resources.

Section 470ii (c): States that “each federal land manager shall establish a program to increase public 

awareness of the significance of the archaeological resources located on public lands and Indian lands and 

the need to protect such resources.” It further directs that an annual report of such progress will be 

submitted to Congress.

Section 470mm: Directs Federal agencies to: 

“develop plans for surveying lands under their control to determine the nature and extent 

of archaeological resources on those lands; prepare a schedule for surveying lands that 

are likely to contain the most scientifically valuable archaeological resources; and 

develop documents for the report of suspected violations of this act and establish when 

and how those documents are to be completed by officers, employees, and agents of their 

respective agencies.”

Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940, as amended 

The act prohibits anyone, without a permit issued by the Secretary of the Interior, from “taking” bald and 

golden eagles, including their parts, nests, or eggs. The act defines “take” as “pursue, shoot, shoot at, 

poison, wound, kill, capture, trap, collect, molest or disturb.” Disturbance includes impacts that result from 

human-induced alterations in the nesting area even when eagles are not present. Sections 22.26—28 allow 

take of bald and golden eagles or their nests where it is unavoidable and where it is compatible with the 

continued preservation of the eagle. Permits for take are issued based on certain criteria such as, but not 

limited to, certifications, reporting, and monitoring.

Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act of July 22, 1937, as amended 

Authorized Federal Government to purchase invaluable land and rehabilitate to the forest needs. It also 

helped tenant farms take care of their land. 

Clarke-McNary Act of 1924 

Allowed for easier purchase of land intended for Forest Service use, and gave a strong action for state 

offices to open to represent the Forest Service. 

Clean Air Act of August 7, 1977, as amended (1977 and 1990) 42 U.S.C. §7401 et seq. (1970) 

Enacted to protect and enhance the quality of the Nation’s air resources; to initiate and accelerate a national 

research and development program to achieve the prevention and control of air pollution; to provide 
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technical and financial assistance to state and local governments in connection with the development and 

execution of their air pollution prevention and control programs; and to encourage and assist the 

development and operation of regional air pollution prevention and control programs. 

Clean Water Act (see Federal Water Pollution Control Act) 

Clean Water Restoration Act of 1966 

Authorizes the Secretary of Interior to conduct a comprehensive study of the effects of pollution, including 

sedimentation, sport and commercial fishing, recreation, water supply and power, and other specified uses 

Common Varieties of Mineral Materials Act of July 31, 1947

Authorizes the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture, under such rules and regulations as they may 

prescribe, to dispose of common variety mineral materials (including but not limited to sand, stone, gravel, 

pumice, pumicite, cinders, and clay) and vegetative materials (including but not limited to yucca, 

manzanita, mesquite, cactus, and timber or other forest products) on public lands of the United States, if the 

disposal of such materials is not otherwise expressly authorized by law, is not expressly prohibited by laws 

of the United States, and would not be detrimental to the public interest.

Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of July 1, 1978

Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to assist in the establishment of a coordinated and cooperative 

Federal, state, and local forest stewardship program for the management of non-Federal forest lands and 

forest lands in foreign countries.

Emergency Flood Prevention Act (Agricultural Credit Act) of August 4, 1978 

Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to undertake emergency measures for runoff retardation and soil 

erosion prevention, in cooperation with landowners and users, as the Secretary deems necessary to 

safeguard lives and property from floods, drought, and the products of erosion on any watershed whenever 

fire, flood, or other natural occurrence is causing or has caused a sudden impairment of that watershed.

Endangered American Wilderness Act of 1978

Designated 50,000 acres as the Chama River Canyon Wilderness in the SF and Carson National Forest 

which was part of a bigger concern for preservation of wildlife and quality of habitats. 

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended

Authorizes the determination and listing of species as endangered and threatened; prohibits unauthorized 

taking, possession, sale, and transport of endangered species; authorizes the assessment of civil and 

criminal penalties for violating the act or regulations; and, authorizes the payment of rewards to anyone 

furnishing information leading to arrest and conviction for any violation of the act or any regulation issued 

thereunder. Section 7 of the act requires Federal agencies to use their authorities to carry out programs for 

the conservation of endangered and threatened species and to insure that any action authorized, funded, or 

carried out by them is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of listed species or adversely modify 

their critical habitat.
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Section 4 of the act directs the development and implementation of recovery plans for threatened and 

endangered species and the designation of critical habitat. Several species listed under the act are found on 

the Santa Fe NF, some with recovery plans and some with designated critical habitat. Those with a 

recovery plan and/or a critical habitat designation are listed below:

Mexican Spotted Owl Recovery Plan

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Designation of Critical Habitat for the Mexican 

Spotted Owl; Final Rule

Final Recovery Plan Southwestern Willow Flycatcher

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Southwestern Willow 

Flycatcher; Final Rule

Energy Independence and Security Act of December 19, 2007 

Reinforces the energy reduction goals for federal agencies put forth in Executive Order 13423, as well as 

introduces more aggressive requirements. The three key provisions enacted are the

Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards, the Renewable Fuel Standard, and the appliance/lighting 

efficiency standards.

Energy Policy Act of 2005 

Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to ensure timely action on oil and gas permits, improve collection and 

retrieval of oil and gas information, and improve inspection and enforcement of permit terms (Section 362).

Energy Security Act of June 30, 1980 

Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make available timber resources of the National Forest System, 

in accordance with appropriate timber appraisal and sale procedures, for use by biomass energy projects.

Environmental Quality Act (1970)

This act sets forth a national policy for the environment which provides for the enhancement of 

environmental quality. Congress recognizes there has been changes to the environment and sets out to 

improve quality and quantity of healthy environments across the United States. 

Federal Advisory Committee Act of October 6, 1972 

Sets standards and uniform procedures to govern the establishment, operation, administration, and duration 

of advisory committees.

Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of November 18, 1988 

Established requirements for the management and protection of caves and their resources on Federal lands, 

including allowing land managing agencies to withhold the location of caves from the public, and requiring 

permits for any removal or collecting activities in caves on Federal lands.

Federal Insecticide, Rodenticide, and Fungicide Act of October 21, 1972 

Requires the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to prescribe standards for the 

certification of individuals authorized to use or supervise the use of any pesticide that is classified for 

restricted use; regulates the sale of restricted use pesticides; and provides penalties for the unauthorized use 

or sale of restricted use pesticides.

Federal Land Policy and Management Act of October 21, 1976

Requires that public lands be managed in a manner that will protect the quality of scientific, scenic, 

historical, ecological, environmental, air and atmospheric, water resource, and archaeological values; that, 

where appropriate, will preserve and protect certain public lands in their natural condition; that will provide 
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food and habitat for fish and wildlife and domestic animals; and that will provide for outdoor recreation and 

human occupancy and use. Also states that the United States shall receive fair market value of the use of 

the public lands and their resources unless otherwise provided for by law.

Federal Noxious Weed Act, 1974, as amended 

Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to designate plants as noxious weeds by regulation; to prohibit the 

movement of all such weeds in interstate or foreign commerce except under permit; to inspect, seize and 

destroy products, and to quarantine areas, if necessary to prevent the spread of such weeds; and to 

cooperate with other Federal, state and local agencies, farmers associations, and private individuals in 

measures to control, eradicate, prevent, or retard the spread of such weeds.

Federal Power Act of June 10, 1920 

Created federal regulations concerning hydroelectric projects and the Federal Energy Regulatory 

Committee (FERC) was deemed as the licensing authority of future plants. 

Federal-State Cooperation for Soil Conservation Act of December 22, 1944 

Authorized the adoption of eleven watershed improvement programs in various states for the improvement 

of water runoff, water flow retardation, and soil erosion prevention.

Federal Water Pollution Control Act and Amendments of 1972 (Clean Water Act) Public Law 92-

500, as amended in 1977 (Public Law 95-217) and 1987 (Public Law 100-4) 

Enacted to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and ecological integrity of the Nation’s waters. 

Provides for measures to prevent, reduce, and eliminate water pollution; recognizes, preserves, and protects 

the responsibilities and rights of States to prevent, reduce, and eliminate pollution, and to plan the 

development and use (including restoration, preservation, and enhancement) of land and water resources; 

and provides for Federal support and aid of research relating to the prevention, reduction, and elimination 

of pollution, and Federal technical services and financial aid to state and interstate agencies and 

municipalities for the prevention, reduction, and elimination of pollution.

Established goals for the elimination of water pollution; required all municipal and industrial wastewater to 

be treated before being discharged into waterways; increased Federal assistance for municipal treatment 

plant construction; strengthened and streamlined enforcement policies; and expanded the Federal role while 

retaining the responsibility of states for day-to-day implementation of the law. In New Mexico, the 

designated agency for enforcement of the Clean Water Act is the New Mexico Environmental Department 

(NMED). Relevant sections of the Clean Water Act:

CWA Sections 208 and 319: recognizes the need for control strategies for non-point source pollution.

CWA Section 303(d): requires waterbodies with water quality determined to be either impaired (not fully 

meeting water quality standards for designated uses) or threatened (likely to violate standards in the near 

future) to be compiled by NMED in a separate list, which must be submitted to EPA every 2 years. These 

waters are targeted and scheduled for development of water quality improvement strategies on a priority 

basis.

CWA Section 305(b): requires that states assess the condition of their waters and produce a biennial report 

summarizing the findings.

Federal Water Project Recreation Act of July 9, 1965 

Requires that recreation and fish and wildlife enhancement opportunities be considered in the planning and 

development of Federal water development.
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Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act of September 15, 1960 

Requires the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture, in cooperation with state agencies, to plan, 

develop, maintain, and coordinate programs for the conservation and rehabilitation of wildlife, fish, and

game on public lands under their jurisdiction.

Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of March 10, 1934 

Authorizes the Secretaries of Agriculture and Commerce to provide assistance to and cooperate with other 

Federal and state agencies to protect, rear, stock, and increase the supply of game and fur-bearing animals, 

as well as to study the effects of domestic sewage, trade wastes, and other polluting substances on wildlife. 

The Act also authorizes the preparation of plans to protect wildlife resources, the completion of wildlife 

surveys on public lands, and the acceptance by Federal agencies of funds or lands for related purposes 

provided that land donations receive the consent of the state in which they are located.

Food, Conservation & Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) Public Law 110-246 Title VIII –

Forestry, Subtitle A, B, and C. 

Subtitle A: Amendment to the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978. Establishes national priorities 

for private forest conservation, a community forest and open space conservation program, and a Secretary 

level forest resources coordinating committee.

Subtitle B: Cultural and Heritage Cooperation Authority. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to 

provide forest products to Indian tribes for traditional and cultural purposes; to protect the confidentiality of 

certain information, including information that is culturally sensitive to Indian tribes; to utilize National 

Forest System land for the reburial of human remains and cultural items, including human remains and 

cultural items repatriated under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act; prevent the 

unauthorized disclosure of information regarding human remains or cultural items reburied on National 

Forest System land; to ensure access to National Forest System land, to the maximum extent practicable, by 

Indians and Indian tribes for traditional and cultural purposes; to increase the availability of Forest Service 

programs and resources to Indian tribes in support of the policy of the United States to promote tribal 

sovereignty and self-determination; and to strengthen support for the policy of the United States of 

protecting and preserving the traditional, cultural, and ceremonial rites and practices of Indian tribes, in 

accordance with the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (42 U.S.C. 1996).

Subtitle C: Amendments to Other Forestry Related Laws. Amends the Lacey Act to include the illegal 

taking of plants, establishes an Emergency Forest Restoration Program, and renews authority and funding 

for the Healthy Forest Reserve Program.

Forest Highways Act of August 27, 1958 

Requires that funds available for forest development roads and trails be used by the Secretary of

Agriculture to pay for the costs of construction and maintenance thereof, including roads and 

Appendix D. Relevant Laws, Regulations, and Policies, and Other Sources of Information trails on 

experimental and other areas under Forest Service administration, or for adjacent vehicular parking areas 

and sanitary, water, and fire control facilities. Authorizes the Secretary of

Agriculture to enter into contracts with a state or civil subdivision thereof, and issue such regulations, as he 

deems desirable. See also Highways (23 USC Chapter 205 Forest development roads and trails).

Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of August 17, 1974 as amended by 

National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1600-1614, 472a) 

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to prepare a renewable resource assessment every 10 years; to transmit 

a recommended renewable resources program to the President every 5 years; to develop, maintain, and, as 
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appropriate, revise land and resource management plans for units of the National Forest System; and to 

ensure that the development and administration of the resources of the National Forest System are in full 

accord with the concepts of multiple use and sustained yield.

Freedom of Information Act of November 21, 1974 

Governs which government records are released to the public either automatically or upon eequest.

Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (H.R. 1904) 

Purposes are to reduce wildfire risk to communities and municipal water supplies through collaborative 

hazardous fuels reduction projects; to assess and reduce the risk of catastrophic fire or insect or disease 

infestation; to enhance efforts to protect watersheds and address threats to forest and rangeland health 

(including wildfire) across the landscape; to protect, restore, and enhance forest ecosystem components 

such as biological diversity, threatened/endangered species habitats, and enhanced productivity.

Granger-Thye Act of 1950 

Authorizes range improvements from appropriated funds and allows the Forest Service to authorize grazing 

advisory boards and to issue grazing permits for periods not exceeding 10 years. 

Highway Safety Act of 1966 (S. 3052) 

The Department of Transportation was introduced for each regulatory state, which implemented driver 

education, license regulations, vehicle registration, and roadway and highway maintenance. 

Historic Sites Act of 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461) 

Establishes a policy to preserve for public use historic sites, buildings, and objects of national significance 

for the benefit of the people. Authorizes the National Park Service’s National Historic Landmarks Program.

Intergovernmental Cooperation Act of October 16, 1968 (31 USC 6505) 

The act permits Federal agencies to provide specialized or technical services to state and local units of 

government.

Joint Surveys of Watershed Areas Act of September 5, 1962

Authorizes the Army and the Secretary of Agriculture to jointly investigate watershed areas for flood 

prevention, conservation, development and utilization. 

Knutson-Vandenberg Act of June 9, 1930 

Allowed the forest to hold timber companies accountable for the reforestation of heavily timber used 

forested areas. 

Land Acquisition Act of March 3, 1925 

Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to purchase land for national forest headquarters, ranger stations, 

dwellings, or other sites required for the effective performance of the authorized activities of the Forest 

Service.

Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of September 3, 1964 

Authorizes the appropriation of funds for Federal assistance to states in planning, acquisition, and 

development of needed land and water areas and facilities and for the Federal acquisition and development 

of certain lands and other areas for the purposes of preserving, developing, and assuring accessibility to 

outdoor recreation resources.
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Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918

Makes it unlawful to “take” migratory birds, their eggs, feathers, or nests. A migratory bird is any species 

or family of birds that live, reproduce, or migrate within or across international borders at some point 

during their annual life cycle. Presidential executive order number 13186 additionally directs Federal 

agencies to integrate bird conservation into agency activities and to design migratory bird habitat and 

conservation principles and practices into agency environmental planning.

Mineral Leasing Act of February 25, 1920 

Provides that the deposits of certain minerals on land owned by the United States shall be subject to lease to 

citizens of the United States, provided royalties on such deposits are paid to the United States.

Mining Claims Rights Restoration Act of August 11, 1955 

States that all public lands belonging to the United States which have been withdrawn or reserved for 

power development or power sites shall be open to entry for location and patent of mining claims and 

mineral development, subject to certain conditions.

Mining and Minerals Policy Act of December 31, 1970 

States that it is the policy of the Federal Government to foster and encourage the development of 

economically sound and stable domestic mining, minerals, metal, and mineral reclamation industries; the 

orderly and economic development of domestic mineral resources, reserves, and reclamation of metals and 

minerals to help assure satisfaction of industrial, security, and environmental needs; mining, mineral, and 

metallurgical research to promote the wise and efficient use of our natural and reclaimable mineral 

resources; and the study and development of methods for the disposal, control, and reclamation of mineral 

waste products and the reclamation of mined land.

Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of June 12, 1960 (16 U.S.C. 528-531) 

States that it is the policy of Congress that the national forests are established and shall be administered for 

outdoor recreation, range, timber, watershed, and wildlife and fish purposes, and authorizes and directs the 

Secretary of Agriculture to develop and administer the renewable surface resources of the national forests 

for the multiple use and sustained yield of products and services.

National Environmental Policy Act of January 1, 1970 

Directs all Federal agencies to consider and report the potential environmental impacts of proposed Federal 

actions and established the Council on Environmental Quality.

National 1990 Farm Bill (Title XII – Forest Stewardship Act) Act of November 28, 1990

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a competitive forestry, natural resources, and 

environmental grants program, and provides for other research programs.

National Forest Management Act of October 22, 1976 

The National Forest Management Act reorganized, expanded, and otherwise amended the Forest and 

Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, which called for the management of renewable 

resources on National Forest System lands. The National Forest Management Act requires the Secretary of 

Agriculture, public agencies, or a combination of these methods. The act also authorizes the secretary to 

grant rights-of-way and easements over National Forest System lands.

National Forest Roads and Trails Act of October 13, 1964 

Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to provide for the acquisition, construction, and maintenance of 

forest development roads within and near the national forests through the use of appropriated funds, 
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deposits from timber sale purchasers, cooperative financing with other public agencies, or a combination of 

these methods. The act also authorizes the secretary to grant rights-of-way and easements over National 

Forest System lands.

National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 as amended (NHPA) (16 U.S.C. 470) 

Sets forth the Federal Government’s policy to preserve and protect historical and cultural resources. This 

act states that the historical and cultural foundations of the Nation should be preserved as a living part of 

the Nation’s community life and development in order to give a sense of orientation to the American 

people. Directs all Federal agencies to take into account the effects of their undertakings (actions, financial 

support, and authorizations) on properties included in or eligible for the National Register. Establishes 

inventory, nomination, protection, and preservation responsibilities for federally owned historic properties. 

As amended extends the policy in the Historic Sites Act to State and local historical sites as well as those of 

national significance, expands the National Register of Historic Places, establishes the Advisory Council on 

Historic Preservation and the State Historic Preservation Officers, and requires agencies to designate 

Federal preservation officers. Establishes criteria for designating tribal historic preservation officers to 

assume the functions of a state historic preservation officer on tribal Lands.

Section 101(a) (8): Gives the Secretary of the Interior the responsibility and authority to assess “significant 

threats” to properties included in, or eligible for inclusion in, the National Register in order to determine the 

kinds of properties that may be threatened; ascertain the causes of the threats; and develop and submit to 

the President and Congress recommendations for appropriate action. 

Section 106: Requires each agency to take into account the effects of its actions on historic properties prior 

to approving expenditure of Federal funds on an undertaking or prior to issuing any license. Furthermore, 

an agency must afford the State Historic Preservation Office, the Tribal Historic Preservation Office, and 

the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (an independent Federal agency created by the National 

Historic Preservation Act) an opportunity to comment on any of the agency’s undertakings that could affect 

historic properties. 

Section 110 (a)(2)(A): Directs Federal agencies to establish “a preservation program for the identification, 

evaluation, and nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, and protection of historic 

properties” to “ensure that such properties under the jurisdiction or control of the agency are identified, 

evaluated, and nominated to the National Register.” This would require development of a schedule for the 

identification, evaluation, and nomination of unrecorded sites. 

National Trails System Act of October 2, 1968 (16 U.S.C.1241-1251) 

Created a series of national trails “to promote the preservation of, public access to, travel within, and 

enjoyment and appreciation of the open-air, outdoor areas and historic resources of the Nation.” The Act 

and its subsequent amendments authorized a national system of trails and defined four categories of 

national trails. National Scenic Trails (NST) provide outdoor recreation and the conservation and 

enjoyment of significant scenic, historic, natural, or cultural qualities; National Historic Trails (NHT) 

follow travel routes of national historic significance; National Recreation Trails (NRT) are in, or reasonably 

accessible to, urban areas on Federal, state, or private lands; and Connecting or Side Trails provide access 

to or among the other classes of trails.

Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA) (25 USC

3001) 

Provides a process for Federal agencies to return Native American human remains, funerary objects, and 

sacred objects to the ancestors and appropriate Native American tribe. Includes provisions for the 

intentional excavation and unanticipated discovery of Native American cultural items on Federal and tribal 

lands, and penalties for noncompliance and illegal trafficking. The act requires agencies to identify 
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holdings of such remains and objects and to work with appropriate Native American groups toward their 

repatriation.

New Mexico Wilderness Act of 1980 (16 U.S.C. §1132 et seq.) 

Authorized the designation of a few wilderness areas in New Mexico following the wilderness act of 1964. 

Additional land was also added to existing wilderness areas. 

North American Wetlands Conservation Act of December 13, 1989 

Authorizes a wetlands habitat program that provides grants to protect and manage habitats for migratory 

birds and other wetland wildlife in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. 

Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act of 1987 

Amended the Mineral Lands Leasing Act of 1920 regarding competitive leasing of oil and gas for onshore 

Federal lands. Sets forth guidelines for the promulgation of regulations regarding lease sales, and prohibits 

the issuance of oil or gas leases upon certain lands allocated or designated as wilderness areas.

Organic Administration Act of June 4, 1897 

Authorizes the President to modify or revoke any instrument creating a national forest; states that no 

national forest may be established except to improve and protect the forest within its boundaries, 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. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to 

promulgate rules and regulations to regulate the use and occupancy of the national forests.

Pipelines Act of February 25, 1920 

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior or appropriate agency head to grant rights-of-way through any 

Federal lands for pipeline purposes for the transportation of oil, natural gas, synthetic liquid or gaseous 

fuels, or any refined product produced therefrom to any applicant possessing the qualifications provided in 

the act.

Public Buildings Cooperative Use Act of 1976 

Authorizes the Federal government to acquire and utilize space in suitable buildings of historic, 

architectural, or cultural significance, unless use of such space would not prove feasible and prudent 

compared with available alternatives; to encourage the location of commercial, cultural, educational, and 

recreational facilities and activities within public buildings; to provide and maintain space, facilities, and 

activities, to the extent practicable, which encourages public access to and stimulates public pedestrian 

traffic around, into, and through public buildings, permitting cooperative improvements to and uses of the 

area between the building and the street, so that such activities complement and supplement commercial, 

cultural, educational, and recreational resources in the neighborhood of public buildings; and to encourage 

the public use of public buildings for cultural, educational, and recreational activities.

Public Rangelands Improvement Act of October 25, 1978 

Establishes and reaffirms the national policy and commitment to inventory and identify current public 

rangeland conditions and trends; manage, maintain and improve the condition of public rangelands so that 

they become as productive as feasible for all rangeland values in accordance with management objectives 

and the land use planning process; charge a fee for public grazing use which is equitable; continue the 

policy of protecting wild free roaming horses and burros from capture, branding, harassment, or death, 

while at the same time facilitating the removal and disposal of excess wild free roaming horses and burros 

which pose a threat to themselves, their habitat, and to other rangeland values.
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Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended 

States that it is national policy that the Federal government plays a leadership role in promoting the 

employment of individuals with disabilities, and in assisting states and providers of services in fulfilling the 

aspirations of such individuals with disabilities for meaningful and gainful employment and independent 

living.

Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) (42 U.S.C. § 2000bb) 

Government shall not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion even if the burden results from a 

rule of general applicability, except when the government demonstrates that application of the burden to the 

person is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest; and is the least restrictive means of 

furthering that compelling governmental interest.

Rescission Act of 1995

Directs the Forest Service to establish and adhere to a schedule for analysis and decisions on all grazing 

allotments where National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) compliance is required. 

Notwithstanding any other law, term grazing permits which expire or are waived before the NEPA analysis 

and decision pursuant to the schedule developed by individual Forest Service System units, shall be issued 

on the same terms and conditions and for the full term of the expired or waived permit. Upon completion of 

the scheduled NEPA analysis and decision for the allotment, the terms and conditions of existing grazing 

permits may be modified, if necessary to conform to such NEPA analysis and subsequent decision.

Safe Drinking Water Amendments of November 18, 1977 

Authorizes appropriations for research conducted by the EPA relating to safe drinking water; Federal grants 

to states for public water system supervision programs and underground water resource protection 

programs; and grants to assist special studies relating to the provision of a safe supply of drinking water. 

Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 

Through this law the Forest Service gives rural communities the means to build and improve schools, and 

provide road maintenance, emergency services, and conservation programs for their citizens. Thus, 

communities are no longer dependent on Federal timber sales from national forests to improve local 

schools and roads.

Sikes Act of October 18, 1974, as amended 

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, in cooperation with the state 

agencies, to develop, maintain, and coordinate programs on public lands under their jurisdiction for the 

conservation and rehabilitation of wildlife, fish, and game. Provides that no individual will be permitted to 

hunt, trap, or fish on any public land within the State which is subject to a conservation and rehabilitation 

program under this section unless he/she has a valid public land management stamp. Makes provisions for 

the issuance and sale of such stamps.

Small Tracts Act of January 22, 1983 

Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to sell, exchange, or interchange by quitclaim deed all right, title 

and interest, including the mineral estate, of the United States in and to certain lands within the national 

forest when he/she determines it to be in the public interest.

Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of November 18, 1977 

Provides for a continuing appraisal of the United States’ soil, water and related resources, including fish 

and wildlife habitats, and a soil and water conservation program to assist landowners and land users in 

furthering soil and water conservation. 
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Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of August 3, 1977 

Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into agreements with landowners, providing for land 

stabilization, erosion, and sediment control, and reclamation through conservation treatment, including 

measures for the conservation and development of soil, water, woodland, wildlife, and recreation resources, 

and agricultural productivity of such lands.

Timber Exportation Act of April 12, 1926 

Authorizes the exportation of lawfully cut timber from the state or territory where grown if the supply of 

timber for local use will not be endangered, and authorizes the Secretary to issue rules and regulations to 

carry out the provisions of the act.

Transfer Act of February 1, 1905 

Transferred the management and control of the Forest Reserves from the General Land Office (GLO) in the 

Department of the Interior to the Bureau of Forestry in the Department of Agriculture.

Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-278) 

Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an agreement or 

contract with Indian tribes meeting certain criteria to carry out projects to protect Indian forest land.

U.S. Mining Laws (Public Domain Lands) Act of May 10, 1872 

Provides that all valuable mineral deposits in lands belonging to the United States, both surveyed and 

unsurveyed, are free and open to exploration and purchase, and the lands in which they are found to 

occupation and purchase by citizens of the United States and those who have declared their intention to 

become such, under regulations prescribed by law, and according to the local customs or rules of miners, so 

far as the same are applicable and not inconsistent with the laws of the United States. There are a number of 

acts which modify the mining laws as applied to local areas by prohibiting entry altogether or by limiting or 

restricting the use which may be made of the surface and the right, title, or interest which may pass through 

patent

Water Quality Improvement Act of April 3, 1965 

Authorizes greater water quality standards to be implemented and regulations that reduce water pollutants. 

Water Resources Planning Act of July 22, 1965 

Encourages the conservation, development, and utilization of water and related land resources of the United 

States on a comprehensive and coordinated basis by the Federal Government, states, localities, and private 

enterprises.

Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of August 4, 1954 

Establishes policy that the Federal government should cooperate with states and their political subdivisions, 

soil or water conservation districts, flood prevention or control districts, and other local public agencies for 

the purposes of preventing erosion, floodwater, and sediment damages in the watersheds of the rivers and 

streams of the United States; furthering the conservation, development, utilization, and disposal of water, 

and the conservation and utilization of land; and thereby preserving, protecting, and improving the Nation's 

land and water resources and the quality of the environment.

Weeks Law of 1911 as amended (at 16 U.S.C. 515, 552) 

Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into agreements with States for the purpose of conserving 

forests and water supply, and, to acquire forested, cutover, or denuded lands within the watersheds of 
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navigable streams to protect the flow of these streams or for the production of timber, with the consent of 

the state in which the land lies.

Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of December 15, 1971, as amended by Federal 

Protects wild free roaming horses and burros from capture, branding, harassment, or death; and states they 

are to be considered in the area where presently found an integral part of the natural system of the public 

lands.

Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of October 2, 1968 

Instituted a National Wild and Scenic Rivers System by designating the initial components of that system, 

and by prescribing the methods by which and standards according to which additional components may be 

added to the system from time to time.

Wilderness Act of September 3, 1964 

Established a National Wilderness Preservation System to be composed of federally owned areas 

designated by Congress as “wilderness areas” and administered for the use and enjoyment of the American 

people in such manner as will leave them unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as wilderness. Provides 

for the protection of these areas, the preservation of their wilderness character, and for the gathering and 

dissemination of information regarding their use and enjoyment as wilderness. States that no Federal lands 

shall be designated as “wilderness areas” except as provided for in the act or by a subsequent act.

Santa Fe NF wilderness areas are designated under the following authorities:

• New Mexico Wilderness Act of 1980 (Public Law 96-550) designates Pecos Wilderness, and San 

Pedro Parks Wilderness.

• Endangered American Wilderness Act of 1978 (Public law 95-237) designates the Chama River 

Canyon Wilderness area.

• The Wilderness Act of 1964 (Public law 88-577) adds 55,000 acres to Pecos Wilderness areas.

Youth Conservation Corps Act of August 13, 1970 

Establishes a Youth Conservation Corps whom the Secretaries of the Interior or Agriculture may employ 

without regard to the civil service or classification laws, rules, or regulations for the purpose of developing, 

preserving, or maintaining the lands and waters of the United States.

Executive Orders 

A partial listing of relevant executive orders follows. Executive orders are official mandates 

presented by the President of the United States and go through judicial review. An executive order 

may be used to reassign functions among executive branch agencies. It may adopt guidelines, 

rules of conduct, or rules of procedure for government employees or units of government. 

EO 11514 issued March 5, 1970, as amended by E.O. 11991 issued May 24, 1977. Protection and 

enhancement of environmental quality (35 FR 4247, March 7, 1970)

This order states that the Federal Government shall provide leadership in protecting and enhancing the 

quality of the Nation's environment to sustain and enrich human life. This order provides for monitoring, 

evaluation, and control on a continuing basis of the activities of each Federal agency so as to protect and 

enhance the quality of the environment.
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EO 11593 Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment, 1973 

Mandates that the Federal government shall provide leadership in preserving, restoring, and maintaining the 

historic and cultural environment of the Nation, and that Federal agencies shall administer the cultural 

properties under their control in a spirit of stewardship and trusteeship for future generations; initiate 

measures necessary to direct their policies, plans, and programs in such a way that federally-owned sites, 

structures, and objects of historical, architectural, or archaeological significance are preserved, restored, 

and maintained for the inspiration and benefit of the people; and, in consultation with the Advisory Council 

on Historic Preservation, institute procedures to assure that Federal plans and programs contribute to the 

preservation and enhancement of non-federally owned sites, structures, and objects of historical, 

architectural, or archaeological significance.

EO 11644 issued February 8, 1972. Use of off-road vehicles on the public lands. (37 FR 2877, 

February 9, 1972). Amended by E.O. 11989 issued May 24, 1977 and E.O. 12608 issued 

September 9, 1987

This order requires Federal agencies to develop and implement procedures that will ensure that the use of 

off-road vehicles on public lands will be controlled and directed so as to protect the resources of those 

lands, to promote the safety of all users of those lands, and to minimize conflicts among the various uses of 

those lands.

EO 11988 (Floodplain Management (42 CFR 26951, May 25, 1977) 

The purpose of this order is “...to avoid to the extent possible the long and short term impacts associated 

with the occupancy and modification of floodplains and to avoid direct and indirect support of floodplain 

development wherever there is a practicable alternative.” Section 1 states: “Each agency shall provide 

leadership and shall take action to reduce the risk of flood loss, to minimize the impact of floods on human 

safety, health and welfare, and to restore and preserve the natural and beneficial values served by 

floodplains in carrying out its responsibilities for (1) acquiring, managing, and disposing of Federal lands, 

and facilities; (2) Providing federally undertaken, financed, or assisted construction and improvements; and 

(3) Conducting Federal activities and programs affecting land use, including but not limited to water and 

related land resources planning, regulating, and licensing activities.”

EO 11990 Protection of Wetlands, 1977 

Requires each Federal agency to provide leadership and to take action to minimize the destruction, loss or 

degradation of wetlands, and to preserve and enhance the natural and beneficial values of wetlands in 

carrying out the agency’s responsibilities for acquiring, managing, and disposing of Federal lands and 

facilities; providing federally undertaken, financed, or assisted construction and improvements; and 

conducting Federal activities and programs affecting land use, including but not limited to water and 

related land resources planning, regulating, and licensing activities.

EO 12862 Setting Customer Service Standards, 1993 

Requires all executive departments and agencies that provide significant services directly to the public to 

provide those services in a manner that seeks to meet the customer service standard established in the order, 

and requires agencies to identify customers, survey customers and front-line employees to determine the 

kind and quality of services needed and barriers to those services, benchmark customer service 

performance against the best in the business, make information, services, and complaint systems easily 

accessible, and provide a means to address customer complaints.

EO 12898 Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority and Low-Income 

Populations 

Addresses environmental justice in minority and low-income populations and is designed to focus Federal 

attention on the environmental and human health conditions in minority communities and low-income 
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communities with the goal of achieving environmental justice. The order is also intended to promote 

nondiscrimination in Federal programs substantially affecting human health and the environment, and to 

provide minority communities and low-income communities’ access to public information on, and an 

opportunity for public participation in, matters relating to human health or the environment.

EO 13007 Indian Sacred Sites, 1996 

Requires each executive branch agency with statutory or administrative responsibility for the management 

of Federal lands, to the extent practicable, permitted by law, and not clearly inconsistent with essential 

agency functions, to accommodate access to and ceremonial use of Indian sacred sites by Indian religious 

practitioners and to avoid adversely affecting the physical integrity of such sacred sites. Where appropriate, 

agencies shall maintain the confidentiality of sacred sites.

EO 13112 Invasive Species, 1999 

Ensures that Federal programs and activities to control and prevent invasive species are coordinated, 

effective, and efficient. It defines invasive species as “...an alien (or nonnative) whose introduction does or 

is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.”

EO 13175 Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments

Promotes regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with tribal officials in the development of 

Federal policies that have tribal implications, strengthens the United States government-to-government 

relationships with Indian tribes, and reduces the imposition of unfunded mandates upon Indian tribes.

EO 13186 Responsibility of Federal Agencies to Protect Migratory Birds

Directs Federal agencies, as practicable, to support the conservation of migratory birds, restore and enhance 

the habitat of migratory birds, prevent or abate pollution or detrimental alteration of the environment for the 

benefit of migratory birds, ensure agency plans and actions promote programs and recommendations of 

comprehensive migratory bird planning efforts such as Partners-in-Flight, ensure that environmental 

analyses of Federal actions required by NEPA evaluate effect on migratory birds, and promote research, 

education, and training related to conservation of migratory birds.

EO 13195 Trails for America in the 21st Century 

“Federal agencies will... protect, connect, promote, and assist trails of all types... This will be 

accomplished by... protecting the trail corridors associated with National Scenic Trails... to the degree 

necessary to ensure that the values for which [the] trail was established remain intact.”

EO 13287 Preserve America, 2003 

Advances the protection, enhancement, and contemporary use of the historic properties owned by the 

Federal government, and promotes intergovernmental cooperation and partnerships for the preservation and 

use of historic properties. Directs Federal agencies to increase their knowledge of historic resources in their 

care and to enhance the management of these assets.

Encourages agencies to seek partnerships with state, tribal, and local governments and the private sector to 

make more efficient and informed use of their resources for economic development and other recognized 

public benefits. Better combines historic preservation and nature tourism by directing agencies to assist in 

the development of local and regional nature tourism programs using the historic resources that are a 

significant feature of many state and local economies.

EO 13352 Facilitation of Cooperative Conservation, 2004 

Ensures that the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, and Defense and the Environmental 

Protection Agency implement laws relating to the environment and natural resources in a manner that 
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promotes cooperative conservation, with an emphasis on appropriate inclusion of local participation in 

Federal decision-making, in accordance with their respective agency missions, policies, and regulations.

EO 13423 Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management 

Directs Federal agencies to conduct their environmental, transportation, and energy-related activities in 

support of their respective missions in an environmentally, economically and fiscally sound, integrated, 

continuously improving, efficient, and sustainable manner.

EO 13433 Facilitation of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife Conservation, 2007 

Directs Federal agencies with programs and activities that have a measurable effect on public management, 

outdoor recreation, and wildlife management, to facilitate the expansion and enhancement of hunting 

opportunities and the management of game species and their habitat.

EO 13514 Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance 

Expands on the energy reduction and environmental performance requirements for Federal agencies 

identified in EO 13423. The goal is to establish an integrated strategy towards sustainability in the Federal 

Government and to make reduction of greenhouse gas emissions a priority for Federal agencies. Lays out 

numerical targets for agencies, sets non-numerical targets that agencies must reach, and calls for specific 

management strategies to improve sustainability.

EO 13604 Improving Performance of Federal Permitting and Review of Infrastructure Projects

An initiative to modernize decision-making processes throughout the federal government through improved 

efficiency and transparency. On May 17, 2013, in following up on the Executive Order, President Obama 

issued a Presidential Memorandum—“Modernizing Federal Infrastructure Review and Permitting 

Regulations, Policies, and Procedures” (The White House, 2013). The memorandum highlighted the need 

for improved mitigation policies that provide project developers with greater predictability, facilitate 

landscape-scale mitigation and interagency mitigation plans (where appropriate), and enhance 

accountability, transparency, and effectiveness. The administration has charged the Forest Service with 

participating in this modernization effort.

Forest Service Directives 

The following is a partial listing of Forest Service policies relevant to the forest plan. A complete 

listing can be found in the Forest Service Manual and the Forest Service Handbook. Together, 

these are known as the Forest Service Directives System. 

The Forest Service Manuals contain legal authorities, goals, objectives, policies, responsibilities, 

instructions and guidance needed on a continuing basis by Forest Service line officers and 

primary staff, in more than one unit, to plan and execute assigned programs and activities. Forest 

Service Handbooks (FSH) are directives that provide instructions and guidance on how to 

proceed with a specialized phase of a program or activity. Handbooks either are based on a part of 

the FSM or they incorporate external directives. Forest Service Manuals and applicable Forest 

Service Handbooks provide guidance only and do not provide required direction. 

FSM 1000 Organization and Management

FSM 1010 Laws, Regulations, and Orders

FSM 1020 Forest Service Mission

FSM 1400 Controls

FSM 1410 Management Reviews
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FSM 1500 External Relations

FSM 1560 State, Tribal, County, and Local Agencies, Public and Private Organizations

FSM 1563 American Indian and Alaskan Native Relations

FSM 1600 Information Resources 

FSM 1900 Planning 

FSH 1909.12 

Chapter 10 - Assessments

Chapter 20 - Land Management Plan

Chapter 30 - Monitoring

Chapter 40 - Public Participation

Chapter 50 - Objection Process

Chapter 60 - Forest Vegetation Resource Management 

Chapter 70 - Wilderness Recommendation

Chapter 80 - Wild and Scenic River Evaluation 

FSM 1900 - Zero Code

FSM 1910 - National Resource Planning

FSM 1920 - Land and Resource Management Planning

FSM 1930 - Program Development and Budgeting

FSM 1950 - Environmental Policy and Procedures

FSM 1960 - Policy Analysis

FSM 1970 - Economic and Social Analysis

FSM 1990 - Special Plans and Studies

FSM 2000 National Forest Resource Management 

FSM 2020 Ecological Restoration and Resilience

FSM 2030 Large Scale Event Recovery

FSM 2060 Ecosystem Classification, Interpretation, and Application

FSM 2070 Biological Diversity

 FSM 2070.3 Vegetation Ecology (use of native plants in revegetation,

rehabilitation, and restoration) 

FSM 2080 Noxious Weed Management, Southwestern Region supplement (weed free

policy)

FSH 2090.11 Ecological Classification and Inventory Handbook

FSM 2200 Range Management 

Chapter 2090

FSM 2260 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros 

FSM 2300 Recreation, Wilderness, and Related Resource Management 

FSH 2309.18 Trails Management Handbook

FSH 2309.24 Cultural Resources Handbook, Southwestern Region Supplement,

 Chapter 10 – Survey Standards

FSH 2309.24 Cultural Resources Handbook, Southwestern Region Supplement,

 Chapter 40 – Damage Assessment

FSM 2320 Wilderness Management

FSM 2323.22-Exhibit 01, Congressional Grazing Guidelines

FSM 2330 Publicly Managed Recreation Opportunities

FSM 2332.11 Hazard Trees

FSM 2350 Trail, River, and Similar Recreation Opportunities

FSM 2353.4 Administration of National Scenic and National Historic Trails

FSM 2360 Heritage Program Management

FSM 2360 Special Interest Areas, Southwestern Region Supplement 2300-99-3 
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FSM 2380 Landscape Management

FSM 2300-99-3 Southwest Region Supplement

FSM 2400 Timber Management, Southwestern Region 

FSM 2430 Commercial Timber Sales, Southwestern Region, Small Sales and

Commercial/Personal Use Permits of Timber, Fuelwood, and other forest products

FSM 2470 Silvicultural Practices

FSM 2500 Watershed and Air Management

FSH 2509.13 – Burned-Area Emergency Rehabilitation Handbook 

FSH 2509.16 Water Resource Inventory Handbook

FSH 2509.21 National Forest System Water Rights Handbook

FSH 2509.22 Soil and Water Conservation Handbook

FSH 2509.23 Riparian Area Handbook

FSH 2509.24 National Forest System Watershed Codes Handbook

FSH 2509.25 Watershed Conservation Practices Handbook

FSM 2510 Watershed Planning

FSM 2520 Watershed Protection and Management

FSM 2526 Riparian Area Management

FSM 2527 Floodplain Management and Wetland Protection

FSM 2530 Water Resource Management 

FSM 2532 Water Quality Management

FSM 2540 Water Uses and Development, Southwestern Region supplement

FSH 2509.25 Watershed Conservation Practices Handbook

FSM 2560 Groundwater Resource Management

FSM 2580 – Air Resource Management 

FSM 2600 Wildlife, Fish, and Sensitive Plant Habitat Management 

FSM 2610 Cooperative Relations

FSM 2630 Management of Wildlife and Fish Habitat

FSM 2670 Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Plants and Animals

FSM 2700 Special Uses Management 

FSM 2726 Energy Generation and Transmission

FSM 2728 Communications

FSH 2709.11 Special Uses Handbook

FSH 2709.14 Recreation Special Uses Handbook

FSM 2800 Minerals and Geology 

FSM 2810 Mining Claims

FSM 2820 Mineral Leases, Permits, Licenses

FSM 2850 Mineral Materials

FSH 2809.15 Minerals and Geology Handbook

FSM 2880 Geologic Resources, Hazards, and Services

FSM 3100 Cooperative Fire Protection 

FSM 3400 Forest Pest Management 

FSM 3400 Forest Health Protection and Southwestern Region Supplement 3400-91-1 

FSM 5100 Fire Management 
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FSM 5400 Land Ownership 

FSM 5410 Appraisals

FSM 5420 Land Purchases and Donations

FSH 5409.13 Land Acquisition Handbook

FSM 5430 Exchanges

FSM 5460 Right-of-Way Acquisition

FSH 5409.17 Rights-of-Way Acquisition Handbook

FSM 5500 Land Ownership Title Management 

FSM 7300 Buildings and Other Structures 

FSM 7310 Buildings and Related Facilities

FSH 7309.11 Buildings and Related Facilities Handbook

FSM 7400 Public Health and Pollution Control Facilities 

FSM 7420 Drinking Water

FSM 7500 Water Storage and Transportation 

FSM 7700 Transportation System 

FSM 7710 Travel Planning

FSH 7709.55 Travel Analysis

FSH 7709.56 Pre-construction Handbook

FSH 7709.57 Road Construction Handbook

FSH 7709.59 Road Operations

FSM 7720 Development (Policy on Transportation)

FSM 7730 Operation and Maintenance

State and Local Laws and Regulations 

20.6.1-4,6,11 NMAC - Environmental Protection

Regional Haze Rule to meet PM 2.5 and ozone standards

Conservation Agreement for Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout in the States of Colorado and New Mexico (2013)

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 

33 CFR 323 Permits for Discharges of Dredged or Fill Material into Waters of the United States 

Authorize the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States. Certain discharges of 

dredged or fill material into waters of the United States are also regulated under other authorities of the 

Department of the Army. These include dams and dikes in navigable waters of the United States

36 CFR 60 National Register of Historic Places, Criteria for Evaluation 

Sets forth the procedural requirements for listing properties on the National Register.

36 CFR 62 National Natural Landmarks Program 

The procedures in this part set forth the processes and criteria for the identification, evaluation, designation, 

and monitoring of national natural landmarks.

36 CFR 63 Determinations of Eligibility for Inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places

Developed to assist agencies in identifying and evaluating the eligibility of properties for inclusion in the 

National Register, and to explain how to request determinations of eligibility
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36 CFR 65 National Historic Landmarks Program 

Sets forth the criteria for establishing national significance and the procedures used by the Department of 

the Interior for conducting the National Historic Landmarks Program.

36 CFR 79 Curation of Federally-Owned and Administered Archaeological Collections

Establishes standards, procedures, and guidelines to be followed by Federal agencies to preserve collections 

of prehistoric and historic material remains and associated records that are recovered in conjunction with 

Federal projects and programs under certain Federal statutes. This action should ensure that federally 

owned and administered collections of prehistoric and historic materials remains and associated records are 

deposited in repositories that have the capability to provide adequate long-term curatorial services.

36 CFR 212 Travel Management 

Sets forth the requirements for the development and administration of the forest development transportation 

system.

36 CFR 215.5 Road System Management 

Traffic on roads is subject to State traffic laws where applicable. For each national forest or national 

grassland, the responsible official must identify the minimum road system needed for safe and efficient 

travel and for administration, utilization, and protection of National Forest System lands.

36 CFR 219 Planning 

Sets forth a process for developing, adopting, and revising land management plans for the National Forest 

System.

36 CFR 219.24 Cultural and Historical Resources 

Provides guidance for addressing cultural resources in forest plans. Forest planning shall provide for the 

identification, protection, interpretation, and management of significant cultural resources on NFS lands. 

36 CFR 221 Timber Management Planning 

Sets forth the requirements for management plans for national forest timber resources.

36 CFR 222 Range Management 

Sets forth the requirements for range management on the national forests, and for the administration of wild 

and free roaming horses and burros and their environment. See Subpart B (Management of Wild FreeRoaming Horses and Burros).

36 CFR 223.1 Authority to Sell Timber 

Sets forth the requirements relating to the sale and disposal of National Forest System timber.

36 CFR 223.5 through 36 CFR 223.10 Parks, Forests, and Public Property, Scope of Free-Use 

Granted to Individuals, Cutting and Removal of Timber in Free-Use Areas, Permission for FreeUse of Timber Outside Free-Use Areas, Delegations of Authority to Approve Free Use by 

Individuals, Free-Use to Owners of Certain Mining Claims, Free-Use to Alaskan Settlers, 

Miners, Residents, and Prospectors

36 CFR 223.12 Permission to Cut, Damage, or Destroy Trees without Advertisement 

36 CFR 223.261 Sale and Disposal of National Forest System Timber; Special Forest Products 

and Forest Botanical Products 
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36 CFR 228 Minerals 

Sets forth the rules and procedures through which use of the surface of National Forest System lands, in 

connection with mining and mineral operations, shall be conducted so as to minimize adverse 

environmental impacts on National Forest System surface resources.

36 CFR 228.42 Plan of Operations - Notice of Intent- Requirements

A notice of intent to operate is required from any person proposing to conduct operations which might 

cause significant disturbance of surface resources. 

36 CFR 228.57 Plan of Operations - Approval 

A proposed plan of operation shall be submitted to the District Ranger, who will promptly acknowledge the 

operator. The authorized officer shall analyze the proposal, considering the economics of the operation 

along with the other factors in determining the reasonableness of the requirements for surface resource 

protection. 

36 CFR 228, Subpart A – Locatable Minerals 

36 CFR 228 Subpart E, Oil and Gas Resources; 

36 CFR 241.2 Fish and Wildlife 

Sets forth the rules and procedures relating to the management, conservation, and protection of fish and 

wildlife resources on National Forest System lands.

36 CFR 251 Land Uses 

Sets forth the rules and procedures relating to the use and occupancy of National Forest System

Lands.

36 CFR 251.9 Management of Municipal Watersheds 

The Forest Service will observe National Forest watersheds that supply local watersheds under multiple use 

prescriptions in forest plans.

36 CFR 254 Land ownership Adjustments 

Sets forth the rules and procedures relating to exchange and conveyance of National Forest

System lands.

36 CFR 261 Prohibitions in Areas 

Sets forth the general prohibitions relating to the use and occupancy of National Forest System lands.

36 CFR 800 Protection of Historic Properties 

Provides explicit direction for the identification of sites, the determination of project effects on sites, and 

requirements for consultation with the appropriate State Historic Preservation Office, any relevant Tribal 

Historic Preservation Office, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, as well as how to develop 

agreements.

36 CFR 291.19 Suspension and Revocation of Permits 

Authorizes appointed officer to revoke permit when resource management is violated. 
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36 CFR 293 Wilderness-Primitive Areas

Sets forth the requirements for the administration of wilderness and primitive areas.

36 CFR 294 Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation 

Sets forth the requirements for designation of inventoried roadless areas, providing lasting protection for 

landscapes within the National Forest System under multi-use management.

36 CFR 295 Use of Motor Vehicles off Forest Development Road 

Sets forth the rules and procedures relating to the administrative designation and location of specific areas 

and trails of National Forest System lands on which the use of motor vehicles traveling off of national 

forest development roads is allowed.

36 CFR 296 Protection of Archaeological Resources: Uniform Regulations 

Implements the Archaeological Resources Protection Act by establishing the uniform definitions, 

standards, and procedures for Federal land managers to follow in providing protection for archaeological 

resources located on public lands and Indian lands, including definitions of prohibited acts and penalties. 

The regulations also provide requirements for issuing permits under the authority of the Archaeological 

Resources Protection Act to any person proposing to excavate and/or remove archaeological resources from 

public lands or Indian lands.

36 CFR 297 Wild and Scenic Rivers 

Sets forth the rules and procedures relating to Federal assistance in the construction of water resources 

projects affecting wild and scenic rivers or study rivers on lands administered by the Secretary of 

Agriculture.

36 CFR 800 Protection of historic Properties 

Sets forth the provisions for the administration of the National Historic Preservation Act

40 CFR 51.300-309 Regional Haze Rule 

The primary purposes of this subpart are to require states to develop programs to assure reasonable 

progress toward meeting the national goal of preventing any future, and remedying any existing, 

impairment of visibility in mandatory Class I Federal areas which impairment results from manmade air 

pollution; and to establish necessary additional procedures for new source permit applicants, states and 

Federal land managers to use in conducting the visibility impact analysis required for new sources under 

§51.166. This subpart sets forth requirements addressing visibility impairment in its two principal forms: 

“reasonably attributable” impairment (i.e., impairment attributable to a single source/small group of 

sources) and regional haze (i.e., widespread haze from a multitude of sources which impairs visibility in 

every direction over a large area).

40 CFR 121-135 Water Programs 

Sets forth the provisions for the administration of water programs including state certification of activities 

requiring a Federal license or permit, EPA administered permit programs, state program requirements, 

procedures for decision making, criteria and standards for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 

System, toxic pollutant effluent standards, water quality planning and management, water quality 

standards, water quality guidance for the Great Lakes System, secondary treatment regulation, and, prior 

notice of citizen suits. See Title 40 (Protection of Environment), Chapter 1 (Environmental Protection 

Agency), subchapter D (Water Programs). 
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40 CFR 1502.12 Environmental Impact Statement 

Carefully considers alternatives to a proposed action as well as providing probable mitigation procedures if 

needed.

43 CFR 3 Preservation of American Antiquities 

Implements the provisions of the Antiquities Act of 1906.

43 CFR 10 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Regulations 

Implements the provisions of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990.

49 CFR 24.102, 103, 104 Basic Acquisition Policies, Criteria for Appraisals, Review of 

Appraisals 

Real property acquisition through negotiation, follows criteria for appraisals, and continues with review. 

Programmatic Agreements

Memorandum of Agreement on Fostering Collaboration and Efficiencies to Address Water 

Quality Impairments on National Forest System Lands 

Agreement between U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency signed in 2007: 

The purpose is to coordinate between agencies and address issues of water quality impairment regarding 

the 303 d list, as well as TMDLs. The leading cause of water quality impairments on National Forest lands 

includes temperature, excess sediment, and habitat modification. These issues are to be addressed via 

BMPs to the greatest extent possible. In terms of this project analysis area, BMPs can be applied to soil and 

watershed condition and are applicable everywhere on the Santa Fe NF.

Memorandum of Understanding. USFS MOU 17-MU-11031600-049/NMED MOU 18-667-2060-

0003 6-27-17 NM Water Quality Protection Agreement. 

Agreement between the U.S. Forest Service Southwestern Region and the State of New Mexico 

Environment Department. Cooperation between the parties with the common objective of improving and 

protecting the quality of New Mexico’s waters by implementing progressive watershed-based restoration 

protection programs to meet applicable water quality standards.

Memorandum of Understanding between Forest Service Southwestern Region and the State of 

New Mexico Environment Department

Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Interagency Coordination for Protection of Indian 

Sacred Sites

Memorandum of Understanding among the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of the 

Interior, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Energy, and the Advisory 

Council on Historic Preservation Regarding Interagency Coordination and Collaboration for the 

Protection of Indian Sacred Sites 

Memorandum of Understanding between the Pueblo of Jemez and the USDA, Forest Service 

Santa Fe National Forest 

Memorandum of Understanding between the Pueblo of Tesuque and the USDA, Forest Service 

Santa Fe National Forest 
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Memorandum of Understanding between the Pueblo of Cochiti and the USDA, Forest Service 

Santa Fe National Forest 

Memorandum of Understanding between the Pueblo of Ohkay Owingeh and the USDA, Forest 

Service Santa Fe National Forest

Law Enforcement Agreement and Participating Agreement with the Pueblo of Jemez

i https://www.fs.fed.us/cdt/main/cdnst_comprehensive_plan_final_092809.pdf

ii https://www.fs.fed.us/cdt/main/cdnst_comprehensive_plan_final_092809.pdf iii Draft Management Plan for the Carson National Forest

iv https://www.fs.fed.us/cdt/main/cdnst_comprehensive_plan_final_092809.pdf

v https://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/trails/nat_trails.shtml