BEAVER DAM WASH

National Conservation Area

U. S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management

St. George Field Office

July 2015

DOI-BLM-UT-C030-2015-1-EIS

Draft Resource Management Plans

Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area

Red Cliffs National Conservation Area

Draft Amendment to the St. George Field Office

Resource Management Plan

Draft Environmental Impact Statement

BLM
Draft Resource Management Plans

Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area

Red Cliffs National Conservation Area

Draft Amendment to the St. George Field Office

Resource Management Plan

Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Prepared by the

St. George Field Office

July 2015

Jenna Whitlock

Acting Utah State Director

Bureau of Land Management
BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment Introduction iii

DEAR READER LETTER

 United States Department of the Interior

 BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

 Utah State Office

 P.O. Box 45155

 Salt Lake City, UT 84145-0155 

 http://www.blm.gov

In reply to:

1610 (UTC03000)

DOI-BLM-UT-C030-2015-1-EIS

Dear Reader:

Attached for your review and comment are Draft Resource Management Plans (Draft RMPs) for the Bureau of Land 

Management’s (BLM) Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area and Red Cliffs National Conservation Area 

(NCA), located in Washington County, Utah, and a supporting Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The 

Draft RMPs were prepared by BLM in consultation with cooperating agencies and in accordance with the Omnibus 

Public Lands Management Act of 2009 (OPLMA), which established the two NCAs; with the Federal Land Policy 

and Management Act of 1976, as amended; with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended; implementing federal regulations, BLM’s Land Use Planning Handbook (H-1601-1); and other applicable law 

and policy.

This document also includes a Draft RMP Amendment to the St. George Field Office’s Record of Decision and 

Resource Management Plan (approved in 1999, amended in 2001). The need to amend the current St. George Field 

Office RMP was driven by legislative direction from OPLMA that required BLM to take actions and make land use 

allocations on public lands in Washington County, Utah related to two planning issues. The three planning efforts 

were initiated concurrently to facilitate the preparation of a single DEIS to disclose the environmental consequences 

of implementing the two new NCA RMPs and amending the current St. George Field Office RMP.

The Draft RMPs for the Beaver Dam Wash and Red Cliffs NCAs address the long-term management of approximately 108,339 acres of public lands within the two NCAs. Planning issues addressed in these draft RMPs include 

the conservation, protection, and enhancement of the ecological, scenic, wildlife, recreational, cultural, historical, 

natural, educational, and scientific resources identified as the purposes for Congressional designation of the public 

lands as NCAs. 

The BLM encourages the public to provide information and comments pertaining to the analysis presented in the 

Draft RMPs and Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS. We are particularly interested in feedback concerning the 

adequacy and accuracy of the proposed alternatives, the analysis of their respective management decisions, and 

any new information that would help the BLM as it develops the plans. In developing the Proposed RMPs/Final 

EIS, which is the next phase of the planning process, the decision-maker may select various management decisions 

from each of the alternatives analyzed in the Draft RMPs and Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS for the purpose of 

creating a management strategy that best meets the needs of the resources and values in this area. As a member of 

the public, your timely comments will help formulate the Proposed RMPs and Proposed RMP Amendment/Final 

EIS. Comments will be accepted for ninety (90) calendar days following the Environmental Protection Agency’s 

(EPA) publication of its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM can best utilize your comments and 

resource information submissions if received within the review period.

Comments may be submitted electronically to: utsgrmp@blm.gov. Comments may also be submitted by mail to: 

St. George Field Office, 345 East Riverside Drive, Utah 84790. To facilitate analysis of comments and information 

submitted, we strongly encourage you to submit comments in an electronic format.
iv Introduction BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment Introduction v

DEAR READER LETTER ABSTRACT

Your review and comments on the content of this document are critical to the success of this planning effort. If you 

wish to submit comments on the Draft RMPs and Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS, we request that you make your 

comments as specific as possible. Comments will be more helpful if they include suggested changes, sources, or 

methodologies, and a reference to the section or page number. Comments containing only opinions or preferences 

will be considered and included as part of the decision making process; although, they will not receive a formal 

response from the BLM.

Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment - including your personal identifying information - may be made publicly 

available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from 

public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Public meetings to provide an overview of the document, respond to questions, and take public comments will be 

announced by local media, website, and/or public mailings at least 15 days in advance. Public meetings are currently 

scheduled for St. George, Hurricane, and Salt Lake City, Utah.

Copies of the Draft RMPs and Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS have been sent to affected Federal, state and local 

government agencies, and tribal governments. Copies are available for public inspection at the Washington County 

Library, 88 West 100 South, St. George, Utah 84770 and the Salt Lake City Main Library, 210 East 400 South, Salt 

Lake City, Utah 84111. Copies of the Draft RMPs and Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS are available on the BLM 

website at www.blm.gov/sgfo. Copies are also available for public inspection at the following BLM locations: 

St. George Field Office, 345 E. Riverside Drive, St. George, UT 84790 

Utah State Office, 440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101

Thank you for your continued interest in the Draft RMPs for the Beaver Dam Wash and Red Cliffs NCAs and the 

Draft Amendment to the St. George Field Office RMP. We appreciate the information and suggestions you contribute 

to the planning process. For additional information or clarification regarding this document or the planning process, 

please contact Keith Rigtrup, Environmental Planner, Color County District Office, Bureau of Land Management, 

176 East DL Sargent Drive, Cedar City, UT 84721, (435) 865-3063, krigtrup@blm.gov.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Jenna Whitlock

 Acting Utah State Director

Bureau of Land Management

Draft Resource Management Plans for

Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area and Red Cliffs National Conservation Area

and Draft Amendment to the St. George Field Office Resource Management Plan 

Washington County, Utah

Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Lead Agency: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management

Type of Action: Draft ( X ) Final ( ) Administrative ( ) Legislative ( )

Jurisdiction: Color Country District, St. George Field Office, Utah

Abstract: The purpose of this planning process is to satisfy specific mandates from the Omnibus Public Lands 

Management Act of 2009 (OPLMA) that directed the Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM) to develop comprehensive plans for the long-term management of Beaver Dam Wash National 

Conservation Area (NCA) and Red Cliffs NCA. The legislation also required BLM to take actions and make land 

use allocations on public lands in Washington County that require the St. George Field Office Record of Decision 

and Resource Management Plan (RMP, approved in 1999, amended in 2001) be amended to address two planning 

issues. The three planning efforts were initiated concurrently, to facilitate the preparation of a single Environmental 

Impact Statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental consequences of implementing the two new land use plans and 

amending the current SGFO RMP. 

The Draft RMPs for the Beaver Dam Wash and Red Cliffs NCAs describe four alternatives proposed for the longterm management of approximately 108,339 acres of public lands within the two NCAs. Planning issues addressed 

in these draft RMPs include the conservation, protection, and enhancement of the ecological, scenic, wildlife, recreational, cultural, historical, natural, educational, and scientific resources identified as the purposes for Congressional 

designation of the public lands as NCAs. 

The two issue Draft RMP Amendment to the St. George Field Office RMP contains four alternatives that address the 

protection of priority biological conservation areas on public lands in Washington County mandated by OPLMA, 

either through the administrative designation of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) or the identification of management actions developed to meet that goal where ACEC designation would not be warranted. The Draft 

RMP Amendment also proposes modifications to current area designations for motorized vehicle uses.

The four alternatives proposed in the Draft NCA RMPs and Draft RMP Amendment include Alternative A, the No 

Action alternative that represents the continuation of current management practices, and Alternative B, the agency 

Preferred Alternative. The single Draft EIS prepared to support this planning process analyses the environmental 

consequences of implementing the Draft NCA RMPs and Draft RMP Amendment.

The review period for public comment on the Draft NCA RMPs and the Draft RMP Amendment is 90 days from 

EPA’s publication of its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. Three public open house public meetings 

will be held in St. George, Hurricane, and Salt Lake City, Utah. These will be announced at least 15 days in advance through public notices and news releases and mailings. The purpose of the open house meetings is to provide 

information on the Draft NCA RMPs and Draft RMP Amendment and to collect public comment on the adequacy 

and accuracy of the analysis in the Draft EIS. Comments may be submitted to the St. George Field Office, 345 East 

Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84790, or sent to utsgrmp@blm.gov. Comments may also be faxed to (435) 688-

3252. For more information about or to view the document, visit www.blm.gov/sgfo.

For further information, contact: Keith Rigtrup, BLM-Utah Planning Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, 

Color County District Office, 176 East DL Sargent Drive, Cedar City, UT 847221-9337, (435)865-3063, krigtrup@

blm.gov.
vi Introduction BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment Introduction vii

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared Draft Resource Management Plans (RMP) to provide management direction for the Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area and the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area 

(NCA), as directed by the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 that established each of the NCAs. Title I, 

Subtitle O of this legislation (16 U.S.C. 7202, Public Law 111-11, hereinafter OPLMA) concerns public lands managed 

by BLM in Washington County, Utah.

A Draft Amendment to the St. George Field Office Record of Decision and RMP (SGFO RMP, approved in 1999) has 

also been prepared to address specific mandates from OPLMA concerning land use allocations on public lands in 

Washington County, Utah that require the SGFO RMP be amended.

The Draft RMPs for the NCAs and the Draft Amendment to the SGFO RMP were prepared in accordance with legislative direction from OPLMA and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976; with the Code of 

Federal Regulations at 43 CFR at Subpart 1610; and with guidance from BLM’s Land Use Planning Handbook (BLM 

2005). Public input from scoping and consultations with Cooperating Agencies also helped to direct the preparation 

of these plans.

A single Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) is included to meet the requirements of the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended; the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for 

implementing NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations 1500-1508; and the requirements of BLM’s NEPA Handbook, 

H-1790-1. The Draft EIS disclose the environmental consequences of implementing the two new land use plans and 

an amendment to the current SGFO RMP, which each include a preferred alternative, the no action alternative, and 

two action alternatives.

The two NCAs where established by Congress through the OPLMA, which President Barack Obama signed into law 

on March 30, 2009. The Beaver Dam Wash NCA is comprised of approximately 63,480 acres of public land, located in 

the southwestern corner of Washington County, Utah and within the administrative boundaries of BLM’s SGFO. In 

October of 2009, Congress modified the boundaries and reduced the acreage of the Beaver Dam Wash NCA by 5,000 

acres, through a “legislative rider” to the 2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill Conference Agreement. 

The change excluded a designated utility corridor from the NCA, to facilitate management of the corridor for future 

utility line developments.

The Red Cliffs NCA includes approximately 44,859 acres of public land is located in central Washington County, 

north of the City of St. George. It is also under the administrative jurisdiction of the SGFO.

PURPOSE AND NEED 

The purpose of this planning process is to satisfy specific mandates from OPLMA that directed the development of 

comprehensive plans for the long-term management of Beaver Dam Wash NCA and Red Cliffs NCA and make land 

use allocations on public lands in Washington County that required an amendment to the SGFO RMP. 

BEAVER DAM WASH NCA RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN

At Section 1975 (d) (1) of Title 1, Subtitle O, OPLMA directs the Secretary of the Interior, through BLM, to develop a comprehensive [resource] management plan for the Beaver Dam Wash NCA to achieve the following 

Congressionally-defined purpose:

To conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the ecological, 

scenic, wildlife, recreational, cultural, historical, natural, educational, and scientific resources of the Beaver Dam 

Wash National Conservation Area. (OPLMA Section 1975 (a))

Land use planning goals, objectives, and management decisions approved in the RMP for the Beaver Dam Wash NCA 

must be consistent with the purposes, authorized uses, and other mandates from OPLMA. The mandates of OPLMA 

emphasize conservation, protection, enhancement, and restoration of public land values as the designation purposes 

for the NCA.

Regarding authorized uses, OPLMA at Section 1975 (e) (2) specifies that “the Secretary shall only allow uses of 

the National Conservation Area that the Secretary determines would further the purpose” for which the NCA was 

designated. OPLMA Section 1975 (g) (1) specifically restricts allowable uses by withdrawing the public lands of this 

NCA, subject to valid existing rights, from:

▶ All forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws;

▶ Location, entry, and patenting under the mining laws; and

▶ Operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws.

At Section 1975 (e) (3), Congress addressed motorized vehicle access and travel in the Beaver Dam Wash NCA by 

designating three areas (labeled “Designated Road Areas” on the legislative map of the NCA) where motorized vehicle 

travel is permitted only on the roads identified on that map. In areas outside of the “Designated Road Areas”, motorized vehicle travel is limited to roads designated by BLM through a public Comprehensive Travel and Transportation 

Management planning process. There is an exception from the motorized travel restrictions for cases where motorized vehicles are needed for administrative purposes or to respond to an emergency.

RED CLIFFS NCA RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN

Section 1974 (d) (1) of OPLMA mandates the Secretary, through BLM, to develop a comprehensive (resource) management plan for the Red Cliffs NCA to achieve the following Congressionally-defined purposes:

To conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the ecological, scenic, wildlife, recreational, cultural, historical, natural, educational, and scientific resources of the National 

Conservation Area; and

To protect each species that is located in the National Conservation Area; and listed as a threatened or endangered species on the list of threatened species or the list of endangered species published under...the Endangered 

Species Act of 1973. (OPLMA Section 1974 (a))

Land use planning goals, objectives, and management decisions approved in the RMP for the Red Cliffs NCA must be 

consistent with the purposes, authorized uses, and other mandates from OPLMA. The mandates of OPLMA emphasize 

conservation, protection, enhancement, and restoration of public land values as the designation purposes for the NCA.

Regarding authorized uses, the OPLMA Section 1974 (e) (2) specifies that “the Secretary shall only allow uses of the 

National Conservation Areas that the Secretary determines would further the purpose” for which the NCA was designated. OPLMA Section 1974 (g) (1) specifically restricts allowable uses by withdrawing the public lands of this NCA, 

subject to valid existing rights, from:

▶ All forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws;

▶ Location, entry, and patenting under the mining laws; and

▶ Operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws.

AMENDMENT TO SGFO RMP

Designation of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern

Section 1979 (a) (1) and (2) of OPLMA, directs the Secretary, through BLM, to “identify areas located in the County 

where biological conservation is a priority; and undertake activities to conserve and restore plant and animal species 

and natural communities within such areas.”

Satisfying this legislative mandate from OPLMA could be accomplished through the administrative designation of 

new areas of critical environmental concern (ACECs) on public lands, to direct special management attention to 

biological resources and natural communities that meet one or more of the following criteria for both relevance and 

importance (BLM Manual 1613.1): 

Relevance: An area meets the “relevance” criteria if it contains one or more of the following:

▶ A fish and wildlife resource (including but not limited to habitat for endangered, sensitive, or threatened species, 

or habitat essential for maintaining species diversity).

▶ A natural process or system (including but not limited to endangered, sensitive, or threatened plant species, 

rare, endemic, or relic plants or plant communities which are terrestrial, aquatic, or riparian or rare geological 

feature).
viii Introduction BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment Introduction ix

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Importance: The resource, system, or process described above must have substantial significance and value in order 

to satisfy the importance criteria. This generally means that the resource, system, or process is characterized by one or 

more of the following:

▶ Has more than locally significant qualities that give it worth, consequence, meaning, distinctiveness, or cause for 

concern, especially compared to any similar resource.

▶ Has qualities or circumstances that make it fragile, sensitive, rare, irreplaceable, exemplary, unique, endangered, 

threatened or vulnerable to adverse change.

▶ Has been recognized as warranting protection in order to satisfy national priority concerns or to carry out the 

mandates of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.

Pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq., PL 94-579, FLPMA) at 

Section 202 (c) (3), the identification, evaluation, and designation of ACECs must be accomplished through a land 

use planning process. The SGFO RMP must be amended in order to designate new ACECs for relevant and important 

biological resources and natural communities.

Management of Priority Biological Conservation Areas

BLM could also amend the SGFO RMP to achieve biological conservation objectives, as directed by OPLMA, by 

identifying priority biological conservation areas and proposing management decisions for those areas where biological resources are in need of protection, but do not meet one or more of the criteria for both relevance and importance 

required for ACEC designation. Proposed changes to existing goals, objectives, and management decisions from the 

SGFO RMP for specific areas of public lands in Washington County necessitate an amendment to the SGFO RMP.

During this planning effort, BLM solicited input from federal agencies, state and local governments, Indian tribes, 

and the public, to identify public lands in Washington County where biological conservation is a priority and where 

new ACECs should be designated or other special management applied to conserve and restore plant and animal species and natural communities.

Off-Highway Vehicle Area Designations

Section 1977 (b) (1) of OPLMA, directed the Secretary, through BLM, to “develop a comprehensive travel [and transportation] management plan” (TMP) for public lands in Washington County. Prior to the development of this plan, 

the SGFO RMP must be amended to modify certain existing off-highway vehicle (OHV) area designations (open, 

limited or closed), to be in compliance with the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 43 CFR 8340.0-5, (f), (g), 

and (h) respectively and 43 CFR 8342.1 (a-d) and related agency policies. Area designations provide the framework 

within which individual route designations are made, as BLM prepares the legislatively-mandated travel management 

plan for public lands in Washington County. 

PLANNING PROCESS AND PUBLIC COLLABORATION 

In May 2010, the SGFO initiated the planning process through the publication of a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare 

resource management plans for the Beaver Dam Wash NCA and the Red Cliffs NCA and to amend the SGFO RMP 

in the Federal Register (Federal Register, May 10, 2010, Vol. 75, No. 89, pages 25876-25877). The NOI identified a 60-

day scoping period during which the public could assist BLM in the identification of issues or concerns related to the 

planning process. Public scoping is required by NEPA in the early stages of developing an EIS to determine the scope 

and significance of issues related to a proposed action, such as the development of RMPs or an RMP Amendment (40 

Code of Federal Regulations 1501.7). 

The NOI announced the dates, meeting locations, and times for four public scoping open houses for this planning 

process. It also included instructions for providing written comments by the end date for the scoping period, July 19, 

2010. This same information was included in a press release published in newspapers throughout the planning area in 

May of 2010. Scoping open houses were held in the cities of St. George, Hurricane, and Salt Lake City, Utah ; and in 

Mesquite, Nevada. Various media were used to publicize the open houses, including on-line postings on BLM-Utah 

State Office and SGFO websites, and a planning newsletter that was mailed to hundreds of individuals, organizations and agencies and made available at each of the scoping meetings. The newsletter provided information about 

the scoping process and instructions for submitting comments. It also included information about the NCAs, the 

purposes for which Congress had designated them to the National Conservation Lands, and their resource values. 

The newsletter requested public input related to potential planning issues and requested input on alternatives for 

long-term management of the public lands within each NCA. The mandates that required amendment of the SGFO 

RMP were identified in the newsletter and the public invited to submit nominations for ACEC or other information 

that would assist BLM to identify and direct special management attention to areas of public land where biological 

conservation should be a priority. The newsletter and other information about the planning process were also posted 

and updated on the BLM SGFO website (www.blm.gov/sgfo). 

The four public open houses were held over a one-week period in June 2010, and were attended by 269 members 

of the public and representatives from other federal agencies, as well as state and local governments. BLM resource 

specialists were available to answer questions and provide additional information about specific issues throughout 

the meeting. Informational posters and maps were on display during the open houses and were designed to stimulate questions from the public and assist the preparation of scoping comments, which were accepted through written 

comment forms, emails, and postings to the BLM website.

In January of 2011, a second planning newsletter was mailed to all governmental agencies, organizations, and members of the public who had requested to be placed on the mailing list. This newsletter provided an overview of the 

results of scoping, the availability of the scoping report, and the announcement of an Economic Strategies Workshop 

that was held in St. George, Utah on February 18, 2011. 

MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES 

Using public comments, input from Cooperating Agencies, and issues and concerns identified by BLM staff and 

management, BLM’s Planning Team drafted three new alternatives to address management of the two NCAs and 

the planning issues identified for the Amendment. One other alternative, Alternative A (No Action), provides the 

current management goals, objectives, and actions, as stated in the SGFO RMP, for each program or resource value. 

Implementing regulations for NEPA require the formulation of a reasonable range of alternatives to address identified 

resource conflicts or concerns. Each action alternative must meet the purpose and need for the plans, be viable and 

reasonable, be responsive to issues identified in scoping, and consistent with the established planning criteria (Appendix B). For the NCAs, each alternative was evaluated to ensure that it complied with the mandates from OPLMA, as 

well as FLPMA, other relevant laws, regulations, and policies, and the purpose, significance, and mission statements 

of each NCA. Similarly, the alternatives for the Amendment to the SGFO RMP were evaluated to ensure that they 

complied with FLPMA, as well as other relevant federal laws, regulations, and BLM policies. 

Public input received during the scoping process was considered in the development of the alternatives and their 

management options; the public scoping process is described in more detail in Chapter 5. A number of state agencies, 

including the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), provided data and input that assisted the development of 

alternatives. Other federal agencies, including the USFWS and the United States Forest Service (USFS)-Dixie National 

Forest participated in the planning process. The State of Utah; Washington County, Utah; and Mojave County, 

Arizona, as formal Cooperating Agencies to this planning process, and the Shivwits Band of the Paiute Indian 

Tribe of Utah, were directly involved in the planning process and the development of alternatives. The Cooperating 

Agencies reviewed and provided comments on the preliminary drafts of the RMPs and RMP Amendment/Draft EIS, 

Chapter 5 provides additional detail on consultation and coordination related to this planning process.

Alternative A (No Action Alternative) 

Alternative A (No Action) is required by NEPA and serves as a baseline against which to compare the environmental 

consequences that could be associated with implementation of other alternatives. Under this alternative, management for the two NCAs, and the public lands affected by the RMP Amendment, would be derived primarily from 

management decisions in the 1999 SGFO RMP, as amended. Unless otherwise noted, or if there is no similar action, 

Alternative A (No Action) directly quotes, rather than paraphrases or updates, the goals, objectives, and management decisions from the SGFO RMP. As written, this alternative may not always clearly convey that it describes how 

resources values and public land programs have been, and currently are, managed under the RMP. A description of 

the on-going management provides a baseline against which to compare the three new alternatives and their environmental consequences. However, this alternative also reflects recent mandates for the three planning areas from 
x Introduction BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment Introduction xi

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OPLMA. As examples, the designation of BLM-managed wilderness in Washington County, through OPLMA, modified decisions from the SGFO RMP. These modifications are reflected in the Alternative A (No Action) for the Red 

Cliffs NCA, as two designated wilderness units are located entirely or partially within this NCA. 

Alternative A (No Action) has also been updated to include the mandates from OPLMA that withdrew the public 

lands in both NCAs from entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws (OPLMA Section 1974 (g) (1) 

and 1975 (g) (1). While Alternative A (No Action) continues to provide considerable valid management direction for 

the two NCAs, and the public lands that could be affected by the Amendment of the SGFO RMP, in many instances, 

management decisions from the SGFO RMP conflict with the mandates of OPLMA or lack the specificity needed 

for future management. This alternative does not meet the purpose and need for a comprehensive management plan 

for either NCA nor does it address the two planning issues identified for the Amendment, but is carried forward for 

analysis to comply with the requirements of NEPA and to serve as a baseline for the comparison of impacts associated 

with the three new alternatives.

Alternative B (Preferred Alternative)

Alternative B attempts to balance resource protection and human uses of the public lands in the two NCAs and on 

public lands affected by the RMP Amendment. For the two NCAs, management would focus on protecting native 

vegetation communities, wildlife habitats, cultural resources, and the scenic qualities of each area from threats, particularly loss to or damage from wildland fires. The restoration of damaged lands is also emphasized under this alternative. Changes are proposed related to livestock grazing management strategies in Beaver Dam Wash NCA. Sustainable 

public recreation uses would be managed through zoning of the two NCAs, permitting, and the development of 

sustainable facilities that enhance visitor experiences. Under Alternative B, in the Beaver Dam Wash NCA, an Old 

Spanish National Historic Trail Management Corridor is proposed and management actions are identified to conserve, protect, and restore trail resources, associated settings, and primary uses within that corridor. Emphasis would 

be placed on environmental education, interpretation, and opportunities for citizen stewardship of NCA resources. 

Alternative B incorporates elements from the other alternatives, as well as unique elements that would further goals 

and objectives relating to scientific research opportunities in the two NCAs.

This alternative for the Amendment proposes to satisfy OPLMA’s mandate related to areas of public land where 

biological conservation is a priority through two approaches: 1) the administrative designation of new ACECs and 

the retention of existing ACEC designations; and 2) the implementation of special management for public lands 

identified by the public during scoping where biological conservation is a priority, but where the species present may 

not meet both the relevance and importance criteria required for ACEC designation. Three new ACECs would be 

designated and eight existing ACECs would be carried forward. Management prescriptions are proposed for the new 

ACECs that would help to ensure the protection of these species through balanced levels of land use allocations and 

restrictions on public uses. 

The biological conservation objectives mandated by OPLMA would also be satisfied through the implementation of 

special management prescriptions for an approximately 87,031 acre area of public lands, labeled by BLM as the Bull 

Valley Mountains Multi-Species Management Area, to protect crucial habitat and migration corridors for mule deer, 

other wildlife species, and diverse predators in northwestern Washington County.

Changes are proposed for existing OHV area designations that would remove the mountain biking area designations 

and change the acres designated as Open, Limited, and Closed, for cross-country motorized OHV travel, to comply 

with federal regulations and BLM’s Travel and Transportation Management guidance. The acreage identified as Open 

to cross-country motorized vehicle travel would be reduced from 80,668 acres under Alternative A (No Action) to 

22,062 under this alternative.

Alternative C 

Alternative C represents an approach to the conservation and protection of resource values that emphasizes higher 

levels of restrictions on certain land uses and activities, while continuing to allow for compatible public uses. 

Management of the two NCAs would also focus on protecting the ecological and scenic values of the NCAs from 

damage or loss to natural and human-caused impacts. Restoration of damaged lands would emphasize the use of 

native vegetation species and the least invasive methods to accomplish goals and objectives. Under this alternative, 

public lands in the NCAs would not be available for livestock grazing in the Beaver Dam Wash NCA. This alternative identifies acres in each NCA that would be managed for wilderness characteristics and as heritage areas focused 

on the protection of cultural resources. In the Beaver Dam Wash NCA, an Old Spanish National Historic Trail 

Management Corridor is proposed and management actions identified to conserve, protect, and restore trail resources, associated settings, and primary uses within that corridor. Like Alternative B, this alternative emphasizes environmental education outreach, interpretation, and scientific research. 

This alternative for the Amendment proposes to satisfy OPLMA’s mandate related to areas of public land where 

biological conservation is a priority through the two approaches described above under Alternative B. Fourteen new 

ACECs for threatened, endangered or BLM Sensitive are evaluated for administrative designation and eight existing 

ACEC designations would be carried forward under this alternative. Management prescriptions proposed for the new 

ACECs would help to ensure the protection of the relevance and importance values of the ACECs, through higher 

levels of restrictions on public land allocations and uses.

Like Alternative B, this alternative proposes special management prescriptions for an approximately 87,000 acre area 

of public lands, informally labeled by BLM as the Bull Valley Mountains Multi-Species Management Area, to protect 

crucial habitat and migration corridors for mule deer, other wildlife species, and diverse predators in northwestern 

Washington County.

As under Alternative B, existing mountain biking area designations would be revoked and acres designated as Open 

for cross-country motorized OHV travel would be reduced to comply with federal regulations and BLM’s Travel and 

Transportation Management guidance. Alternative C would designate the highest amount of acreage, 387,222 acres, 

of public lands in the SGFO as Limited.

Alternative D 

Alternative D emphasizes a broader array and higher levels of public use and access, while still meeting the mandates of “conservation, protection, and enhancement” of resource values in the two NCAs. It emphasizes diverse and 

sustainable recreation uses of the two NCAs through the development of new, non-motorized trails and visitor facilities. Public lands within the NCAs would continue to be available for livestock grazing. Corridors would be retained 

or designated to accommodate new utility and/or transportation ROWs. Cultural and paleontological resources are 

proposed to be allocated to conservation, scientific research, and public uses. In the Beaver Dam Wash NCA, an Old 

Spanish National Historic Trail Management Corridor is proposed and management actions identified to conserve, 

protect, and restore trail resources, associated settings, and primary uses within that corridor. Like Alternatives B and 

C, this alternative emphasizes environmental education outreach, interpretation, and scientific research. 

This RMP Amendment would satisfy OPLMA’s biological conservation mandate through the retention of eight existing ACEC designations and special management prescriptions for an approximately 87,031acre Bull Valley Mountains 

Multi-Species Management Area, to protect crucial habitat and migration corridors for mule deer, other wildlife species, and diverse predators in northwestern Washington County.

Existing mountain biking area designations would be revoked and acres designated as Open for cross-country motorized OHV travel would be reduced when compared to Alternative A (No Action), to comply with federal regulations 

and BLM’s Travel and Transportation Management guidance.

AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT 

Chapter 3 (Affected Environment) describes the environmental resources of the Beaver Dam Wash NCA and the Red 

Cliffs NCA that could be affected by the implementation of the alternatives presented in Chapter 2. Also included 

here are descriptions of authorized land uses that provide economic and social benefits to individuals and local 

communities. Where specific information about resource conditions or uses is not available for the NCAs, the best 

available county-wide or regional data are used. The RMP Amendment is limited to two issues; the resources and 

uses described in the Affected Environment reflect the narrow scope of this planning process. For each of the three 

planning efforts considered in this chapter, the Affected Environment descriptions provide the baseline conditions 
xii Introduction BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment Introduction xiii

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

for Alternative A (No Action), against which the potential impacts of the other “action alternatives” are compared in 

Chapter 4 of the Draft EIS. 

The level of detail presented in this chapter is sufficient to assess the potential effects discussed in Chapter 4 and is 

based on the alternative management actions identified in Chapter 2. Acreage figures and other data provided are approximate projections and readers should not infer that they reflect exact measurements or precise calculations. These 

figures and data were calculated using GIS technology and there may be slight variations in total acres for resource 

values or uses. The environmental values, resource uses, special designations, and social and economic conditions in 

this chapter appear in the same order as they do in Chapters 2 and 4.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES 

Chapter 4 (Environmental Consequences) discloses the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts on the human environment anticipated to occur as a result of implementation of the alternatives developed for the long term management of public lands in the Beaver Dam Wash NCA and the Red Cliffs NCA. Similarly, the environmental consequences that could result from implementation of the alternatives developed to address the two planning issues that 

comprise the Amendment to the SGFO RMP are presented in this chapter.

The purpose of this chapter is to provide BLM decision-makers and the public with an analysis of the environmental consequences of implementing any of the alternatives proposed in Chapter 2. Each impact analysis identifies the 

methods used for the analysis, including indicators, assumptions, and types and nature of impacts on that resource or 

program, from other resources/resource uses. The potential impacts and beneficial effects are described, a summary 

of impacts is presented, and an analysis of cumulative impacts. A separate section describing unavoidable adverse impacts, irretrievable or irreversible commitment of resources, and the relationship between local short-term uses and 

long-term productivity is presented at the end of the chapter for each of the NCAs and the Amendment.

NEXT STEPS

The comment period on these Draft RMPs and Draft Plan Amendment/Draft EIS will extend for 90 days following 

publication of the EPA’s Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. All written comments will be evaluated and 

responses to those comments prepared by BLM. Substantive comments could lead to changes in one or more of the 

alternatives, or in the analysis of environmental consequences. Proposed RMPs and a Proposed RMP Amendment/

Final EIS will then be completed and released for review. If protests are received on the Proposed RMPs and a 

Proposed Plan Amendment/Final EIS, they will be reviewed and addressed by the Director of the BLM before 

Records of Decision for the RMPs and RMP Amendment are signed and released to the public.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Purpose and Need

1.0 Introduction....................................................................................................................................................3

1.1 Purpose and Need for Resource Management Plans for the NCAs and an Amendment 

to SGFO Resource Management Plan............................................................................................................4

1.1.1 Beaver Dam Wash NCA Resource Management Plan.....................................................................4

1.1.2 Red Cliffs NCA Resource Management Plan...................................................................................5

1.1.3 Amendment to SGFO RMP............................................................................................................. 6

1.2 Planning Areas and Maps ...............................................................................................................................7

1.2.1 Beaver Dam Wash NCA....................................................................................................................7

1.2.2 Red Cliffs NCA ................................................................................................................................. 9

1.2.3 Amendment to the SGFO RMP .....................................................................................................11

1.3 Planning Guidance ........................................................................................................................................ 13

1.3.1 Purpose, Significance, and Mission Statements for the NCAs..................................................... 13

1.3.2. Planning Criteria/Legislative Constraints.....................................................................................16

1.3.3 Related Federal Laws, Regulations, Policies, and Programs....................................................... 17

1.3.4. Relationship to Other Plans ......................................................................................................... 21

1.4 Planning Process...........................................................................................................................................22

1.4.1 Implementation-level Decisions....................................................................................................25

1.4.2 Supplementary Rules ....................................................................................................................25

1.5 Public Scoping...............................................................................................................................................27

1.6 Planning and Management Issues...............................................................................................................27

1.6.1 Planning Issues Common to Beaver Dam Wash and Red Cliffs NCAs .........................................28

1.6.2 Planning Issues Specific to Red Cliffs NCA ...................................................................................33

1.6.3 Issues Outside of the Scope of this Planning Process.................................................................34

Chapter 2: Alternatives

2.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 41

2.1 Development of the Alternatives ................................................................................................................42

2.1.1 Management Guidance Common to All Alternatives...................................................................43

2.1.2 Management Guidelines ...............................................................................................................43

2.2 Summary Description of the Alternatives...................................................................................................43

2.2.1. Alternative A (No Action).............................................................................................................43

2.2.2 Alternative B................................................................................................................................. 44

2.2.3 Alternative C..................................................................................................................................45

2.2.5 The Preferred Alternative.............................................................................................................47

2.2.6 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated From Detailed Study ...................................................47

2.2.7 Adaptive Management ............................................................................................................... 48

2.2.8 Format of Alternatives..................................................................................................................50

2.2.9 Types of BLM Decisions ................................................................................................................ 51

2.3 Alternative Tables.........................................................................................................................................52

2.3.1 Beaver Dam Wash NCA Alternative Tables...................................................................................55

2.3.2 Red Cliffs NCA Alternative Tables............................................................................................... 177

2.3.3 St. George Field Office RMP Amendment Alternative Tables...................................................295

Chapter 3: Affected Environment

3.0 Introduction ..............................................................................................................................................329
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Chapter 3: Affected Environment BDWNCA

3.1 Air Quality.................................................................................................................................................... 331

3.1.1 Air Quality Monitoring Data ........................................................................................................ 331

3.1.2 Air Quality Emissions Data...........................................................................................................333

3.1.3 Climate ........................................................................................................................................333

3.1.4 Climate Change............................................................................................................................335

3.2 Water Resources ........................................................................................................................................338

3.2.1 Hydrologic Units ..........................................................................................................................338

3.2.2 Water Resources .........................................................................................................................338

3.2.3 Surface Water .............................................................................................................................338

3.2.4 Ground Water............................................................................................................................. 340

3.2.5 Water Rights and Beneficial Uses ..............................................................................................342

3.3 Geologic and Paleontological Resources..................................................................................................342

3.3.1 Physiography ...............................................................................................................................342

3.3.2 Geologic Structure ......................................................................................................................343

3.3.3 Geologic Formations.................................................................................................................. 344

3.3.4 Paleontological Resources .........................................................................................................350

3.4 Cave and Karst Resources ........................................................................................................................354

3.5 Soil Resources ............................................................................................................................................356

3.5.1 Soil Setting...................................................................................................................................357

3.5.2 Soil Types.....................................................................................................................................358

3.5.3 Sensitive and Fragile Soils...........................................................................................................359

3.6 Native Vegetation Communities ...............................................................................................................362

3.6.1 Ecosystems ..................................................................................................................................362

3.6.2 NCA Vegetation Communities ...................................................................................................363

3.7 Fire and Fuels Management ..................................................................................................................... 369

3.7.1 Natural Fire Regime.................................................................................................................... 369

3.7.2 Fire Regime Condition Classes....................................................................................................370

3.7.3 Fire Occurrence...........................................................................................................................370

3.7.4 Wildland Fire Suppression.......................................................................................................... 371

3.8 Noxious Weeds and Invasive Species Management................................................................................374

3.9 Vegetation Resource Uses: Livestock Grazing .........................................................................................376

3.9.1 Livestock Grazing Management.................................................................................................376

3.10 Vegetation Resource Uses: Plant Materials ........................................................................................... 386

3.10.1 Woodland Products .................................................................................................................. 386

3.10.2 Desert Vegetation Sales ........................................................................................................... 388

3.10.3 Native Seed Collection ............................................................................................................. 388

3.11 Special Status Species.............................................................................................................................. 390

3.11.1 Special Status Wildlife Species: Threatened, Endangered, Candidate, and 

Species Proposed for Listing under ESA.................................................................................. 390

3.11.2 Utah BLM Sensitive Species.......................................................................................................402

3.12 Other Fish and Wildlife Species................................................................................................................410

3.12.1 Ungulate Species.........................................................................................................................411

3.12.2 Other Mammals .........................................................................................................................414

3.12.3 Upland Game Birds ....................................................................................................................414

3.12.4 Amphibians ................................................................................................................................414

3.13 Heritage Resources .................................................................................................................................. 415

3.13.1 Cultural History Overview.......................................................................................................... 415

3.13.2 Identification of Heritage Resources in the NCA .....................................................................420

3.13.3 Arrowhead Trails Highway ........................................................................................................422

3.13.4 U.S. Highway 91.........................................................................................................................422

3.13.5 Site Monitoring..........................................................................................................................423

3.14 Special Designations.................................................................................................................................423

3.14.1 Special Designations Not Present in the NCA...........................................................................423

3.14.2 National Historic Trails (Old Spanish National Historic Trail)...................................................425

3.14.3 Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark..................................................................................433

3.14.4 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern ................................................................................ 434

3.15 Visual Resource Management..................................................................................................................435

3.15.1 Natural Lightscapes ...................................................................................................................442

3.16 Natural Soundscapes................................................................................................................................442

3.17 Lands With Wilderness Characteristics................................................................................................... 443

3.17.1 Joshua Tree UT-040-058 ........................................................................................................... 444

3.17.2 Beaver Dam Wash UT-040-059 .................................................................................................447

3.17.3 Scarecrow Peak UT-040-051..................................................................................................... 448

3.18 Recreation and Visitor Services .............................................................................................................. 450

3.18.1 Recreation................................................................................................................................. 450

3.18.2 Facilities ..................................................................................................................................... 451

3.18.3 Interpretation/Visitor Understanding ...................................................................................... 451

3.19 Comprehensive Travel and Transportation Management......................................................................453

3.19.1 OHV Designations ......................................................................................................................453

3.19.2 Travel Management ..................................................................................................................453

3.20 Lands and Realty..................................................................................................................................... 456

3.20.1 Land Tenure Adjustments ........................................................................................................ 456

3.20.2 Linear ROWs..............................................................................................................................457

3.20.3 Other Land Use Authorizations............................................................................................... 458

3.21 Social and Economic Conditions ............................................................................................................. 459

3.21.1 Overview of Washington County ............................................................................................. 459

3.21.2 Beaver Dam Wash NCA Social and Economic Conditions....................................................... 465

Chapter 3: Affected Environment RCNCA

3.22 Introduction............................................................................................................................................. 467

3.23 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................................ 467

3.23.1 Climate ...................................................................................................................................... 467

3.23.2 Climate Change Scenarios........................................................................................................ 468

3.24 Water Resources ..................................................................................................................................... 468

3.24.1 Hydrologic Units ....................................................................................................................... 468

3.24.2 Water Resources...................................................................................................................... 468

3.24.3 Surface Water .......................................................................................................................... 468

3.24.4 Ground Water ...........................................................................................................................472

3.24.5 Water Rights and Beneficial Uses ............................................................................................473

3.25 Geologic and Paleontological Resources................................................................................................473

3.25.1 Physiography .............................................................................................................................473

3.25.2 Geologic Structure ....................................................................................................................474

3.25.3 Geologic Formations.................................................................................................................475

3.25.4 Paleontological Resources .......................................................................................................482

3.26 Cave and Karst Resources ...................................................................................................................... 484

3.27 Soil Resources.......................................................................................................................................... 485

3.27.1 Soil Setting ................................................................................................................................ 485
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3.27.2 Soil Types .................................................................................................................................. 485

3.27.3 Sensitive and Fragile Soils........................................................................................................ 489

3.28 Native Vegetation Communities............................................................................................................. 490

3.28.1 Ecozones .................................................................................................................................. 490

3.28.2 NCA Vegetation Communities................................................................................................. 490

3.29 Fire and Fuels Management................................................................................................................... 496

3.29.1 Fire Regime Condition Class..................................................................................................... 496

3.29.2 Fire Occurrence........................................................................................................................ 497

3.29.3 Wildland Fire Suppression....................................................................................................... 500

3.30 Noxious Weeds and Invasive Species ..................................................................................................... 501

3.31 Vegetation Resource Uses: Livestock Grazing........................................................................................ 501

3.31.1 NCA Grazing Allotments ............................................................................................................ 501

3.32 Vegetation Resource Uses: Plant Materials........................................................................................... 504

3.32.1 Woodland Products, Desert Vegetation Sales, and Native Seed Collection.......................... 504

3.33 Special Status Species............................................................................................................................. 504

3.33.1 Special Status Plant Species: Threatened, Endangered, Candidate, and

 Species Proposed for Listing under ESA..................................................................................505

3.33.2 Special Status Wildlife Species: Threatened, Endangered, Candidate, and

 Species Proposed for Listing under ESA................................................................................. 506

3.33.3 Utah BLM Sensitive Species ..................................................................................................... 515

3.34 Other Fish and Wildlife Species ............................................................................................................... 517

3.34.1 Ungulate Species....................................................................................................................... 517

3.34.2 Other Mammals ........................................................................................................................ 519

3.34.3 Upland Game Birds ................................................................................................................... 519

3.34.4 Amphibians ............................................................................................................................... 519

3.35 Heritage Resources.................................................................................................................................. 519

3.35.1 Identification of Heritage Resources in the NCA ..................................................................... 519

3.35.2 Site Monitoring ......................................................................................................................... 521

3.36 Special Designations ................................................................................................................................ 521

3.36.1 Special Designations Not Present in the NCA.......................................................................... 521

3.36.2 Designated Wilderness.............................................................................................................522

3.36.3 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.................................................................................524

3.37 Visual Resource Management.................................................................................................................524

3.37.1 Natural Lightscapes...................................................................................................................526

3.38 Natural Soundscapes ...............................................................................................................................527

3.39 Lands With Wilderness Characteristics...................................................................................................527

3.39.1 Red Mountain UT-040-132A ......................................................................................................527

3.39.2 Red Mountain UT-040-132B...................................................................................................... 531

3.39.3 Cottonwood Canyon UT-040-046A..........................................................................................532

3.39.4 Cottonwood Canyon UT-040-046C..........................................................................................533

3.39.5 Cottonwood Canyon UT-040-046D .........................................................................................534

3.40 Recreation and Visitor Services...............................................................................................................536

3.40.1 Recreation .................................................................................................................................536

3.40.2 Facilities.....................................................................................................................................553

3.40.3 Interpretation/Visitor Understanding......................................................................................562

3.41 Comprehensive Travel and Transportation Management..................................................................... 564

3.42 Lands and Realty ..................................................................................................................................... 566

3.42.1 Land Tenure Adjustments ........................................................................................................ 566

3.42.2 Linear ROWs and Site Type Leases.......................................................................................... 566

3.42.3 Other Land Use Authorizations................................................................................................570

3.43 Social and Economic Conditions.............................................................................................................. 571

3.43.1 Red Cliffs NCA Social and Economic Conditions ...................................................................... 571

Chapter 3: Affected Environment SGFO RMP Amendment

3.44 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................573

3.44.1 Planning Issue 1 .........................................................................................................................573

3.44.2 Planning Issue 2 ........................................................................................................................573

3.45 Special Status Species..............................................................................................................................574

3.45.1 Special Status Plant Species: Threatened, Endangered, Candidate, and

 Species Proposed for Listing under ESA..................................................................................574

3.45.2 Special Status Wildlife Species: Threatened, Endangered, Candidate, and

 Species Proposed for Listing under ESA.................................................................................. 581

3.45.3 BLM Sensitive Species ..............................................................................................................583

3.46 Other Fish and Wildlife Species...............................................................................................................585

3.46.1 Mule Deer..................................................................................................................................585

3.47 Special Designations .............................................................................................................................. 586

3.47.1 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern ................................................................................ 586

3.48 Comprehensive Travel and Transportation Management.................................................................... 588

3.48.1 OHV Area Designations............................................................................................................ 588

Chapter 4: Environmental Consequences

4.0 Introduction...............................................................................................................................................595

4.0.1 Analytical Assumptions.............................................................................................................. 596

4.0.2 General Methodology for Analyzing Impacts .......................................................................... 596

4.0.3 Incomplete or Unavailable Information....................................................................................597

4.0.4 Cumulative Impacts....................................................................................................................597

Chapter 4: Environmental Consequences BDWNCA

4.1 Air Quality .................................................................................................................................................. 603

4.1.1 Methods of Analysis ................................................................................................................... 603

4.1.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts ....................................................................................................... 604

4.1.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives .................................................................................... 604

4.1.4 Cumulative Impacts ................................................................................................................... 605

4.2 Water Resources....................................................................................................................................... 605

4.2.1 Methods of Analysis................................................................................................................... 605

4.2.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives..................................................................................... 612

4.2.4 Cumulative Impacts .................................................................................................................... 613

4.3 Geologic And Paleontological Resources ................................................................................................. 613

4.3.1 Methods of Analysis.................................................................................................................... 613

4.3.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts........................................................................................................614

4.3.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ....................................................................................618

4.3.4 Cumulative Impacts....................................................................................................................619

4.4 Cave And Karst Resources.........................................................................................................................619

4.4.1 Methods of Analysis....................................................................................................................619

4.4.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts....................................................................................................... 620

4.4.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ....................................................................................622

4.4.4 Cumulative Impacts....................................................................................................................622

4.5 Soil Resources ............................................................................................................................................623
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4.5.1 Methods of Analysis....................................................................................................................623

4.5.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts....................................................................................................... 624

4.5.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ................................................................................... 628

4.5.4 Cumulative Impacts................................................................................................................... 628

4.6 Native Vegetation Communities And Fire And Fuels Management....................................................... 629

4.6.1 Methods of Analysis................................................................................................................... 629

4.6.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts....................................................................................................... 630

4.6.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ................................................................................... 636

4.6.4 Cumulative Impacts................................................................................................................... 636

4.7 Noxious Weeds and Invasive Species Management............................................................................... 638

4.7.1 Methods of Analysis................................................................................................................... 638

4.7.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts ....................................................................................................... 639

4.7.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives.................................................................................... 643

4.7.4 Cumulative Impacts ................................................................................................................... 643

4.8 Vegetation Resource Uses: Livestock Grazing........................................................................................ 644

4.8.1 Methods of Analysis................................................................................................................... 644

4.8.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts....................................................................................................... 644

4.8.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ....................................................................................652

4.8.4 Cumulative Impacts....................................................................................................................652

4.9 Vegetation Resource Uses: Plant Materials .............................................................................................653

4.9.1 Methods of Analysis....................................................................................................................653

4.9.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts........................................................................................................653

4.9.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ................................................................................... 654

4.9.4 Cumulative Impacts................................................................................................................... 654

4.10 Special Status Species: Threatened, Endangered, Candidate, and Species Proposed 

For Listing Under ESA, and BLM Sensitive Species .................................................................................. 654

4.10.1 Methods of Analysis ................................................................................................................. 654

4.10.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts ......................................................................................................655

4.10.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives.................................................................................. 662

4.10.4 Cumulative Impacts ................................................................................................................. 663

4.11 Other Fish And Wildlife Species............................................................................................................... 664

4.11.1 Methods of Analysis .................................................................................................................. 664

4.11.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts ...................................................................................................... 664

4.11.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives...................................................................................669

4.11.4 Cumulative Impacts .................................................................................................................. 670

4.12 Heritage Resources ................................................................................................................................. 670

4.12.1 Methods of Analysis................................................................................................................... 671

4.12.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts.......................................................................................................672

4.12.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ..................................................................................680

4.12.4 Cumulative Impacts...................................................................................................................681

4.13 National Historic Trails............................................................................................................................. 682

4.13.1 Methods of Analysis ................................................................................................................. 682

4.13.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts...................................................................................................... 683

4.13.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ..................................................................................689

4.13.4 Cumulative Impacts..................................................................................................................689

4.14 National Natural Landmarks ...................................................................................................................690

4.14.1 Methods of Analysis .................................................................................................................690

4.14.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts ......................................................................................................691

4.14.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives.................................................................................. 693

4.14.4 Cumulative Impacts ................................................................................................................. 693

4.15 Areas Of Critical Environmental Concern............................................................................................... 694

4.15.1 Methods of Analysis ................................................................................................................. 694

4.15.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts...................................................................................................... 694

4.15.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives .................................................................................. 695

4.15.4 Cumulative Impacts.................................................................................................................. 695

4.16 Visual Resources...................................................................................................................................... 695

4.16.1 Methods of Analysis ................................................................................................................. 695

4.16.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts .....................................................................................................696

4.16.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives.................................................................................. 700

4.16.4 Cumulative Impacts .................................................................................................................. 701

4.17 Natural Soundscapes................................................................................................................................702

4.17.1 Methods of Analysis...................................................................................................................702

4.17.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts.......................................................................................................702

4.17.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ...................................................................................702

4.17.4 Cumulative Impacts...................................................................................................................703

4.18 Lands With Wilderness Characteristics ...................................................................................................703

4.18.1 Methods of Analysis ..................................................................................................................703

4.18.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts ......................................................................................................703

4.18.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives.................................................................................. 704

4.18.4 Cumulative Impacts ................................................................................................................. 704

4.19 Recreation And Visitor Services...............................................................................................................705

4.19.1 Methods of Analysis ..................................................................................................................705

4.19.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts ..................................................................................................... 706

4.19.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives....................................................................................712

4.19.4 Cumulative Impacts ...................................................................................................................712

4.20 Comprehensive Travel And Transportation Management .................................................................... 713

4.20.1 Methods of Analysis.................................................................................................................. 714

4.20.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts...................................................................................................... 714

4.20.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives .................................................................................. 714

4.20.4 Cumulative Impacts.................................................................................................................. 715

4.21 Lands And Realty ...................................................................................................................................... 715

4.21.1 Methods of Analysis................................................................................................................... 715

4.21.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts....................................................................................................... 716

4.21.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ................................................................................... 718

4.21.4 Cumulative Impacts................................................................................................................... 718

4.22 Social And Economic Conditions ............................................................................................................. 719

4.22.1 Methods of Analysis .................................................................................................................. 719

4.22.2 Social and Economic Effects .....................................................................................................724

4.23 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources .....................................................................738

4.24 Relationship Between Local Short-Term Uses and Long-Term Productivity.........................................739

Chapter 4: Environmental Consequences RCNCA

4.25.1 Methods of Analysis .................................................................................................................. 741

4.25.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts ......................................................................................................742

4.25.3 Summary of Impacts.................................................................................................................742

4.25.4 Cumulative Impacts ..................................................................................................................743

4.26 Water Resources......................................................................................................................................743

4.26.1 Methods of Analysis..................................................................................................................743
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4.26.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts......................................................................................................744

4.26.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ................................................................................. 749

4.26.4 Cumulative Impacts................................................................................................................. 749

4.27 Geologic and Paleontological Resources................................................................................................750

4.27.1 Methods of Analysis ..................................................................................................................750

4.27.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts ...................................................................................................... 751

4.27.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives...................................................................................755

4.27.4 Cumulative Impacts ..................................................................................................................756

4.28 Cave and Karst Resources .......................................................................................................................756

4.28.1 Methods of Analysis..................................................................................................................757

4.28.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts......................................................................................................758

4.28.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives .................................................................................. 761

4.28.4 Cumulative Impacts.................................................................................................................. 761

4.29 Soil Resources ..........................................................................................................................................762

4.29.1 Methods of Analysis..................................................................................................................762

4.29.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts......................................................................................................762

4.29.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ................................................................................. 766

4.29.4 Cumulative Impacts................................................................................................................. 766

4.30 Native Vegetation Communities and Fire and Fuels Management...................................................... 766

4.30.1 Methods of Analysis................................................................................................................. 766

4.30.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts..................................................................................................... 768

4.30.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ..................................................................................773

4.30.4 Cumulative Impacts..................................................................................................................773

4.31 Noxious Weeds and Invasive Species Management...............................................................................774

4.31.1 Methods of Analysis ..................................................................................................................774

4.31.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts.......................................................................................................775

4.31.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ...................................................................................778

4.31.4 Cumulative Impacts...................................................................................................................779

4.32 Vegetation Resource Uses: Livestock Grazing .......................................................................................779

4.32.1 Methods of Analysis ................................................................................................................. 780

4.32.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts ..................................................................................................... 780

4.32.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives................................................................................... 781

4.32.4 Cumulative Impacts .................................................................................................................. 781

4.33 Vegetation Resource Uses: Plant Materials............................................................................................782

4.33.1 Methods of Analysis..................................................................................................................782

4.33.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts ......................................................................................................782

4.33.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives...................................................................................783

4.33.4 Cumulative Impacts ..................................................................................................................783

4.34 Special Status Species .............................................................................................................................783

4.34.1 Methods of Analysis..................................................................................................................783

4.34.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts..................................................................................................... 784

4.34.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ................................................................................. 790

4.34.4 Cumulative Impacts................................................................................................................. 790

4.35 Other Fish and Wildlife Species ............................................................................................................... 791

4.35.1 Methods of Analysis.................................................................................................................. 791

4.35.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts ......................................................................................................792

4.35.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives...................................................................................795

4.35.4 Cumulative Impacts ................................................................................................................. 796

4.36 Heritage Resources ................................................................................................................................ 796

4.36.1 Methods of Analysis................................................................................................................. 796

4.36.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts......................................................................................................797

4.36.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ................................................................................. 805

4.36.4 Cumulative Impacts................................................................................................................. 805

4.37 Wilderness ...............................................................................................................................................806

4.37.1 Methods of Analysis .................................................................................................................806

4.37.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts ..................................................................................................... 807

4.37.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives..................................................................................809

4.37.4 Cumulative Impacts .................................................................................................................809

4.38 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.................................................................................................811

4.38.1 Methods of Analysis...................................................................................................................811

4.38.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts.......................................................................................................811

4.38.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives .................................................................................. 812

4.38.4 Cumulative Impacts.................................................................................................................. 812

4.39 Visual Resource Management................................................................................................................. 812

4.39.1 Methods of Analysis.................................................................................................................. 812

4.39.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts...................................................................................................... 813

4.39.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ................................................................................. 820

4.40 Natural Soundscapes.............................................................................................................................. 820

4.40.1 Methods of Analysis ................................................................................................................. 821

4.40.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts...................................................................................................... 821

4.40.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives .................................................................................. 821

4.40.4 Cumulative Impacts.................................................................................................................. 821

4.41 Lands with Wilderness Characteristics ...................................................................................................822

4.41.1 Methods of Analysis ..................................................................................................................822

4.41.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts/Effects..........................................................................................822

4.41.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives...................................................................................823

4.41.4 Cumulative Impacts ..................................................................................................................823

4.42 Recreation and Visitor Services...............................................................................................................824

4.42.1 Methods of Analysis..................................................................................................................824

4.42.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts......................................................................................................825

4.42.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ..................................................................................833

4.42.4 Cumulative Impacts..................................................................................................................833

4.43 Comprehensive Travel and Transportation Management.....................................................................835

4.43.1 Methods of Analysis..................................................................................................................835

4.43.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts..................................................................................................... 836

4.43.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ................................................................................. 836

4.43.4 Cumulative Impacts................................................................................................................. 836

4.44 Lands and Realty..................................................................................................................................... 836

4.44.1 Methods of Analysis................................................................................................................. 836

4.44.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts......................................................................................................837

4.44.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ................................................................................. 838

4.44.4 Cumulative Impacts................................................................................................................. 839

4.45 Social and Economic Conditions ............................................................................................................ 839

4.45.1 Methods of Analysis................................................................................................................. 840

4.45.2 Social and Economic Effects.................................................................................................... 844

4.46 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment Of Resources ....................................................................861

4.47 Relationship between Local Short-Term Uses And Long-Term Productivity ....................................... 862
xxii Introduction BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment Introduction xxiii

TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 4: Environmental Consequences SGFO RMP Amendment

4.48 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern............................................................................................... 863

4.48.1 Methods of Analysis ................................................................................................................ 863

4.48.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts..................................................................................................... 863

4.48.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ................................................................................. 878

4.48.4 Cumulative Impacts................................................................................................................. 879

4.49 Priority Biological Conservation Areas ..................................................................................................880

4.49.1 Methods of Analysis ................................................................................................................880

4.49.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts......................................................................................................881

4.49.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives ................................................................................. 883

4.49.4 Cumulative Impacts................................................................................................................. 884

4.50 Comprehensive Travel and Transportation Management.................................................................... 885

4.50.1 Methods of Analysis.................................................................................................................886

4.50.2 Direct and Indirect Impacts.....................................................................................................886

4.50.3 Summary of Impacts from Alternatives .................................................................................888

4.50.4 Cumulative Impacts.................................................................................................................888

4.51 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources.....................................................................889

4.52 Relationship between Local Short-Term Uses and Long-Term Productivity........................................ 889

Chapter 5: Consultation and Coordination

5.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................................... 893

5.2 Cooperating Agencies............................................................................................................................... 894

5.3 Coordination with Other Federal Agencies, State, and Local Governments, and

 Indian Tribes .............................................................................................................................................. 894

5.4 Consultations with Federal, State, Tribal and Local Governmental Entities Concerning

 the “Northern Transportation Route”..................................................................................................... 894

5.5 Tribal Consultation .................................................................................................................................... 895

5.6 Public Scoping...........................................................................................................................................896

5.6.1 Notice of Intent..........................................................................................................................896

5.6.2 Open Houses, Newsletters, and Project Website ....................................................................896

5.6.3 Scoping Report.......................................................................................................................... 897

5.6.4 Economic Strategies Workshop................................................................................................ 897

5.7 Consistency with State and Local Plans...................................................................................................899

5.8 List of Preparers........................................................................................................................................900

References

Bibliography .................................................................................................................................................... 905

Glossary & Abbreviations-Acronyms

Glossary ............................................................................................................................................................ 915

Abbreviations-Acronyms .................................................................................................................................933

Appendices

Appendix A...................................................................................................................................................... 939

Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009............................................................................. 939

Appendix B.......................................................................................................................................................957

Planning Criteria ..................................................................................................................................957

Appendix C ...................................................................................................................................................... 959

Laws, Regulations, and Policy............................................................................................................ 959

Appendix D...................................................................................................................................................... 965

Utah Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Grazing Administration........................ 965

Appendix E ......................................................................................................................................................969

Evaluation Report for Areas of Critical Environmental Concern...................................................... 969

Appendix F .....................................................................................................................................................1065

Best Management Practices for Management Actions...................................................................1065

Appendix G.....................................................................................................................................................1087

Migratory Birds and Birds of Conservation Concern .......................................................................1087

Appendix H.....................................................................................................................................................1093

Special Recreation Management Areas ...........................................................................................1093

Appendix I .......................................................................................................................................................1107

Criteria for the Placement of Natural Surface Trails .........................................................................1107

Appendix J.......................................................................................................................................................1109

Actual Use in the Beaver Dam Wash NCA Grazing Allotments ........................................................1109

Appendix K...........................................................................................................................................1111

Linear Disturbance Study in Red Cliffs NCA 2012................................................................................1111

List of Tables

Table 1-1 Surface Acre Administration in Beaver Dam NCA............................................................................... 9

Table 1-2 Surface Acre Administration in Red Cliffs NCA................................................................................... 9

Table 1-3 Surface Acre Administration in Washington County, Utah................................................................11

Table 2-1 Air Quality............................................................................................................................................55

Table 2-2 Water Resources ............................................................................................................................... 56

Table 2-3 Geologic and Paleontological Resources ..........................................................................................58

Table 2-4 Use Allocation Categories..................................................................................................................61

Table 2-5 Cave and Karst Resources..................................................................................................................62

Table 2-6 Soil Resources ....................................................................................................................................63

Table 2-7 Native Vegetation Communities....................................................................................................... 65

Table 2-8 Vegetation Management Toolbox .................................................................................................... 71

Table 2-9 Fire and Fuels Management ..............................................................................................................72

Table 2-10 Noxious Weeds and Invasive Species ..............................................................................................78

Table 2-11 Vegetation Resource Uses: Livestock Grazing................................................................................ 80

Table 2-12 Vegetation Resource Uses: Plant Materials.................................................................................... 86

Table 2-13 Special Status Wildlife Species-Including Threatened, Endangered, Candidate, 

and Species Proposed for Listing under ESA.............................................................................................. 89

Table 2-14 Special Status Bird Species: Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Yellow Billed 

Cuckoo, and Other Riparian-Dependent Special Status Bird Species ........................................................92

Table 2-15 Special Status Bird Species: California Condor............................................................................... 94

Table 2-16 Special Status Reptile Species: Desert Tortoise ..............................................................................95

Table 2-17 BLM Sensitive Species ..................................................................................................................... 98

Table 2-18 BLM Sensitive Native Fish Species .................................................................................................100

Table 2-19 BLM Sensitive Raptor Species........................................................................................................102

Table 2-20 Migratory Birds and Birds of Conservation Concern....................................................................104

Table 2-21 BLM Sensitive Mammal Species.....................................................................................................106

Table 2-22 BLM Sensitive Reptile and Amphibian Species .............................................................................108

Table 2-23 Other Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management ..............................................................................109

Table 2-24 Heritage Resources .........................................................................................................................112
xxiv Introduction BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment Introduction xxv

Table 2-25 National Historic Trails (Old Spanish National Historic Trail )........................................................121

Table 2-26 Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark........................................................................................127

Table 2-27 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.......................................................................................129

Table 2-28 Visual Resource Management (VRM) ............................................................................................131

Table 2-29 Natural Soundscapes .....................................................................................................................136

Table 2-30 Lands with Wilderness Characteristics.......................................................................................... 137

Table 2-31 Recreation and Visitor Services......................................................................................................139

Table 2-32 Beaver Dam Wash NCA Recreation Management Zone Descriptions.........................................156

Table 2-33 Comprehensive Travel and Transportation Management........................................................... 157

Table 2-34 Lands and Realty .............................................................................................................................161

Table 2-35 Comparative Summary of Impacts for Beaver Dam Wash NCA...................................................168

Table 2-36 Air Quality ....................................................................................................................................... 177

Table 2-37 Water Resources ............................................................................................................................178

Table 2-38 Geologic and Paleontological Resources......................................................................................180

Table 2-39 Cave and Karst Resources..............................................................................................................183

Table 2-40 Soil Resources ................................................................................................................................184

Table 2-41 Native Vegetation Communities ....................................................................................................186

Table 2-42 Fire and Fuels Management............................................................................................................191

Table 2-43 Noxious Weeds and Invasive Species............................................................................................197

Table 2-44 Vegetation Resource Uses: Livestock Grazing .............................................................................199

Table 2-45 Vegetation Resource Uses: Plant Materials..................................................................................203

Table 2-46 Special Status Plant Species-Including Threatened, Endangered, Candidate, 

and Species Proposed for Listing under ESA............................................................................................ 206

Table 2-47 Special Status Wildlife Species-Including Threatened, Endangered, Candidate, 

and Species Proposed for Listing under ESA............................................................................................ 208

Table 2-48 Special Status Bird Species: Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Yellow Billed 

Cuckoo, and Other Riparian-Dependent Special Status Bird Species ....................................................... 211

Table 2-49 Special Status Bird Species: California Condor............................................................................. 213

Table 2-50 Special Status Reptile Species: Desert Tortoise............................................................................ 214

Table 2-51 Special Status Native Fish Species: Woundfin Minnow and Virgin River Chub.............................217

Table 2-52 BLM Sensitive Species.................................................................................................................... 219

Table 2-53 BLM Sensitive Native Fish Species.................................................................................................221

Table 2-54 BLM Sensitive Raptor Species ...................................................................................................... 223

Table 2-55 Migratory Birds and Birds of Conservation Concern .................................................................... 225

Table 2-56 BLM Sensitive Mammal Species .................................................................................................... 227

Table 2-57 BLM Sensitive Reptile and Amphibian Species .............................................................................229

Table 2-58 Other Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management..............................................................................230

Table 2-59 Heritage Resources........................................................................................................................233

Table 2-60 Wilderness (Red Mountain and Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness).............................................245

Table 2-61 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern...................................................................................... 246

Table 2-62 Visual Resource Management (VRM) ...........................................................................................248

Table 2-63 Natural Soundscapes .....................................................................................................................254

Table 2-64 Lands with Wilderness Characteristics .........................................................................................255

Table 2-65 Recreation and Visitor Services .....................................................................................................257

Table 2-66 Recreation Management Zone Descriptions................................................................................273

Table 2-67 Comprehensive Travel and Transportation Management ...........................................................274

Table 2-68 Lands and Realty............................................................................................................................278

Table 2-69 Comparative Summary of Impacts for Red Cliffs NCA ................................................................ 286

Table 2-70 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern ......................................................................................295

Table 2-71 Bull Valley Mountains Multi-Species Management Area............................................................... 313

Table 2-72 Comprehensive Travel and Transportation Management............................................................ 317

Table 2-73 Comparative Summary of Impacts for SGFO RMP Amendment..................................................324

Table 3-1 Summary of Air Quality Data Collected in Hurricane and Santa Clara, UT..................................... 331

Table 3-2 Triennial Inventory (ton/year) Washington County 2011 ................................................................333

Table 3-3 Annual Precipitation Data Collected from Rain Gauges.................................................................335

Table 3-4 Paleontological Resources by Geologic Formation........................................................................352

Table 3-5 Vegetation Communities .................................................................................................................363

Table 3-6 Fire Regime Condition Class Definitions ......................................................................................... 371

Table 3-7 Fire Occurrence Data........................................................................................................................ 371

Table 3-8 Seasons of Use and Permitted Grazing Use ...................................................................................378

Table 3-9 Allotment Acreage and Land Status ...............................................................................................378

Table 3-10 Frequency Data from Study Site #6 Santa Clara Slope Pasture ................................................... 381

Table 3-11 Frequency Data from Study Site #1 Beaver Dam Slope Pasture.................................................... 381

Table 3-12 Data from Beaver Dam Slope Pasture East ...................................................................................383

Table 3-13 Data from Beaver Dam Slope Pasture West..................................................................................383

Table 3-14 Data from Indian Springs Pasture South .......................................................................................383

Table 3-15 Data from Santa Clara Slope Pasture South..................................................................................383

Table 3-16 Summer Pasture Data.................................................................................................................... 384

Table 3-17 Black Warrior Pasture Data ........................................................................................................... 384

Table 3-18 Desert Pasture Data....................................................................................................................... 384

Table 3-19 Woodbury Exclosure Data............................................................................................................. 384

Table 3-20 Terry Utah Pasture Data.................................................................................................................385

Table 3-21 Data from Terry Utah Pasture ........................................................................................................387

Table 3-22 Threatened and Endangered Species............................................................................................ 391

Table 3-23 Tortoise Populations and Densities in the Beaver Dam Slope Subunit........................................401

Table 3-24 Historic Period Sites Recorded in the NCA.................................................................................... 421

Table 3-25 Beaver Dam Wash NCA Wild and Scenic River Evaluation History...............................................425

Table 3-26 VRM Class Management Objectives............................................................................................. 439

Table 3-27 VRI and VRM Class Acreages......................................................................................................... 439

Table 3-28 Existing OHV Area Designations....................................................................................................453

Table 3-29 Employment by Major Economic Sectors forWashington County, June 2013 ........................... 463

Table 3-30 Tax and Other Revenues Paid to Washington County, Federal Fiscal Year 2012........................ 463

Table 3-31 BLM Water Rights in Red Cliffs NCA...............................................................................................473

Table 3-32 Paleontological Resources by Geologic Formation......................................................................482

Table 3-33 Vegetation Communities............................................................................................................... 490

Table 3-34 Permitted Livestock Grazing Use .................................................................................................. 501

Table 3-35 Wild and Scenic River Evaluation History for the Red Cliffs NCA.................................................522

Table 3-36 VRM and VRI Class Acreages .........................................................................................................526

Table 3-37 Miles of Non-Motorized Trails by Route Type.............................................................................. 548

Table 3-38 Measured Linear Disturbances by Land Status ........................................................................... 549

Table 3-39 Measured Linear Disturbances in PUP Zones .............................................................................. 549

Table 3-40 Trailheads and Amenities...............................................................................................................555

Table 3-41 Red Cliffs NCA Non-Motorized Trails and Routes..........................................................................557

TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS
xxvi Introduction BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment Introduction xxvii

TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table 3-42 Visits by Sub-Area.......................................................................................................................... 560

Table 3-43 Red Cliffs Recreation Area Amenities........................................................................................... 560

Table 3-44 Red Cliffs Recreation Area Visitation.............................................................................................562

Table 3-45 Overall Quality of Recreation Experience from Visitor Satisfaction Survey............................... 564

Table 3-46 OHV Area Designations................................................................................................................. 564

Table 3-47 Existing ROWs in the Red Cliffs NCA .............................................................................................570

Table 3-48 Special Status Plant Species ..........................................................................................................574

Table 3-49 Land Status of Dwarf Bearclaw Poppy Habitat in Washington County ......................................579

Table 3-50 Land Status of Holmgren Milkvetch Critical Habitat in Washington County ..............................579

Table 3-51 Land Status of Shivwits Milkvetch Critical Habitat in Washington County..................................579

Table 3-52 Land Status of Siler Cactus Habitat in Washington County......................................................... 580

Table 3-53 Special Status Wildlife Species...................................................................................................... 580

Table 3-54 Habitats and Distribution of BLM Sensitive Plants in Washington County .................................583

Table 3-55 BLM Sensitive Wildlife Species ..................................................................................................... 584

Table 3-56 Designated ACECs from 1999 SGFO RMP, Outside the Two NCAs ............................................. 589

Table 4-1 Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Plans, Projects, or Actions that 

Comprise the Cumulative Impact Scenario .............................................................................................. 599

Table 4-2 Summary of Impacts to Geology and Paleontological Resources.................................................618

Table 4-3 Summary of Impacts to Cave and Karst Resources........................................................................623

Table 4-4 Summary of Impacts to Soil Resources ......................................................................................... 629

Table 4-5 Summary of Impacts to Native Vegetation Communities..............................................................637

Table 4-6 Summary of Impacts to Livestock Grazing by Alternative............................................................ 646

Table 4-7 Impact Analysis for Revocation of the Beaver Dam Slope ACEC Designation............................. 695

Table 4-8 Summary of Impacts to Visual Resource Management................................................................. 701

Table 4-9 Summary of Impacts to Lands With Wilderness Characteristics by Alternative.......................... 704

Table 4-10 Summary of Impacts to Recreation and Visitor Services ............................................................. 713

Table 4-11 Value of an AUM for Cattle Production...........................................................................................721

Table 4-12 Recreation Visitation at the Beaver Dam Wash NCA 2013 .............................................................721

Table 4-13 Expenditures by Per Visit Per Person by Recreation Segment..................................................... 722

Table 4-14 IMPLAN Model Sectors .................................................................................................................. 722

Table 4-15 Annual Local Economic Impacts of Grazing in Beaver Dam Wash NCA.......................................725

Table 4-16 Annual Local Economic Impacts of Recreation in Beaver Dam NCA ...........................................725

Table 4-17 Type of Nonmarket Values Associated with the Beaver Dam Wash NCA....................................726

Table 4-18 Summary of Impacts to Geologic and Paleontological Resources ..............................................756

Table 4-19 Summary of Impacts to Cave and Karst Resources...................................................................... 761

Table 4-20 Summary of Impacts to Soil Resources ........................................................................................767

Table 4-21 Summary of Impacts to Native Vegetation Communities ............................................................774

Table 4-22 Summary of Impacts to Wilderness ..............................................................................................810

Table 4-23 Impacts for Revocation of the Red Mountain ACEC Designation.................................................811

Table 4-24 Impacts-Effects to Scenic Quality Ratings ....................................................................................816

Table 4-25 Impacts-Effects to Sensitivity Ratings...........................................................................................816

Table 4-26 Impacts-Effects to VRI Classes.......................................................................................................816

Table 4-27 Impacts to Scenic Quality Ratings .................................................................................................818

Table 4-28 Impacts to Sensitivity Ratings .......................................................................................................819

Table 4-29 Impacts-Effect to VRI Classes ........................................................................................................819

Table 4-30 Summary of Impacts to Visual Resources.................................................................................... 820

Table 4-31 Impact Analysis Comparison for Lands with Wilderness Characteristics....................................823

Table 4-32 Non-Motorized Trails Adjacent to Riparian Resources................................................................ 826

Table 4-33 Potential Impacts to Non-Motorized Trails from Northern Transportation 

Route Alignments .......................................................................................................................................833

Table 4-34 Summary of Impacts to Recreation and Visitor Services ............................................................ 834

Table 4-35 Summary of Impacts to Lands and Realty .................................................................................. 839

Table 4-36 Value of an AUM for Cattle Production ........................................................................................841

Table 4-37 Recreational Visitation at the RCNCA 2013 .................................................................................. 843

Table 4-38 Expenditures by Per Visit Per Person by Recreation Segment 2013........................................... 843

Table 4-39 IMPLAN Model Sector.................................................................................................................. 843

Table 4-40 Annual Local Economic Impacts of Grazing in RCNCA................................................................ 845

Table 4-41 Annual Local Economic Impacts of Recreation in the RCNCA .................................................... 845

Table 4-42 Type of Nonmarket Values Associated with RCNCA ................................................................... 847

Table 4-43 South Hills Potential ACEC: Comparison of Required Special Management 

Prescriptions with RMP Decisions ............................................................................................................866

Table 4-44 State Line Potential ACEC: Comparison of Required Special Management 

Prescriptions with RMP Decisions ............................................................................................................869

Table 4-45 Web Hill Potential ACEC: Comparison of Required Special Management 

Prescriptions with RMP Decisions ............................................................................................................. 871

Table 4-46 Grafton Potential ACEC: Comparison of Required Special Management 

Prescriptions with RMP Decisions .............................................................................................................873

Table 4-47 Dalton Wash Potential ACEC: Comparison of Required Special Management 

Prescriptions with RMP Decisions ............................................................................................................ 876

Table 4-48 Scarecrow Peak Potential ACEC: Comparison of Required Special 

Management Prescriptions with RMP Decisions ..................................................................................... 878

Table 4-49 Proposed OHV Area Designations by Alternative ....................................................................... 887

Table 4-50 OHV Area Designations by Alternative Following TMP Completion .......................................... 887

Table 5-1 BLM NCA Core ID Team ...................................................................................................................900

Table 5-2 Other BLM Preparers .......................................................................................................................901

Table 5-3 American Conservation Experience Public Land Corps..................................................................901

Table 5-4 Contracted Services to Assist Planning Efforts...............................................................................901

List of Maps

Map 1-1................................................................................................................................................................. 8

Map 1-2................................................................................................................................................................10

Map 1-3................................................................................................................................................................ 12

Map 2-1................................................................................................................................................................82

Map 2-2 ...............................................................................................................................................................83

Map 2-3 ..............................................................................................................................................................122

Map 2-4............................................................................................................................................................. 123

Map 2-5 ............................................................................................................................................................. 124

Map 2-6.............................................................................................................................................................128

Map 2-7 .............................................................................................................................................................130

Map 2-8............................................................................................................................................................. 133

Map 2-9.............................................................................................................................................................134

Map 2-10 ........................................................................................................................................................... 135

Map 2-11............................................................................................................................................................138
xxviii Introduction BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment Introduction xxix

TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS

Map 2-12............................................................................................................................................................140

Map 2-13............................................................................................................................................................ 142

Map 2-14 ...........................................................................................................................................................143

Map 2-15............................................................................................................................................................144

Map 2-16 ...........................................................................................................................................................147

Map 2-17............................................................................................................................................................148

Map 2-18 ...........................................................................................................................................................149

Map 2-19 ...........................................................................................................................................................154

Map 2-20........................................................................................................................................................... 155

Map 2-21............................................................................................................................................................159

Map 2-22 ...........................................................................................................................................................164

Map 2-23 ...........................................................................................................................................................165

Map 2-24...........................................................................................................................................................166

Map 2-25 ...........................................................................................................................................................167

Map 2-26........................................................................................................................................................... 201

Map 2-27 ...........................................................................................................................................................202

Map 2-28...........................................................................................................................................................242

Map 2-29...........................................................................................................................................................243

Map 2-30...........................................................................................................................................................247

Map 2-31............................................................................................................................................................250

Map 2-32 ........................................................................................................................................................... 251

Map 2-33 ...........................................................................................................................................................252

Map 2-34...........................................................................................................................................................253

Map 2-35 ...........................................................................................................................................................256

Map 2-36.......................................................................................................................................................... 260

Map 2-37 ........................................................................................................................................................... 261

Map 2-38...........................................................................................................................................................262

Map 2-39...........................................................................................................................................................263

Map 2-40...........................................................................................................................................................270

Map 2-41 ............................................................................................................................................................271

Map 2-42 ...........................................................................................................................................................275

Map 2-43.......................................................................................................................................................... 280

Map 2-44........................................................................................................................................................... 281

Map 2-45...........................................................................................................................................................282

Map 2-46...........................................................................................................................................................283

Map 2-47 .......................................................................................................................................................... 296

Map 2-48...........................................................................................................................................................297

Map 2-49.......................................................................................................................................................... 299

Map 2-50........................................................................................................................................................... 314

Map 2-51............................................................................................................................................................ 318

Map 2-52 ...........................................................................................................................................................320

Map 2-53 ........................................................................................................................................................... 321

Map 2-54...........................................................................................................................................................322

Map 2-55 ...........................................................................................................................................................323

Map 3-1..............................................................................................................................................................339

Map 3-2 ............................................................................................................................................................. 341

Map 3-3............................................................................................................................................................ 346

Map 3-3 Legend................................................................................................................................................347

Map 3-4.............................................................................................................................................................355

Map 3-5............................................................................................................................................................ 360

Map 3-6............................................................................................................................................................ 364

Map 3-7 .............................................................................................................................................................365

Map 3-8.............................................................................................................................................................372

Map 3-9.............................................................................................................................................................373

Map 3-10 ...........................................................................................................................................................375

Map 3-11............................................................................................................................................................379

Map 3-12........................................................................................................................................................... 389

Map 3-13........................................................................................................................................................... 394

Map 3-14 ...........................................................................................................................................................395

Map 3-15............................................................................................................................................................ 412

Map 3-16 ........................................................................................................................................................... 413

Map 3-17............................................................................................................................................................428

Map 3-18 ...........................................................................................................................................................432

Map 3-19 .......................................................................................................................................................... 436

Map 3-20...........................................................................................................................................................437

Map 3-21........................................................................................................................................................... 440

Map 3-22 ...........................................................................................................................................................441

Map 3-23 .......................................................................................................................................................... 445

Map 3-24...........................................................................................................................................................452

Map 3-25 .......................................................................................................................................................... 454

Map 3-26...........................................................................................................................................................455

Map 3-27 .......................................................................................................................................................... 460

Map 3-28...........................................................................................................................................................461

Map 3-29.......................................................................................................................................................... 470

Map 3-30........................................................................................................................................................... 471

Map 3-31........................................................................................................................................................... 476

Map 3-31 Legend ..............................................................................................................................................477

Map 3-32 .......................................................................................................................................................... 483

Map 3-33 .......................................................................................................................................................... 486

Map 3-34...........................................................................................................................................................491

Map 3-35...........................................................................................................................................................492

Map 3-36.......................................................................................................................................................... 498

Map 3-37 .......................................................................................................................................................... 499

Map 3-38...........................................................................................................................................................502

Map 3-39...........................................................................................................................................................503

Map 3-40.......................................................................................................................................................... 508

Map 3-41 .......................................................................................................................................................... 509

Map 3-42........................................................................................................................................................... 510

Map 3-43............................................................................................................................................................511

Map 3-44........................................................................................................................................................... 518

Map 3-45...........................................................................................................................................................520

Map 3-46...........................................................................................................................................................523
xxx Introduction BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment Introduction xxxi

TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS

Map 3-47...........................................................................................................................................................525

Map 3-48...........................................................................................................................................................528

Map 3-49...........................................................................................................................................................529

Map 3-50...........................................................................................................................................................530

Map 3-51............................................................................................................................................................537

Map 3-52 ...........................................................................................................................................................539

Map 3-53 ........................................................................................................................................................... 541

Map 3-54...........................................................................................................................................................545

Map 3-55...........................................................................................................................................................550

Map 3-56........................................................................................................................................................... 551

Map 3-57 ...........................................................................................................................................................552

Map 3-58...........................................................................................................................................................554

Map 3-59........................................................................................................................................................... 561

Map 3-60...........................................................................................................................................................565

Map 3-61 ...........................................................................................................................................................567

Map 3-62.......................................................................................................................................................... 568

Map 3-63.......................................................................................................................................................... 569

Map 3-64...........................................................................................................................................................575

Map 3-65...........................................................................................................................................................576

Map 3-66...........................................................................................................................................................577

Map 3-67...........................................................................................................................................................582

Map 3-68...........................................................................................................................................................587

Map 3-69.......................................................................................................................................................... 590

Map 3-70........................................................................................................................................................... 591

Map 4-1 .............................................................................................................................................................832

List of Figures

Figure 3-1 Stratigraphic Column for Beaver Dam Wash NCA ......................................................................... 351

Figure 3-2 Formative Stage Horticulture.........................................................................................................416

Figure 3-3 Euro-American Explorers and Traders ...........................................................................................419

Figure 3-4 Arrowhead Trails Highway Map ca. 1930's (Automobile 1937) ....................................................422

Figure 3-5 Tortoise Population Trends, 1999-2011........................................................................................... 514

List of Photos

Photo 1-1 Navajo Sandstone Cliffs of the Red Cliffs NCA....................................................................................3

Photo 1-2 Wildlife Resource: Mule Deer in the Beaver Dam Wash NCA............................................................4

Photo 1-3 Scientific Resource: A Kayentapus Dinosaur Track in the Red Cliffs NCA.........................................5

Photo 1-4 Joshua Tree Dominated Landscape in the Beaver Dam Wash NCA..................................................7

Photo 1-5 Mojave Desert Tortoise, Federally-Listed Threatened Species ........................................................11

Photo 1-6 Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake in the Beaver Dam Wash NCA, Utah 

BLM Sensitive Species .................................................................................................................................. 13

Photo 1-7 Fossil, Beaver Dam Wash NCA ..........................................................................................................14

Photo 1-8 Orson B. Adams House, Mid-19th Century Pioneer Homestead, Red Cliffs NCA............................ 15

Photo 1-9 North Creek Grey Jar Recovered from Red Cliffs NCA ....................................................................16

Photo 1-10 Ancestral Puebloan Artifacts Recovered from Red Cliffs NCA ...................................................... 17

Photo 1-11 Buckskin Hollow, Red Cliffs NCA......................................................................................................18

Photo 1-12 South Bulldog Knolls, Beaver Dam Wash NCA...............................................................................19

Photo 1-13 Old Spanish National Historic Trail, Beaver Dam Wash NCA..........................................................20

Photo 1-14 Dwarf Bearclaw Poppy, Federally-Listed Endangered Species .....................................................22

Photo 1-15 Kit Fox Pups, Utah BLM Sensitive Species......................................................................................23

Photo 1-16 Gila Monster in Red Cliffs NCA, Utah BLM Sensitive Species.........................................................24

Photo 1-17 Public Scoping Workshop, Hurricane, Utah....................................................................................26

Photo 1-18 Invasive Species in a Fire-Damaged Vegetation Community, Red Cliffs NCA................................28

Photo 1-19 Interpreted Remnants of the 1950s-era Hollywood Movie Set, Red Cliffs NCA ...........................29

Photo 1-20 Woodbury Road Crags, Beaver Dam Wash NCA............................................................................30

Photo 1-21 Livestock, Beaver Dam Wash NCA................................................................................................... 31

Photo 1-22 St. George Metropolitan Area Abutting Red Cliffs NCA.................................................................32

Photo 1-23 Critical Mojave Desert Tortoise Habitat, Red Cliffs NCA ................................................................34

Photo 1-24 Designated Road Area, Beaver Dam Wash NCA ............................................................................35

Photo 1-25 Utah Agave, Red Cliffs NCA.............................................................................................................36

Photo 1-26 Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) Recreating on Public Lands ..............................................................37

Photo 2-1 Great Basin Collared Lizards, Red Cliffs NCA.................................................................................... 41

Photo 2-2 Climbers at Public Scoping Meeting, St. George, Utah, March 2012...............................................42

Photo 2-3 Public Scoping Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah, June 2010................................................................43

Photo 2-4 Alternative B Proposes New ACECs for Species Such as the Federally-listed 

Endangered Gierisch Mallow....................................................................................................................... 44

Photo 2-5 Alternative B & C Propose to Protect Crucial Habitat for Mule Deer and Other 

Wildlife Species .............................................................................................................................................45

Photo 2-6 Alternative D Proposes to Retain Livestock Grazing in the NCAs ................................................. 46

Photo 2-7 The Northern-Most Population of Joshua Trees in Utah, Located in the Beaver 

Dam Wash NCA, is an Important Resource Value .......................................................................................47

Photo 2-8 Mojave Desert Tortoise on Fringe of St. George Metropolitan Area, Red Cliffs NCA................... 49

Photo 2-9 Mojave Desert Tortoise with GPS Tracker for Research ................................................................ 49

Photo 2-10 Tortoise Den Marked for Research, Beaver Dam Wash NCA ....................................................... 49

Photo 2-11 BLM Staff Performing Cave Monitoring Activities..........................................................................50

Photo 2-12 Joshua Tree Bloom, Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark....................................................... 51

Photo 2-13 Land Use Allocation: Proposed Visual Resource Management Class III in the 

Beaver Dam Wash NCA.................................................................................................................................52

Photo 2-14 Implementation Decision: Restoration of the Orson B. Adams House in the 

Red Cliffs NCA ...............................................................................................................................................53

Photo 3-1 Chuckwalla in Red Cliffs NCA...........................................................................................................329

Photo 3-2 Canyon Treefrogs Nestled into a Sandstone Crevice, Red Cliffs NCA...........................................330

Photo 3-3 West Mountain Peak Visible 10 Miles from Beaver Dam Wash NCA.............................................332

Photo 3-4 Haze Obscures Visibility from Beaver Dam Wash NCA Towards Las Vegas .................................333

Photo 3-5 Winter Storm in Beaver Dam Wash NCA........................................................................................334

Photo 3-6 Wildfire Damaged Landscape in Beaver Dam Wash NCA .............................................................337

Photo 3-7 Surface Water in Beaver Dam Wash, Beaver Dam Wash NCA ......................................................338

Photo 3-8 Livestock Water Trough, Beaver Dam Wash NCA........................................................................ 340

Photo 3-9 Ephemeral Drainage Amid Alluvial fans, Beaver Dam Wash NCA................................................342

Photo 3-10 Redwall Limestone, Beaver Dam Mountains ...............................................................................345

Photo 3-11 Fossilized Fusilinids in Callville Limestone, Beaver Dam Wash NCA ............................................345

Photo 3-12 Queantoweap Sandstone (foreground), Brady Canyon Member (middle 

mountain), and Fossil Mountain Member (top mountain), Beaver Dam Wash NCA ............................. 348

Photo 3-13 Redwall Limestone of Muddy Creek Formation, Beaver Dam Wash NCA................................. 349
xxxii Introduction BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment Introduction xxxiii

TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS

Photo 3-60 Kit Fox, Utah BLM Sensitive Species .......................................................................................... 406

Photo 3-61 Townsend's Big-eared Bat, Utah BLM Sensitive Species............................................................ 406

Photo 3-62 Desert Iguana, Utah BLM Sensitive Species ............................................................................... 407

Photo 3-63 Common Chuckwalla, Utah BLM Sensitive Species ................................................................... 407

Photo 3-64 Mojave Rattlesnake, Utah BLM Sensitive Species ..................................................................... 408

Photo 3-65 Western Banded Gecko, Utah BLM Sensitive Species ............................................................... 409

Photo 3-66 Zebra-Tailed Lizard, Utah BLM Sensitive Species........................................................................410

Photo 3-67 Wildlife Catchment (Artificial Water Source), Beaver Dam Wash NCA......................................410

Photo 3-68 Mourning Dove.............................................................................................................................414

Photo 3-69 Northern Leopard Frog ................................................................................................................414

Photo 3-70 Virgin Anasazi Corrugated Pot ..................................................................................................... 415

Photo 3-71 Name Petroglyph on Sandstone ca. 1877, Red Cliffs NCA............................................................420

Photo 3-72 Old Highway 91 (U.S. Highway 91), Beaver Dam Wash NCA .......................................................423

Photo 3-73 Site Stewards in Training...............................................................................................................423

Photo 3-74 Beaver Dam Wash, Beaver Dam Wash NCA, Considered for Inclusion into 

the National Wild and Scenic River System, But Not Currently Designated............................................424

Photo 3-75 OST Potential Southern (Armijo) Route Through Bulldog Canyon ............................................427

Photo 3-76 Typical Landscape of OST along Old Highway 91 ........................................................................429

Photo 3-77 Typical Unburned Landscape of OST Potential Southern (Armijo) Route 

Through Bulldog Canyon........................................................................................................................... 430

Photo 3-78 Recreation Vehicle Staging adjacent to Northern Route of the OST and 

the Potential Southern (Armijo) Route in Bulldog Canyon ..................................................................... 430

Photo 3-79 View from OST of the Beaver Dam Mountains within the OST Viewshed................................ 430

Photo 3-80 The Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark Dedication Plaque Installed 

on a Limestone Wall in Bulldog Knolls.......................................................................................................433

Photo 3-81 Joshua Tree NNL sans Joshua Trees from Wildfire Damage in 2005 and 2006......................... 434

Photo 3-82 Beaver Dam Slope ACEC at Lower Welcome Creek....................................................................435

Photo 3-83 Night Skies.....................................................................................................................................442

Photo 3-84 Noise Source: Motor Vehicles ......................................................................................................442

Photo 3-85 Joshua Tree UT-040-058 Inventory Unit..................................................................................... 444

Photo 3-86 Woodbury Crags Climbing Area within Joshua Tree UT-040-058 Inventory Unit .................... 446

Photo 3-87 Beaver Dam Wash UT-040-059 Inventory Unit............................................................................447

Photo 3-88 Scarecrow Peak UT-040-051 Inventory Unit............................................................................... 448

Photo 3-89 Kelly’s Rock at Woodbury Road Crags, Beaver Dam Wash NCA ................................................ 451

Photo 3-90 Gambel’s Quail, Upland Game Bird.............................................................................................. 451

Photo 3-91 Staging Area for OHV Recreation in Beaver Dam Wash NCA...................................................... 451

Photo 3-92 IPP Corridor, Beaver Dam Wash NCA.......................................................................................... 456

Photo 3-93 Navajo McCullough Corridor, Beaver Dam Wash NCA................................................................457

Photo 3-94 Commercial Film Permit in Action............................................................................................... 458

Photo 3-95 Population Growth on the Edge of Red Mountain Wilderness, Red Cliffs NCA........................ 459

Photo 3-96 Economic Development Stakeholder: Municipal Parks and Recreation................................... 462

Photo 3-97 Socioeconomic Benefits in Beaver Dam Wash NCA: Recreation............................................... 465

Photo 3-98 Recently Discovered Abandoned Mine in Red Cliffs NCA.......................................................... 465

Photo 3-99 View of West Mountain Peak, 19 Miles from Red Cliffs NCA ..................................................... 467

Photo 3-100 Winter Storm in Red Cliffs NCA.................................................................................................. 468

Photo 3-101 Ephemeral Wash in Red Cliffs NCA............................................................................................. 469

Photo 3-102 Leeds Creek, Red Cliffs NCA....................................................................................................... 469

Photo 3-14 Quaternary Age Alluvial-fan Deposits Beaver Dam Wash NCA ...................................................350

Photo 3-15 Speleothems in Sunbeam Cave, Beaver Dam Wash NCA ............................................................354

Photo 3-16 Redwall Limestone Karst Terrain, Beaver Dam Wash NCA.........................................................354

Photo 3-17 Sunbeam Cave Inventory, Beaver Dam Wash NCA.....................................................................356

Photo 3-18 Typical Desert Pavement in Beaver Dam Wash NCA ..................................................................357

Photo 3-19 Rock Land, Beaver Dam Wash NCA .............................................................................................358

Photo 3-20 Cave Series Soils, Beaver Dam Wash NCA...................................................................................359

Photo 3-21 Renbac-Rock Land Association Soils, Beaver Dam Wash NCA ...................................................359

Photo 3-22 Biological Soil Crust, Beaver Dam Wash NCA.............................................................................. 361

Photo 3-23 Close-up of Biological Soil Crust .................................................................................................. 361

Photo 3-24 Mojave Desert Ecosystem Featuring Creosote Bush and White Bursage.................................362

Photo 3-25 Mojave-Great Basin Ecotone Featuring Blackbrush ...................................................................363

Photo 3-26 Mesic Blackbrush Community .....................................................................................................367

Photo 3-27 Typical Fire Damaged Mesic Blackbrush Community .................................................................367

Photo 3-28 Creosote-White Bursage Scrub Community ...............................................................................367

Photo 3-29 Bigtooth Maple in Mountain Shrub Community ....................................................................... 368

Photo 3-30 Warm Desert Riparian Wash Community .................................................................................. 368

Photo 3-31 Saltcedar in Wash within Beaver Dam Wash NCA.......................................................................374

Photo 3-32 Zella Tank Corral, Beaver Dam Slope Allotment, Beaver Dam Wash NCA..................................376

Photo 3-33 Stock Tank in Castle Cliffs Allotment, Beaver Dam Wash NCA....................................................377

Photo 3-34 Livestock in Beaver Dam Slope Allotment, Beaver Dam Wash NCA ......................................... 380

Photo 3-35 Fire Damaged Castle Cliffs Allotment, Beaver Dam Wash NCA ..................................................382

Photo 3-36 Livestock in Scarecrow Peak Allotment at Water Trough, Beaver Dam Wash NCA..................385

Photo 3-37 Fire Damaged Cedar Pockets Allotment, Beaver Dam Wash NCA..............................................387

Photo 3-38 Fire Damaged Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands, Beaver Dam Wash NCA ..........................................387

Photo 3-39 Banana Yucca in Bloom, Beaver Dam Wash NCA ....................................................................... 388

Photo 3-40 Joshua Tree Fruit, Beaver Dam Wash NCA................................................................................. 388

Photo 3-41 Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Federally-Listed Endangered Species................................... 391

Photo 3-42 Western Yellow-Billed Cuckoo, Federally-Listed Threatened Species........................................ 391

Photo 3-43 California Condor, Federally-Listed Endangered Species ...........................................................392

Photo 3-44 Mojave Desert Tortoise, Federally-Listed Endangered Species .................................................393

Photo 3-45 Desert Tortoise Den, Woodbury Study Area, Beaver Dam Wash NCA.......................................393

Photo 3-48 Desert Tortoise with Vegetation in Mouth, Red Cliffs NCA ........................................................397

Photo 3-46 Desert Tortoise Hatchling, Red Cliffs NCA...................................................................................397

Photo 3-47 Desert Tortoise Foraging on Cryptantha, Red Cliffs NCA............................................................397

Photo 3-49 Tear Drop-Shaped Desert Tortoise Excrement, Red Cliffs NCA................................................. 398

Photo 3-50 Desert Tortoise Den with Characteristic Arch-Shape................................................................. 398

Photo 3-51 East facing Desert Tortoise Dens in Wash, Beaver Dam Wash NCA........................................... 398

Photo 3-52 Fire Damaged Landscape in Castle Cliffs Wash Area, Beaver Dam Wash NCA...........................401

Photo 3-53 Burrowing Owl, Utah BLM Sensitive Species ..............................................................................402

Photo 3-54 Ferruginous Hawk, Utah BLM Sensitive Species........................................................................ 403

Photo 3-55 Lewis’s Woodpecker, Utah BLM Sensitive Species .................................................................... 404

Photo 3-56 Long-Billed Curlew, Utah BLM Sensitive Species ....................................................................... 404

Photo 3-57 Bird Cover and Forage: Desert Almond with Fruit...................................................................... 404

Photo 3-58 Bird Cover and Forage: Brittlebrush in Seed .............................................................................. 405

Photo 3-59 Bird Cover and Forage: Squaw Bush with Immature Fruit ........................................................ 405
xxxiv Introduction BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment BDWNCA • RCNCA • SGFO Plan Amendment Introduction xxxv

TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS

Photo 3-103 Quail Creek, Red Cliffs NCA ........................................................................................................ 469

Photo 3-104 Virgin River Flowing Through the Red Cliffs NCA ......................................................................472

Photo 3-105 Pothole in Navajo Sandstone Formation, Red Cliffs NCA..........................................................473

Photo 3-106 Navajo Sandstone "Red Cliffs" of the Red Cliffs NCA...............................................................474

Photo 3-107 Moenkopi Formation in Little Purgatory Near the East Reef....................................................475

Photo 3-108 Prominent Cuesta in the Chinle Formation in Little Purgatory................................................ 479

Photo 3-109 Fern Fossil from the Chinle Formation ..................................................................................... 479

Photo 3-110 Navajo and Kayenta Sandstone Formations of Red Mountain in Ivins .................................... 479

Photo 3-111 Iron Springs Formation (top of distant peak) & Carmel Formation 

(on lower slopes) in the Red Cliffs NCA near the Dixie National Forest ................................................. 480

Photo 3-112 Black Gulch Cutting through the Lava Ridge Basaltic Lava Flow.............................................. 480

Photo 3-113 Aeolian Surficial Deposits (foreground), Basalt Flow (middle ground) ....................................481

Photo 3-114 Dinosaur Tracks in Kayenta Formation ...................................................................................... 484

Photo 3-115 Tool Marks on Navajo Sandstone in Rock Shelter..................................................................... 484

Photo 3-116 Rock Outcrop, Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness, Red Cliffs NCA............................................. 485

Photo 3-117 Rock Land, Red Mountain Wilderness, Red Cliffs NCA.............................................................. 487

Photo 3-118 Veyo-Pastura Complex, Lava Ridge, Red Cliffs NCA .................................................................. 487

Photo 3-119 Winkel Gravelly Fine Sandy Loam, Black Knolls, Red Cliffs NCA ............................................... 488

Photo 3-120 Harrisburg-Rock Land, East Valley, Red Cliffs NCA.................................................................... 488

Photo 3-121 Pintura-Toquerville Complex, Twist Hollow, Red Cliffs NCA...................................................... 488

Photo 3-122 Fluvaquents and Torrifluvents, Virgin River, Red Cliffs NCA ..................................................... 489

Photo 3-123 Big Sagebrush Steppe Community ............................................................................................ 493

Photo 3-124 Mesic Blackbrush Community.................................................................................................... 493

Photo 3-125 Thermic Blackbrush Community ................................................................................................ 494

Photo 3-126 Creosote-White Bursage Scrub Community.............................................................................. 494

Photo 3-127 Desert Sand Sagebrush Community .......................................................................................... 495

Photo 3-128 Pinyon-Juniper Woodland Community...................................................................................... 495

Photo 3-129 Warm Desert Riparian Community ............................................................................................ 496

Photo 3-130 Quail Fire of 2012 in Previously Unburned Landscape .............................................................. 497

Photo 3-131 Goat Herd on Cottonwood Road during Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project......................... 500

Photo 3-132 Shivwits Milkvetch, Federally-Listed Endangered Species ........................................................505

Photo 3-133 Mojave Desert Tortoise Outside Den Entrance, Red Cliffs NCA ................................................ 512

Photo 3-134 Monitoring Desert Tortoise Dens after Wildfire, Red Cliffs NCA............................................... 513

Photo 3-135 Suspected Fire-related Tortoise Mortality, Red Cliffs NCA ........................................................ 515

Photo 3-136 Virgin River Thistle, BLM Sensitive Species ................................................................................ 515

Photo 3-137 Bald Eagle, BLM Sensitive Species .............................................................................................. 516

Photo 3-138 Gila Monster, BLM Sensitive Species.......................................................................................... 516

Photo 3-139 Sidewinder, BLM Sensitive Species ............................................................................................ 517

Photo 3-140 Western Thread-snake, BLM Sensitive Species ......................................................................... 517

Photo 3-141 Mule Deer Herd, Red Cliffs NCA .................................................................................................. 519

Photo 3-142 Relict Leopard Frog, Candidate Species for Listing Under the ESA.......................................... 519

Photo 3-143 Heritage Site: Ancestral Puebloan Habitation Site, Red Cliffs NCA........................................... 521

Photo 3-144 Navajo Sandstone in Red Mountain Wilderness........................................................................522

Photo 3-145 Power Substation on Cottonwood Road, Red Cliffs NCA..........................................................526

Photo 3-146 Red Mountain UT-040-132A Inventory Unit, Hellhole Canyon .................................................. 531

Photo 3-147 Red Mountain UT-040-132B Inventory Unit................................................................................532

Photo 3-148 Cottonwood Canyon UT-040-046A Inventory Unit...................................................................533

Photo 3-149 Cottonwood Canyon UT-040-046C Inventory Unit...................................................................534

Photo 3-150 Cottonwood Canyon UT-040-046D Inventory Unit...................................................................535

Photo 3-151 Urban Development in St. George on Boundary of Red Cliffs NCA...........................................536

Photo 3-152 Hiking Off-trail in Upland Zone, Red Cliffs NCA ..........................................................................538

Photo 3-153 Hiking Arch Trail, Red Cliffs NCA ................................................................................................ 540

Photo 3-154 Mountain Biking Prospector Trail, Red Cliffs NCA..................................................................... 540

Photo 3-155 Equestrians in Red Cliffs NCA..................................................................................................... 540

Photo 3-156 Climbing Chuckwalla in Red Cliffs NCA.......................................................................................542

Photo 3-157 Sand Cove Primitive Camping Area, Red Cliffs NCA...................................................................543

Photo 3-158 Red Cliffs Road in Red Cliffs Recreation Area, Red Cliffs NCA.................................................. 544

Photo 3-159 Monitoring User-Created Trails, Red Cliffs NCA........................................................................ 546

Photo 3-160 Power Line Maintenance Road Serving Double Duty as Non-Motorized 

Trail, Red Cliffs NCA.................................................................................................................................... 549

Photo 3-161 Water Pump Station Maintenance Road Serving Double Duty as NonMotorized Trail, Red Cliffs NCA ................................................................................................................. 549

Photo 3-162 White Reef Trailhead, Red Cliffs NCA..........................................................................................553

Photo 3-163 Undeveloped Access Point, Red Cliffs NCA................................................................................553

Photo 3-164 Hellhole Trail, Primitive Route in Red Mountain Wilderness, Red Cliffs NCA...........................556

Photo 3-165 Red Cliffs Recreation Area, Red Cliffs NCA................................................................................ 560

Photo 3-166 Typical Trailhead Kiosk, Red Cliffs NCA.......................................................................................563

Photo 3-167 Citizen Stewardship: Graffiti Removal at Archaeological Site, Red Cliffs NCA .........................563

Photo 3-168 Abandoned Toquerville Mine with Gate to Facilitate Bat Access, Red Cliffs NCA.................... 571

Photo 3-169 Holmgren Milkvetch, Federally-Listed Endangered Species.....................................................579

Photo 3-170 Shivwits Milkvetch, Federally-Listed Endangered Species........................................................579

Photo 3-171 Siler Cactus, Federally-Listed Threatened Species...................................................................... 581

Photo 3-172 Mexican Spotted Owl, Federally-Listed Threatened Species .................................................... 581

Photo 3-173 Mule Deer on the Move, Red Cliffs NCA.....................................................................................585

Photo 3-174 Santa Clara/Land Hill ACEC ......................................................................................................... 586

Photo 3-175 Canaan Mountain ACEC.............................................................................................................. 586

Photo 3-176 Area of “Open” Designation in Bull Valley Mountains ............................................................. 589

Photo 5-1 Gila Monster Scrambling over Navajo Sandstone, Red Cliffs NCA............................................... 893

Photo 5-2 Artifact Recovered from Mid-19th Century Orson B. Adams House, Red Cliffs NCA.................. 894

Photo 5-3 St. George Black-on-Grey Bowl Recovered from Red Cliffs NCA................................................. 895

Photo 5-4 Public Scoping Meeting in St. George, Utah.................................................................................896

Photo 5-5 Public Scoping Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah ............................................................................ 897

Photo 5-6 Marker on Red Reef East Trail for Heritage Tourism, Red Cliffs NCA.......................................... 898

Photo 5-7 Exploring Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness, Red Cliffs NCA ........................................................898

Photo 5-8 Marketing and Educational Brochures Developed by the SGFO................................................. 899

Photo 5-9 Basalt Strewn Landscape, Red Cliffs NCA..................................................................................... 900

Photo 5-10 Livestock at Water Trough, Beaver Dam Wash NCA....................................................................901