DECISION RECORD 

for the 

APPROVED CDCA PLAN AMENDMENT 

And 

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT 

for 

WESTERN COLORADO DESERT ROUTES OF TRAVEL DESIGNATIONS 

Environmental Assessment Number CA-670-EA2002-2 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

Bureau of Land Management 

California State Office 

California Desert District 

El Centro Field Office 

Imperial County, California 

BACKGROUND 

The Western Colorado Desert (WECO) is located in Imperial County in southern California and offers 

outstanding recreational opportunities for off-highway vehicle (OHV) touring in the California Desert 

District. BLM manages OHV use, so that the conditions of special status species, and other natural and 

cultural resources are maintained or improved. The type and level of OHV use also is managed to create 

an environment that promotes the health and safety of visitors and employees, and alleviates conflict 

between nearby residents and recreational users. 

The approved plan amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area Plan amends previous route 

designations and existing routes in approximately 475,000 acres of off-road vehicle limited areas. The 

Back Country Discovery Route and the De Anza National Historic Trail are identified in the approved 

plan amendment. These two route systems are programs of the State of California and the National Park 

Service developed to promote touring of the historical area and they provide interpretative information 

for the route networks. Numerous important historical sites and habitat for several sensitive or 

endangered animal species are present in the area. Several previous OHV designations have been made 

for portions of the project area. The last comprehensive review and Environmental Assessment (EA) 

was completed in 1997. However, the route designation process for the 1997 review was not completed. 

Since the 1997 review and EA, several regulatory changes have taken place that relate to the Western 

Colorado Desert. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Peninsular Ranges bighorn sheep as an 

endangered population. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had proposed the flat-tailed horned lizard as 

a Federal threatened species. On January 3, 2003, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service withdrew this 

proposal, due in part, to a conservation agreement between various government agencies, including 

BLM. The negotiated settlement to the Center for Biological Diversity’s (CBD) lawsuit against BLM, 
2

in part, agreed to complete updating routes of travel designations in the Western Colorado Desert by 

January 31, 2003. These changes and the increased interest in OHV recreation in southern California 

have resulted in a need to revisit and finalize route designations in the Western Colorado Desert. 

The Western Colorado Desert Routes of Travel Designations plan amendment and EA establishes sitespecific route designations based in the California Desert Conservation Area Plan and Environmental 

Impact Statement of 1980. As such, it is tiered to the original plan and Environmental Impact 

Statement. 

DECISION

This Decision Record (DR) approves, with minor modifications, the proposed Western Colorado Desert 

Routes of Travel Designations (WECO) Plan, an amendment of the 1980 Bureau of Land Management 

California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan to that portion that lies within the WECO planning 

area. The minor modifications from the proposed plan amendment include corrections relating to errors, 

update of information and changes to correct oversights. 

1. The following are corrections to the table of route designations in the proposed plan amendment. 

Portions of these routes were identified with more than one designation in the route table that 

accompanied the proposed plan amendment. A portion of each of these routes was identified 

with a different designation than the remainder of the route. These corrections designate the 

route as it should have been designated based on the criteria of route designations for the 

proposed action in the proposed plan amendment. After further analysis, it was determined that 

the following corrections are prudent: 

• T670075: Designation of 450 feet of this route from limited in the proposed plan 

amendment to open in the DR. The total route length is 22 miles. 

• T670084: Designation of 305 feet of this route from limited in the proposed plan 

amendment to open in the DR. The total route length is 15 miles. 

• T670256: Designation of the entire route consisting of 2.36 miles from closed in the 

proposed plan amendment to open in the DR. 

• T670280: Designation of 50 feet of this route from limited in the proposed plan 

amendment to closed in the DR. The total route length is 900 feet. 

• T670319: Designation of 0.75 miles of this route from closed in the proposed plan 

amendment to limited in the DR. It actually is the same route as route T670387. The 

route will be identified as T670378 in the future. T670387 will retain the initial 

designation of limited. The total length of T670319 / T670387 is 1.35 miles. 

• T6700345: Designation of 2700 feet of this route from open in the proposed plan 

amendment to closed in the DR. The total route length is 1.5 miles. 

• T670398: Designation of 270 feet of this route from limited in the proposed plan 

amendment to closed in the DR. The total route length is 6 miles. 
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• T670419: Designation of the entire route consisting of 2.34 miles from closed in the 

proposed plan amendment to limited in the DR. 

• T670519: This 1.24 mile route should not have a BLM designation in the DR. This route 

is now entirely on private property. The proposed plan amendment designated portions 

of this route as open and closed. 

• Total corrections: 7.4 miles of routes out of a route network with 1116 miles open, 922 

miles closed and 279 miles limited. This changes 755 feet (0.14 miles) from limited to 

open. This changes 320 feet (0.06 miles) from limited to closed. This changes 2700 feet 

(0.51 miles) from open to closed. This changes 1.24 miles from open/closed to 

undesignated. This changes 2.36 miles from closed to open. This changes 3.09 miles 

from closed to limited. 

2. Correction is made to the routes located south of the All American Canal and generally east of 

the southern end of the East Highland Canal and the western end of the Coachella Canal and 

extends south to the U.S.-Mexico border. The routes in this area were identified as open in the 

draft and proposed plan amendments. They occur on public lands withdrawn to the Bureau of 

Reclamation (BOR). This decision record does not formally designate these routes. BOR 

manages these routes and currently limits access to administrative use. These routes are: 

T670511, south of the All American Canal, T670538, south of the All American Canal, 

T607458, T670476, T670505, T670508, T670509, T670475, T670512, and T670477. 

3. The State of California is in the process of establishing the Back Country Discovery Route. This 

is a series of routes that could be used by recreational users as touring routes. The newest route 

system identified proposes routes that were not included as part of the Back Country Discovery 

Route in either the draft or the proposed plan amendment. This DR updates the Back Country 

Discovery Route identified in the proposed plan amendment to become consistent with the 

proposal by the State. All of the WECO routes being added to the Back Country Discovery 

Route by this DR were already designated as open, but not as a part of the Back Country 

Discovery Route. The following changes update the route network to include the following 

routes in the Back Country Discovery Route: 

Alternate Back Country Discovery Route Superstition Hills Loop would start in the 

Plaster City Open Area and head north along T670342 to route T670341 to the 

Superstition Open area near the No Camping Area. After crossing the open area to the 

north side the route would continue north on route T670194 around the west end of the 

Superstition Hills to T670084 Kane Springs Road. The route would follow T670084 

west along the south side of San Sebastian Marsh to T670191 De Anza National Historic 

Trail. Then north on T670191 to T670183 Tarantula Wash and north west on T670183 to 

Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Area. 

4. In designating camping areas in the Yuha Basin area, the draft plan and proposed plan 

amendment did not allow for overnight parking of vehicles, except at the designated camping 

areas. This could create a difficulty for recreational users of the wilderness areas that desire to 

camp in the wilderness overnight. This DR corrects this oversight. Overnight parking of 

unoccupied vehicles within 35 feet from the centerline of an open or limited route adjacent to the 

wilderness areas is allowed in the Yuha Basin area. However, these areas are only for parking of 
4

unoccupied vehicles, no camping in these areas will be allowed. 

This plan was prepared under the regulations implementing the Federal Land Policy and Management 

Act of 1976 (FLPMA). An Environmental Assessment was prepared for the WECO Plan in compliance 

with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. The proposed plan amendment was 

published December 13, 2002 and is available on BLM’s website at http://www.ca.blm.gov. A 

summary of the primary plan amendment decisions of WECO includes: 

Designation of open, limited and closed routes as shown on the proposed plan amendment map 

and described in the proposed action in the Environmental Assessment and draft plan 

amendment with the changes identified in the errata sheet for the proposed plan amendment and 

this DR. See Attachment 1 for a complete list of the designation of each route in the WECO 

project area. 

Designation of camping and parking areas as shown on the proposed plan amendment map and 

described in the proposed action in the Environmental Assessment and draft plan amendment 

with the changes identified in the errata sheet for the proposed plan amendment and this DR. 

See Attachment 2 for a description of camping opportunities. 

Increased law enforcement. 

Providing signing of routes, public education and information. 

Rehabilitation of some routes that are not designated as open or limited use and are not used 

under another form of a land use agreement such as a permit for access to privately owned land. 

Development and implementation of a final dust control plan, as required by Imperial County 

Air Pollution Control Board. 

Overnight parking, but not camping, within 35 feet of the centerline of a route that is designated 

as limited or open and that is located near wilderness area trailheads in the Yuha Basin area. 

This will support overnight camping within the wilderness. 

Included with the approved plan amendment are certain site-specific conservation measures. While 

these measures are addressed and approved in the approved plan amendment, they are not authorized 

until specifically proposed and addressed through additional site-specific NEPA analyses. 

All of the interim measures identified in the Consent Decree in Center for Biological Diversity, et al. v. 

BLM (C-00-0927 WHA (JCS)) and subject to expiration upon the signing of the DR for the WECO 

planning area, are terminated. 

CONSISTENCY WITH OTHER CDCA PLAN AMENDMENTS

Several other CDCA plan amendments are concurrently being developed for other regions in the CDCA. 

Those decisions that are common among these amendments have been developed to be consistent with 

each other. 
5

ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED: 

The alternatives considered in detail in the Environmental Assessment included the proposed action 

(which is the proposed plan amendment and the approved plan amendment), the No Action Alternative, 

Alternative 1, and Alternative 2. 

• The approved plan amendment creates a route network that balances the need to conserve natural 

and cultural resources while providing for off highway vehicle recreation opportunities and other 

access needs throughout the project area. In the Yuha Basin area, it provides for camping in 

designated camping areas and designates the routes of travel as limited use, with the limitation to 

street legal vehicles for most of the routes. The approved plan amendment also designates a 

seasonal limitation on routes in some Peninsular Ranges bighorn sheep habitat. The approved 

plan amendment allows camping within various widths from designated routes. 

• The No Action Alternative is the route network that previously existed on the ground. It will 

allow many routes that exist on the ground, but are not designated to remain undesignated. It 

allows camping within various widths from designated routes. 

• Alternative 1 is more environmentally conservative than the other alternatives. It allows very 

limited use of the Yuha Basin area, with only a few routes designated as open. It also allows 

camping only in designated areas throughout the project area. Overall, there are fewer routes 

available for use in this alternative. This alternative is identified as the environmentally 

preferable alternative in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act because it 

allows less surface disturbance than the other alternatives. 

• Alternative 2 is more motorized recreation oriented than the other alternatives. It designates 

more open routes and allows greater camping opportunities. 

A complete description of the alternatives analyzed in detail is contained in the EA and the set of 

maps in the draft and proposed plan amendment. 

RATIONALE FOR THE DECISION:

Considering the agency purpose and need, public comments, the content of the EA, and supporting 

project records, I have decided to implement the approved plan amendment. The route designations and 

camping opportunities in the approved plan amendment are specifically identified in the attached list. 

My rationale for this decision follows: 

1) The approved plan amendment strives for a balance between continuing to provide opportunities for 

vehicle access, off highway vehicle touring and protecting cultural and wildlife resources. The approved 

plan amendment balances Alternative 1’s emphasis on natural and cultural resource protections and 

Alternative 2’s emphasis on motorized recreation. The existing camping restrictions are maintained and 

reduced to a 50-foot centerline width in flat-tailed horned lizard management areas outside the Yuha 

Basin area. The management area in the Yuha Basin area contains limitations because of the heavy 

impacts that this area has received in the past and that continue to occur; the presence of sensitive 

species and historical sites; and the focused public interest on the area. Only street legal vehicles would 

be allowed in the Yuha Basin area, except for the routes that are identified as part of the Back Country 

Discovery Route or De Anza National Historic Trail. The route network within the Yuha Basin area 
6

was designed to provide access to rock collecting locations and to the areas of historic interest. 

Camping would only be allowed at designated sites within the Yuha Basin area. Overnight parking of 

unoccupied vehicles within 35 feet from the centerline of an open or limited route adjacent to the 

wilderness areas is allowed in the Yuha Basin area. Daylight parking of vehicles along any route 

designated as open or limited is allowed. The parking allowances were developed to promote use of the 

wilderness for camping and other recreational activities and to promote other recreational activities 

within the Yuha Basin area such as rock collecting, hiking, horseback riding, and photography. BLM 

believes that the approved plan amendment provides the best balance for the multiple use management 

for this area. 

 2) The Peninsular Ranges bighorn sheep population is listed as an endangered population. The U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service designated critical habitat extends from the mountain base in the western 

portion of the project area west into San Diego County. The Recovery Plan for the Peninsular Ranges 

bighorn sheep imposes a seasonal closure (January through June) for off highway vehicle routes of 

travel in the Coyote Mountains specifically for the protection of this population. BLM believes that 

seasonal limitation of the use of routes in this area during breading and lambing adds to the conservation 

efforts for the sheep. The seasonal closure maintained under the approved plan amendment is consistent 

with the recovery plan for this species. See the Biological Opinion from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service for more information on this species. 

3) The flat-tailed horned lizard had been re-proposed as a threatened species. On January 3, 2003 the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service withdrew the proposed listing. The withdrawal of the listing does not 

have a significant affect on WECO project area. This is because the BLM entered into a conservation 

agreement for this species in 1997. BLM is committed to implementing this conservation agreement. 

Most of the project area is within flat-tailed horned lizard habitat. Through the 1997 conservation 

agreement, several lizard management areas (East Mesa, West Mesa, and the Yuha Basin area) were 

created within the WECO project area. Special restrictions on use apply to management areas. The 

strategy specifically called for using an interdisciplinary team to reduce the number of open off 

highway vehicle routes of travel and to restrict vehicle camping and parking to within a 50-foot center 

line width for routes within the management areas. The approved plan amendment supports the flattailed horned lizard rangewide management strategy. 

4) The desert pupfish is limited to the small surface waters found within the San Sebastian Marsh/ San 

Felipe Creek Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). Within the ACEC, the historic Kane 

Springs Road is the south boundary of an area closed to off highway vehicles. Allowing use of the Kane 

Springs Road with a no camping designation would maintain off highway vehicle use of the routes but 

would help to prevent vehicle play associated with camping from intruding into the sensitive area and 

damaging natural and cultural resources that are immediately adjacent to the route. The area is also a 

National Natural Landmark established to preserve the riparian habitat. See the Biological Opinion 

from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for more information on this species. 

5) The approved plan amendment provides for the conservation of the limited riparian habitat in the 

project area found adjacent to the All American Canal and San Felipe Creek for the Federal listed Yuma 

clapper rail, the southwestern willow flycatcher, and the least Bell’s vireo and the California listed 

California black rail, as well as the Federal listed arroyo toad found in a few sand washes in the western 

portion of the project area. See the Biological Opinion from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for 

more information on this species. 
7

6) The approved plan amendment supports designating the Back Country Discovery Route and the De 

Anza National Historic Trail. 

7) The approved plan amendment provides vehicle access to points of interest within the Yuha Basin 

area such as the De Anza historical marker, Yuha geoglyphs, Yuha well, and Yuha shell beds. 

8) The approved plan amendment provides vehicle access for recreational rock collectors to Fossil 

Canyon, Painted Gorge, Yuha Well, geoglyphs, shell beds, Mount Signal and the Superstition Hills. 

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT: 

The Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1501.7) and BLM planning regulations (43 

CFR 1610) require an early and open process (scoping) for determining the planning issues. The 

regulations also require that agencies provide opportunities for public involvement in the planning 

process, including review of the planning criteria and the Draft Plan/EA, as appropriate. Efforts have 

been made to make the public aware of the planning process and of opportunities for involvement. 

For the scoping phase, over 6500 project announcements were mailed to interested parties. Notice was 

published in the Federal Register on March 25, 2002 and started a public comment period, which was 

extended to include a 68-day period. The notice of the intent to prepare a plan amendment was also 

announced on the El Centro Field Office’s Web Page, through press releases and through briefings to 

the California Desert District Advisory Council meetings. Two public meetings were held. Thirty-two 

individuals commented during this scoping period by letter, e-mail, and/or testimony at a public 

meeting. Attendance at the public meetings was 16 people in El Centro and 14 people in San Diego. 

Based upon responses, the mailing list was been updated to approximately 150 interested individuals. 

After the draft documents were prepared, BLM provided a copy to all of the project participants and 

encouraged their continued participation in the development of the final documents. A draft plan 

amendment and Environmental Assessment was distributed in October 2002. A Notice of Availability 

was published in the Federal Register on October 18, 2002. The notice of availability of a draft plan 

amendment was also announced on the El Centro Field Office’s Web Page, through press releases and 

through briefings to the California Desert District Advisory Council Meetings. Again, BLM held public 

meetings in both Imperial County and San Diego in November 2002. BLM accepted oral, written and email comments. 

Recently, BLM made the proposed plan amendment available to the public. This was announced in a 

Federal Register Notice on December 13, 2002. Seven timely letters that contained protest issues and 

concerns were submitted to BLM. These protest letters were used to further improve the proposed plan 

amendment. However, the BLM Director has dismissed all the protests to the WECO Plan. By 

regulation (43 CFR 1610.5-2) the decision of the Director on the plan protests is the final decision of the 

Department of the Interior. 

Agency Coordination 

BLM has consulted with a number of entities on this project in general, and on specific off highway 

vehicle route designations in particular. Some of these entities include Imperial County, U. S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Game, California Department of Parks and 
8

Recreation, U. S. Border Patrol, State Historic Preservation Office and tribal councils with interest in the 

project area. The Imperial County Supervisors support as few route closures as possible. The U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service issued a Biological Opinion for the approved plan amendment. California 

Department of Parks and Recreation identified specific route changes to promote compatibility with the 

State Park OHV Recreation Area. The U.S. Border Patrol discussed designations for specific routes that 

would assist them in their mission. The Cahuilla, Kumeyaay, and Quechan tribal councils expressed 

concern about vehicle-related recreation use impacting Native American historical sites and values. In 

addition, this project was discussed with members of environmental groups and with recreational users 

that enjoy off highway vehicle use, hiking, camping, horseback riding, rock collecting, hunting and 

backpacking. 

Consistency Requirements 

In accordance with BLM resource management planning regulations (43 CFR 1610.3-2) BLM must 

identify any known inconsistencies with State or local plans, policies, or programs. BLM must also 

provide the Governor with up to 60 days in which to identify any inconsistencies and submit 

recommendations. No known inconsistencies have been identified, either by BLM or the Governor, for 

the WECO plan. 

PLAN MONITORING, EVALUATION, AND ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT

BLM will conduct monitoring in the WECO plan area based on the Flat Tailed Horned Lizard Strategy, 

which is incorporated by reference and based on visitor use. This strategy has been used by BLM in the 

project area for several years. Since the flat tailed horned lizard is a sensitive species that is present 

throughout much of the project area, it can be used as an indicator species to monitor the condition of 

the project area. The flat tailed horned lizard monitoring program also monitors the percent of the area 

that is covered with vehicle tracks. This information can be used to assess the condition of the project 

area as well as the compliance with the route designations and need for rehabilitation of a specific area. 

The processes of monitoring, evaluation and adaptive management share the goal of improving 

effectiveness and permitting dynamic responses to increased knowledge and a changing landscape. The 

process itself will not remain static and will be periodically evaluated to ascertain if the monitoring 

questions and standards are still relevant, and the program would be adjusted as appropriate. Some field 

monitoring items may be discontinued and others added as knowledge and issues change. 

MITIGATION MEASURES:

Mitigation measures were incorporated within the approved plan amendment. The designation of routes 

and the development of camping opportunities in the approved plan amendment gave great 

consideration for the conservation of natural and cultural resources while providing considerable 

recreational opportunities. All practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm by the plan 

have been adopted. 

In coordination with Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD), in the future a dust 

control plan will be developed for air resources. Currently Rule 800 Fugitive Dust Control 

Requirements for Control of Fine Particulate Matter (PM-10) as approved by the Imperial County Air 

Pollution Control District includes exempt activities under section E. Exemption E.9 states “The 

recreational use of public lands, including but not limited to Off Highway Vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, 
9

trucks, cars, motorcycles, motorbikes or motorbuggies.” This exempts the project area from Rule 800. 

However, ICAPCD has informed BLM of its intent to update their PM10 State Implementation Plan 

(SIP). It is anticipated that the updated SIP will require BLM to develop and implement a dust control 

plan for the land that it manages in Imperial County. 

 

CONTACT PERSON: 

For additional information concerning this decision or the BLM administrative review process contact 

Lynnette Elser, El Centro Field Office, 1661 S. 4th Street, El Centro, CA. 92243; telephone (760) 337-

4400 

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT: 

During the public scoping for this project, many members of the public requested that BLM prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement rather than an Environmental Assessment. BLM decided to continue 

with the preparation of the Environmental Assessment, but on a more detailed and expanded level than 

is typically written. An expanded Environmental Assessment was initially chosen over an 

Environmental Impact Statement because it is believed that significant negative impacts, if any, 

associated from the project could be mitigated. 

After complete review of the scoping comments, potential impacts identified in the Environmental 

Assessment and draft plan amendment, the public comments on the draft plan amendment and 

Environmental Assessment, the proposed plan amendment, the protest letters, and comments from other 

agencies and groups received during coordination and consultation, BLM once again considered the 

need for an Environmental Impact Statement. 

Based upon review of the Environmental Assessment and supporting project record, I have determined 

that the approved plan amendment is not a major Federal action and will not significantly affect the 

quality of the human environment, individually or cumulatively with other actions in the general area. 

No environmental effects meet the definition of significance in context or intensity as defined in 40 CFR 

1508.27. Therefore, an environmental impact statement is not needed. This finding is based on the 

following discussion: 

Context: The project area falls within habitat for the federal listed desert pupfish, Peninsular Ranges 

bighorn sheep, Yuma clapper rail, the southwestern willow flycatcher, and the least Bell’s vireo and the 

California listed California black rail. The Federal listed arroyo toad is found in a few sand washes in 

the western portion of the project area. The project area also falls within habitat for the flat-tailed horned 

lizard. The discussion of significance criteria that follows applies to the intended action and is within the 

context of local importance. The Environmental Assessment and proposed and approved plan 

amendment details the effects of the project. None of the effects identified including direct, indirect and 

cumulative effects, are considered to be significant. 

Intensity: The following discussion is organized around the Ten Significance Criteria described in 40 

CFR 1508.27. 

1) Impacts may be both beneficial and adverse. 

Due to the design features of the approved plan amendment, the predictive effects would include 

increased habitat and habitat protection for the flat tailed horned lizard, increased protection for the 
10

Peninsular Ranges bighorn sheep, desert pupfish, habitat for the federal listed Yuma clapper rail, the 

southwestern willow flycatcher, and the least Bell’s vireo and the California listed California black rail 

compared to the current conditions. Increased protection for cultural and archeological resources is 

predicted as well. The approved plan amendment should reduce the air emissions compared to the 

current conditions. The rehabilitation of routes that are designated as closed and routes that should not 

be present will result in less air emissions due to wind erosion, more habitat and species protection and 

better conservation of cultural resources. Some adverse impacts are predicted however, of the 

alternatives, the approved plan amendment provides the best balance between the recreational use and 

conservation of natural and environmental resources and provides substantially fewer and less intense 

impacts compared to the current conditions. Details concerning the effects of the approved plan 

amendment are included in the Environmental Assessment and proposed and approved plan amendment. 

2) The degree to which the selected alternative will affect public health or safety. 

Public health and safety were identified as an issue. The approved plan amendment is comparable to 

other route designation projects that have occurred within the California Desert District. Off highway 

vehicle use is a high-risk recreational activity. Some risk is a part of this activity. Locations of past 

accident and other safety factors were considered in developing the alternatives and choosing the 

approved plan amendment. BLM law enforcement reviewed the route network for each alternative in 

the WECO project. They did not identify any specific area as having a significant accident rate or safety 

concern. 

3) Unique characteristics of the geographic area such as proximity to historic or cultural resources, 

park lands, prime farm lands, wetlands, wild and scenic rivers, or ecologically critical areas. 

There are unique cultural and archeological sites within the project area. The approved plan amendment 

provides for increased conservation of these areas, while allowing recreational use of the project area. 

There are ecologically critical areas and wetlands within the project area and the approved plan 

amendment provides increased conservation of these areas. There are no park lands, prime farm lands, 

and wild and scenic rivers within the project area. 

4) The degree to which the effects on the quality of the human environment are likely to be highly 

controversial. 

The effects of the approved plan amendment on the quality of the human environment were addressed in 

the Environmental Assessment. Although there are effects that are clearly identified, the mitigation for 

the approved plan amendment greatly offsets these effects. In addition, the effects for the approved plan 

amendment are fewer and have lower intensity than the current conditions. 

5) The degree to which the possible effects on the human environment are highly uncertain or involve 

unique or unknown risks. 

The approved plan amendment is not unique or unusual. The BLM has experience developing similar 

plans for routes of travel in similar areas and has found effects to be reasonably predictable. The 

environmental effects to the human environment were analyzed in the Environmental Assessment and 

proposed and approved plan amendment. There are no predicted effects on the human environment, 

which are considered to be highly uncertain or involve unique or unknown risks. 

6) The degree to which the action may establish a precedent for future actions with significant effects or 

represents a decision in principle about a future consideration. 

The approved plan amendment does not set a precedent for future actions that may have significant 

effects, nor does it represent a decision in principle about a future consideration. The approved plan 
11

amendment establishes a designated route system needed by the BLM for resource management within 

the El Centro resource area. Any future projects will be evaluated through the National Environmental 

Policy Act process and will stand on their own as to environmental effects. 

7) Whether the action is related to other actions with individually insignificant but cumulatively 

significant impacts. 

The approved plan amendment was evaluated in the context of past, present, and reasonably foreseeable 

actions. These cumulative effects are identified in the Environmental Assessment. Significant 

cumulative effects are not predicted. 

8)The degree to which the action may adversely affect the districts, sites, highways, structures, or other 

objects listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places or may cause loss or 

destruction of significant scientific, cultural, or historic resources. 

The approved plan amendment will not adversely affect districts, sites, highways, structures, or objects 

listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, nor will the approved plan 

amendment cause loss or destruction of significant scientific, cultural, or historical resources. The 

cultural resource mitigation requirements were developed within the route designation and camping 

opportunity criteria of the “proposed action” in the Environmental Assessment and proposed and 

approved plan amendment. These mitigation efforts will help in the conservation of cultural resources. 

9) The degree to which the action may adversely affect an endangered or threatened species or its 

habitat that has been determined to be critical under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. 

BLM consulted with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service in regards to the Peninsular Ranges bighorn 

sheep, Yuma clapper rail, the southwestern willow flycatcher, the least Bell’s vireo, arroyo toad, and 

desert pupfish. The approved plan amendment was specifically designed to conserve these species by 

limiting the type of vehicle in the Yuha Basin area, seasonally limiting use in the Peninsular Ranges 

bighorn sheep, limiting the camping to specific areas in the Yuha Basin area, the rehabilitation of 

impacted areas, not allowing camping along Kane Springs Road, increased law enforcement, clear 

signing of routes and public education and information. 

10) Whether the action threatens a violation of Federal, State, or local law or requirements imposed for 

the protection of the environment. 

The approved plan amendment does not violate any known Federal, State, or local law or requirement 

imposed for the protection of the environment. The Environmental Assessment and supporting project 

record contain discussions pertaining to the Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, 

Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and Executive Order 12898 (Environmental Justice). State, local, and 

tribal interests were consulted during the environmental analysis process. Furthermore, the approved 

plan amendment is consistent with applicable land management plans, policies, and programs. 
12

Attachment 1 

Table of Open, Limited, and Closed Routes WECO Approved Plan Amendment 

Approved plan amendment route designations of OHV limited areas. If portions of routes fall under 

more than one category they will appear in more than one column. 

Open Routes Limited Routes Closed routes 

T670061 T670121 T670247 

T670062 T670122 T670248 

T670063 T670123 T670250 

T670064 T670124 T670254 

T670066 T670125 T670257 

T670067 T670126 T670258 

T670068 T670128 T670260 

T670069 T670129 T670262 

T670070 T670130 T670264 

T670071 T670203 T670267 

T670072 T670214 T670271 

T670073 T670243 T670276 

T670074 T670247 T670280 

T670075 T670253 T670281 

T670077 T670258 T670292 

T670078 T670259 T670295 

T670080 T670260 T670296 

T670081 T670264 T670302 

T670082 T670265 T670305 

T670083 T670266 T670307 

T670084 T670267 T670309 

T670085 T670268 T670314 

T670087 T670269 T670315 

T670088 T670270 T670316 

T670089 T670272 T670317 

T670091 T670273 T670345 

T670093 T670274 T670347 

T670094 T670275 T670353 

T670096 T670277 T670354 

T670097 T670278 T670359 

T670098 T670279 T670360 

T670099 T670282 T670365 

T670101 T670283 T670371 

T670102 T670284 T670378 

T670103 T670285 T670380 

T670104 T670286 T670381 

T670105 T670287 T670382 

T670107 T670288 T670383 

T670108 T670289 T670384 
13

T670109 T670290 T670386 

T670110 T670291 T670388 

T670111 T670293 T670390 

T670113 T670294 T670392 

T670114 T670297 T670393 

T670115 T670298 T670394 

T670116 T670299 T670398 

T670117 T670300 T670399 

T670118 T670301 T670410 

T670119 T670303 T670411 

T670120 T670306 T670458 

T670121 T670307 T670475 

T670130 T670309 T670476 

T670132 T670311 T670477 

T670133 T670312 T670505 

T670134 T670313 T670508 

T560135 T670318 T670509 

T670136 T670344 T670511 

T670137 T670346 T670512 

T670139 T670352 T670538 

T670140 T670353 NCC014 

T670141 T670354 NCC015 

T670143 T670357 NCC016 

T670144 T670358 NCC017 

T670145 T670359 NCC019 

T670146 T670362 NCC020 

T670147 T670369 NCC021 

T670149 T670373 NCC022 

T670150 T670377 NCC023 

T670152 T670379 NCC024 

T560153 T670382 NCC025 

T670155 T670385 NCC026 

T670156 T670387 NCC027 

T670157 T670389 NCC028 

T670158 T670390 NCC029 

T670159 T670391 NCC030 

T670160 T670393 NCC033 

T670161 T670395 NCC034 

T670162 T670396 NCC037 

T670163 T670397 NCC038 

T670164 T670400 NCC040 

T670165 T670401 NCC042 

T670166 T670402 NCC043 

T670167 T670403 NCC045 

T670169 T670405 NCC046 

T670170 T670406 NCC047 
14

T670171 T670407 NCC048 

T670172 T670408 NCC049 

T670173 T670409 NCC050 

T670174 T670410 NCC051 

T670175 T670418 NCC055 

T670176 T670419 NCC058 

T670177 T670420 NCC059 

T670178 T670421 NCC060 

T670179 T670422 NCC061 

T670180 T670423 NCC063 

T670182 T670424 NCC064 

T670183 T670425 NCC065 

T670184 T670426 NCC067 

T670186 T670427 NCC068 

T670187 T670428 NCC069 

T670190 T670429 NCC070 

T670191 T670430 NCC071 

T670192 T670443 NCC072 

T670193 NCC072 

T670194 NCC074 

T670195 NCC075 

T670196 MCC076 

T670197 NCC077 

T670198 NCC078 

T670199 NCC079 

T670200 NCC080 

T670201 NCC081 

T670202 NCC082 

T670203 NCC083 

T670204 NCC084 

T670205 NCC085 

T670206 NCC086 

T670207 NCC087 

T670208 NCC089 

T670209 NCC090 

T670215 NCC091 

T670216 NCC093 

T670217 NCC094 

T670218 NCC095 

T670219 NCC099 

T670220 NCC100 

T670229 NCC101 

T670230 NCC102 

T670232 NCC103 

T670233 NCC104 

T670236 NCC106 
15

T670237 NCC107 

T670238 NCC108 

T670240 NCC109 

T670241 NCC110 

T670242 NCC113 

T670243 NCC122 

T670244 NCC123 

T670245 NCC124 

T670246 NCC125 

T670247 NCC127 

T670248 NCC128 

T670249 NCC129 

T670251 NCC130 

T670252 NCC131 

T670254 NCC132 

T670255 NCC133 

T670256 NCC134 

T670258 NCC135 

T670259 NCC136 

T670260 NCC137 

T670261 NCC138 

T670263 NCC139 

T670264 NCC140 

T670272 NCC141 

T670274 NCC142 

T670308 NCC143 

T670310 NCC145 

T670311 NCC146 

T670321 NCC148 

T670323 NCC150 

T670325 NCC151 

T670326 NCC152 

T670327 NCC153 

T670329 NCC157 

T670330 NCC160 

T670331 NCC171 

T670332 NCC186 

T670335 NCC187 

T670336 

T670337 

T670338 

T670339 

T670340 

T670341 

T670342 

T670344 
16

T670346 

T670350 

T670351 

T670352 

T670353 

T670354 

T670355 

T670361 

T670411 

T670412 

T670413 

T670414 

T670415 

T670416 

T670417 

T670431 

T670432 

T670433 

T670434 

T670435 

T670436 

T670437 

T670438 

T670439 

T670440 

T670441 

T670442 

T670445 

T670446 

T560447 

T670448 

T670449 

T670450 

T670451 

T560452 

T670453 

T670454 

T670455 

T670456 

T670457 

T670459 

T670460 

T670461 

T670463 

T670465 

T670466 
17

T670468 

T670470 

T670471 

T670473 

T670479 

T670480 

T670481 

T670483 

T670484 

T670485 

T670486 

T670487 

T670488 

T670489 

T670490 

T670494 

T670495 

T670496 

T670497 

T670500 

T670501 

T670504 

T670506 

T670507 

T670511 

T670513 

T670514 

T670516 

T670518 

T670526 

T670527 

T670529 

T670530 

T670534 

T670535 

T670536 

T670537 

T670538 

T670540 

T670542 

T670543 

T670544 

T670547 

T670548 
18

Explanation for Trails Having More That One Type of Designation 

T670121: portions within Coyote Mountains are limited to no vehicle use January 1-June 30. This 

designation assists with Peninsular bighorn sheep management. 

T670130: portions within Coyote Mountains are limited to no vehicle use January 1-June 30. This 

designation assists with Peninsular bighorn sheep management. 

T670203: portions within bombing range are limited to permitted race events. 

T670243: portions within the Yuha Basin area are limited to street legal vehicles only. 

T670247: portions within the Yuha Basin area are limited to street legal vehicles only. Segments parallel 

to T670253 along I-8 within the Yuha Basin area are closed. 

T670248: segments between T670249 and closed route 040 (north of I-8 and south of Hwy 80) are 

closed. 

T670254: segments between T670249 and T670248 (north of I-8 and south of Hwy 80) are closed. 

T670258: portions within the Yuha Basin area are limited to street legal vehicles only except segments 

designated as historic/discovery trails. Segments that parallel T670274 and T670267 are closed. 

T670259: portions within the Yuha Basin area are limited to street legal vehicles only except segments 

designated as historic/discovery trails which are open. 

T670260: portions within the Yuha Basin area are limited to street legal vehicles only. Segments that 

parallel T670243 and T670264 are closed. 

T670264: portions within the Yuha Basin area are limited to street legal vehicles only except segments 

designated as historic/discovery trails which are open. Segment south of T670344 is closed. 

T670267: segments that parallel T67059 are closed. 

T670272: portions within the Yuha Basin area are limited to street legal vehicles only except segments 

designated as historic/discovery trails which are open. 

T670274: portions within the Yuha Basin area are limited to street legal vehicles only except segments 

designated as historic/discovery trails which are open. 

T670307: segment between T670306 and T670379 is closed. 

T670309: segment between Hwy 98 and T670310 is closed. 

T670311: portions within the Yuha Basin area are limited to street legal vehicles only except segments 

designated as historic/discovery trails which are open. 
19

T670344: portions within the Yuha Basin area are limited to street legal vehicles only. 

T670346: portions within the Yuha Basin area are limited to street legal vehicles only except segments 

designated as historic/discovery trails which are open. 

T670352: portions within the Yuha Basin area are limited to street legal vehicles only. 

T670353: portions within the Yuha Basin area are limited to street legal vehicles only. The segment 

between T670304 and T670377 is closed. 

T670354: portions within the Yuha Basin area are limited to street legal vehicles only except segments 

designated as historic/discovery trails which are open. The segment between T670264 and T670353 is 

closed. 

T670359: segments between T670355, T670360 and east of T670357 are closed 

T670382: segments that parallel T670318 are closed. 

T670393: segments between T670391 and T670396 are closed 

T670410: segment that parallels T670358 is closed. 

Corrections from the Proposed Plan Amendment: 

T670075 was mislabeled as limited for a short portion: all of T670075 is open. 

T670084 was mislabeled as limited for a short portion: all of T670084 is open. 

T670256 was mislabeled as closed: all of T670256 is open. 

T670280 was mislabeled as limited for a short portion: all of T67080 is closed. 

T670319 was misidentified as closed. It actually is the same route as route T670387. The route will be 

identified as T670378 in the future. T670387 will retain the initial designation of limited. 

T670345 was mislabeled as open for a short portion: all of T670345 is closed. 

T670398 segment was mislabeled: it had the incorrect route number. It should have been identified as 

T670390, a limited route. All of T670398 is closed. 

T670419 was mislabeled as closed. It should be limited. 

T670511 the segment south of the All American Canal is closed. 

T670519 should not have been designated as open or closed. This route is now entirely on private 

property. It does not have a BLM designation. 

T670538 the segment south of the All American Canal is closed. 
20

Attachment 2 

Description of Camping Opportunities 

No camping areas The 1989 camping closure combined with the 2000 

camping closure located in East Mesa north of I-8 

and west of the Imperial Sand Dunes involving 

7,280 acres to reduce impact to the flat tailed horned 

lizard. 

The Superstition camping closure adjacent to the 

Superstition Mountain Open Area north of route 

T670075 and east of T670201 established in the 

1980s due to archeological concerns. 

Kane Springs Road, T670084 is closed to camping 

along its entire length due to archeological and 

pupfish concerns. 

Designated camping areas Camping in the Yuha Basin area is only permitted in 

designated areas. These areas will be analyzed 

under a separate environmental document to 

determine shapes and sizes at the locations indicated 

on the maps. This is for archeological and flat tailed 

horned lizard concerns. 

Designated parking Parking during daylight hours is permitted 

immediately adjacent to routes designated as open or 

limited in the Yuha Basin area. 

Overnight parking of unoccupied vehicles at access 

points to the Jacumba Wilderness Area within the 

Yuha Basin area will be permitted. This allows 

parking within 35 feet of the centerline of the 

following trails T670270, T670273, T670274, 

T670278, T67028, T670282, T670283 near the 

access points to the wilderness area. This will allow 

over night visitors to the wilderness to park at access 

points. However camping at the access points will 

not be allowed. 

Within a 25’ centerline width All designated routes in the Elliot mine area due to 

safety and terrain. 

Within a 50’ centerline width All flat tailed horned lizard management areas, 

except Yuha Basin area (see designated camping and 

parking above). 

Within a 300’ centerline All other areas within the project not described 

above.