Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 – 12/2002 Replacement Page i 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION 

Purpose of the Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 

Organization of the Forest Plan Documentation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Planning Area Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

2. ISSUES 

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

 Firewood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

 Timber Harvest Levels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 

 The Availability of Recreation Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 

 Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 

 Wildlife Habitat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 

 Riparian Habitat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 

 Geothermal Development . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 

 Management of the Transportation System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 

 Use of the Public Lands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 

 Law Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 

 Landownership Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

 Public Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

 Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 

3. SUMMARY OF THE ANALYSIS OF THE MANAGEMENT SITUATION 

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 

 Prior Allocations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 

4. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION 

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 

 Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 

 Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 

 Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 

 Regional Guide/Forest Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 

 Outputs & Range of Implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 

Management Prescriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 

 Management Area Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 

 Management Emphasis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 

 Program Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 

 Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 

 Standards and Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 

 How to Apply Prescriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 

 Coordinating Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 
Table of Contents cont. 

Coconino National Forest Plan – Amendment No. 17 – 12/2002 Replacement page ii 

Standards and Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 

Forest-wide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 

 MA 1 Wildernesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 

 MA 2 Verde Wild and Scenic River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 

 MA 3 Ponderosa Pine and Mixed Conifer, Less Than 40 Percent Slopes . . . . . . . . . 116 

 MA 4 Ponderosa Pine and Mixed Conifer, Greater Than 40 Percent Slopes . . . . . . . 138 

 MA 5 Aspen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 

 MA 6 Unproductive Timber Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 

 MA 7 Pinyon-juniper Woodland, Less Than 40 Percent Slopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 

 MA 8 Pinyon-juniper Woodland, Greater Than 40 Percent Slopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156 

 MA 9 Mountain Grassland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 

 MA 10 Grassland and Sparse Pinyon-juniper Above the Rim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 

 MA 11 Verde Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 

 MA 12 Riparian and Open Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 

 MA 13 Cinder Hills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 

 MA 14 Oak Creek Canyon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 

 MA 15 Developed Recreation Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 

 MA 16 Inner Basin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 

 MA 17 Special Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 

 MA 18 Elden Environmental Study Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 

 MA 19 Mogollon Rim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 

 MA 20 Highway 180 Corridor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206

Sedona/Oak Creek Ecosystem Area-wide Management Direction . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-7 

 MA 21 Dry Creek Basin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-32 

 MA 22 Gateway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-35 

 MA 23 Lower Oak Creek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-38 

 MA 24 Neighborwoods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-40 

 MA 25 Red Cliff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-43 

 MA 26 Redrock Frontcountry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-46 

 MA 27 Savannah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-50 

 MA 28 Schnebly Rim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-54 

 MA 29 Transition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-56 

 MA 30 Bellemont Shooting Facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-59 

Flagstaff/Lake Mary Area-wide Management Direction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-61 

 MA 31 Crater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-83 

 MA 32 Deadman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-87 

 MA 33 Doney. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-91

 MA 34 Flagstaff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-95 

 MA 35 Lake Mary Watershed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-97 

 MA 36 Schultz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-103 

 MA 37 Walnut Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-107 

 MA 38 West. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-113

 

5. MONITORING SCHEDULE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 
Table of Contents cont. 

Coconino National Forest Plan – Amendment No. 17 – 12/2002 New Page ii-1 

APPENDIX 

 A - Program Component Index and Management 

 Information Handbook Activities Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229 

 B - Management Area List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233 

 C - Electronic Site Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235 

 D - Land Suitability Classification - Acre Distribution by Management Area . . . . . . 237 

 E - Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Range Acres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239 

 F - Timber Productivity Classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241 

G - First Decade Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242 

 H - Various Tables and Schedules for Plan Implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242-1 

 I - Trailhead List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242-21 

 J - Forest Service Road Maintenance Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242-25 

 K - Monitoring Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242-29 

 L - Sedona/Oak Creek Amendment 12 Maps 

M – Flagstaff/Lake Mary Amendment 17 Maps 

GLOSSARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241 

Coconino National Forest Plan – Amendment No. 17 – 12/2002 New Page ii-1 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction - Standards/Guidelines 

Verde Wild and Scenic River – Management Area 2

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 – 12/2002 Replacement page 115 

Standards and Guidelines 

Recreation development may occur so long as the Scenic River characteristics 

are not adversely affected. 

Keep the Verde River Runners map current. 

Determine outfitter/guide service capacity as part of the detailed implementation 

schedule. Include provisions for monitoring and adjusting as necessary. 

Habitat Access Controlled by Closures

Access is prohibited in the vicinity of nesting bald eagles between December 1 

and June 15 (Closure Order 16-52, October 23, 1984). Should eagles occupy a 

nest territory earlier or later, the closure period will be adjusted. 

Seed and plant woody species in riparian areas. Priority is given to riparian areas 

that do not meet Regional standards, see the Regional Guide. 

Range Resource Planning and Inventory

No grazing capacity is assigned, however, existing watering gaps along the River 

are maintained or the River may used in emergency conditions. 

Water Rights

Protect instream flow water rights in conjunction with the Prescott and Tonto 

National Forests. 

Fire Management Planning and Analysis

Fires are managed with adjacent areas. Suppression objectives are the same as 

for the adjacent area until the implementation schedule is complete. It may give 

more specific suppression objectives. Choose suppression methods having 

minimum impact on resources. 
Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 – 12/2002 Replacement page 116 

MANAGEMENT AREA 3 

Ponderosa Pine and Mixed Conifer, Less Than 40 Percent Slopes

Analysis Areas: 1-9, 11, 12, 57, and 59 

Acres: 499,464

Ponderosa Pine

The ponderosa pine vegetative type is the Forest's largest commercial timber zone. The 

ponderosa pine stand blanketing the Mogollon Rim is part of the largest contiguous 

ponderosa pine stand in the world. There are three major vegetation associations that 

occur in this Management Area: 

• Ponderosa pine with a Gambel oak understory occurs on a wide variety of 

elevational and climatic ranges. It is most commonly found on warm dry slopes. 

The oak usually comes in after a site disturbance, such as fire or logging. New 

Mexican locust is often associated as another understory species. 

• Ponderosa pine with intermingled groups of aspen is found mostly on the west 

and north sides of the San Francisco Peaks. These stands are an important tourist 

attraction and a source of preferred firewood. 

• Ponderosa pine with a ponderosa pine understory is characterized by relatively 

pure stands of ponderosa pine regeneration with inclusions of Douglas-fir, white fir, 

and Gambel oak. The ponderosa pine regeneration is dominant and occupies more 

than 75 percent of the site. 

Logging, grazing, firewood gathering, hunting, and recreation are historic uses. There 

are many roads. The area provides crucial and key habitat for many species of wildlife 

because of diversity of cover and food production. Deer, elk, turkey, and songbird 

nesting habitat are found in the area. 

Ponderosa pine is often called a fire dependent species because fire is required for 

successful regeneration. The thick bark of the ponderosa pine provides more protection 

from fire than bark of some other species. Ponderosa pine productivity can be 

maintained through harvesting and use of fire. Intermediate harvesting improves the 

growth rates on the remaining trees by concentrating the site's growth potential onto 

fewer trees. Stocking level control early in the life of the stand, precommercial and 

commercial thinning, is important to the long-term stand growth rates. 

Natural fuel accumulations are moderate, 15+ tons per acre, and fire occurrence is the 

highest in the nation (see EIS Chapter 3). Logging and precommercial thinning residues 

can add 10 to 30 tons per acre. These accumulations can produce sufficient heat 

(B.T.U.'s) and flame length to kill residual trees during wildfires. Dispersed recreation 

use is heavy and risk of person-caused fires is high. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction - Standards/Guidelines 

Ponderosa Pine Mixed Conifer Less than 40% Slope – Management Area 3

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 119 

Timber Land Use Class

Nonforest 0 acres 

Forested Land withdrawn 

 Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer 0 acres 

 Pinyon-juniper 0 acres 

Unsuitable (Pinyon-juniper) 0 acres 

Unsuitable (physically unsuited or 

 not capable) 223acres*

Forested Lands not appropriate for 6,990 acres 

 timber harvest 

Suitable Timber lands 492,251 acres 

 TOTAL 499,464 acres 

Standards and Guidelines 

Recreation Management

Manage dispersed recreation at the Standard Service Level. 

Prohibit camping between Lockett Meadow Trailhead and the Inner Basin. The access 

road is managed as a trail and closed to vehicles, except that the City of Flagstaff may 

periodically be authorized to use it for special vehicles such as drill rigs if determined 

appropriate through environmental analysis. 

Manage the Mount Elden/Dry Lake Hills to maintain a semi-primitive nonmotorized 

ROS class. Build a trail system to make a loop trail from Buffalo Park over the Dry Lake 

Hills to the Mount Elden Trail, then through the Elden Environmental Study Area on the 

El Paso natural gas pipeline and back to Buffalo Park. The trails are for nonmotorized 

traffic only, except the Schultz Creek Trail which is open to motorized vehicles. The 

Mount Elden Lookout Trail and the portion of the Oldham trail between Buffalo Park and 

the El Paso natural gas pipeline are closed to horse and packstock. Trails in the system 

have standard level maintenance. 

Schultz Tank and immediate vicinity will be day use only. 

A primitive horse camp may be developed at either the Schultz Pass trailhead or the 

proposed Schultz Creek trailhead. Dispersed use will be monitored in these two locations 

to determine the most desirable site. 

 

*

 The management goal is to perpetuate aspen, a non-industrial species in this area, but the initial entries will 

remove some chargeable volumes in the form of the intermingled existing ponderosa pine and mixed conifer trees. 

The land has been classified in this table as to its classification at the end of Decade 1; it will take seven decades to 

remove all of the ponderosa pine/mixed conifer, averaging 173 acres per year. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction - Standards/Guidelines 

Ponderosa Pine Mixed Conifer Less than 40% Slope – Management Area 3

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 120 

Standards and Guidelines 

Schultz Creek trail will remain open to all types of use. Monitoring will be done to 

provide future information on development of any user conflicts. If conflicts develop, 

restrictions will be determined at that time. 

Loading and unloading horses is not permitted at the Schultz Tank parking area. 

Livestock and pets are not permitted to water or otherwise use Schultz Tank because it is 

part of the water supply for the Doney Park Community. 

Range Resource Planning and Inventory

Grazing allotments will generally be managed to Level C and D. 

This MA is open to grazing. There are 623,222 acres of full capacity lands. Of these 

total acres, 46,740 acres are in less than satisfactory condition. Less than satisfactory 

range conditions are improved through completion of the development program 

contained in AMP's. 

Range Forage Improvement Maintenance

Evaluate forage improvements and maintain forage improvement acres in satisfactory or 

better condition. Attain a balanced composition of cool and warm season forage species. 

Broadcast seed immediately following natural or prescribed burns, with high production, 

shade tolerant, multi-growing season species unless the area is planned for timber 

regeneration. 

Seed behind intermediate timber harvests with mixes tailored to fit the site where 

additional forage is needed. Emphasize high production, shade tolerant, multi-growing 

season species that will not inhibit tree regeneration. Do not seed after the last 

intermediate harvest if tree regeneration will be inhibited. Do not seed after seed cuts. 

Where open meadows in the pine/mixed conifer type are to be maintained, eliminate 

invading overstory vegetation, stabilize gullies to raise the water table, scarify the soil, 

and seed with appropriate grass and forage species. Control livestock grazing through 

management and/or fencing to establish the revegetation. 

Identify each terrestrial ecosystem and assess soil properties to determine: 

• Soil limitations for soil scarification purposes. 

• The method of soil scarification best suited for the soils of the project area. 

• Soil potential for revegetation - Identify soils that are suitable or unsuitable for 

successful revegetation. 

Chapter 4 – Management Direction - Standards/Guidelines 

Ponderosa Pine Mixed Conifer Less than 40% Slope – Management Area 3

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 137 

Standards and Guidelines 

• Soil potential for reforestation - Identify soils that are suitable or unsuitable for 

successful reforestation. Adjust stocking levels and require specific resource 

management activities where successful reforestation is limited by environmental 

factors in the terrestrial ecosystem. 

• Whether soils are suitable, unsuitable, or unproductive for timber management. 

• Soil limitations for timber harvest activities. 

• Soils with high potential to convert to another vegetative type such as oak, locust, 

or juniper as a result of timber management activities - Modify timber management 

activities in these terrestrial ecosystems to halt the type conversion by approved 

chemical or mechanical means or by prescribed fire. 

Timber Harvest Administration

Administer timber sales, pulpwood sales, permits for forest products, firewood, and 

miscellaneous forest products sales. This activity includes the following:accountability, 

financial management, field inspections, and contract interpretation and enforcement. 

Aggressively protect non-designated trees, including firewood, through the enforcement 

of the timber sale contract. 

Plan, prepare, administer, and sell or issue free-use permits for commercial and personal 

use, miscellaneous convertible and nonconvertible products (FSM 2462). 

Generally, local roads are closed until the next entry by signing and physical obstruction 

such as gates or barriers. Temporary roads are obliterated and returned to production. If 

necessary to ensure protection, off-road driving restrictions are imposed until roads are 

fully revegetated. 

Fire Management Planning and Analysis

Suppression objective is 100 acres or less. 

Prescribed fire using planned and unplanned ignitions is used to meet resource 

objectives. Unplanned ignitions are not used as a management tool in the urban interface. 

Annual average wildfire acreage burned shoul not exceed 750 acres per year on the 

average over a 10-year period. 

Emphasize using slash for firewood. Unless there are documented resource or protection 

needs, leave slash for at least 2 years before disposal. Clearly identify free-use firewood 

areas to assist the public in removing wood residues and thereby reducing future slash 

disposal costs. Provide easy to follow maps and signing for designated firewood areas. 
Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 138 

MANAGEMENT AREA 4 

Ponderosa Pine and Mixed Conifer, Greater Than 40 Percent Slopes

Analysis Areas: 10, 10a, 13, 13a 

Acres: 20,107

Ponderosa Pine

A small part of this Management Area (MA) has been logged in the past, generally for 

short distances immediately above more gentle slopes. Steep canyons having no roads in 

them and a number of cinder cones have not been logged. 

Many of the remaining overmature trees and large snags in the pine type are in this MA. 

The snags are important to snag dependent species of wildlife. 

The area contributes very little to the range resource because of steepness. However, the 

south facing slopes do provide a significant amount of big game winter habitat. 

Recreation use is concentrated on trails passing through the area because of the steepness 

and the amount of debris on the ground. In addition, some steep slopes are scenic 

backdrops for sensitive recreation viewpoints. 

Refer to the description of MA 3 for a discussion of vegetation, fire, and fuels. 

Mixed Conifer

The vegetative composition, fire history, and natural fuels are similar to MA 3. Little to 

no logging activity and road building has taken place. 

The area's value to wildlife is much greater than to domestic livestock because of the 

inaccessibility to most livestock. 

Recreation use is largely limited to hiking and hunting. 
Chapter 4 –Management Direction - Standards/Guidelines 

Ponderosa Pine and Mixed Conifer, Greater than 40 Percent Slope – Management Area 4

Coconino National Forest Plan – Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 139 

Management Emphasis

Emphasize wildlife habitat, watershed condition, and dispersed recreation. Management 

intensity is low. 

Highlights include: 

• Manage with emphasis on wildlife habitat and dispersed recreation. Total acres of 

any Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) class may change no more than +15 

percent in Decade 1 due to road or trail building and other activities. 

• -VQO's in this area vary and are managed in accordance with the Forest-wide 

standards and guidelines. 

• Manage for the following indicator species: 

Turkey 

Goshawk 

Pygmy nuthatch 

Elk 

Abert squirrel 

Red squirrel 

Hairy woodpecker 

Mexican spotted owl 

• Manage the Dry Lake Hills-Mount Elden area for dispersed recreation and wildlife 

habitat and a semi-primitive nonmotorized ROS class. 

• Manage at least 640 acres of the tentatively suitable timber lands for old-growth on a 

sustained basis to achieve at least 320 acres meeting old-growth conditions at all 

times. 

Timber Land Use Classes:

Nonforest 0 acres 

Forested land withdrawn 

 Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer 0 acres 

 Pinyon-juniper 0 acres 

Unsuitable (Pinyon-juniper) 0 acres 

Unsuitable (physically unsuited or 

 not capable) 14,092 acres 

Forested lands not appropriate for 5,359 acres 

 timber harvest 

Suitable Timber lands 656 acres*

 TOTAL 20,107 acres 

 

*

No harvest during first or second decade. 
Chapter 4 –Management Direction - Standards/Guidelines 

Ponderosa Pine and Mixed Conifer, Greater than 40 Percent Slope – Management Area 4

Coconino National Forest Plan – Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 140 

Standards and Guidelines 

Recreation Planning and Inventory

Manage the Mount Elden/Dry Lake Hills to maintain a semi-primitive nonmotorized 

ROS class. Build a loop trail system tying into trailheads at Schultz Pass, Schultz Creek, 

Flagstaff-Elden Ranger Station, and Buffalo Park. Trails are for non-motorized use, 

except in Schultz Creek adjacent to Forest Road 420 up to Road 789. Horses and 

packstock are allowed except on the Mount Elden Lookout Trail and the portion of the 

Oldham Trail between Buffalo Park and the El Paso natural gas pipeline. The trail system 

is maintained at standard service level. 

Manage Mount Elden/Dry Lake Hills for visual quality objective of Retention. 

Range Resource Planning and Inventory

The area is generally classified as no capacity range and is usually not fenced, but 

occasional livestock use does occur. No capacity is assigned. 

Silvicultural Examination and Prescription

Conduct silvicultural examination and re-evaluate potential for suitability during first 

decade. 

Mexican Spotted Owl and Bear Habitat: 

Whenever possible, areas managed for old-growth, bear, and spotted owls are the same. 

Evaluate owl and bear habitat needs during project planning. 

MEXICAN SPOTTED OWL

Please refer to the Mexican Spotted Owl Standards and guidelines in the Forest-wide 

direction on pages 65 through 65-6. 

NORTHERN GOSHAWK

Please refer to the northern goshawk Standards and Guidelines in the Forest-wide 

direction on pages 65-7 through 65-11. 

Fire Management Planning and Analysis

Standards and Guidelines for fire management planning and analysis are the same as for 

MA 3. 
Coconino National Forest Plan – Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 141 

MANAGEMENT AREA 5 

Aspen 

Analysis Area: 14 

Acres: 4,487

Aspen is the dominant tree species, comprising 50 percent of more of stand stocking. 

Most of the aspen is on the west and north side of the San Francisco Peaks. Other stands 

of aspen are found on cool moist sites on the rest of the Forest. 

There is an overstory of aspen with an understory ranging from forbs and grass to 

ponderosa pine and sparse conifer reproduction, usually white fir or spruce. Without 

silvicultural treatment, aspen stands with mixed conifer or ponderosa pine understories 

will convert to conifer type as the aspen overstories die. Aspen on the Forest is mostly 

seral. 

The aspen type, especially those stands with forb-grass understories, is an important 

producer of forage for wildlife and livestock. Aspen sprouts are favored browse for elk, 

livestock, and deer. 

Aspen stands are important aesthetically because of contrasting colors and changing 

leaves. Their leaves are a light green in summer and turn yellow in the fall. Their white 

trunks provide further accents. 

Regionally, the commercial market for aspen wood products varies from firewood, 

excelsior, and pallet material to high grade paneling. Until recent demands for firewood, 

the demand had been relatively low compared to conifer species. The low demand 

resulted in little management. Aspen usually requires fire or harvesting, by clearcutting, 

for regeneration. Most of the existing aspen stands are a direct result of past wildfires. 

Successful fire control over many years has reduced the establishment of new stands and 

the total acreage of aspen dominated stands has decreased. 

Aspen stands provide natural firebreaks that aid in stopping wildfires that originate in 

adjacent vegetative types. 

Management Emphasis 

Emphasize a combination of wildlife habitat, visual quality, firewood production, 

watershed condition, and dispersed recreation with other resources and uses managed to 

be compatible. 

Highlights include: 

- Manage for the following indicator species: 

 Yellow bellied sapsucker 

 Mule deer 

- Manage for VQO of Retention and Partial Retention in designated foreground areas, as 

specified in MA 3, and all VQO's in middleground and background. 

- Manage firewood on a sustained-yield basis. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction - Standards/Guidelines 

Aspen – Management Area 5

Coconino National Forest Plan—Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 142 

Timber Land Use Classes:

Nonforest 0 acres 

Forested land withdrawn 

 Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer 0 acres 

 Pinyon-juniper 0 acres 

Unsuitable (Pinyon-juniper) 0 acres 

Unsuitable (physically unsuited or 

 not capable) 4,487 acres 

Forested lands not appropriate for 0 acres 

 timber harvest 

Suitable Timber lands 0 acres

 TOTAL 4,487 acres 

Program 

Components Activities Standards and Guidelines

 Visual Quality

A2 A02, E06 Review the VQO inventory as a part of project planning and make necessary 

Recreation refinements following the field checking. 

 Clearcutting to enhance or maintain aspen in Retention and Partial Retention 

areas is permissible with limitations on size and distribution of openings. 

Clearcuts should be distributed over larger areas rather than confined to small 

areas. In Retention areas, openings may be up to 2.5 acres in foreground areas, 5 

acres in middleground areas, and 20 acres in background areas. In Partial 

Retention areas, openings may be up to 15 acres in foreground areas, and 40 

acres in middleground and background areas. 

 Structural Wildlife Habitat Improvements

C3 C03 Fence to protect aspen regeneration from grazing or wildlife where 

Wildlife necessary. 

 Range Resource Planning and Inventory

D2 D01, D02 Grazing allotments are generally managed at Level C or D. There are 3,864 

Range acres of full capacity lands, all in satisfactory condition. 
Coconino National Forest Plan—Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 145 

Unproductive Timber Land - Management Area 6 

Analysis Areas: 15, 16 

Acres: 54,566

Unproductive timber lands are within the ponderosa pine vegetation types. They are 

unsuitable for timber harvest because they fall in at least one of the following two 

categories. 

- They do not meet the minimum standards for productivity which is Site Index 40 and/or 

20 cubic feet per acre per year. 

- There is not reasonable assurance that such lands can be adequately restocked as 

required by section 219.27(c)(13) of the planning regulations. 

Management Emphasis 

Emphasize a combination of wildlife habitat, watershed condition, and livestock grazing. 

Other resources are managed in harmony with the emphasized resources. 

Highlights include: 

- Manage for the following indicator species: 

• Elk 

• Abert Squirrel 

• Mule Deer 

• Hairy Woodpecker 

- Use prescribed fire as a tool to help meet desired resource objectives. 

- Visual Quality Objectives (VQO) are managed in accordance with the Forest-wide 

Standards and Guidelines. 

Timber Land Use Classes: 

Nonforest 0 acres 

Forested land withdrawn 

 Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer 0 acres 

 Pinyon-juniper 0 acres 

Unsuitable (Pinyon-juniper) 0 acres 

Unsuitable (physically unsuited or not capable) 54,566 acres 

Forested lands not appropriate for timber harvest 0 acres 

Suitable Timber lands 0 acres 

 TOTAL 54,566 acres 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction - Standards/Guidelines 

Unproductive Timber Land – Management Area 6

Program 

Components Activities Standards and Guidelines

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 146 

Range Resource Planning and Inventory

D2 D01, D02 Grazing allotments are generally managed at the C or D level. Full 

Range capacity lands are assigned a grazing capacity. There are 74,651 acres of full 

capacity lands. Of this total acreage, 4,628 acres are in less than satisfactory 

condition. Less than satisfactory range conditions are improved through 

completing the development program contained in the AMP. 

Range Forage Improvement

D3 D03 Conduct an analysis immediately following natural and/or prescribed burns to 

determine the potential and need for broadcast seeding. Based on positive 

analysis results, increase forage production by attaining a balanced composition 

of cool and warm season forage species by broadcast seeding immediately 

following natural and/or prescribed burns. 

 Where an open meadow is maintained, as determined in an environmental 

analysis, eliminate invading overstory vegetation, stabilize gullies to raise the 

water table, and seed with appropriate grass and forage species. Control 

livestock grazing through management and/or fencing to allow for adequate 

revegetation. 

 Identify each terrestrial ecosystem and assess soil properties to determine: 

 - Soil limitations for soil scarification purposes. 

 - The method of soil scarification best suited for the soils of the project area. 

 - Soil potential for revegetation - Identify soils that are suitable or unsuitable for 

successful revegetation, 

 - Erosion hazard, and on-site soil loss - Soils with a potential erosion hazard 

rating of severe will require specific resource management activities in order to 

avoid severe impairment of soil productivity. 

Reforestation

E4 E04 Reforestation is limited to administrative study areas for the purpose of 

Timber finding successful methods and will be conducted according to an administrative 

study plan. 

 Lands not suited for timber production are examined at least every 10 years to 

determine if they have become suited. 

 During the first decade, identify each terrestrial ecosystem and assess soil 

properties to determine: 

 - Whether soils are suitable, unsuitable, or unproductive for timber management. 

Provide detailed soils input to administrative study plans for reforestation. 
Chapter 4 –Management Direction - Standards/Guidelines 

Unproductive Timber Land – Management Area 6

Coconino National Forest Plan – Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 147 

Silvicultural Examination and Prescription

E8 E03, C01 Implement Integrated Stand Management (ISM) to benefit other resources and to 

aid in Forest-wide monitoring. 

 Evaluate stand conditions, including insect and disease, and the health and vigor 

of stands. 

 Maintain diversity of tree species so that ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, and 

alligator juniper are maintained as a component of the vegetation where they are 

now present. 

Snag Management:

 Where necessary to meet multiple-use objectives, harvest recent dead and poor 

risk ponderosa pine in areas having excess snag densities and adequate 

recruitment for future snags. This may also be done where habitat evaluation 

indicates a surplus of snags and there is a determination that harvest will not 

cause future snag densities to fall below desired densities or cause other adverse 

effects on habitat. 

Alligator Juniper:

 Manage alligator juniper to maintain and enhance wildlife habitat by the 

following criteria: 

 - In areas where alligator juniper trees comprise less than 50 percent of the total 

basal area, retain live alligator juniper trees > 12 inches d.b.h. 

 - In areas where alligator juniper trees comprise more than 50 percent of the total 

basal area, live trees > 12 inches d.b.h. may be removed if < 25 percent of the 

crown is living. 

 

 In both of the above cases, some live trees < 12 inches d.b.h. may be removed. 

Retain at least 40 percent of the trees < 12 inches. 

Turkey Habitat:

 Manage to retain and/or develop an average of at least four turkey roost tree 

groups per section in identified turkey winter range. 

Fire Management Planning and Analysis

P2 01 Suppression objective is to minimize cost and provide for personal safety. 

Protection 

 Areas mapped as the urban interface have a suppression objective of 10 acres or 

less. In areas outside of the urban interface, the suppression objective is to hold 

fires to 100 acres or less. Prescribed fire using planned and unplanned ignitions 

is used to accomplish resource objectives except no provision for unplanned 

ignitions in areas included in urban interface.
Coconino National Forest Plan – Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 148 

Piñon-Juniper Woodland, Less Than 40 Percent Slopes - Management Area 7 

Analysis Areas: 17, 18, 19 

Acres: 254,033 

The pinyon-juniper woodland is comprised of an overstory of pinyon pine, Utah juniper, 

and one-seed juniper with a small portion of alligator juniper and Rocky Mountain 

juniper. There is a wide variety of grass, forbs, and shrubs in the understory. 

Traditional uses have included hunting, firewood cutting, pinyon nut gathering, 

Christmas tree and juniper post cutting, big game winter range, and grazing. There are 

many two-track roads through the area. 

Fire occurrence is low and potential for large fires is low. Ground fuels are less than 5 

tons per acre except in stands that have been harvested for firewood. 

The local public prefers juniper over pinyon for firewood. 

The area contains a large number of archaeological sites. 

Management Emphasis 

Emphasize firewood production, watershed condition, wildlife habitat, and livestock 

grazing. Other resources are managed in harmony with the emphasized resources. 

Highlights include: 

- Manage the pinyon-juniper on a sustained-yield basis for firewood and miscellaneous 

convertible products, on 0-15 percent slopes. 

- Wildlife habitat management emphasizes forage production on 0 to 15 percent slopes, in 

conjunction with firewood harvest using Integrated Stand Management (ISM). Oldgrowth, cover, and snags are generally provided on slopes greater than 15 percent. 

However, exceptions will occur if dispersion requirements for habitat components are not 

met on these steep slopes. Where necessary to meet 10K Block requirements or specific 

habitat needs, one or more of these components can be obtained through management 

emphasis on the gentler slopes. 

- Manage for the following indicator species: 

• Plain titmouse 

• Mule deer 

• Elk 

- Use prescribed fire to help achieve resource objectives. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction - Standards/Guidelines 

Piñon-Juniper Less than 40% Slope - Management Area 7

Coconino National Forest Plan—Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 149

- Manage for the visual quality objectives outlined in the Forest Visual Resource 

Management inventory and in the Forest-wide Standards and Guidelines, including a 

configuration and design of opening which is consistent with the characteristic landscape. 

- Palatable grass and forb species may be seeded. 

Timber Land Use Classes: 

Nonforest 0 acres 

Forested Land withdrawn 

 Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer 0 acres 

 Pinyon-juniper 0 acres 

Unsuitable (Pinyon-juniper) 254,033 acres 

Unsuitable (physically unsuited or not capable) 0 acres 

Forested Lands not appropriate for timber harvest 0 acres 

Suitable Timber lands 0 acres

TOTAL 254,033 acres 

Program 

Components Activities Standards and Guidelines

Wildlife Structural Improvements

C3 C03 Provide water where needed on key wildlife winter ranges. Use bubblers or 

Wildlife and other means to prevent freezing, where needed. 

Fish 

Wildlife Nonstructural Improvements

 Areas needing additional forage for elk and mule deer are given first priority in 

scheduling firewood/wildlife habitat treatments. Treatments are usually done in 

areas remote from intensive development and high road densities. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction - Standards/Guidelines 

Piñon-Juniper Less than 40% Slope - Management Area 7 

Program 

Components Activities Standards and Guidelines

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 150 

Range Resource Planning and Inventory

D2 D02 Grazing allotments will generally be managed at Level C or D. Full 

Range capacity lands are assigned a grazing capacity. There are 227,601 acres of full 

capacity lands, of which 29,702 acres are in less than satisfactory condition. Less 

than satisfactory range conditions will be improved through completion of the 

range development program outlined in the AMP. 

Range Forage Improvement Maintenance

D3 D04 Conduct an analysis immediately following natural or prescribed burns to 

 determine the potential and need for broadcast seeding. Based on a positive 

analysis, broadcast seed immediately following natural or prescribed burns with a 

warm and cool season seed mix to increase production for the site. This is done 

where necessary based upon the Burned Area Rehabilitation Handbook. 

 Evaluate and determine the need to maintain forage improvement acres in 

satisfactory or better condition. 

 Some acres have been mechanically treated by using heavy equipment to remove 

individual trees, or "pushing," "chaining," or "cabling" as the practice is called. 

A portion of these lands have very low potential for revegetation and are allowed 

to proceed towards climax stage. In some areas other low density canopy lands 

with a higher potential for revegetation are rotated into management as seral 

grasslands if an environmental analysis indicates. 

 Pinyon-juniper woodlands that have not been previously treated, but are in the 0-

10 percent canopy cover class as a result of past fire and subsequent successional 

development, are evaluated through the environmental analysis process to 

determine if they are included among lands maintained as seral grasslands. The 

criteria used for physical/biological suitability are the rating of soil potential for 

revegetation and the erosion potential as outlined in the Terrestrial Ecosystems 

Survey Handbook (TESH, January 7, 1985). 

 Lands showing a low potential for revegetation are not retreated to maintain a 

seral state. Lands suitable for revegetation to grasslands and determined to be 

desirable through the environmental analysis are put on the 25-year average 

retreatment schedule. 

 Where seral grasslands are maintained in the pinyon-juniper woodland, eliminate 

invading vegetation through mechanical, chemical, or planned fire treatments on 

a maintenance schedule averaging once every 25 years. Consider firewood 

harvesting and Christmas tree harvesting as tree removal methods. Stabilize 

gullies, scarify the soil, and seed disturbed soils with a mix tailored for the site, 

emphasizing high production, shade 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction - Standards/Guidelines 

Piñon-Juniper Less than 40% Slope - Management Area 7 

Program 

Components Activities Standards and Guidelines

Coconino National Forest Plan – Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 155 

E8 E06, F04 Restrict firewood harvest and hauling to soil moisture conditions that do not 

cause excessive soil compaction, displacement, or puddling. 

 For each project area, identify each terrestrial ecosystem and assess soil 

properties to determine: 

 - Soil potential for reforestation - Identify soils that are suitable or unsuitable for 

successful reforestation. 

 - Soils that contain undesirable soil properties that determine regeneration or 

revegetation in an area as being difficult. 

Timber Harvest Administration

 E07 Administer contracts and permits for forest products, firewood, and 

miscellaneous forest products sales. This activity includes accountability, 

financial management, inspections, contract interpretation, and enforcement. 

Fire Management Planning and Analysis

P2 P01 Suppression objective is to minimize cost and provide for personnel 

Protection safety. Areas mapped as urban interface have a suppression objective of 10 acres 

or less. In areas outside the urban interface, the suppression objective is to hold 

fires to 1,000 acres or less. 

 Prescribed fire using planned and unplanned ignitions is used to accomplish 

resource objectives except no provision for unplanned ignitions in areas included 

in urban interface. 

 Emphasize using slash for firewood. Unless there are documented resource or 

protection needs, leave slash for at least 2 years before disposal. Clearly identify 

free-use firewood areas to assist the public in removing wood residues and 

thereby reducing future slash disposal costs. Provide easy to follow maps and 

signing for designated firewood areas. 
Coconino National Forest Plan – Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 156 

Pinyon-Juniper Woodland, Greater Than 40 Percent Slopes – 

Management Area 8 

Analysis Area: 20 

Acres: 12,273

This area includes the pinyon-juniper woodlands on slopes over 40 percent. The 

description is the same as MA 7. Steep canyons and volcanic slopes make the area 

unsuitable for many uses such as firewood cutting and some kinds of recreation. 

Most of the area is old-growth because it has not been cut and fire has been excluded. 

Management Emphasis 

Emphasize wildlife habitat, watershed condition, and dispersed recreation. 

Management intensity is low. 

Highlights include: 

- Manage for the following indicator species: 

 Plain titmouse 

 Mule deer 

 Elk 

- Manage Visual Quality Objectives (VQO) in accordance with the Forest-wide 

Standards and Guidelines. VQO's vary significantly in this MA. 

Timber Land Use Classes:

Nonforest 0 acres

Forested land withdrawn 

Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer 0 acres

Pinyon-juniper 0 acres

Unsuitable (Pinyon-juniper) 12,273 acres

Unsuitable (physically unsuited or not capable) 0 acres

Forested lands not appropriate for timber harvest 0 acres

Suitable Timber lands 0 acres

TOTAL 12,273 acres
Chapter 4 – Management Direction - Standards/Guidelines 

Piñon-Juniper Greater than 40 Percent Slope – Management Area 8 

Program 

Components Activities Standards and Guidelines

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 157 

 Wildlife Structural Improvements

C3 C03 During winter months in key wildlife winter ranges provide water where 

Wildlife and needed using bubblers to prevent freezing. 

Fish 

 Range Planning and Inventory

D2 D01, D02 The area is classified as no capacity range. The area generally is not 

Range fenced, so occasional livestock use does occur. 

 Integrated Stand Management

E8 E03, C01 The area is not managed for forest products. Timber activities take place 

Timber only where needed to achieve management of other resources. 

 Bear Habitat: 

 Evaluate bear habitat needs during project planning 

 Old-Growth: 

 - At least 3,000 trees/100 acres of 9 inches d.r.c. or greater. 

 - At least 100 snags/100 acres > 9 inches d.r.c. and 10 feet or greater in height. 

 - At least two logs/acre of down woody material 9 inches in diameter or greater 

and 10 feet long. 

 - Not less than 5 percent of the forested lands capable of producing old-growth in 

each 10K Block meets old-growth conditions at any time. 

 Fire Management Planning and Analysis

P2 P01 Suppression objective 250 acres or less except where included in urban 

Protection interface. 

Prescribed fire using planned and unplanned ignitions is used to accomplish 

resource objectives except no provision for unplanned ignitions in areas included 

in urban interface. 
Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 158 

MANAGEMENT AREA 9 

Mountain Grassland

Analysis Area: 25 

Acres: 1,544

Laying in a patchwork across the Colorado Plateau, the mountain grasslands are 

meadows varying in size from just a few acres to well over 1,000 acres. Natural 

meadows are located in frost pockets or have soil or moisture conditions not conducive to 

conifer growth. A wide variety of species of grasses and forbs characterize the 

vegetation which varies according to soil moisture and temperature. The grasslands 

contain some riparian areas too small to be mapped. Riparian areas are managed by the 

Standards and Guidelines for MA 12. 

The area is important to elk, turkey, and small mammals. Meadows provide vegetation 

diversity needed by wildlife. 

The meadows provide opportunities for breathtaking views and are themselves a highly 

attractive visual resource. 

In some areas, the meadows are dwindling through channel erosion and subsequent 

dropping of the water table. This results in encroachment by conifers and other species. 

As the grasslands shrink, forage for wildlife and livestock is reduced and visual quality 

declines. 

Management Emphasis 

Emphasize livestock grazing, visual quality, and wildlife habitat. Other resources are 

managed in harmony with emphasized resources. The smaller mountain meadows in 

remote areas are managed mostly for wildlife habitat, especially for elk summer range. 

Highlights include: 

- Manage for the following indicator species: 

 Antelope 

 Elk 

- Manage Visual Quality Objectives (VQO) in accordance with the Forest-wide 

Standards and Guidelines. VQO's vary significantly in this MA. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction - Standards/Guidelines 

Mountain Grassland – Management Area 9

Coconino National Forest Plan—Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 159 

Timber Land Use Classes: 

Nonforest 1,544 acres 

Forested land withdrawn 

 Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer 0 acres 

 Pinyon-juniper 0 acres 

Unsuitable (Pinyon-juniper) 0 acres 

Unsuitable (physically unsuited or 

 not capable) 0 acres 

Forested lands not appropriate for 0 acres 

 timber harvest 

Suitable Timber lands 0 acres

 TOTAL 1,544 acres 

Program 

Components Activities Standards and Guidelines

 Recreation Planning and Inventory

A2 A01, A02 Manage for VQO's of Partial Retention and Modification, 

Recreation with portions adjacent to major travel routes managed as foreground Retention. 

 Closely monitor off-road driving. If damage is occurring or becomes imminent, 

apply and enforce appropriate restrictions, (see Forest-wide Standards and 

Guidelines - Recreation program component, for criteria). 

 Focus media attention on off-road driving damage in these sensitive areas at least 

annually. 

 Nonstructural Wildlife Habitat Improvements

C3 C02, F03 Evaluate in the first decade the need to maintain and improve meadows by 

Wildlife and eliminating competing conifers, stabilizing gullies to restore water 

Fish tables, and reseeding with species desirable to wildlife. 

 Structural Wildlife Habitat Improvements

 Evaluate need and, where necessary, construct fences to protect key meadows 

from grazing. 

 When springs are developed in meadow communities, riparian areas, or other 

sensitive areas, protect these areas by piping the water to water developments in 

adjacent, less sensitive areas. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction - Standards/Guidelines 

Mountain Grassland – Management Area 9 

Program 

Components Activities Standards and Guidelines

Coconino National Forest Plan—Amendment No 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 160 

 Range Resource Planning and Inventory

D2 D01, D02 Grazing allotments are generally managed at the D level. Full capacity are 

Rangelands assigned a grazing capacity. There are 8,824 acres of full capacity land; of this 

total, 947 acres are in less than satisfactory condition. Less than satisfactory 

range conditions will be improved through completion of the development 

program in the respective AMP's. 

 Range Forage Improvement

 D03 Maintain existing mountain meadows by removing invading overstory by cutting 

or other methods, gully stabilization to raise the water table, soil scarification, 

and seeding with appropriate grass and forage species. 

 Control livestock grazing by management and/or fencing to allow adequate 

regeneration of grasses and forbs. 

 Increase forage production by attaining a balanced composition of cool and warm 

season forage species. 

 Water Resources Planning

F3 F02, D01 Manage mountain grasslands to achieve 90 percent of potential ground cover 

Watershed/ to prevent accelerated surface erosion and gully formation. Areas that 

Soil/Air presently do not meet these standards are scarified and seeded to bring ground 

cover to the desired level by the second decade. Restricting livestock may be 

necessary until revegetation. 

 Identify each terrestrial ecosystem and assess soil properties to determine: 

 - Soil limitations for soil scarification purposes. The method of soil scarification 

best suited for the soils of the project area. 

 - Soil potential for revegetation - Identify soils that are suitable or unsuitable for 

successful revegetation, erosion hazard, and on-site soil loss. Soils with a 

potential erosion hazard rating of severe will require specific resource 

management activities in order to avoid severe impairment of soil productivity. 

 F03, C01 In areas capable of supporting woody riparian species, maintain and/or improve 

these species to standards in the Regional Guide, August 1983. 

 F04 Plan and implement cost effective stream channel restoration projects to raise the 

water table in meadow areas where channel erosion has resulted in a lowering of 

the water table. 

 Road Maintenance and Management

L2 F01, L01 Generally, avoid construction of new roads. Relocate and reconstruct around this 

Transportation roads around this MA whenever possible. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction - Standards/Guidelines 

Mountain Grassland – Management Area 9 

Program 

Components Activities Standards and Guidelines

Coconino National Forest Plan – Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 161 

 Fire Management Planning and Analysis

P2 P01 Suppression objective is to minimize suppression costs and provide for 

Protection personnel safety. Suppression objective of 10 acres or less in areas mapped as 

urban interface. In areas outside the urban interface the suppression objective is 

to hold fires to 100 acres or less. Suppression methods are chosen to minimize 

damage to the resource. 

 Prescribed fire using planned and unplanned ignitions is used to accomplish 

resource objectives except no provision for unplanned ignitions in areas included 

in urban interface. 
Coconino National Forest Plan – Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 162 

MANAGEMENT AREA 10 

Grassland and Sparse Piñon-Juniper Above the Rim

Analysis Areas 26, 27 

Acres: 144,275

This area is made up of the grasslands and pinyon-juniper with less than 10 percent cover 

above the Mogollon Rim and a small portion of the transition zone (ecotone) between 

ponderosa pine and pinyon-juniper, primarily on Anderson Mesa. The area includes a 

few stringers of ponderosa pine and ecotones between grass and pinyon-juniper lands. 

The majority of the area is pinyon-juniper that has been treated and is in the seral 

grassland stage. 

Fuel loading and fire danger are low. The area is important wildlife winter range, as well 

as year long antelope range, and is used primarily as grazing land for both livestock and 

wildlife. 

Management Emphasis 

Emphasize range management, watershed condition, and wildlife habitat. Other 

resources are managed to improve outputs and quality. Emphasis is on prescribed 

burning to achieve management objectives. Walnut Canyon National Monument 

entrance road is within this MA. The management and use of the 1000 foot right-of-way 

along the entrance road is directed toward the protection and maintenance of the cultural 

and natural resources of the area. 

Highlights include: 

- Manage for the following indicator species: 

 Antelope 

- Manage Visual Quality Objectives (VQO) in accordance with the Forest-wide 

Standards and Guidelines. VQO's vary significantly in this MA. 

- Enforcement of the management restrictions and the day to day administration of the 

Monument entrance is the responsibility of the Park Service, as is the maintenance of the 

facilities. Major changes in the development, construction, or initiation of resource 

management projects are coordinated between the Park Service and the Forest. 

Chapter 4 – Management Direction - Standards/Guidelines 

Grassland and Sparse Piñon-Juniper Above the Rim – Management Area 10 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page163 

Timber Land Use Classes: 

Nonforest 144,275 acres 

Forested land withdrawn 

Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer 0 acres 

Pinyon-juniper 0 acres 

Unsuitable (Pinyon-juniper) 0 acres 

Unsuitable (physically unsuited or not capable) 0 acres 

Forested lands not appropriate for timber harvest 0 acres 

Suitable Timber lands 0 acres 

 

TOTAL 144,275 acres 

Program 

Components Activities Standards and Guidelines

Recreation Planning and Inventory

A2 A01 Walnut Canyon National Monument Entrance Road - (displayed on the MA map 

Recreation as MA 10, although as seen from road more closely resembles characteristics of 

MA 7). 

 - The VQO is foreground Retention. 

 - Roadside signing is a part of the visitor experience, and is of high quality. 

Signing, interpretive, informative, or regulatory is done in a positive manner. 

 - Speed limits are posted and maintained by the Park Service. 

 - The fenced boundary is signed as "National Forest Land Administered by the 

Park Service." 

 - The primary purpose of the roadway is access to the National Monument. 

Secondary uses are for public access to and from Forest Road 303 and adjacent 

Forest Lands. 

 - Picnicking, walking, hiking, and similar non-impacting uses are encouraged. 

 - Permit the gathering and collecting of edible plants, nuts, and berries for 

personal consumption. 

 - Vehicle traffic permitted only on designated roadways, with the exception of 

access to fences (for repair), for maintenance of utilities, traversing the right-ofway, and for stock management by permittees of the National Forest. 

 - The Park Service has the option to allow controlled firewood harvest by 

members of the public who have obtained personal-use permits from the Forest. 

 - The Forest and the Park Service cooperate together in fire suppression 

activities. A joint agreement is annually prepared to describe in detail the nature 

of the cooperation. 

 - Prescribed burning to reduce hazardous fuels is approved jointly by the Forest 

and the Park Service. Activities may be proposed by either agency. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction - Standards/Guidelines 

Grassland and Sparse Piñon-Juniper Above the Rim – Management Area 10 

Program 

Components Activities Standards and Guidelines

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page164 

A2 A01 - The sliver of land on the north side of the Monument separated by the FR 303 is 

difficult for the Park Service to manage, and the triangle west of the entrance 

road and east of the Monument is difficult for the Forest to manage. These lands 

are designated for transfer between the agencies. 

Nonstructural Wildlife Habitat Improvement

C3 C02 Control invasion of undesirable plant species when necessary to improve 

Wildlife and and protect wildlife habitat values. Prescribed burning will be one 

Fish specific practice used, especially where needed to improve wildlife habitat. 

Structural Wildlife Habitat Improvements

 C03 During winter months in key wildlife winter ranges, provide water where 

possible, using bubblers or other methods to prevent freezing where needed. 

Range Resource Planning and Inventory

D2 D01, D02 Manage grazing allotments generally at Levels D and E. Full capacity 

Range lands are assigned a grazing capacity. There are 123,435 acres of full capacity 

land; of these, 24,278 acres are in unsatisfactory range condition. Unsatisfactory 

range conditions will be improved through completion of the range development 

program in AMP's. 

Range Forage Improvement Maintenance

D3 D04 Maintain a seral grassland state on pinyon-juniper lands where type conversions 

 have occurred in the past, with the exception that corridors of cover for wildlife 

habitat, determined through environmental analysis, may be allowed to develop 

through regrowth of pinyon-juniper. Initiate a retreatment schedule of 

approximately 25 years. Retreatments are accomplished through one or all of the 

following methods (see Table 12): 

 - Individual tree pushing or cutting; 

 - Prescribed burning; 

 - Chemical treatments. 

 Depending upon plant composition and diversity, seed treated sites with a mix 

tailored to the site, emphasizing high production, multi-growing season species to 

achieve a balance between warm and cool season plants. The goal of retreatment 

is to maintain the seral grasslands in a savannah-like state that emphasizes a 

diversity of habitats to enhance forage for livestock and wildlife. 
Coconino National Forest Plan – Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 171 

MANAGEMENT AREA 12 

Riparian and Open Water

Analysis Areas: 32, 33 

Acres: 36,868

Riparian areas are wetland ecosystems that have a high water table because they are close 

to surface or subsurface water. Riparian areas usually occur in the transition between 

aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, but have distinct vegetation and soil characteristics. 

There are eight types of riparian areas on the Forest: 

 - Intermittent streams 

 - Perennial streams 

 - Wet meadows 

 - Marshes 

 - Rivers 

 - Ponds 

 - Lakes 

 - Seeps and Springs 

This management area includes both mapped riparian areas and riparian areas which were 

too small to be mapped as discrete units during the analysis process. 

Riparian areas provide very important wildlife and fish habitat and recreation opportunity 

because of the water. 

There are over sixty named lakes and wetlands in the area, including Mormon Lake and 

Stoneman Lake, the two largest natural lakes in Arizona. 

Riparian areas are extremely variable due to different types of water bodies such as lakes, 

streams, and ponds. The characteristics of the area in which riparian areas occur such as 

gradient, topography, soil type, elevation, and plant communities also affect the area 

type. Each different type has associated vegetation that is characteristic. 

Definition: Riparian ecosystems are distinguished by the presence of free water within 

the common rooting depth of native perennial plants during at least a portion of the 

growing season. Riparian ecosystems are normally associated with seeps, springs, 

streams, marshes, ponds, or lakes. The potential vegetation of these areas commonly 

includes a mixture of water (aquatic) and land (phreatic) ecosystems. 

Riparian areas are critical for multiple-use management because: 

- Riparian areas are generally more productive per acre of biomass (plants and animal) 

than other areas. 

- They provide large amounts of edge between life zones which adds significantly to the 

diversity of an ecosystem. 

- Different species and age classes provide vertical edge for wildlife species. 
Chapter 4 –Management Direction - Standards/Guidelines 

Riparian and Open Water - Management Area 12

Coconino National Forest Plan – Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 172 

- The three basic requirements of wildlife habitat (food, cover, and water) are met. 

- The fisheries resource is associated with this area. 

- Topography, high productivity, easy availability, and the presence of water attract 

livestock and they tend to concentrate here. Riparian areas are highly sensitive to 

overgrazing. 

- Scenic values are very high. 

- Stream channels and associated riparian vegetation are fragile components of good 

watershed condition. 

- Most of the developed campgrounds and picnic areas are in or directly adjacent to the 

riparian area. Dispersed recreationists concentrate in the area because of the water, visual 

quality, and shade trees. 

- The topography generally provides for less expensive road construction and serves as 

convenient wildlife travel corridors. These uses are often in direct conflict. 

Management Emphasis 

Emphasize wildlife habitat, visual quality, fish habitat, and watershed condition on the 

wetlands, riparian forest, and riparian scrub. Emphasize dispersed recreation, including 

wildlife and fish recreation, on the open water portion. 

An interdisciplinary team approach will be used on management activities such as timber 

sales, allotment management plans, and other management activities to prescribe specific 

management practices to meet the goal of riparian area recovery by 2030. Manage 

riparian areas based on the potential to support riparian vegetation. Potential is 

determined through a consensus of an interdisciplinary review. In order to achieve 

certain aspects of recovery, such as establishing three age classes of woody riparian 

vegetation, implementing riparian Standards and Guidelines occurs in the first decade. 

Riparian areas provide a filter strip of vegetation, important for filtering sediments 

generated from upslope soil erosion. Eighty percent of the riparian recovery is expected 

by 2030. The remaining 20 percent will be significantly improved, but will not have all 

of the characteristics of a fully recovered riparian area. The goals and objectives for elk 

populations and for livestock grazing affect achievement of the full recovery. 

Highlights include: 

- Improve riparian areas through a combination of improvement projects and 

management activities. 

- Manage for the following indicator species: 

 Cinnamon teal 

 Lincoln's sparrow 

 Yellow breasted chat 

 Lucy's Warbler 

 Macroinvertebrates 

- Manage for visual quality objectives of Retention, Partial Retention and Modification. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction - Standards and Guidelines 

Riparian and Open Water – Management Area 12 

Coconino National Forest Plan – Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 173 

Timber Land Use Classes: 

Nonforest 17,501 acres 

Forested land withdrawn 

 Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer 0 acres 

 Pinyon-juniper 0 acres 

Unsuitable (Pinyon-juniper) 0 acres 

Unsuitable (physically unsuited or 

 not capable) 19,367 acres 

Forested lands not appropriate for 0 acres 

 timber harvest 

Suitable Timber lands 0 acres 

TOTAL 36,868 acres 

Program 

Components Activities Standards and Guidelines

 Recreation Planning and Inventory

A2 A01, A02 In the first decade develop specific management direction for open water 

Recreation areas on lakes and reservoirs having significant amount of over water recreation 

use, e.g., sailboating, motorboating, canoeing, fishing, and windsurfing. 

Consider, as a minimum, ROS class demand and distribution, wildlife and 

fisheries habitat needs, user safety and enjoyment, and cost-effectiveness of 

management practices. Coordinate with Arizona Game and Fish Department 

(AGFD) in this analysis. Where determined through environmental analysis, 

identify and implement specific management practices such as wakeless zones, 

traffic circulation patterns, presence and/or size of gasoline motors, and 

regulations on use of jet skis. Coordinate with AGFD in implementation. 

 Do not issue outfitter/guide permits or permit use which causes significant 

change for the ROS social or managerial setting, e.g., airboats or seaplanes. 

 Manage Stoneman Lake basin for dispersed day-use. Overnight camping in the 

basin is prohibited. 

 MA11 contains additional management direction for a portion of West Clear 

Creek and Wet Beaver Creek. 

 Wildlife Planning and Inventory

C2 C01 Complete inventory, survey, and evaluate riparian areas by end of 

Wildlife first decade. 

and Fish 

 Cooperate with AGFD to develop implementation schedules for Arizona Cold 

Water Fisheries Strategic Plan. 

 The following applies to riparian areas, whether they are large enough to 

bemapped out or not. Wetlands and open water containing emergent vegetation 

which provide nesting habitat are protected from disturbing uses that will harass 

nesting birds, such as activities that are noisy or would damage nests or nesting 

habitat from May 1 to July 15.
Chapter 4 –Management Direction - Standards/Guidelines 

Riparian and Open Water - Management Area 12 

Program 

Components Activities Standards and Guidelines 

Coconino National Forest Plan – Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement Page 174 

C2 C01 Meet the following Riparian Standards in the Regional Guide for 80 percent of 

 riparian areas above the Rim and 90 percent below the Rim by the year 2030: 

 - Maintain at least 80 percent of the potential overstory crown coverage. 

 - Maintain at least three age classes of woody riparian species, with at least 10 

percent of the woody plant cover in sprouts, seedlings, and saplings. 

 - Maintain at least 80 percent of the potential stream shading from June to 

September along perennial cold and cool water streams. 

 - Maintain at least 80 percent of the potential shrub cover in high elevation areas. 

 - Maintain at least 80 percent of the potential emergent vegetation cover from 

May 1 to July 15 in key wetlands. 

 - Maintain at least 80 percent of the spawning gravel surface free of inorganic 

sediment. 

 - Maintain at least 80 percent of streambank total linear distance in stable 

condition. 

 - Retain snags in riparian areas that are not a safety hazard. 

 Measures such as fencing to exclude livestock, vegetation projects, and special 

management prescriptions will be undertaken until the affected areas are brought 

into satisfactory riparian condition. 

 In addition, the remainder of the Forest's riparian areas will have some of these 

characteristics, but not all of them by 2030. 

 C01, A01, Coordinate with other resource functions to pursue instream flow rights to 

 D01, E00, protect aquatic ecosystems, fish, and wildlife. 

 F04, L01 

 P01 

 Nonstructural Wildlife Habitat Improvements

C3 C02 Determine the need to rehabilitate riparian areas through seeding and planting 

woody species in areas that are in unsatisfactory condition, including those areas 

not mapped as discrete riparian areas, and then proceed to rehabilitate areas as 

determined. Attempt using unpalatable species where necessary to avoid wildlife 

browsing. 

 Maintain or improve nesting cover and waterfowl forage on existing waterfowl 

islands and shorelines. In conjunction with construction of waterfowl islands 

seed herbaceous species unpalatable to large herbivores. 

 L01 Cooperate with Arizona Game and Fish Department on fish population control of 

aquatic plants and fish stocking to meet State fisheries management goals. 
Chapter 4 –Management Direction - Standards/Guidelines 

Riparian and Open Water - Management Area 12

Coconino National Forest Plan – Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement page 177 

Water Resource Improvement

F3 F03 Through coordination with other disciplines, maintain or improve, where 

necessary, riparian vegetation along streams for moderating water temperature 

and protecting bank stability. Accomplish promptly after the inventory phase is 

completed. Investigate and implement where necessary, cost effective structural 

measures to control channel erosion. 

Minerals

G1, G2 G03 

Minerals 

 Mineral material excavation with the riparian zone may be allowed after 

environemntal analysis. Authorized mineral activies will maintain or improve 

riparian conditions. 

Special-Use Management

J3 J01 New special-uses are normally not allowed in riparian areas unless they 

LMP/Special- benefit riparian management. Exceptions which cannot be avoided, such as 

Uses/Lands utility lines or roads crossing stream courses, are designed to minimize the 

amount of riparian affected and the degree of effects. 

Land Exchange

 J13 Acquiring riparian areas through land exchange has a high priority. 

Fire Management Planning and Analysis

P2 P01 Fight fire aggressively, if necessary, to prevent resource damage, using 

Protection suppression methods that minimize long-term adverse impacts to riparian 

habitats. 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 Replacement page 178 

Cinder Hills Off-Highway Vehicle Area – MA 13 

Acres: 13,711

Description 

The northern boundary is south of Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument 

(Monument) and south of Forest Road (FR) 545, the eastern boundary is the Doney 

MA, (east of Fernwood subdivision), the southern boundary is the Doney MA 

(underground pipeline) and the western boundary is the Craters MA (large KV 

electric line). This MA is a portion of the San Francisco volcanic field with a field of 

large cinder cones sparsely covered by ponderosa pine trees and shrubs and covered 

with a deep layer of loose cinders. The landscape of impressive cinder cones in this 

MA provides world class ATV, sandrail, and motorcycle riding, dispersed camping, 

and spectacular scenery. Unique among southwestern forests, the Cinder Hills are 

the result of massive, recent volcanic activity around the San Francisco Mountain. 

NASA used a part of the area to train astronauts in the 1960's because of its moonlike surface. The unique nature of the cinder soils, combined with hills, cool summer 

temperatures, and other features make the Cinder Hills OHV area an extremely 

popular destination of OHV enthusiasts. Individuals and large groups enjoy the area 

year-round, with heaviest use occurring on summer weekends. Because of the deep 

cinders, only 4 wheel drive, ATV’s, or sandrails can travel on the cindery roads. 

Other roads are travelable only because they have had other surface material brought 

in. Current improvements include improved main roads, trails, loading ramps, and 

signs. There is no private land within the MA; the communities of Fernwood and 

Doney Park are adjacent to the nearby Doney MA. 

Portions of the Cinder Hills OHV area are viewed from overlooks in the Monument 

and as one drives along FR 545. As visitors look from the Cinder Hills Overlook, 

OHV activity can be seen and heard, especially on very busy weekends. The hills 

provide a scenic backdrop as seen from Highway 89. New information has shown 

that portions of the OHV area erupted along with Sunset Crater. The geologic ties of 

Gyp Crater and the rest of the volcanic “vent” and the Kana-a Lava flow, has lead to 

greater emphasis on protection of these features. Some of the landforms in the 

Cinder Hills hold religious and cultural significance to American Indians. This MA 

supports plant and animal species adapted to cinder landscapes. Plants adapted to the 

cinder soils include Penstemon clutei, a Forest Service Region 3*

 sensitive plant. 

Management Emphasis 

Emphasize OHV recreation opportunities and amenities. Monitor communities of 

plants such as Penstemon cluteii where and when they occur in the OHV area. 

Ensure continued existence of this endemic plant. Mitigate scenic integrity of areas 

seen from the Monument, Highway 89, and neighboring rural residential areas. 

Protect the Kana-a Lava flow and Gyp Crater geologic features associated with 

Sunset Crater. 

 

*

 Region 3 refers to the Southwest Region of the Forest Service including Arizona, New Mexico, and a portion 

of Oklahoma 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Cinder Hills Off-Highway Vehicle Area – Management Area 13 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 Replacement page 179 

Highlights include: 

• Per the Objectives for Recreation Opportunity Spectrum map, this MA is mostly 

Semi-primitive Motorized with Roaded Natural corridors along improved roads. 

On busy summer weekends there are more people than would usually be the case 

in a Semi-primitive setting, but other aspects of Semi-primitive settings occur 

and this is acceptable. 

• Actively manage for OHV use by increasing facilities to match use, better 

signing and trail designation, more on-site presence, and road improvement. 

Coordinate administration/enforcement with the National Park Service. 

• Management Indicator Species for this MA are mule deer, pygmy nuthatch, and 

hairy woodpecker. 

• Manage for Visual Quality Objectives (VQO's) of Partial Retention, and 

Modification. The VQO's should be Partial Retention as seen from Doney Park, 

Highway 89, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument vistas, and FR 545; and 

Modification from roads crossing the area. 

Timber Land Use Classes Acres 

Nonforest 2,865 

Forested land withdrawn 

Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer 0 

Pinyon-juniper 0 

Unsuitable (Pinyon-juniper) 2,576 

Unsuitable (physically unsuited or not capable) 3,816 

Forested lands not appropriate for timber harvest 0 

Suitable Timber lands 4,454 

 

TOTAL 13,711 

All of the following items are Guidelines 

OHV Use 

This MA is designated for off-road driving and is managed for two and four wheeled 

vehicles. 

Manage off-road driving to provide recreational opportunities and coordinate with needs of 

other recreation users and other resources. 

Make slight adjustments to the boundary of the OHV area where needed to ease 

administration of the site. These changes will improve enforcement of the boundaries, help 

users identify the area, and in combination with other access management activities will 

lessen encroachment into the Monument. Consider fencing or other physical barriers a means 

of boundary identification. 

The boundary has been slightly revised on the southwest corner of the area for administrative 

identification. There is no significant change in the size of the area, but it is adjusted to roads 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Cinder Hills Off-Highway Vehicle Area – Management Area 13 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 Replacement page 180 

or features that are identifiable on the ground. The map in Appendix M has been revised to 

reflect what is currently posted on the ground. 

See the Objectives for Recreation Opportunity Spectrum map (Appendix M) and manage uses 

to meet these objectives. On busy summer weekends, the number of encounters with other 

recreationists will likely be outside parameters set for Semi-primitive settings and this is 

acceptable. 

Reference the Cinder Hills Off-Road Driving Area Report (Peaks Ranger District). This 

report is a detailed desired condition that will be validated or changed via subsequent sitespecific NEPA analysis. This report includes a map of the desired improved roads, camping 

areas, specific slope designations, rehabilitation needs, sanitation facilities, signing, boundary 

management, information, and interpretation actions. The report will be updated as needed 

with involvement from off-road vehicle users, Native American tribes, and others concerned 

with Cinder Hills use. Requiring a permit and/or charging a fee may be considered in the 

future. Operation of the area by a concessionaire may be considered. 

Portions of this MA will be open to unrestricted cross-country travel, portions will have use 

restricted to designated routes, and portions will be closed (some slopes). 

Reasons for closing areas may include: 

• Protection of geologic features tied to Sunset Crater 

• Scenic integrity of steep slopes facing the Sunset Crater Overlook, the Doney 

Park communities, and Highway 89 

• Presence of archaeological sites that could be damaged (usually located under a 

cinder layer) or other places of traditional cultural importance 

• Maintenance of ground vegetation necessary for ecosystem function 

• Sensitive plant locations, such as Penstemon cluteii

• Needs of off-road users 

• User safety 

• Manageability 

• Excessive erosion resulting in cinder removal down to mineral soil and 

subsequent erosion or resulting bare tree roots exposed at mineral soil 

Reasons for keeping areas open may include: 

• Low visibility from communities or from the Monument (interior of this MA) 

• Quality of the ATV/sandrail experience 

• To provide for a variety of OHV experiences 

• Proximity to camping areas 

• Low or absent vegetative cover 

Organized off-road driving events are considered on a case-by-case basis through the 

environmental analysis process. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Cinder Hills Off-Highway Vehicle Area – Management Area 13 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 Replacement page 181 

Glass containers may be prohibited if the containers create a health, safety, and/or litter 

problem. 

Pursue on-site patrols and more full time stewardship. 

Partner with OHV community to benefit from volunteer contributions. 

Pursue State*

 grants and other funding opportunities for improvements, rehabilitation, 

interpretation, and on-site presence. Other funding may include Fee Demo.†

 

Vehicle sound emissions will be required to meet State standards, or in the absence of State 

standards, industry or other standards. 

Vehicles will meet Forest Service Region 3 fire equipment standards. 

Recreation Signing 

Improve and maintain boundary and interior signing. Cooperate with NPS to construct a 

physical barrier delineating the OHV area from the National Monument boundary if 

motorized incursions continue. 

Camping and Roads 

Improve or re-locate improved roads and locate camping in order to disperse riders, provide 

additional areas for enjoyment, and lessen use in sensitive areas. This includes limiting 

through traffic to the Sunset Volcano-Wuaptki Scenic Loop Drive (FR545), and improvement 

of roads in the interior of the area. Criteria for access and camping design include: location 

of riding areas, presence of Penstemon cluteii habitat, dispersing riders, improving visual 

quality, and protection and rehabilitation needs of impaired vegetation and soils. 

Provide different camping levels and experiences. Provide more developed camping hubs 

along improved roads. Design and develop transportation routes at camping hubs for pulling 

off the road. These hubs will include sanitation facilities. 

Provide quiet area camping sites. Quiet area restrictions are posted, and as funding becomes 

available, monitored by host and OHV users. Sanitation facilities are included at these sites 

as needed. All other areas of the OHV are open to primitive camping, unless specifically 

closed. 

 

*

 Coordination with the State: We will continue to work with the State, to determine what grants are available 

and appropriate to apply for in relation to the proposed management, improvements, and rehabilitation needs 

of the area. In addition to exploring funding avenues, we will work with the State to determine other 

management partnerships that might be desirable to achieve the management objectives and enhance the OHV 

experience. 

†

 Fee Demo: The District will be studying the concept of Fee Demo for the OHV Area. A District team will 

determine if fee demo is a desirable funding avenue, and if so, how a fee demo area would be implemented. We 

will visit other fee demo sites, talk to other managers, and work with the OHV community to determine if this is 

an appropriate and/or desirable action to take. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Cinder Hills Off-Highway Vehicle Area – Management Area 13 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 Replacement page 182 

Scenery 

In closed areas, attempt actions to remove tracks and re-create natural cinder landscapes. 

Research techniques that may help the situation, but without causing large areas of additional 

ground disturbance. Examples of actions may include raking, dragging cinders up slope, 

mimicking needlecast or seeding. 

Cultural/Historical 

Provide signing informing the public about closure of astronaut training ground. 

Close the astronaut training ground by adding a fence to exclude OHV’s. 

Continue active monitoring of cultural and historical sites to assess impacts from recreation. 

Changes in management can occur in response to demonstrated (through monitoring) 

negative impacts to archaeological resources. Cooperate with Park Service personnel to 

accomplish monitoring. 

Rare Plants 

Continue to monitor Penstemon cluteii. There is an ongoing status report*

 being developed 

for this plant. As this information is attained we will make any necessary adjustments to 

ensure continued existence of this endemic plant. 

Forestry 

Many acres within the Cinder Hills OHV area have low regeneration potential due to cinder 

soils and are currently classified as unsuitable for timber production. 

Evaluate stand conditions, including insect and disease, and the health and vigor of stands. 

Where and when necessary to meet safety objectives, harvest recent dead and poor risk 

ponderosa pine. 

Non-Native and Invasive Plants 

There are known populations of non-native and invasive plants in this MA (examples are 

diffuse knapweed and camelthorn). Continue efforts to control or eradicate plants, especially 

along roadways. 

Livestock Grazing 

This area is currently closed to livestock grazing. 

Prescribed Burning 

Prescribed fire using planned and unplanned ignitions is used to accomplish resource 

objectives except there is no provision for unplanned ignitions in areas included in the urban 

interface.

 

*

 Penstemon cluteii grows in cinder soils at various locations on the Peaks Ranger District. The status report 

covers the entire range for this plant, which includes the OHV area. 

Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Cinder Hills Off-Highway Vehicle Area – Management Area 13 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 182-1 

Coordination with National Park Service 

Protect areas that are directly tied to the Sunset Crater eruption for future research, and visitor 

interpretation of the geologic story. Coordinate with the NPS to inventory, map, and assess 

conditions of the geologic features. 

For Gyp Crater: establish safety barriers, and/or warning signs around the exterior of the 

crater, establish and coordinate interpretive signing and programs with the National Park 

Service, close Gyp Crater to OHV access and camping, and rehabilitate tracks in Gyp Crater. 

For the Kana-a lava flow, prevent off road vehicle use in the lava flow. Use proposed 

boundary adjustments in combination with access management. Roads leading north off of 

FR 244 should be closed and rehabilitated. These roads lead out of the OHV area and impact 

the Kana-a lava flow. 

Work with and establish interpretive messages and programs with the National Park Service 

and volunteers from OHV users. Including improved signing, information kiosks, and 

interpretive message at the Cinder Hills Overlook. Provide signing and information aimed at 

the following objectives: to prevent lost riders, to show opportunities of where to ride, to 

clearly depict boundaries and eliminate encroachment into Sunset Crater Volcano National 

Monument, and to identify dangerous and/or closed areas. 

Coordinate with Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monuments in managing 

dispersed recreation use adjacent to the Monuments. 
Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 182-2 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 Replacement page 197 

Environmental Study Areas – MA 18 

Acres: 1,580

Description 

Mt. Elden ESA - Located at the base of Mt. Elden adjacent to the subdivisions of 

Shadow Mountain, Paradise Hills, Skyline Estates, and Swiss Manor, and adjacent to 

Buffalo Park. Originally a bird sanctuary, the Elden Environmental Study Area 

(ESA) serves a unique purpose. Trails provide for popular hikes that are convenient 

and easy to use. The area is available for study and recreation and has become an 

integral part of the Flagstaff Public School curriculum. In addition, the Elden ESA is 

popular daytime destination for hiking, dog-walking, mountain-biking, and horse 

riding. There are many formal access points developed along the edge of 

subdivisions providing public access. There are many informal access points and 

social trails as well. This ESA strengthens the opportunities for partnerships between 

the school, the Forest Service, and Arizona Game and Fish Department. A wintering 

deer herd provides an opportunity for wildlife viewing and monitoring by the 

students. The El Paso natural gas pipeline crosses the area. 

Old Caves Crater ESA - Old Caves Crater is located north of Silver Saddle Road, 

east of Highway 89, and adjacent to Doney Park communities. This large volcanic 

cinder cone has diverse vegetation, provides scenic backdrops to surrounding 

residents, and contains archaeological sites and cultural values. Teachers at Cromer 

School have developed a curriculum for the area and students walk from the school 

to the site. There are trails in the area and high levels of non-motorized daytime 

dispersed recreation use. 

Griffith’s Spring ESA - Griffith’s Spring is located south of Flagstaff on Highway 

89A, adjacent to the Forest Highlands community and just south of Pine Dell. 

Among a variety of uses, local teachers have used the spring and its stream channel 

as an outdoor classroom. Visitors traveling Highway 89A stop here for picnics and 

daytime walks. Nearby residents also enjoy the area. There is a stream channel with 

riparian vegetation and aquatic species. A nearby wet meadow adds additional 

diversity. 

Management Emphasis 

Elden ESA now includes an area behind Christensen Elementary School. The area 

directly behind Christensen and the Peaks Ranger Station is adjacent to the current 

Elden ESA. 

Emphasize environmental education opportunities for the Flagstaff Public Schools 

and the general public by maintaining the ecosystem and developing interpretive 

facilities. Since these areas fall within the Urban/Rural Influence Zone, emphasize 

fuels reduction and other techniques to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. Nonmotorized dispersed recreation is encouraged. Visual resource management and 

watershed condition are emphasized. Cultural resources are protected and where 

appropriate interpretation of cultural resources is provided. Low fire potential exists 

with fire’s role re-established in the ecosystem. Meadows and drainages function 

properly and aquatic species are maintained. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Environmental Study Areas – Management Area 18 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 Replacement page 198 

Highlights include: 

• In the Elden ESA implement tree thinning, prescribed fire or other activities that 

lessen risk of catastrophic wildfire and maintain shrubs, such as Arizona 

cliffrose, that provide winter food source for deer. 

• Implement improvements in the Old Caves Crater that improve watershed health, 

protect fragile archaeological sites, restore vegetation to bare soil areas, close the 

area to motorized vehicles, and provide trails for non-motorized daytime 

recreation uses. Examples of improvements are; marking the boundary of the 

area with fenceline along private landlines, locate and adopt some trails and 

obliterate others, provide signing, change roads to trails or obliterate them, and 

locate a trail to the top of the Crater. 

• Continue improvements to the Griffith’s Spring area to provide for recreation and 

outdoor education and protects stream banks, riparian vegetation, aquatic wildlife 

species, and scenery. Examples of improvements are: parking areas, pole 

fences, interpretive and environmental education information, directional signing, 

and a vault toilet. The relocation and construction of trail and the closure and 

rehabilitation of two-track road are needed to prevent loss of vegetation, erosion 

and damage to streambanks, soil compaction, and excessive water turbidity. The 

construction of aspen/willow fences around a small area is needed to prevent 

browsing damage by elk and deer. 

Timber Land Use Classes Acres

Nonforest 1,580 

Forest land withdrawn 

 Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer 0 

 Pinyon-juniper 0 

Unsuitable 0 

Unsuitable (physically unsuited or not capable) 0 

Forest lands not appropriate for timber harvest 0 

Suitable Timber lands 0 

 

TOTAL 1,580 

All of the following items are Guidelines. 

Recreation 

Develop the Elden ESA in accordance with the concept plan map prepared by the Recreation 

Resource Center for Environmental Education and Flagstaff Public Schools. 

Plan and support uses and trails in conjunction with the curriculum needs of the Flagstaff 

Public Schools. Develop environmental education programs cooperatively with public 

schools. 

Dispersed Recreation 

Maintain fencing as needed for management. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Environmental Study Areas – Management Area 18 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 Replacement page 199 

The Elden ESA is open to the public for foot traffic and day use only. Use the El Paso 

Natural gas line as a trail in conjunction with the Mt. Elden/Dry Lake Hills trail system. 

Horses are allowed on the pipeline trail. 

Enforce off-road driving closures. Make a special effort through the schools and the media to 

focus public attention on the importance of complying with the closure for all areas. 

Special-Uses 

New special-use authorizations or amendments to existing special-use authorizations that 

would or could adversely affect or change the character of the ESA are not allowed. 

Forestry 

Manage vegetation to meet management direction for this MA. 

Livestock Grazing 

The areas are not currently open to livestock grazing. 

Prescribed Burning 

Prescribed fires from planned ignitions are used to accomplish fuel treatment and other 

resource management objectives. 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 Replacement page 200 

Mogollon Rim - Management Area 19 

Analysis Areas: 1-9, 11, 12, 13 

Acres: 12,554 

The Mogollon Rim MA covers the area from the Rim north to the Rim road (Forest 

Road 300), the General Crook Trail, and the foreground VQO area adjacent to the 

boundary roads and trails. The MA extends from Arizona Highway 87 to the 

boundary with the Sitgreaves National Forest and includes Milk Ranch Point on the 

west and Knoll Lake on the east. 

The Mogollon Rim forms the Forest's southern boundary. Dispersed recreation use is 

heavy and developed use is heavy at Knoll Lake and Kehl Springs Campgrounds. 

Vegetation includes ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, and patches of aspen and 

bigtooth maple. There is a severe infestation of dwarf mistletoe in much of the 

ponderosa pine and mixed conifer. 

While fire history has not been severe on the Coconino side, a number of large 

wildfires have started below the Mogollon Rim and made their way over the top and 

into the prime timber on the Sitgreaves National Forest to the east. For that reason, 

fire and fuels management are a constant concern. 

The Mogollon Rim, both physically and historically, is the major division between 

the desert country in the south and the high timber of the Colorado Plateau. Its 

abrupt features make it an important scenic, historic, and recreational attraction. 

Management Emphasis 

Emphasize dispersed and developed recreation, visual quality, and wildlife travel 

corridors across the Rim, generally the heads of major canyons running to the 

northeast. Dwarf mistletoe is aggressively treated through ISM. 

Highlights include: 

- Manage for VQO of Retention in the foreground viewing area from the proposed 

General George Crook Trail, the Rim Road (300), Roads 218, 218A, 295, 295E, and 

673A. 

- Manage at least 1,281 acres in the tentatively suitable for old-growth on a sustained 

basis to achieve at least 640 acres meeting old-growth conditions at all times. 

- The Rim Road is upgraded to double lane, aggregate surface with minimal 

realignment. It is scheduled to be completed in the second decade. Management of 

the resource and public safety, not speed, governs road standards. 

Amendment No. 17 – 12/02 Coconino National Forest Plan New page 206-61 

Flagstaff/Lake Mary Ecosystem Analysis (FLEA) Area-Wide Goals, 

Objectives, Standards, and Guidelines 

Introduction 

The Goals, Objectives, Standards, and Guidelines in this chapter are additions to the 

Forest Plan and apply to the FLEA area only. Design of future projects will be 

based on four sources: 1) the current forest-wide direction, 2) the current 

management areas primarily based on vegetation and slope, 3) FLEA area-wide 

direction and 4) the new or updated FLEA Management Area direction. The 

management direction from the initial management areas that were identified 

primarily by cover type and slope, such as MA 3, 4, 5, 8, or 9, still applies to lands 

within the new place-based management areas of FLEA, such as Lake Mary 

Watershed or Doney. So if one is searching for management direction for a piece of 

land that is covered with ponderosa pine less than 40 percent slope and is located 

east of the Waterline Road, there would be direction from MA 3 and then also 

additional direction from the place-based Shultz MA; both locations would have 

information about desired conditions. If there is a conflict between management 

directions, the more place-based direction takes precedent. In the previous example 

that means the Shultz MA take precedent. 

Goals are written as desired conditions in the present tense. Standards and 

guidelines are written in an active voice as direction. 

Maps are located in Appendix M. 

Zones 

The Urban Influence Zone is located approximately 1⁄2 mile from the urban growth 

boundary as drawn in the Flagstaff Regional Land Use and Transportation Plan

(RULTP).* The Rural Influence Zone is located approximately 1⁄2 mile from the rural 

growth boundary in the RLUTP, where it surrounds communities like Doney Park 

and Kachina Village. These zones are mapped as one area referred to as the 

Urban/Rural Influence Zone (U/RIZ). This zone provides a “fuzzy line” on the map 

that represents National Forest lands highly influenced by adjacent urban or rural 

residential communities. There are approximately 64,368 acres of National Forest 

Lands within the Urban/Rural Influence Zone. 

Recreation Opportunity Setting (ROS) 

Goals and Objectives

There is a range of recreational setting opportunities for people to enjoy the area’s many 

scenic and aesthetic qualities. 

 

*

 City of Flagstaff and Coconino County have been working on common planning direction for an area 

surrounding Flagstaff, that encompasses 524 square miles extending north to Sunset Crater, south to the 

communities of Kachina Village/Mountainaire, east to Winona, and west to Bellemont. It has been finalized for 

the county portions and was ratified by voters in May 2002 for the City of Flagstaff portions. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction 

FLEA Area-Wide Goals, Objectives, Standards and Guidelines 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-62 

The diversity and quality of recreation opportunities, settings, and experiences are within 

acceptable limits of change to ecosystem stability and condition. 

Evidence of human activities and developments such as roads, trails, and facilities, is visually 

subordinate to the natural-appearing landscape. 

Encourage cooperation among community, landowners, other land management agencies, 

and local governments to maintain trails, natural scenery, and healthy landscapes in the 

Urban/Rural Influence Zone. 

Refer to the Objectives for Recreation Opportunity Spectrum map for the FLEA Area map 

(Appendix M) for the desired recreation opportunities and experiences.*

Guidelines

ROS objectives guide management. 

Manage for social encounters, signing, scenery, and a sense of exploration that meets the 

ROS objectives. 

Use ROS objectives to aid in determining appropriate types and numbers of individual, 

groups, outfitter/guides, and special uses. 

Manage recreation use to stay within the capacity for ROS objectives with the exception of 

holiday weekend use levels that may temporarily on a short-term basis exceed capacity in 

some locations, such as the Cinder Hills OHV MA. 

Management activities should generally comply with the requirements of the adopted ROS 

classes on the Objectives for Recreation Opportunity Spectrum map.†

Work towards a complete Scenery Management System (SMS) assessment. 

Visitor Information Services 

Goals and Objectives

Regulations are known and enforced. Visitors are properly informed about services, 

facilities, regulations, and environmental ethics such as “Leave No Trace.” 

Agencies communicate and work together with local organizations to achieve goals. There is 

ongoing communication among community organizations, interest groups, and homeowner 

associations. 

Through a variety of interpretive efforts, people learn about biodiversity, ecosystem function, 

fire ecology, and riparian communities and will be motivated to practice careful stewardship. 

 

*

 This includes an increase in opportunities for Semi-primitive Non-motorized and Semi-primitive Motorized 

ROS experiences to better manage the high demand for this type of recreation setting. (see Objectives for ROS 

map) 

†

 For more discussion of ROS classifications please refer to The Ideas for Change, Appendix A. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction 

FLEA Area-Wide Goals, Objectives, Standards and Guidelines 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-63 

Recreation 

Guidelines

Implement and use “meaningful measures” *

 to manage for dispersed recreation and user 

satisfaction. 

Camping 

Goals and Objectives

Dispersed campsites are maintained to protect forest resources and maintain visitor 

experience. 

Impacts from dispersed camping do not result in unacceptable environmental impacts, 

interfere with day-use, or pose a threat to residents living next to National Forest lands. 

Standards

Prohibit dispersed camping within 1 mile of developed campgrounds and developed day-use 

facilities. 

The maximum camping stay limit is 14 consecutive days unless otherwise posted in a special 

order. 

Guidelines

Implement the camping objectives outlined in the Objectives for Camping map. Emphasize 

daytime recreation activities in Urban/Rural Influence Zone. In portions of the FLEA area, 

change from general dispersed camping to designated dispersed camping only. Implement 

designated dispersed camping areas and any additional areas through subsequent site-specific 

analysis. 

Inventory and monitor dispersed camping sites. This inventory will provide information 

about when sites should be closed and restored. The monitoring will provide information to 

help decide whether or not restored sites should be re-opened. 

When designating dispersed camping, consider existing resource damage, closeness to 

riparian communities, degree of use, and ROS objectives. Campsites should be identified as 

candidates for closure, restoration, or relocation. Campsites that are identified to remain open 

will become designated campsites. 

 

*

 Meaningful Measures (MM) is a process that connects management of the recreation program to our users, to 

Congress, and to agency decision makers through the establishment of National Quality Standards and the 

determination of the costs to meet those standards. MM is responsive to changes in funding, priorities, and 

visitor preferences. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction 

FLEA Area-Wide Goals, Objectives, Standards and Guidelines 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-64 

Techniques for managing designated dispersed campsites include but are not limited to the 

following concepts, depending on site location and level of use. 

• In general, locate designated dispersed camping sites up to 300 feet off a 

forest road. 

• Designated campsites are identifiable by a marker, such as a sign or post. 

Some sites may be hardened and access improved. Allow camping 

within 50 to 100 feet of the marker on a first-come first-serve basis and 

once the sites are full the user would have to go to another area to camp. 

Site-specific environmental analysis may yield a greater or lesser 

distance. 

• To protect sensitive natural resources, harden or close high-use 

recreation sites and initiate additional camping and campfire restrictions, 

depending on monitoring. 

Compile, map in GIS, and file in an electronic corporate database information obtained from 

inventory and monitoring of dispersed camping sites. 

Inform and enforce State regulations for no camping within 1⁄4 mile of open water. 

Outfitter/Guides 

Goals and Objectives

Commercial activities are consistent with management area emphasis and ROS objectives. 

Commercial activities support Forest Service goals and provide high quality outdoor 

recreation, interpretation, and education activities that complement the Forest Service 

mission. 

Special-use proposals are consistent with desired conditions. New applications for 

commercial use are approved based on the ability and willingness of the applicant to meet the 

goals of the Forest Plan.

Standards

Manage outfitter/guide use to stay within capacities that meet ROS objectives. 

Award new outfitter/guide permits competitively by soliciting applications/proposals. In 

general, reject unsolicited proposals. 

Make outfitter/guide permits available based on a suitable mix of guided and non-guided 

public capacity. This mix may vary by type of activity and/or season of use. 

Guidelines

Determine outfitter/guide service capacity for the FLEA area. 

Review and adjust existing commercial uses to meet Forest Plan direction and ROS 

objectives. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction 

FLEA Area-Wide Goals, Objectives, Standards and Guidelines 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-65 

The table below shows objectives for the number of social encounters within each of the ROS 

settings for Forest Service permitted commercial tour operators only. These objectives 

should apply to commercial tours. 

ROS Setting*

 Social Encounters (All users) 

Roaded Natural No objective 

Semi-primitive Motorized 15 per day 

Semi-primitive Non-motorized 15 per day 

Primitive 6 per day 

Reduce the use-level coefficients shown in this table as necessary to reflect usable acres, 

patterns of use, and general attractiveness of the specific management area type as described 

in the ROS Users Guide. 

Use-level allocations will range from no allocation within some Primitive and Semi-primitive 

Non-motorized ROS areas to relatively high use allocations within some Roaded Natural 

areas. Other more site-specific resource concerns, such as the presence of significant 

archeological sites, threatened, endangered, or sensitive wildlife habitat, and areas with 

sensitive soils, will also influence outfitter/guide allocations. 

Require current and future guiding (except hunting) to occur on Forest Service system roads 

and trails, or on designated routes mapped in an operating plan approved through an 

interdisciplinary analysis. In general, do not allow repetitive cross-country routes. 

Generally, do not place additional outfitter/guide activities or group activities in the Mt. 

Elden/Dry Lake Hills Trail System, Pumphouse Wash, Deadman Wash, Walnut Canyon from 

Fisher Point east, any spring or perennial stream site, except in support of approved research 

and/or to improve safety or provide site rehabilitation. 

If current outfitter/guides cease operations and the activity is considered to be desirable after 

review, conduct a solicitation process for replacement. 

When a proposed use is not consistent with National Forest management direction and can be 

accommodated on private land, encourage recreation participants to use private land for their 

activities. Communicate and cooperate with other agencies and businesses to look for ways 

of providing for activities that are different from the Forest Service mission on properties 

managed by other agencies or businesses. 

Outfitter/guide permits are administered to guidelines as defined by “Meaningful Measures”.†

Before permitting outfitter/guides adjacent to National Monuments, contact the National Park 

Service for coordination. Outfitter/guides might also help meet the mission of the National 

Park Service in the National Monuments or on adjacent National Forest lands. 

 

*

 Although social encounter criteria apply to all users, limitations based on social encounters will only pertain 

to commercial operations. 

†

 Meaningful Measures (MM) is a process that connects management of the recreation program to our users, to 

Congress, and to agency decision makers through the establishment of National Quality Standards and the 

determination of the costs to meet those standards. MM is responsive to changes in funding, priorities, and 

visitor preferences. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction 

FLEA Area-Wide Goals, Objectives, Standards and Guidelines 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-66 

Group Use 

Goals and Objectives

There are opportunities for environmentally responsible group uses of National Forest lands. 

Standards

Noncommercial groups of 75 or more are required to obtain a permit. Follow standard 

interdisciplinary resource coordination when approving permits. 

Require one portable toilet (or equivalent) to be supplied by permittee for every 25 

participants that stay overnight and one portable toilet (or equivalent) for every 50 people 

staying for the day in a publicized and/or organized event, except for group use sites that have 

permanent restroom facilities. 

Guidelines

In general, large groups of 74 or less, such as family reunions, weddings, club gatherings, 

occur within ponderosa pine and mixed conifer areas on less than 40 percent slopes. Avoid 

placing large group events in riparian and open water areas, ponderosa pine and mixed 

conifer areas greater than 40 percent slope, and the interior of mountain meadows unless 

facilities already exist. Direct large groups to pre-determined areas where resource damage is 

less likely to occur. *

Inform and enforce State regulations for no camping within 1⁄4 mile of open water. 

Other more site-specific resource concerns, such as the presence of significant archeological 

sites, threatened, endangered, or sensitive wildlife habitat, and areas with sensitive soils, will 

also influence group use allocations. 

Evaluate sites used by groups and, based on monitoring results, implement appropriate group 

size adjustments. 

Rock Climbing 

Goals and Objectives

Rock climbing areas are managed and maintained for appropriate experience, natural settings, 

attributes, and conditions, considering ROS objectives, wildlife, heritage, and soil and water 

resources. 

Rock climbing opportunities are provided, while protecting sensitive resources from 

unacceptable impacts. 

Rock climbing areas are managed in partnership with local rock climbers, climbing 

organizations, and outdoor recreationists. 

 

*

 We will continue current National Forest Policy of requiring groups of 75 or more to obtain a permit. We will 

continue to encourage groups of 74 or less to enter into a letter of agreement. Both permits and letters of 

agreement spell out the location, type of activity, sanitation needs, and area clean up. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction 

FLEA Area-Wide Goals, Objectives, Standards and Guidelines 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-67 

Guidelines

Complete a management plan specific to rock climbing to tier from the Forest Plan. 

Climbing policy in the Forest Plan may be amended if the development of the climbing plan 

demonstrates the need. 

The climbing plan will include, but is not limited to: 

• Existing and new climbing routes 

• Climbing implementation schedule identifying funding priorities for 

climbing management 

• Closure measures when needed for threatened, endangered, and sensitive 

(TE&S) plants and animals and cultural resources 

• Schedules for Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) or other management 

strategies when needed 

• Monitoring 

Develop or realign trails into climbing areas as appropriate to provide for public safety and 

resource protection. 

Inventory rock climbing areas to determine their resources, conditions, and significance. 

Upon evaluation, some other sites may receive short-term, long-term, or seasonal closures to 

climbing to limit disturbance to threatened, endangered, or sensitive species. Restrictions 

will be used on a case-by-case basis as determined necessary by wildlife biologists in 

consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service where appropriate. 

Restrict human activities within approximately one-half (1⁄2) mile of occupied peregrine 

falcon nest sites March 1st through August 15th. The 1⁄2 mile protection distance may vary 

depending on local topography, potential for disturbance, and location of important habitat 

components. Monitor peregrine nesting success to determine if restrictions are effective. 

Restrict human activities where active raptor nests are located. Species potentially impacted 

include the golden eagle, prairie falcon, Mexican spotted owl, and zone-tailed hawk. 

Protection distance will vary depending on the species, local topography, potential for 

disturbance, and breeding season for the species. Raptor surveys will be completed on sitespecific areas to determine protection distance. 

Provide interpretive information and education on climbing ethics, and resource protection 

through the use of brochures, signs, visitor contacts, and information stations. 

Non-motorized Trails 

Goals and Objectives

There are opportunities for a variety of trail experiences and challenges that are consistent 

with protection of sensitive resources, meet the needs of a diverse public, emphasize the 

natural environment, and meet ROS objectives. 

Non-motorized and motorized trail opportunities provide a variety of challenges and 

experiences and meet ROS objectives. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction 

FLEA Area-Wide Goals, Objectives, Standards and Guidelines 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-68 

There is a network of trails linked to other trail systems, such as City and County trail 

systems. 

The Urban/Rural Influence Zone is actively managed to provide opportunities and lessen 

environmental impacts. 

Trailheads are located in popular areas and provide adequate parking, signs, restroom 

facilities, public education, and resource management. 

Standards

Implement and use the “Meaningful Measures”*

 process to manage trail guidelines. 

Guidelines

Discourage proliferation of unneeded trails by 1) public education, 2) providing well-defined 

trails that encourage people to stay on designated routes, 3) designing trails that provide a 

reasonable degree of access, 4) installing trail markers and defining trail edges, 5) providing 

orientation maps, and 6) obliterating social trails that duplicate system trails and/or cause 

resource damage. 

Relocate existing trails as necessary to protect resources. 

For areas outside of the Urban/Rural Influence Zone, develop a primary system of trails and 

obliterate all trails outside of the primary system. New unplanned trails are also obliterated if 

they occur. 

For areas within the Urban/Rural Influence Zone, create a primary trail system that serves as 

a collector for trails that originate in neighborhoods. In areas outside of the primary system, 

evaluate user-created (social) trail systems based on a checklist of criteria and in coordination 

with the nearby community. The criteria are similar to those listed for road management. 

Meet interested people around Flagstaff to develop site-specific trail plans. Focus trail 

planning first in areas with resource concerns, where high user conflicts occur, or in 

conjunction with other resource management activities. 

Connect Forest Service trails to community access points, and use existing social trails where 

they make sense. Forest Service trail access points must be accessible by the public, which 

means no exclusive neighborhood entryways. Work with planning and zoning and 

developers while building plans are still under development. Some trails may provide special 

needs access. 

Where social trails occur within Mexican spotted owl Protected Activity Centers (MSO 

PACs), delineate a system trail that provides for recreation use and lessens impacts to MSOs. 

Close and re-vegetate non-system trails in PACs not used for the designated trail. 

Provide information and education about the shift in emphasis to more active trail 

management within the Urban/Rural Influence Zone. 

 

*

 Meaningful Measures (MM) is a process that connects management of the recreation program to our users, to 

Congress and to agency decision makers through the establishment of National Quality Standards and the 

determination of the costs to meet those standards. MM is responsive to changes in funding, priorities, and 

visitor preferences. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction 

FLEA Area-Wide Goals, Objectives, Standards and Guidelines 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-69 

Inventory both Forest Service system trails and non-system trails and identify their desired 

maintenance levels. Track both motorized and non-motorized trail routes. 

Use the ROS Objectives to match trail experiences with ROS objectives. 

In rare cases, an exception to ROS objectives may occur in Semi-primitive Non-motorized 

areas if analysis shows a link is needed for a motorized trail route. 

Develop or realign trails accessing climbing locations to well-engineered design that 

maintains resources. 

Annually maintain and update Forest trail implementation schedules and the Forest Trails 

Inventory and Condition Survey. Perform trail assessments at least every 5 years. 

Coordinate with State, County, and communities park departments to connect Forest trails 

with parks and green-belt corridors, when it is mutually beneficial, provides better public 

service and development is compatible with other resource management. 

Motorized Trails 

Goal

Outside of the Cinder Hills OHV area, motorized trails provide semi-primitive motorized 

experiences with connections to long distance opportunities. There are connections from 

communities to the secondary road system where feasible. Where community access is 

lacking, there are areas to trailer OHVs and park. 

Guidelines

Identify some motorized trail routes. 

Motorized trail opportunities provide long distance connections and meet ROS objectives. 

Evaluate trails based on the criteria for roads, access, recreation opportunity, and public input. 

Convert some roads that are not needed for the road system into motorized trails and decrease 

to a width suitable for ATV’s. Motorized trails will promote Semi-primitive Motorized 

experiences for individuals and small groups. Allow large group events or races on a caseby-case basis. Motorized trails are well engineered to avoid impacts. Some level II roads 

(high clearance vehicle use) may be used for portions of motorized trail routes. 

Where possible, within the Urban/Rural Influence Zone, provide pass through corridors for 

vehicles and ATV/motorcycles that lead to separate motorized trails or to the secondary forest 

road system. Do not provide for unlicensed riders on 50-inch trails if the trails only lead 

them onto roads where it is illegal to ride. Coordinate trail locations near communities with 

local agencies and governments. 

Scenery 

Goals and Objectives

Developments such as roads, trails, camping, day-use sites, and trailheads mimic local 

materials and landscape characteristics to blend with the adjacent natural-appearing 

landscape. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction 

FLEA Area-Wide Goals, Objectives, Standards and Guidelines 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-70 

Management activities, such as thinning and prescribed fire, result over the long-term, in 

alterations that appear natural to most visitors. 

Guidelines

Provide fast clean-up from management activities and limit short-term visual impacts (1 to 3 

years), while meeting fire potential reduction needs, design thinning for long-term scenic 

quality adjacent to homes and along major highways or near developed recreation sites. 

Consider impacts to viewsheds of the three National Monuments, the Sunset Crater VolcanoWupatki Scenic Loop Road (FR 545) and the Walnut Canyon entrance road (FR 622) and 

coordinate with Park Service personnel when designing or approving projects in these 

viewsheds. 

State Highways 89A, 89, 180, and Lake Mary Road (FH3) provide a high-quality scenic 

experience. Provide input to ADOT and Coconino County, as appropriate, that highway 

improvements and maintenance should blend with existing natural appearing features except 

when there are safety concerns that cannot be mitigated. Provide input to ADOT and 

Coconino County to minimize the relative dominance of these highways to the extent 

possible/practical. 

Roads and Off-Road Driving 

Goals and Objectives

Consult the Roads Analysis for the FLEA Area report, for desired open road network. 

Reference this information when conducting project level (site-specific) NEPA analysis to 

close, obliterate, or upgrade roads. 

Road conditions and the miles of road should meet ROS objectives as displayed on the 

Objectives for Recreation Opportunity Spectrum map. 

The road system provides ample access and concentrates use on a well-designed road system, 

and maintains unroaded areas in between. 

Encourage local, state, or county entities, or private organizations to sponsor a motocross site. 

Look for opportunities to exchange land for motocross if there is a willing sponsor. 

Guidelines

Use the following criteria to evaluate roads and make decisions about their driving condition, 

their location, or existence. 

Reasons for closure or obliteration may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the 

following criteria: 

• Soils that are receiving, or are expected to receive, damage to the extent 

that soil productivity is or will be significantly impaired 

• Slopes exceeding 40 percent where high probability for damage exists 

• Riparian areas currently threatened or damaged 

• Meadows likely to be or being damaged 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction 

FLEA Area-Wide Goals, Objectives, Standards and Guidelines 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-71 

• Poorly designed or maintained roads connected or adjacent to stream 

courses where potential for increased runoff and sedimentation is high 

• Roads within stream courses or wetlands (permanently or intermittently 

wet) reducing hydrologic function 

• Visual Quality Objectives (VQO) of Preservation, Retention, or Partial 

Retention are jeopardized 

• Areas of important cultural resource sites vulnerable to damage that are 

being threatened or damaged 

• Tree plantations less than 10 years old likely to be damaged 

• Habitat for threatened, endangered, or sensitive species that is threatened 

• Key wildlife areas being threatened or damaged 

• Areas important to wildlife reproductions such as fawning or nesting 

areas, where disturbance is causing, or likely to cause, significant stress 

and reduction of reproductive success 

• Areas within designated municipal watersheds 

• Areas where user conflict must be resolved to ensure public safety 

• Areas considered dangerous for winter off-road driving activities 

• Areas within urban or rural residential influenced zones outside of 

designated motorized routes 

• Semi-primitive Non-motorized ROS objectives as set through 

environmental analysis. See Objectives for Recreation Opportunity 

Spectrum map for the FLEA area in Appendix M. 

• Semi-primitive motorized ROS objectives as set through environmental 

analysis. See Objectives for Recreation Opportunity Spectrum map for 

the FLEA area in Appendix M 

• Roads where the level of use or maintenance thereof causes adverse 

levels of noise affecting wildlife or recreational experiences 

• Areas where the road system modifies the surface and subsurface 

hydrology 

• Roads, which cause the introduction or spread of exotic plant species, 

insects, diseases, and parasites 

• Redundant roads 

• Roads that foster illegal human activities 

• Roads that contribute to the airborne dust emissions, which result in 

adverse human health concerns 

• Roads that adversely affect the agency’s direct costs, meaning there are 

more miles than we can afford to maintain 

• Roads that contribute to incidents of high fire starts 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction 

FLEA Area-Wide Goals, Objectives, Standards and Guidelines 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-72 

Reasons for maintaining roads open may include, but are not limited to one or more of the 

following criteria: 

• Roads that aid in the Agency’s enforcement of laws and policies 

• Roads required for access to treatment areas, range improvements, 

utilities, or minerals 

• Roads that connect large blocks of land in other ownership 

• Roads that provide access for fire suppression vehicles 

• Roads that provide access to recreation use sites or areas 

• Roads that provide access needs for research, inventory, and monitoring 

• Roads necessary to meet peoples’ needs and values for roads, such as 

Native Americans to gather traditional plants and access to traditional 

sites 

• Roads necessary to manage special use sites 

• Roads necessary to connect public roads 

• Roads that if closed, would have an adverse impact on communities’ 

social and economic health 

Consider manageability as an important criterion when establishing boundaries of areas with 

restrictions and determining which roads will be open and maintained. 

Keep the Pinegrove Seasonal Closure Area closed to vehicle access between August 15 and 

December 31. 

Actual road closure or obliteration work occurs after site-specific NEPA and public 

involvement is complete. Such analysis will usually be accomplished concurrent with other 

project planning. 

Conduct obliteration and re-vegetation work as funds become available. When choosing 

areas to conduct road maintenance and obliteration, focus efforts in Semi-primitive 

Motorized and Semi-primitive Non-motorized areas. Of the Semi-primitive Motorized and 

Semi-primitive Non-motorized areas, consider the Lake Mary and Oak Creek Watersheds as 

priorities for water quality reasons. Also focus work adjacent to the National Monuments. 

Wildlife Habitat 

Goals and Objectives

Habitats support diverse, healthy populations of native plants and animals. A natural variety 

of plant species, age classes, and structures are present. 

The impacts of non-native plant and animal species are controlled and the introduction and 

maintenance of undesirable non-natives is discouraged. 

Threatened, endangered, sensitive, and management indicator species are maintained or 

recovering in the majority of the habitat. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction 

FLEA Area-Wide Goals, Objectives, Standards and Guidelines 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-73 

Maintain wildlife travelways to help animals travel between summer and winter ranges, 

feeding and nesting areas, maternity areas, and dispersal areas. Travelways help ensure 

genetic mixing necessary for healthy populations. 

Mexican Spotted Owl 

Guidelines

Do not identify target threshold stands within the Urban/Rural Influence Zone. The 

allocation of target threshold habitat within the Lake Mary Watershed and Shultz 

Management Areas would better provide for long-term management of roost/nest habitat for 

the Mexican spotted owl. Approximately 26 percent of the Shultz Management Area and 11 

percent of the Lake Mary Watershed should be managed for target-threshold conditions in the 

future, due to not allocating target threshold conditions in the URIZ. 

Within the FLEA area, survey habitat that potentially could be used for nesting, roosting, or 

breeding, and is within 1⁄2 mile of a proposed site-specific project boundary. 

Northern Goshawk 

Guidelines

In the Urban/Rural Influence Zone, where possible, limit human activities within the 30-acre 

goshawk nest stand during the breeding season. In general however, do not curtail human 

activity such as informal dispersed recreation activities within the Post Fledging Family 

Areas (PFA). Social trails are likely to occur within portions of PFA’s in the urban and rural 

influenced areas. Locate Forest Service system trails to avoid nest sites within PFA’s, within 

the Urban/Rural Influence Zone. Emphasize the need to control pets on Forest Service 

system trails through education and enforcement. 

Bald Eagles 

Guidelines

Bald eagle winter roosts and perch habitat will be evaluated for long-term viability. 

Silvicultural methods that encourage regeneration and growth of desirable trees may be used 

near roost sites. Groves of trees may be maintained to provide screening for roost and perch 

areas. Silvicultural practices will result in the growth of large diameter trees with open 

crowns in multi-layered stands. Prescribed fires to improve and protect roost areas may be 

used with effective protection of large trees and snags. 

Human activities will be managed so that disturbance does not interfere with the eagles’ 

ability to use the site. 

Threatened and Endangered Species 

Guidelines 

Seek opportunities to add to our base of knowledge about human disturbance to T&E species. 

This could be a variety of methods that could include but are not limited to, monitoring, 

survey of habitat, survey of recreation uses, or trail counters. Consider options to gather 

information when planning, or implementing, or monitoring site-specific projects, or 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction 

FLEA Area-Wide Goals, Objectives, Standards and Guidelines 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-74 

approving special uses or outfitter guides. Consider partnership opportunities with 

organizations or agencies to gather information outside of site-specific project planning. A 

variety of methods could be used to gather information including, but not limited to, 

monitoring, survey of habitat, survey of recreation uses, or trail counters. Share results and 

data among resource personnel and line officers for consideration in future projects. with 

wildlife biologists and recreation staff to incorporate lessons learned into the next project. If 

analysis shows a need, mManagement changes that could include, but are not limited to, 

relocating roads or trails, limiting season of use, designating types of activities, or reducing 

numbers of users could result if analysis shows a need. 

Land Ownership Planning/Land Classification 

Goals and Objectives

In the FLEA area there are a few parcels desirable for the Forest Service to acquire. If a 

willing property owner comes forward entertain a land exchange or land acquisition. 

Desirable parcels are a 1⁄4 section of private land in the Dry Lake Hills and there are some 

isolated, undeveloped parcels in the Lake Mary Watershed. 

In addition, there are Arizona State Trust Lands that are desirable to retain as natural 

landscape. Coordinate the identification of these parcels with the city and the county 

planning processes. Look for avenues to purchase if the State is a willing seller. Should land 

exchange authority be granted to the State, consider land exchanges as well. 

Guidelines

Lands offered by the United States in a land exchange are tentatively classified as base-inexchange. Currently, the Forest has 21,133 acres classified as base-in-exchange. Because 

local and physical conditions may change during the life of this plan, other lands may be 

considered for exchange. They will generally meet one or more of the following criteria:*

• Lands needed to meet the needs of expanding communities; 

• Isolated tracts or scattered parcels that cannot be efficiently managed; 

• Lands that provide consolidation of the public lands; 

• Lands that will improve management, benefit specific resources, or 

increase management efficiency; 

• Lands that are necessary to meet overriding local, regional, and national 

public needs; 

• Lands within the boundaries of incorporated communities or annexed 

thereto or land within locally approved growth management 

boundaries; 

• Review base-in-exchange plans when private land uses change from 

wildland and undeveloped uses towards more intensive uses. 

If lands do not meet one or more the above criteria they should not be used as base-forexchange lands. Because change occurs over time, re-visit the base-for-exchange criteria and 

 

*

 The following guidelines are repeated from page 86 of the Forest Plan. The only unique direction for FLEA is 

highlighted in bold. The additional text is provided for context and clarity. There is additional direction on or 

near page 86 that applies to the land adjustment program. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction 

FLEA Area-Wide Goals, Objectives, Standards and Guidelines 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-75 

map periodically and make adjustments based on new information such as updated City and 

County plans (examples are the Regional Land Use and Transportation Plan, and the 

Flagstaff Area Open Spaces and Greenways Plan). Consult with the Coconino County and 

City of Flagstaff about land adjustment proposals we plan to take forward into NEPA. Public 

input on land exchange occurs at the time a site-specific land exchange is proposed. 

Forestry 

Goals and Objectives

Grass, forbs, and shrubs on the forest floor contribute to biological diversity of the ponderosa 

pine forest. 

Fire should continue to play a natural ecological role within the constraints of human health 

and safety. 

The risk of and potential for destructive crown wildfire is reduced, especially in the 

Urban/Rural Influence Zone (U/RIZ) and the Wildland Urban Interface (1U) as depicted on 

the Fire Management Analysis Zones map. 

Forest product removal (of any kind) is designed to maintain or restore ecosystem health and 

desired conditions. The use of National Forest land products, are primarily a means for 

achieving ecosystem management objectives. 

Guidelines

Reduce crown canopy and ladder fuels where needed to reduce risk of stand replacing crown 

fires. 

Reduce competition between closely spaced trees in some areas, to promote future large trees 

faster and to achieve desired tree sizes and canopy closures outlined in the Forest Plan 

(Mexican spotted owl and northern goshawk habitat guidelines). The parameters within 

which treatments should be designed are to be relatively assured that the future forest 

structure outlined in the goshawk guides is not precluded. No single treatment prescription is 

proposed. Examples of possible prescriptions include but are not limited to restoration 

models, uneven age models, even-age shelterwood, understory thinning, and prescribed fire. 

Reduce competition between closely spaced trees in some areas to promote health and 

resistance to insects and disease. 

Incorporate measures to control non-native and invasive plants into project design. 

Maintain connected patches of denser vegetation that, along with topography, provide travel 

corridors for wildlife to move through the FLEA area. Maintain the two corridors that occur 

in the Urban/Rural Influence Zone. They are in the vicinity of A1 Mountain/Fort Valley, 

Naval Observatory, and along the Rio de Flag. 

When designing treatment consider landowner wishes within the 150-foot area immediately 

adjacent to private land. Within the 150-foot area, more trees may be left based on 

landowner input. 

For all the Management Areas in FLEA, Management Indicator species will be the same as 

they currently are for each original MA, which is based on vegetation type and slope. For 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction 

FLEA Area-Wide Goals, Objectives, Standards and Guidelines 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-76 

example, lands that are covered with ponderosa pine on less than 40% slope will have the 

Management Indicator Species described for Management Area 3 in the Forest Plan. 

Where appropriate, design projects to accomplish fuels reduction and maintenance on cultural 

resource sites. 

Within the Urban/Rural Influence Zone, and in the Wildland Urban Interface (1U) as 

depicted on the Fire Management Analysis Zones map, do not apply the hiding and thermal 

cover guideline that requires 30 percent cover within a 10K Block. 

Distribute wildlife cover where needed within the FMAZ 1U without accruing unacceptable 

wildfire threat to nearby neighborhoods. Wherever possible, projects should retain cover 

conditions within wildlife travelways, MSO protected activity centers (PAC’s), along canyon 

rims, and on steeper slopes. Projects within the FMAZ 1U, should attempt to retain 15 

percent cover within a given section.*

Dense stand conditions on steep slopes and within MSO PAC’s contribute to the targeted 15 

percent cover condition. Cover conditions might exceed 15 percent per section due to the 

presence of steeper slopes or MSO PAC’s. In the absence of steep slopes or MSO PAC’S 

site-specific projects could retain a maximum of 15 percent cover condition to maintain a 

wildlife travelway through a section. Projects do not have to retain cover conditions of 15 

percent, if a given section poses a high fire hazard to nearby neighborhoods 

Providing firewood is not an emphasis for oak management. 

Non-Native and Invasive Plants 

Objectives

The impacts of non-native plant and animal species are controlled and introduction of new 

non-natives is discouraged. 

Guidelines

Refer to and follow the Noxious Weeds Strategic Plan Working Guidelines, Coconino, 

Kaibab and Prescott National Forests when implementing projects in for the FLEA area. 

This strategy lists “best known practices” for non-native and invasive plant control. This 

strategy is two fold: control or remove existing plants and take steps to lessen the spread of 

non-native and invasive weeds. This is especially important in the FLEA area, because of the 

major highways and roadways which provide corridors for plants to spread, and because 

many of the non-native and invasive weed species have the opportunity to increase after 

ground disturbing activities such as thinning, prescribed fire, and road obliteration 

Assist in maintaining a database of non-native and invasive plant populations in cooperation 

with the USGS. Much of the FLEA area has yet to be surveyed and this should occur as part 

of project planning and implementation. 

The location and type of species varies over time and place. Some species are mentioned in 

some of the Management Area descriptions, but additional species may be present within 

other Management Areas as well 

 

*

 The word “section” as used here, means a square mile in a legal description of township, range, and section. 

A section has 640 acres usually. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction 

FLEA Area-Wide Goals, Objectives, Standards and Guidelines 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-77 

Watershed 

Goals and Objectives

The biological, physical, and human elements of the landscape sustain ecological processes, 

functions, and structures appropriate to the FLEA Area ecosystem. Natural disturbance 

patterns are conserved or restored consistent with human health and safety. Natural elements 

of the landscape are restored and protected. 

Soil function and long-term productivity are sustained so that the soil can resist erosion, 

recycle nutrients, and absorb water. 

Natural vegetative and fuels composition area restored so as to reduce susceptibility to largescale watershed disturbances, such as large catastrophic wildfire. 

The Lake Mary watershed is a high priority for watershed restoration and maintenance from 

an ecological and socio-economical standpoint. Upper and Lower Lake Mary are important 

municipal water sources for the City of Flagstaff. 

Guidelines

Implement actions to ensure that water quality, and timing support domestic surface water 

supply needs. Specific items include: to improve wildlife and livestock grazing strategies, 

provide stream channel stabilization, construct proper drainage and perform maintenance on 

roads, relocate roads from meadows and other sensitive areas, obliterate unnecessary roads 

and manage recreation in a way that supports domestic surface water supply needs. 

Implement actions to restore a natural vegetative and fuels composition, and ensure that soil 

condition objectives are met on a landscape scale to reduce susceptibility of large-scale 

watershed disturbances, such as a large catastrophic fire or insect/disease outbreak. 

When implementing site-specific projects, choose Best Management Practices consistent with 

municipal values and this plan. 

Cooperate with the City of Flagstaff and National Park Service to develop study proposals 

and projects designed to evaluate best management practices, reservoir modifications, and/or 

operational criteria to address the objectives of maintaining the quality of the municipal water 

supply and increasing the likelihood of flood flows and improvement of the inner-canyon 

environment in Walnut Canyon National Monument (per the Stipulation Between The City of 

Flagstaff and the United States on Behalf of the National Park Service and the Forest 

Service). 

Mountain Meadows*

Goals and Objectives

Soil condition objectives are met and soil functions are sustained so that the soil can readily 

absorb, store, and transmit water both vertically and horizontally, accept, hold and release 

nutrients, and resist erosion. Soils are able to maintain resource values, sustain outputs, and 

recover from impacts. 

 

*

 The additional direction below describes in more detail and with clearer language the existing management 

direction contained in MA 9. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction 

FLEA Area-Wide Goals, Objectives, Standards and Guidelines 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-78 

Mountain meadows located with the Lake Mary and Oak Creek Watersheds are improved to 

enhance soil productivity, biological diversity, and help maintain downstream water quality. 

Improvement measures include: stream channel stabilization, improved cattle grazing 

strategy, management of wildlife, recreation, and roads within these meadows. 

The rate of water infiltration is increased, thereby minimizing surface runoff, reducing on-site 

sheet, rill and gully erosion, and subsequent sedimentation into connecting waters 

downstream. 

Enhance soil organic matter content to improve physical condition and increase water 

infiltration, nutrient cycling, and soil productivity. 

Vegetative species composition and diversity are increased and the distribution and diversity 

of vegetative ground cover is improved. 

Guidelines

In general, do not locate open roads in meadows. 

Provide media and public information focused on the importance of meadows and proper 

activities within meadows. 

Increase and improve vegetative species composition and diversity in the surrounding 

landscapes to diffuse grazing pressure from elk and livestock. 

Riparian and Open Water 

Goals and Objectives

Riparian communities benefit riparian dependent resources and support diverse assemblages 

of aquatic and terrestrial species. 

Stream channels have adequate and appropriate plant cover to protect stream banks and 

dissipate energy during high flows. 

Stream flow is adequate to maintain aquatic communities and water sources for wildlife. 

Wildlife viewing is recognized as a form of recreation and opportunity for environmental 

education. 

Guidelines

Emphasis is placed on rehabilitation of high elevation riparian communities. Rehabilitation 

may include: wildlife and livestock grazing management, fencing, stream channel 

stabilization, road relocation, recreation management, and physical protection of revegetation 

work. 

Ensure that riparian areas are in a condition that improves or maintains high quality water in 

the Lake Mary and Oak Creek watersheds. 

Establish administrative exclosures on representative riparian areas to determine riparian 

habitat potential. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction 

FLEA Area-Wide Goals, Objectives, Standards and Guidelines 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-79 

Follow the trail planning parameters set forth in the FLEA area-wide Guidelines. In addition, 

develop trails strategy that allows for water access while protecting the riparian community, 

wildlife habitat, and sensitive plants. 

At certain locations provide wildlife viewing compatible with wildlife habitat. 

Reduce impacts on water quality by such methods as placing toilets in strategic locations, and 

providing information about proper sanitation practices. 

Follow FLEA area-wide criteria related to roads in riparian and open water areas. 

Generally discourage off-road driving within 1⁄4 mile of these sites. 

Firewood 

Guidelines

Consider restricting general firewood gathering for personal use in the Urban/Rural Influence 

Zone if such use is causing conflicts with other uses, or detracting from road management 

goals. However, designated firewood cutting areas may be provided under a managed setting 

as a tool for various objectives, such as removing slash generated by thinning and improving 

herbaceous understory. 

Coordination with National Park Service 

Guidelines

Update the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the National Park Service and 

the Coconino National Forest. The MOU sets up 1) how the agencies communicate when 

situations arise, and 2) what criteria will be used to make decisions together. The current 

MOU is for Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Wupatki. The updated MOU 

should cover these Monuments and also include Walnut Canyon National Monument. For 

the Flagstaff Area National Monuments some of the items that need to be added to the MOU 

include considerations for: Native American access for traditional uses, law enforcement 

cooperation, personal use plant gathering, outfitter/guide parameters, commercial filming 

parameters, boundary management, fire management, location and management of NPS 

facilities on Coconino NF lands, National Historic Preservations Act (Section 106), National 

Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act compliance coordination, shared 

services for monitoring, and cooperative efforts in managing interpretation and visitor 

services. 

Continue cooperative law enforcement efforts with the National Park Service on lands 

adjacent to National Monuments. 

Coordination with the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County 

Guidelines

Continue coordination related to fire suppression and fire risk reduction. Continue 

collaborative efforts to control non-native and invasive plants. Stay alert to changes in land 

use status. Provide input to the design requirement of new developments (especially when 

they are adjacent to National Forest), participate as a government liaison in the City of 

Flagstaff’s Open Space Coalition, continue linking City and County trails to Forest Service 

trails, share public outreach and education tools, and share information about future plans. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction 

FLEA Area-Wide Goals, Objectives, Standards and Guidelines 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-80 

Coordination with Researchers 

Guidelines

Consider ongoing research in project design both to avoid impacts to research plots and to 

gain knowledge provided by research results. 

Create and maintain a spatial and tabular database of approved research sites. 

Refer research proposals to appropriate areas based on FLEA area objectives. 

Coordination with Other Organizations 

Guidelines

Many different government agencies, individuals, and groups partner with the Forest Service 

to accomplish various projects on-the-ground. These projects usually result in long-term 

improvements for wildlife habitat, recreation, or forest health. Continue these activities that 

have resulted in site-specific actions such as, but not limited to, riparian area improvements, 

wildlife waters, forest restoration, and trail building. 

Data Management 

Guidelines

Use current technologies for data collection, data storage, analysis, and management of Forest 

Resources. Data collection and mapping needs within the FLEA area include user-created 

roads and trails, dispersed campsites, group use areas, noxious weed locations, and trailheads. 

Continue current efforts to track wildfires, vegetation condition, and threatened, endangered, 

and sensitive species habitats. 
Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 – 12/02 New page 206-81 

FLEA Management Areas 

Proposed Management Areas

There are 10 different Management Areas in the FLEA area. 

• Cinder Hills OHV MA is south of Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument 

and north of the Doney Park area 

• Craters MA is west of Doney MA and south of Strawberry Crater Wilderness. 

• Deadman Wash MA covers the lands from the northeastern boundary of the 

Forest to FR 545 that bisects Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. 

• Doney MA surrounds the communities in the Doney Park, Timberline, 

Fernwood, and Black Bill Park. 

• Flagstaff MA contains national forest lands within the Urban Growth Boundary 

for the City of Flagstaff as described in the Regional Land Use and 

Transportation Plan. 

• Lake Mary Watershed MA, which contains the Lake Mary watershed and also 

encompasses the Upper and Lower Lakes Mary and Marshall Lake. 

• Schultz MA includes Dry Lake Hills and Mt. Elden, along with lands east of the 

Waterline road (the eastern boundary of the Kachina Peaks Wilderness) and west 

of the Doney MA. 

• Environmental Study Area MA now includes three locations. Elden ESA is 

being expanded and two more areas are being added, Griffith’s Spring, Old 

Caves Crater. . 

• Walnut Canyon MA lies south of Flagstaff and includes lands surrounding 

Walnut Canyon between I-40 and FH3 (Lake Mary Road). 

• West MA, which surrounds the communities from Hidden Hollow to Fort Valley, 

the communities of Kachina Village, Mountainaire, Forest Highlands, and Lake 

Mary Road, and also includes the lands encompassing Woody Ridge and 

Rodgers Lake. 

• The Strawberry Crater Wilderness remains part of MA1 (Wilderness) and does 

not change from the current Forest Plan. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction 

FLEA Management Area Introduction 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-82 

A mapping error occurred related to the boundary of the Cinder Hills Management 

Area. The boundary has been adjusted to reflect the current Forest Plan Off Highway 

Driving map. This caused acreage adjustments in the Deadman Wash, Cinder Hills, 

and Doney Management Areas. 

The Timber Land Use Component charts are a feature of the current Forest Plan that 

was developed in the mid-80’s. The classification of forest service lands as to its 

timber component is a requirement. Just because some piece of land has a suitable 

timber component does not mean that it will be harvested with timber as the main 

objective. Most forested lands on the Coconino NF are managed for wildlife habitat 

reasons as a result of Forest Plan Amendment 11. As a result of this Plan 

Amendment some lands will be focused on fire hazard reduction, another category of 

suitable timberlands. 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-83 

Junk junk junk

 

*

 Region 3 refers to the Southwest Region of the Forest Service including Arizona, Newe Mexico, and a portion 

of Oklahoma 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-83 

Junk junk junk.

 

*

 Coordination with the State: We will continue to work with the State, to determine what grants are available 

and appropriate to apply for in relation to the proposed management, improvements, and rehabilitation needs 

of the area. In addition to exploring funding avenues, we will work with the State to determine other 

management partnerships that might be desirable to achieve the management objectives and enhance the OHV 

experience. 

†

 Fee Demo: The District will be studying the concept of Fee Demo for the OHV Area. A District team will 

determine if fee demo is a desirable funding avenue, and if so, how a fee demo area would be implemented. We 

will visit other fee demo sites, talk to other managers, and work with the OHV community to determine if this is 

an appropriate and/or desirable action to take. 

‡

 Penstemon cluteii grows in cinder soils at various locations on the Peaks Ranger District. The status report 

covers the entire range for this plant, which includes the OHV area. 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-83 

Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Craters Management Area – MA 31 

8484Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-84 

Craters Management Area - MA 31 

Acres: 29,858 

Description 

The western boundary of this MA is the Cinder Hills OHV area and Doney MA 

(marked by a large KV electrical line). The northern boundary is the Strawberry 

Wilderness, the southern and eastern boundaries are the Forest boundary. A portion 

of the San Francisco volcanic field occurs here with a field of large cinder cones 

sparsely covered by ponderosa pine trees and shrubs and covered with a deep layer of 

loose cinders. The landscape of impressive cinder cones in this MA provides remote, 

dispersed recreation opportunities and there is a stay on designated roads policy. The 

southeast 1/3 of this MA is pinyon/juniper woodland and grasslands with sparse 

pinyon and juniper trees and the occasional large cinder cone. The pinyon/juniper 

areas provide remote dispersed recreation opportunities and supports uses such as 

livestock grazing and firewood. Maroon Crater is the largest cinder cone and is used 

for hang gliding. This entire MA is distant from the sites and sounds of urban areas. 

Two paved roads (FR 545 and Luepp Road) pass through the MA. There are no 

communities adjacent to this MA. Some of the landforms in the Cinder Hills hold 

religious and cultural significance to Native Americans. This MA supports plant and 

animal species adapted to cinder landscapes, pinyon/juniper woodland, and 

grasslands. 

Management Emphasis 

Maintain cinder ecosystems, un-tracked appearance of cinder cones, and remote 

recreation opportunities with a high sense of self-exploration. Continue opportunities 

for firewood cutting and livestock grazing in the pinyon/juniper woodland. Restore 

natural grasslands. Re-establish or maintain fire and other ecosystem processes in the 

pinyon/juniper woodland. 

Highlights Include: 

• Management Indicator Species (MIS) should be referenced by vegetation and 

landform type. For example, in pinyon/juniper woodland areas MIS are those 

listed for MA7. 

• Maintain Semi-primitive Motorized ROS settings throughout the MA, with 

Roaded Natural corridors in between. Provide Semi-primitive Non-motorized 

settings on the large cinder cones. 

• Retain an un-tracked appearance on the large cinder cones and maintain plants 

and animals adapted to the cinder ecosystem. 

• Provide day and overnight-dispersed recreation opportunities with few developed 

trails or facilities. 

• As stated in Management Area 10, of the Forest Plan, maintain and improve 

grasslands, including removing encroaching pinyon/juniper and re-introducing 

fire. Maintain or improve watershed conditions throughout the MA. 

• Protect cultural resources. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Craters Management Area – MA 31 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New Page 206-85 

• Continue motorized travel restrictions similar to the current Forest orders where 

motorized use occurs on designated open roads and trails only. 

Timber Land Use Classes Acres

Nonforest 7,484 

Forest land withdrawn 

 Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer 0 

 Pinyon-juniper 0 

Unsuitable 16,610 

Unsuitable (physically unsuited or not capable) 4,356 

Forest lands not appropriate for timber harvest 12 

Suitable Timber lands 1,396 

 

TOTAL 29,858 

All of the following items are Guidelines. 

Non-motorized and Motorized Trails 

Provide low mileage of designated non-motorized trails in the MA and encourage selfexploration. 

Consider motorized trail corridors in this MA. Consider routes along the secondary road 

system for multiple-use opportunities. 

Discourage off-trail use of any kind on large cinder cones. 

Recreation Signing 

Clear signing and information should be provided to off highway vehicle drivers to make 

clear distinction between driving rules in the Cinder Hills OHV area the cinder cones outside 

of the OHV area. 

Cultural/Historical 

Continue active monitoring of cultural and historical sites to impacts from recreation, cattle 

grazing, firewood cutting, and other human uses. Changes in management can occur in 

response to demonstrated (through monitoring) negative impacts to archaeological resources. 

Cooperate with available Park Service personnel to accomplish monitoring. 

Non-Native and Invasive Plants 

There are known populations of non-native and invasive plants in this MA, such as 

camelthorn. Continue efforts to control or eradicate plants, especially along roadways 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Craters Management Area – MA 31 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New Page 206-86 
8787Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-87 

Deadman Wash Management Area – MA 32 

Acres: 58,088 

Description 

The southern boundary of this MA is Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, the 

Cinder Hills OHV area and Doney MA. The western boundary is Highway 89, the 

northern boundary is Wupatki National Monument, and the eastern boundary is the 

Forest boundary and Strawberry Wilderness. The southern portion contains portions 

of the San Francisco volcanic field with a field of large cinder cones sparsely covered 

by ponderosa pine trees and shrubs and covered with a deep layer of loose cinders. 

O’Leary Peak is the highest most prominent feature and is topped with a fire lookout 

tower. Bonito and O’Leary campgrounds are located adjacent to Sunset Crater 

Volcano National Monument. 

The landscape of impressive cinder cones in this MA provides remote, dispersed 

recreation opportunities and there is a stay on designated roads policy. The center of 

the MA is pinyon/juniper woodland that provides remote dispersed recreation 

opportunities and supports uses such as livestock grazing and firewood. The northern 

1/3 of the MA is grassland with sparse pinyon/juniper trees. Deadman Wash is a 

prominent drainage. In the grassland areas, large patches are unroaded and remote 

recreation experiences are found. Access to Strawberry Crater Wilderness is located 

in this MA. Most of this MA is distant from the sites and sounds of urban areas. 

Highway 89 is located on the west boundary and FR545 passes through the 

southernmost part of the MA. There are private land inholdings along the Highway 

89 corridor. A large KV electric line passes through the center of the MA. Some of 

the landforms hold religious and cultural significance to Native Americans. This MA 

supports plant and animal species adapted to cinder landscapes, pinyon-juniper 

woodland and grasslands. 

Management Emphasis 

Restore and maintain grasslands and grassland adapted wildlife species, especially 

antelope. Provide large tracts of un-roaded landscape for disturbance sensitive 

species and remote recreation experiences. Protect cultural resources. Continue 

opportunities for livestock grazing, hunting, and firewood gathering. Balance 

recreation use demands on O’Leary Peak with sensitive wildlife species needs and 

Native American cultural values. 

Focus on maintenance and/or improvement of soil condition and watershed function. 

System roads and trails should receive adequate maintenance so that accelerated soil 

erosion is minimal. Non-system roads will be rehabilitated and some poorly located 

roads will be re-located. Rate of implementation will be dependent on funding and 

Forest priorities for road maintenance.
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Deadman Wash Management Area – MA 32 

8888Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-88 

Highlights include: 

• Management Indicator Species (MIS) should be referenced by vegetation and 

landform type. For example, in pinyon/juniper woodland areas MIS are those 

listed for MA7. 

• Progress towards the settings displayed on the Objectives for Recreation 

Opportunity Spectrum map. This includes expanding the current Semi-primitive 

Motorized areas, and adding Semi-primitive Non-motorized settings on O’Leary 

Peak and other large cinder cones. Maintain the Roaded Natural settings along 

passenger car road corridors and the large KV electric line. 

• Roads that access the national monuments other than through NPS control points 

will be removed from the system. Other secondary roads that are not needed for 

administrative access will be removed from the system. 

• Enforce the stay on designated roads policy. 

• Retain an un-tracked appearance on the large cinder cones and maintain plants 

and animals adapted to the cinder ecosystem. 

• Provide day and overnight dispersed recreation opportunities with few system 

trails or facilities, except for Bonito and O’Leary Campgrounds. 

• As stated in Management Area 10, maintain and improve grasslands, including 

removing encroaching pinyon/juniper and re-introducing fire. Maintain or 

improve watershed conditions throughout the MA. 

Timber Land Use Classes Acres

Nonforest 4,828 

Forest land withdrawn 

 Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer 0 

 Pinyon-juniper 0 

Unsuitable 44,378 

Unsuitable (physically unsuited or not capable) 5,434 

Forest lands not appropriate for timber harvest 344 

Suitable Timber lands 3,104 

 

TOTAL 58,088 

All of the following items are Guidelines. 

Recreation 

Discourage off-trail/road use of any kind on large cinder cones. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Deadman Wash Management Area – MA 32 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-89 

Outfitter/Guides 

Before permitting outfitter/guides adjacent to National Monuments, contact the National Park 

Service for coordination. Outfitter guiding might also help meet the mission of the National 

Park Service in the National Monuments or on adjacent National Forest lands 

Follow FLEA area-wide direction including generally, do not place additional outfitter/guide 

activities or group activities in Deadman Wash, any spring or perennial stream site, except in 

support of approved research and/or to improve safety or provide site rehabilitation. 

Non-motorized Trails 

Determine whether or not the O’Leary Peak road (currently gated) should be designated as 

part of a non-motorized trail system. Consider methods to discourage off-trail use into 

sensitive areas, such as wildlife and cultural resources. Continue administrative road use for 

the lookout. 

Provide short loop trail opportunities at the base of O’Leary Peak adjacent to O’Leary 

campground to encourage recreation use at the base of the Peak and west of O’Leary Road. 

Cultural/Historical 

Continue active monitoring of cultural and historical sites to assess impacts from recreation, 

cattle grazing, firewood cutting, and other human uses. Changes in management can occur in 

response to demonstrated (through monitoring) negative impacts to archaeological resources. 

Cooperate with available Park Service personnel to accomplish monitoring. 

Scenery 

Consider impacts to viewsheds of the National Monuments and consider input from Park 

Service personnel when designing or approving projects in these viewsheds. 

Forestry 

Green firewood cutting is a tool for grassland restoration. Continue efforts to limit illegal 

firewood gathering and enforce firewood harvest regulations. However, if firewood cutting 

for personal home use causes impacts to sensitive areas, adjust firewood policy as needed. 

This policy is adjusted annually for the Forest. 

Livestock Grazing 

Take steps to ensure cattle do not concentrate on sensitive cultural sites. Techniques to meet 

this objective include: placing new improvements such as water sources and fences away 

from sites; no salting at these sites; change pasture graze period at these sites; and closing 

parts of pastures to grazing. 

Non-Native and Invasive Plants 

There are known populations of non-native and invasive plants in this MA, such as 

camelthorn. Continue efforts to control or eradicate plants, especially along roadways. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Deadman Wash Management Area – MA 32 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-90 

Coordination with National Park Service 

See FLEA area-wide direction related to Memorandum of Understanding’s (MOU’s). 

Specific coordination items related to this MA include FR 545, Bonito, and O’Leary 

campgrounds, O’Leary Peak, NPS administrative site, and the location of a potential future 

new visitor center. 

Coordinate with Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monuments in managing 

dispersed recreation use adjacent to the Monuments. 

Additional topics include fencing placement/removal needs and proposed minor 

administrative boundary adjustments. Coordinate future changes in fencing as required by 

administrative boundary adjustments or to reduce the encroachment of users on to NPS 

national monuments. 
9191Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-91 

Doney Management Area – MA 33 

Acres: 40,831 

Description 

This MA surrounds the communities of Timberline, Fernwood, Doney Park, 

Cosnino, Winona, Rain Valley, Black Bill, and extends to the City of Flagstaff’s 

eastern developed areas. The western boundary is Shultz Pass Road and the base of 

Mt. Elden, the southern boundary is I-40 and Walnut Canyon National Monument, 

the eastern boundary is the large KV electric line (Craters MA) and the northern 

boundary is the Cinder Hills OHV area. The City of Flagstaff Landfill is located in 

this MA. 

Large tracts of private land occur with some inholdings of National Forest and 

Arizona State Trust Llands. These communities are rural residential and many 

residents raise animals such as horses, sled dogs, and llamas. ATV’s are a popular 

mode of travel. The entire MA provides dispersed recreation opportunities and 

receives heavy use adjacent to private land. Activities include hiking, horse riding, 

mountain biking, ATV riding, and driving. Private land has developed quickly and 

public access to National Forest land is becoming scarce. Forest lands provide a 

scenic backdrop to residential areas. Many people have listed the forest as one of the 

quality-of-life items that drew them to Flagstaff. Nearby outdoor recreation 

opportunities and forest scenery are highly appreciated by residents and tourists. 

Some cinder cones and drainages in this MA hold traditional cultural values for 

Native Americans. Highway 89 passes through the center of the MA along with the 

Townsend Winona Road and I-40. 

West of Highway 89 vegetation is ponderosa pine (most less than 40 percent slope). 

The remainder of the MA is pinyon/juniper woodland with patches of grassland near 

subdivisions. Cinder soils occur in the northern portion along with some large cinder 

cones, the most prominent being Old Caves Crater, and O’Neal Crater. The Rio De 

Flag winds through the MA, located on a mix of private and National Forest land. 

South of I-40 there are tracts of grasslands. There is deer winter range at the base of 

Mt. Elden. The Old Caves Crater Environmental Study Area (ESA) is located within 

this MA (see MA17 for more information). The Arizona Trail passes through the 

southern portion of this MA. 

Management Emphasis 

Most of this MA is within the Urban/Rural Influence Zone. Reduce the risk of 

catastrophic wildfire, especially within the Urban/Rural Influence Zone. Reintroduce 

fire’s natural role as much as possible. Emphasize daytime recreation activities, both 

motorized and non-motorized. Balance recreation demands with protection of soils, 

water, and vegetation. Maintain public access to public lands. Restore natural 

grasslands, and promote healthy pinyon/juniper woodland. Ponderosa pine lands 

progress towards desired forest structure (goshawk habitat). Reduce instances of 

illegal activities and trash dumping. Maintain scenic quality. Opportunities for 

firewood or other forest products are rare, however, firewood sales may be used as a 

tool for management. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Doney Management Area – MA 33 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-92 

Highlights include: 

• Per the Objectives for Recreation Opportunity Spectrum map, expand Semiprimitive Non-motorized settings on a few of the large cinder cones in this MA. 

Expand Semi-primitive Motorized settings in other areas and continue Roaded 

Natural corridors along major roads. In this MA, the Semi-primitive settings 

have higher numbers of people than occur in outlying MA’s. 

• This MA is a high priority for efforts to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire 

especially in the ponderosa pine lands. Reference FLEA area-wide direction and 

the Forest Plan related to vegetation and fire management. 

• Per the area-wide FLEA direction: meet with specific communities and County 

officials and consider input for Forest road and trail management, discourage 

proliferation of unneeded trails, create a primary trail system that serves as a 

collector for trails that originate in neighborhoods, convert some roads that are 

not needed for the road system into motorized trails, and provide pass through 

corridors for vehicles and ATV/motorcycles that leads to a separate motorized 

trails or to the secondary Forest road system. 

• MIS should be referenced by vegetation and landform type. For example, in 

pinyon/juniper woodland areas MIS are those listed for MA7. 

Timber Land Use Classes Acres

Nonforest 8,384 

Forest land withdrawn 

 Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer 0 

 Pinyon-juniper 0 

Unsuitable 14,419 

Unsuitable (physically unsuited or not capable) 4,167 

Forest lands not appropriate for timber harvest 86 

Suitable Timber lands 13,775 

 

TOTAL 40,831 

All of the following items are Guidelines. 

Outfitter/Guides 

Before permitting outfitter/guides adjacent to National Monuments, contact the National Park 

Service for coordination. Outfitter guiding might also help meet the mission of the National 

Park Service in the National Monuments or on adjacent National Forest lands. 

Non-motorized and Motorized Trails 

When conducting trail planning as described in the FLEA area-wide direction, include 

discussions and input from the Coconino County trails coordinator and local groups, as well 

as community citizens. Complicated access issues and a multitude of recreation demands 

occur here. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Doney Management Area – MA 33 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-93 

Balance demands for non-motorized and motorized trails in this MA and provide 

opportunities for both. 

Focus road and trail rehabilitation work on the large cinder cones, in meadows and grasslands 

where impacts are occurring to soils, plants, and cultural sites. 

Scenery 

Consider impacts to viewsheds of the National Monuments and consider input from Park 

Service personnel when designing or approving projects in these viewsheds. 

Cultural/Historical 

Continue active monitoring of cultural and historical sites to impacts. 

Fire Suppression 

In the ponderosa pine forests the potential for large fires should be low on flat to rolling areas 

and moderate to high on steep slopes and drainages. In the pinyon-juniper forests the 

potential should continue to be low to moderate. Very extreme conditions must exist in order 

for pinyon-juniper forests to support large fires. This area is at high risk for ignition but fire 

frequency is low. 

Coordination with National Park Service 

See FLEA area-wide direction related to Memorandum of Understanding’s (MOU’s). 

Specific coordination items related to this MA include the potential new location for 

a visitor center, coordinated prescribed fire activities, fencing of National Monument 

lands, and illegal access onto the Monument. 

Coordination with Centennial Forest 

Two Centennial Forest parcels are located in this MA. Coordinate with the Director 

of the Centennial Forest when conducting management activities on adjacent Forest 

lands. 
Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-94 
Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-95 

Flagstaff Management Area – MA 34 

Acres: 1,295 

Description 

There are approximately 1,295 acres of National Forest land within the proposed 

Urban Growth Boundary in the Flagstaff Regional Land Use and Transportation 

Plan (RLUTP). On the south side of Flagstaff there is an area north of the airport 

identified as a potential regional park. There are lands that surround the airport, 

which the City has an interest in obtaining for airport use, or office/business park 

development and there is a parcel near Weitzel School the City is interested in as a 

neighborhood park. 

Management Emphasis 

All of the lands not directly needed by the Forest Service for its facilities become low 

priority for retention in Forest Service ownership. In addition, we also are not 

planning new developments in these areas. As long as these lands remain in National 

Forest ownership, within the Urban/Rural Influence Zone (entire MA), reduce the 

risk of catastrophic wildfire, emphasize daytime non-motorized recreation 

opportunities and balance recreation demands with protection of the soils, water, 

wildlife and vegetation, and maintain public access to public lands. Reduce instances 

of illegal activities and trash dumping. Maintain scenic quality. Opportunities for 

firewood or other forest products are rare, however, firewood sales may be used as a 

tool for management. 

Highlights include: 

• Emphasize Roaded Natural ROS settings with few roads and trails or facilities. 

• Continue efforts in partnership with the City of Flagstaff to treat forested stands 

to reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire. 

• These lands are a high priority for treatment of non-native and invasive plants. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Flagstaff Management Area – MA xx

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-96 

Timber Land Use Classes Acres

Nonforest 241 

Forest land withdrawn 

 Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer 20*

 Pinyon-juniper 0 

Unsuitable 0 

Unsuitable (physically unsuited or not capable) 1 

Forest lands not appropriate for timber harvest 39 

Suitable Timber lands 994 

 

TOTAL 1,295 

Guidelines are the same as the West MA in the Urban/Rural Influence Zone 

 

*

 BIA dormitory. 
 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-97 

Lake Mary Watershed Management Area – MA 35 

Acres: 62,492 

Description 

The northern boundary is the Walnut Canyon MA (including a section of FH3 - Lake 

Mary Road), the eastern boundary is the FLEA boundary generally located on the 

Lake Mary Watershed break, the southern boundary is also the edge of the FLEA 

area, including the north facing slopes of Mormon Mountain (watershed break), the 

western boundary borders the West MA near the community of Mountainaire. There 

are scattered parcels of private land mostly concentrated in the northwestern 1/3 of 

the MA. Communities include Elk Park Meadows, Lake Mary Meadows, Lake Mary 

store and trailer park, and the east side of Mountainaire. 

The majority of this MA is a rolling landscape of ponderosa pine with Gambel oak 

intermixed. Steep slopes with mixed conifer and shrubs occur on portions of 

Mormon Mountain and in a few large drainages. Oak and pine provide habitat for 

Mexican spotted owls and other rare species. Elk are numerous. This MA covers the 

lake basins of Upper and Lower Lake Mary, including Marshall Lake. Unique and 

diverse sets of wildlife species use the lakes and shorelines. The eagle/osprey 

emphasis area is located here. 

Along the Lake Mary Road (FH3) corridor there are numerous developed recreation 

sites including day-use picnic areas, boat ramps, campgrounds, and parking areas. 

Upper and Lower Lake Mary provide water based recreation such as motorized and 

non-motorized boating and fishing. Marshall Lake is located off of paved roads and 

provides non-motorized boating, waterfowl hunting, and fishing. Lowell observatory 

has facilities located on Anderson Mesa. The Arizona Trail passes by Marshall Lake. 

Beyond the Lakes, people appreciate dispersed camping, wildlife viewing, hunting, 

driving for pleasure, and many other kinds of forest recreation. Many campers come 

from the Phoenix metro-area in the summer months. Other uses include livestock 

grazing and firewood cutting. 

Lake Mary provides water to the City of Flagstaff water system. 

This MA includes areas that support high densities of suitable roost and perch trees 

adjacent to Lower Lake Mary, a heavily used eagle and osprey area given favorable 

prey conditions. Many existing roost and perch trees are threatened by possible 

mortality due to insect infestation and loss of vigor due to high stand densities, 

drought and by potential loss due to catastrophic fire. Current conditions for 

recruitment of future perch and roost trees (tall, large trees with open crowns) are not 

favorable due to higher stand densities. Other logical and important locations for 

future eagle perches and/or roosts adjacent to and south of Lower Lake Mary are 

omitted from the current emphasis area boundaries. 

Management Emphasis 

Focus on maintenance and/or improvement of soil condition and watershed function. 

Degraded meadows and stream channels will be improved through a variety of 

management activities designed to increase herbaceous ground cover and litter and 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Lake Mary Watershed Management Area – MA 35 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-98 

reduce soil erosion. System roads and trails will receive adequate maintenance so 

that accelerated soil erosion is minimal. Non-system roads will be rehabilitated and 

some poorly located roads will be re-located. 

The northwestern portion of this MA is within the Urban/Rural Influence Zone. 

Reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, especially within the Urban/Rural Influence 

Zone. Reduce instances of illegal activities and trash dumping. Maintain scenic 

quality. Opportunities for firewood or other forest products are rare in the northwest 

portion; however, firewood sales may be used as a tool for management. 

In the entire MA, re-introduce fire’s natural role as much as possible, and ponderosa 

pine lands progress towards desired forest structure, including northern goshawk and 

Mexican spotted owl habitats. 

In the lakes, maintain the variety of waterfowl, raptors, amphibians, and many 

different kinds of plants adapted to lake shore environments. Emphasize healthy 

shorelines adjacent to the water with ample ground cover, and less erosion or 

compaction. Turbidity is natural to these lakes. Minimize human disturbance to 

wildlife, where needed, during the critical times. Continue to provide general 

dispersed and water-based recreation opportunities. Improve wildlife viewing 

opportunities where wildlife viewing is compatible with wildlife habitat. 

Highlights include: 

• MIS should be referenced by vegetation and landform type. For example, in 

ponderosa pine lands less than 40 percent slope MIS are those listed for MA3. 

• In the Urban/Rural Influence Zone, per the area-wide FLEA direction: meet with 

specific communities, interested people, City and County officials and consider 

input for Forest road and trail management, discourage proliferation of unneeded 

trails, create a primary trail system that serves as a collector for trails that 

originate in neighborhoods, convert some roads that are not needed for the road 

system into motorized trails. 

• Maintain existing recreation facilities and improve signing, parking, and 

sanitation. Balance recreation demands with sensitive resources such as species 

habitats, fragile riparian vegetation, and erosive soils where they occur. Continue 

to focus high levels of use on the Lake Mary Road side of the lakes. 

• Riparian communities should have adequate native plant cover to protect stream 

banks and dissipate energy during high flows. 

• In the Lake Mary Watershed, high priority is given to minimizing soil erosion 

and sedimentation from Forest system roads and trails. Proper maintenance and 

drainage will be emphasized as well as relocation of roads from meadows and 

obliteration of unnecessary roads. 

• Per the Objectives for Recreation Opportunity Spectrum map, expand Semiprimitive Motorized areas and maintain Roaded Natural corridors along major 

roads. New Semi-primitive Non-motorized patches should be created on 

Mormon Mountain in sensitive species habitat. 

• Maintain or enhance rare plant populations where they occur. Examples are 

Flagstaff pennyroyal, Flagstaff penstemon, and Arizona leatherflower. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Lake Mary Watershed Management Area – MA 35 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-99 

Timber Land Use Classes Acres

Nonforest 6,953 

Forest land withdrawn 

 Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer 309*

 Pinyon-juniper 94 

Unsuitable 2,107 

Unsuitable (physically unsuited or not capable) 8,274 

Forest lands not appropriate for timber harvest 40 

Suitable Timber lands 44,715 

 

TOTAL 62,492 

All of the following items are Guidelines. 

Recreation 

Provide designated parking spots along Lake Mary Road where it borders Lower and Upper 

Lakes Mary. Limit parking to certain spots along the highway and/or in current paved 

parking areas. Techniques may include installing physical barriers and implementing 

enforcement policies that manage parking. 

Provide additional sanitation facilities along the Upper and Lower Lakes Mary corridor, 

especially where large numbers of people tend to congregate. 

Continue current seasonal motorized restrictions in the Pinegrove Seasonal Closure Area. 

Recreation Signing 

Informational signs and patrols will be similar to what they are today. The Forest Recreation 

Map is the primary information tool. These areas may be somewhat "advertised." 

Near the lakes continue to provide brochures, signs, and other information about the site. In 

addition, endeavor to improve wildlife viewing and education opportunities. 

Camping 

Per the Objectives for Camping map, camping is designated dispersed camping sites in the 

Lake Mary and Marshall Lake areas. Continue the current developed campground 

opportunities and continue general dispersed camping in the rest of the MA. 

Designated dispersed camping opportunities will be identified along the south shore of Upper 

Lake Mary for boat-in camping. Camping should occur in designated sites only on the south 

shore. Locate designated camping an appropriate distance from raptor nests. Sites will be 

closed, re-opened or rotated as needed for area rehabilitation. Foster good sanitation 

 

*

 Coulter plots for the 309 and 94 acres indicated as withdrawn. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Lake Mary Watershed Management Area – MA 35 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-100 

practices and encourage boaters to pack-it-out, or if needed design sanitation facilities so as 

not to create sources of human waste pollution. 

Outfitter/Guides 

Do not issue outfitter/guide permits or permit use that causes significant change for the ROS 

social or managerial setting, such as allowing airboats or seaplanes on the lakes. 

Non-motorized and Motorized Trails 

Continue the current non-motorized Arizona Trail corridor through the MA. 

Outside of the Urban/Rural Influence Zone, adoption of user-created trails is unlikely. 

Provide low mileage of designated non-motorized trails in the remainder of the MA and 

encourage self-exploration. 

Consider motorized trail corridors in this MA. The secondary road system should provide for 

multiple-use opportunities. 

Wildlife 

Take actions at Marshall Lake to continue use and enjoyment of Marshall Lake and to 

maintain important waterfowl nesting habitat. Continue maintenance of the Marshall Lake 

wetland in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department through such actions as 

matting, mowing or other actions that create waterholes in the reeds. Maintain the current 

boat ramp and enhance wildlife viewing opportunities. Consider making a portion of the lake 

and adjacent forested areas, an exclosure that prohibits dogs, people, and hunting during the 

waterfowl-nesting season of May 1 to July 15 to increase nesting success of upland game 

birds. 

Refer to more recent management guidelines and conservation assessments that exist for bald 

eagle winter habitat management. 

The designated bald eagle/osprey emphasis area should be expanded to include future perch 

and roost trees in key areas. 

Watershed 

This area is a high priority for fixing drainage culverts, relocating roads from meadows, and 

obliterating unnecessary roads so that erosion does not degrade water quality in Lake Mary. 

Roads, trails, camping, and grazing will be managed to improve watershed condition 

particularly within mountain meadows, springs, and drainages. 

Improve watershed conditions in Priest Draw. 

Cooperate with the City of Flagstaff and National Park Service to develop study proposals 

and projects designed to evaluate best management practices, reservoir modifications, and/or 

operational criteria to address the objectives of maintaining the quality of the municipal water 

supply and increasing the likelihood of flood flows and improvement of the inner-canyon 

environment in Walnut Canyon National Monument (per the Stipulation Between The City of 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Lake Mary Watershed Management Area – MA 35 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-101 

Flagstaff and the United States on Behalf of the National Park Service and the Forest 

Service). 

Fire Management 

Per the FLEA Area-wide direction, reduce potential for catastrophic wildfire within the 

Urban/Rural Influence Zone. Because of prevailing winds, lands south and west of the 

Urban/Rural Influence Zone should be evaluated for wildfire risks and appropriate measures 

taken to reduce potential for catastrophic fire. Continue partnerships with city, county, and 

State fire departments to coordinate fire hazard reduction treatments, prevention, and 

suppression. Take steps to minimize wildfire losses to key wildlife habitat components such 

as eagle roosts, osprey nests, snags, yellow pines, oaks and rare plant habitat. 

Rare Species 

Follow approved management plans or other conservation documents. 

Non-Native and Invasive Plants 

There are known populations of non-native and invasive plants in this MA, such as diffuse 

and spotted knapweed, musk and bull thistle, and Mediterranean sage. Continue efforts to 

control or eradicate these weeds and coordinate with recreation and lands uses to prevent 

spread. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Lake Mary Watershed Management Area – MA 35 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-102 
Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-103 

Schultz Management Area – MA 36 

Acres: 21,285 

Description 

The west boundary is the West MA, the north boundary is the Kachina Peaks Wilderness 

boundary and a small portion of FR 418. The east boundary is the Doney MA, the northern 

boundary is FR 418, the west boundary is Kachina Peaks Wilderness, and the southern 

boundary is the Mt. Elden Environmental Study Area. Prominent landscape features include 

the Dry Lake Hills, Mount Elden, and the eastern slopes of the San Francisco Mountain. 

Meadows and riparian sites are few and therefore are key parts of the landscape. Dense 

forests of ponderosa pine and mixed conifer, along with geologic features and stands of 

aspen, provide habitats for a diversity of wildlife, including raptors, bear, and turkey. 

There are a very few small private land inholdings in the MA. A communication site and fire 

lookout are located on Mt. Elden and accessed via the Elden Lookout Road. A natural gas 

underground pipeline skirts the southern edge of the MA. The Mount Elden/Dry Lake Hills 

Trail system provides 47 miles of non-motorized trail opportunities. People enjoy 

extraordinary outdoor recreation and appreciate the developed trail system with easy access 

from the City of Flagstaff. Social values include scenic beauty; appreciation of wildlife such 

as bear, turkey, and raptors, and remote forest recreation opportunities. This entire MA holds 

important religious and traditional values to American Indians. 

Management Emphasis 

A small portion of this MA is within the Urban/Rural Influence Zone. Reduce the 

risk of catastrophic wildfire, especially within the Urban/Rural Influence Zone. 

Reintroduce fire’s natural role as much as possible. Emphasize daytime recreation 

activities, primarily non-motorized in the Urban/Rural Influence Zone and provide 

designated camping sites in the Dry Lake Hills. Balance recreation demands with 

protection of the soils, water, vegetation, and sensitive species. This includes 

defining limits on recreation individual, group or outfitter/guide use if analysis shows 

a need. 

Maintain drainages and meadows for watershed health and water quality. Ponderosa 

pine lands progress towards desired forest structure (goshawk habitat). Reduce 

instances of illegal activities and trash dumping. Maintain scenic quality. 

Opportunities for firewood or other forest products are rare; however, firewood sales 

may be used as a tool for management. 

Highlights include: 

• In the Mt. Elden/Dry Lake Hills area, people should be mostly on the trail 

system, leaving undisturbed patches of habitat in between. Wildlife habitat will 

be somewhat fragmented because of the extent of the trail system, but 

topography and dense mixed conifer vegetation reduce some of the effects. 

• Per the Objectives for Recreation Opportunity Spectrum map, maintain the Semiprimitive Non-motorized setting in the Dry Lake Hills and expand the Semiprimitive Non-motorized setting below the Waterline Road. Expand Semi-
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Schultz Management Area – MA 36 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-104 

primitive Motorized settings in the remainder of the MA with Roaded Natural 

corridors along major roads. 

• Maintain the Dry Lake Hills Trail system for non-motorized recreation trail 

opportunities. Few if any additions are needed to this system. 

• Maintain the two Mexican spotted owl PACs. 

• Management Indicator Species (MIS) should be referenced by vegetation and 

landform type. For example, in ponderosa pine/mixed conifer on slopes over 15 

percent areas MIS are those listed for MA4. 

Timber Land Use Classes Acres

Nonforest 223 

Forest land withdrawn 

 Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer 0 

 Pinyon-juniper 0 

Unsuitable 1,066 

Unsuitable (physically unsuited or notcapable) 8,130 

Forest lands not appropriate for timber harvest 72 

Suitable Timber lands 11,794 

 

TOTAL 21,285 

All of the following items are Guidelines. 

Recreation 

Identify designated parking spots along the roads of this MA where recreational uses are 

heavy. 

Maintain the non-motorized status of the base of Mt. Elden to protect deer winter habitat and 

cultural sites and to provide for high levels of non-motorized recreation. 

Recreation Signing 

In the Mount Elden/Dry Lake Hills area there will be extensive signing, brochures, and 

patrols so that visitors can easily find trails and facilities. 

In the area east of the Waterline Road informational signs and patrols will be similar to what 

they are today. Brochures or other information would be minimal. Recreation opportunities 

here will not be "advertised." 

Camping 

Per the Objectives for Camping map, designate dispersed camping sites in the Mount 

Elden/Dry Lake Hills area. 

Monitor backcountry camping for impacts. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Schultz Management Area – MA 36 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-105 

Outfitter/Guides 

Per FLEA Area-wide direction, generally, do not place additional outfitter/guide activities or 

group activities in the Dry Lake Hills, any spring or perennial stream site, except in support 

of approved research, and/or to improve safety or provide site rehabilitation. 

Non-motorized and Motorized Trails 

Maintain the current trail system. Maintain and improve trailhead parking and identify 

designated parking spots. Relocate trailhead parking on the Elden Lookout Road to balance 

use with sensitive MSO habitat. 

Discourage off-trail use. 

Evaluate the Shultz Creek trail for conversion to a non-motorized trail. 

Maintain the Waterline Road as a heavily used non-motorized recreation corridor. 

Administrative use is motorized. 

Do not pursue motorized trails in the Dry Lake Hills or east of the Waterline Road. 

Between Timberline and other communities, consider a motorized connection. Use the 

secondary road system to provide motorized access. 

Wildlife 

Within the Semi-primitive Non-motorized ROS settings maintain large tracts of 

unfragmented habitat for disturbance sensitive species, such as turkey and bear. 

Fire Management 

Per the FLEA Area-wide direction, reduce potential for catastrophic wildfire within the 

Urban/Rural Influence Zone. Because of prevailing winds and steep terrain, lands north and 

east of the Urban/Rural Influence Zone should be evaluated for wildfire risks and appropriate 

measures taken to reduce potential for catastrophic fire. Continue partnerships with City, 

County, and State fire departments to coordinate fire hazard reduction treatments, prevention, 

and suppression. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Schultz Management Area – MA 36 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-106 
Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-107 

Walnut Canyon Management Area – MA 37 

Acres: 20,699 

Description 

Adjacent communities include: Fairfield neighborhood, Herold Ranch, and 

communities along Lake Mary Road. 

The northern boundary is private land on the southeast side of Flagstaff (Flagstaff 

MA) and a portion of I-40. The communities of Fairfield Continental, Herold 

Ranch, and the new Fairway Peaks are nearby. The eastern boundary is the 

Walnut Canyon National Monument entrance road, a portion of the Monument 

boundary, and the FLEA boundary. The southern boundary is the Lake Mary MA 

and the western boundary is Lake Mary Road. Large tracts of private land border 

this MA. There are small inholdings of private land along Lake Mary Road, but 

little private land in the interior of the MA. Walnut Canyon National Monument 

and Arizona State Trust Land sections are located in the northern 1⁄2 of the MA. 

No paved roads or utility corridors occur except on the boundaries. 

Walnut Canyon dominates this MA, running from the end of Lower Lake Mary to 

Fisher Point and turning east towards Winona. The scenery is spectacular. 

Cultural sites are numerous and the canyon holds Native Americans religious 

values. The steepest section of the canyon with the most archaeological sites is 

located within Walnut Canyon National Monument. The canyon itself supports a 

multitude of vegetation types and habitats from steep north facing mixed conifer, 

to riparian vegetation at the canyon bottom. Disturbance sensitive wildlife species 

occur in secluded portions of the canyon and along the rim. Lands outside of the 

canyon are ponderosa pine with Gambel oak understory, and some pinyon and 

juniper. 

There are Forest system trails, including the Arizona Trail in the canyon itself and 

along the rim. Fisher Point is a popular destination for hikers, mountain bikers, 

and outfitter/guided horse trips. Canyon Vista is popular for climbing. North and 

west of Walnut Canyon the area provides dispersed recreation opportunities and 

receives heavy use adjacent to private land and Lake Mary Road. Activities 

include hiking, horse riding, and mountain biking. Major roads provide access 

and other areas are closed to vehicles. Walnut Canyon and its major side 

drainages are closed to motorized vehicles. The areas south and east of Walnut 

Canyon provide more remote dispersed recreation opportunities including 

motorized travelways. 

Social values include scenic beauty, appreciation of wildlife such as bear, turkey, 

and raptors, and remote forest recreation opportunities. Despite increasing 

numbers of people in the greater Flagstaff area, this MA maintains large tracts of 

unfragmented habitat for disturbance-sensitive species such as owls, turkey, and 

bear primarily south of Walnut Canyon. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Walnut Canyon Management Area – MA 37 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-108 

Management Emphasis 

Provide Recreational Opportunities. Maintain the quality of the recreational 

experience throughout this MA. North and west of Walnut Canyon emphasize 

daytime recreation activities, primarily non-motorized. South and east of Walnut 

Canyon emphasize remote dispersed recreation (day and overnight) with motorized 

and non-motorized opportunities. Balance recreation demands with protection of the 

soils, water, vegetation, and sensitive species. 

Manage to protect the values of Walnut Canyon National Monument and 

complement National Park Service goals for the Monument as described in the 

National Park Service’s General Management Plan. 

Maintain scenic quality. 

Protect the community - A small portion of this MA is within the Urban/Rural 

Influence Zone. Reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, especially within the 

Urban/Rural Influence Zone. Reintroduce fire’s natural role as much as possible. 

Opportunities for firewood or other forest products are rare north and west of the 

Canyon, however, firewood sales may be used as a tool for management. 

Protect Walnut Canyon environs. Focus on maintenance and/or improvement of soil 

condition and watershed function. Degraded meadows and stream channels will be 

improved through a variety of management activities designed to increase herbaceous 

ground cover and litter and reduce soil erosion. System roads and trails should 

receive adequate maintenance so that accelerated soil erosion is minimal. Nonsystem roads will be rehabilitated and some poorly located roads will be re-located. 

Maintain sensitive species habitat. Ponderosa pine lands progress towards desired 

forest structure, including Mexican spotted owl and northern goshawk habitats. 

Reduce instances of illegal activities and trash dumping. 

Emphasize the social values compatible with an urban interface that includes 

recognition of the area’s opportunity for wildlife, recreational, and scenic values. 

Provide forage and security for a variety of game and non-game species of wildlife, 

provide conservation and environmental education opportunities, provide an area for 

recreational uses for the Flagstaff public, and manage a portion of the area to give a 

quiet, almost primitive recreation experience. 

Highlights include: 

• Per the Objectives for Recreation Opportunity Spectrum map, expand Primitive 

(Non-motorized) settings in and around the steepest portions of Walnut Canyon. 

Expand Semi-primitive Non-motorized settings on Campbell Mesa, around 

Walnut Canyon, in the Skunk/Fay Canyon area and northwest of Fisher Point. 

The Skunk/Fay Canyon areas and lands north of Fisher Point are classified as 

SPNM ROS settings with one or two SPM road corridors located to protect 

important habitat characteristics and soil and water needs of the canyon rim.

Roaded Natural settings continue in some portions of the MA along the Lake 

Mary Road corridor. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Walnut Canyon Management Area – MA 37 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-109 

• Balance recreation demands with sensitive resources such as sensitive species 

habitats, fragile riparian vegetation, and erosive soils on steep slopes. 

• MIS should be referenced by vegetation and landform type. For example, in 

ponderosa pine lands less than 40 percent slope, MIS are those listed for MA3. 

• Reduce the risk of catastrophic fire especially in the Urban/Rural Influence Zone. 

There is concern for wildfire losses to the National Monument from fires starting 

southwest of the park. Balance the need to reduce wildfire risk in these areas 

with desired conditions for Primitive and Semi-primitive ROS settings and 

disturbance sensitive species habitat. Reference FLEA area-wide direction and 

other the Forest Plan management direction related to vegetation and fire 

management. 

• Per the area-wide FLEA direction: meet with specific communities, City and 

County officials and consider input for Forest road and trail management, 

discourage proliferation of unneeded trails, create a primary trail system that 

serves as a collector for trails that originate in neighborhoods, convert some 

roads that are not needed for the road system south and east of Walnut Canyon to 

motorized trails outside of SPNM areas. 

• Formalize and recognize commitments by the various federal, State, and local 

government entities to manage the lands between the urban growth boundaries 

(UGB) and the national monument to retain its recreational and scenic values. 

Governmental commitments for the management of recreational and scenic lands 

between the Walnut Canyon NM and the UGB shall reflect the following 

objectives and intents: 

• Protect the natural and cultural resources in the urban/wildland interface 

and the lands surrounding the national monument. 

• Encourage the City and County to designate and require access points 

from developed or to be developed areas onto public lands. 

• Encourage the City and County to provide a transition zone of open 

space or low density from higher density development where adjacent to 

public lands. 

• Cooperate with NPS in its efforts to monitor the use of and impacts on 

the natural and cultural resources of the Monument. 

Timber Land Use Classes Acres

Nonforest 952 

Forest land withdrawn 

 Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer 0 

 Pinyon-juniper 0 

Unsuitable 4,305 

Unsuitable (physically unsuited or not capable) 6,595 

Forest lands not appropriate for timber harvest 0 

Suitable Timber lands 8,847 

 

TOTAL 20,699 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Walnut Canyon Management Area – MA 37 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-110 

All of the following items are Guidelines, with the exception of Land Ownership. 

Recreation 

High-quality daytime recreation will be available with few developed recreation facilities. 

As signs need to be replaced, use the Walnut Management Area name to replace the Walnut 

Recreation Area name. 

Outfitter/Guides 

Before permitting outfitter/guides adjacent to National Monuments, contact the National Park 

Service for coordination. Outfitter guiding might also help meet the mission of the National 

Park Service in the National Monuments or on adjacent National Forest lands. 

Follow FLEA area-wide direction including generally, do not place additional outfitter/guide 

activities or group activities in Walnut Canyon from Fisher Point east, any spring or perennial 

stream site, except in support of approved research and/or to improve safety or provide site 

rehabilitation. 

Camping 

Portions of this MA will be closed to camping as noted on the Camping Objectives Map. 

Manage the Canyon Vista area to provide parking, day-use trails, and overnight camping for 

individuals and groups. Facilities at the site should be designed to limit resource impacts and 

provide a camping experience at the less developed end of the spectrum for developed 

campgrounds. 

Non-motorized and Motorized Trails 

Recreation use should be concentrated along main corridors with few roads, trails, and people 

in between. 

Continue the current non-motorized status in the areas of Skunk and Fay Canyons, Canyon 

Vista, Fisher Point, and Campbell Mesa. 

Within Walnut Canyon itself, discourage off trail use. 

Scenery 

Consider impacts to viewsheds of the National Monument and consider input from Park 

Service personnel when designing or approving projects in this viewshed. 

Developments such as roads, trails, camping, day-use sites, and trailheads mimic local 

materials and landscape characteristics to blend with the adjacent natural-appearing 

landscape. 

Provide fast clean-up from management activities and limit short-term visual impacts (1 to 3 

years), while meeting fire potential reduction needs, design thinning for long-term scenic 

quality adjacent to homes and along major highways or near developed recreation sites. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Walnut Canyon Management Area – MA 37 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-111 

Throughout the entire management area, activities, such as thinning and prescribed fire, result 

over the long-term, in alterations that appear natural to most visitors. 

Do thinning with sensitivity to scenic values and recreation uses. Examples may include but 

are not limited to, feathering edges of thinning boundaries, careful placement and use of 

roads to access thinning areas, and creating a variety of tree densities, sizes, types and 

openings. 

Watershed 

Cooperate with the City of Flagstaff and National Park Service to develop study proposals 

and projects designed to evaluate best management practices, reservoir modifications, and/or 

operational criteria to address the objectives of maintaining the quality of the municipal water 

supply and increasing the likelihood of flood flows and improvement of the inner-canyon 

environment in Walnut Canyon National Monument (per the Stipulation Between The City of 

Flagstaff and the United States on Behalf of the National Park Service and the Forest 

Service). 

Cultural/Historical 

Continue active monitoring of cultural and historical sites to impacts from recreation, cattle 

grazing, firewood cutting, and other human uses. Changes in management can occur in 

response to demonstrated (through monitoring) negative impacts to archaeological resources. 

Cooperate with available Park Service personnel to assist with monitoring. 

Wildlife 

In the Primitive, Semi-primitive Non-motorized, and Semi-primitive Motorized ROS settings 

maintain large tracts of unfragmented habitat for turkey and bear. 

Coordination with National Park Service 

See FLEA area-wide direction related to Memorandum of Understanding’s (MOU’s). 

Coordinate with the NPS concerning the fencing of newly acquired National 

Monument lands, access and interpretation of the “first fort” area, and protection 

activities, such as reduction of fuel hazard and closure of roads accessing the canyon 

rims. 

Land Ownership Planning/Land Classification 

Standard

National Forest jurisdiction will be maintained for all lands in the Walnut Canyon MA. No 

land exchanges will occur unless the purpose is to acquire land within this MA through 

exchange of national forest lands elsewhere. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

Walnut Canyon Management Area – MA 37 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-112 

Cooperate with other agencies and local governments to maintain the Arizona State Trust 

Lands*

 in Wildland/open space status. Pursue purchase or land exchange options for the 

purpose of conservation. 

 

*

 It is intended that the State sections are the same as those described in the City of Flagstaff’s Arizona

Preservie Initiative (API) petition sections 22, 28, and 30. 
Coconino National Forest Plan Amendment No. 17- 12/2002 New page 206-113 

West Management Area – MA 38 

Acres: 36,663 

Description 

The northern boundary is the FLEA boundary (portion of the Kachina Peaks 

Wilderness boundary), the west boundary is the FLEA boundary just west of Fort 

Valley, and bordering Camp Navajo and portions of Woody Ridge. The southern 

boundary is the rim near the switchbacks on Highway 89A, and the eastern boundary 

is the Lake Mary MA near Mountainaire, private land on the west side of Flagstaff, 

and the Schultz MA. 

Much of the land in this MA is either private land or Arizona State Trust land with 

interspersed National Forest land. Adjacent communities include or are nearby: 

Lowell Observatory, Museum of Northern Arizona, Fort Valley, Hidden Hollow, 

Cheshire, Fort Tuthill, WL Gore facility, Equestrian Estates, Pine Dell, Mountain 

Dell, University Heights, University Highlands, Forest Highlands, Kachina Village, 

Mountainaire, lands south of the Flagstaff Airport, Flagstaff Ranch Road, Old Route 

66, Naval Observatory, Dry Lake, and The Arboretum at Flagstaff. 

At the top of the switchbacks on Highway 89A, Oak Creek Vista currently receives 

over 300,000 visitors annually and is the busiest recreation site on the Coconino 

Forest. No other National Forest developed recreation facilities exist in this MA. 

Fort Tuthill is a Coconino County regional park and the Flagstaff Urban Trail system 

has segments that cross National Forest land. The Highway 89A corridor is popular 

for dispersed camping, that is frequently overflow from Oak Creek Canyon. Other 

highways in this MA include I-17, I-40, a small segment of Highway 180 and the 

lower 2 miles of the Snowbowl Road. Areas near urban/residential areas receive 

high levels of daytime use by nearby residents. Activities include horse riding, 

mountain biking, ATV riding, jogging, and hiking. There are equestrian centers 

nearby. 

Prominent features include the southern slopes of the San Francisco Mountain, A-1 

Mountain, Observatory Mesa, Dry Lake, Rodgers Lake, Woody Mountain, Woody 

Ridge, and the Oak Creek rim. Vegetation is mostly ponderosa pine with Gambel 

oak understory and mixed conifer on steep slopes and within drainages. There is a 

mix of disturbance sensitive and other wildlife species in the MA, and a wildlife 

travelway near A-1 Mountain provides wildlife access to the San Francisco Mountain 

and areas south. Areas support Mexican spotted owls and other sensitive species. 

The Pumphouse Wash canyon supports a variety of vegetation types and habitats 

from steep north facing mixed conifer, to abundant riparian vegetation in the canyon 

bottom. The scenery is spectacular. Disturbance sensitive wildlife species such as 

peregrine falcon, Mexican spotted owls, turkey, bear, and mountain lion occur in the 

canyon and along the rim. Pumphouse Wash drains into Oak Creek and high quality 

water is emphasized. 

Many people have listed the presence of the forest as one of the quality-of-life items 

that drew them to Flagstaff. Nearby outdoor recreation opportunities and forest 

scenery are highly appreciated by residents and tourists. People enjoy the scenery, 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

West Management Area – MA 38 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-114 

and nearby residents value outdoor recreation and scenic backdrops. The San 

Francisco Mountain holds significant religious and cultural values to Native 

Americans, along with some cinder cones and drainages. 

Management Emphasis 

More than half of this MA is within the Urban/Rural Influence Zone. Within the 

Urban/Rural Influence Zone, and along the Highway 89A corridor, reduce the risk of 

catastrophic wildfire, emphasize daytime recreation activities, both motorized and 

non-motorized, balance recreation demands with protection of the soils, water, 

wildlife and vegetation, and maintain public access to public lands. Reduce instances 

of illegal activities and trash dumping. Maintain scenic quality. Opportunities for 

firewood or other forest products are rare, however, firewood sales may be used as a 

tool for management. Maintain wildlife travelways. 

In the remainder of the MA, re-introduce fire’s natural role as much as possible, 

progress towards desired conditions described (MSO and goshawk guidelines), 

restore meadows, and promote healthy pine/oak forests. Minimize recreation impacts 

to disturbance sensitive species. Maintain wildlife travelways. 

Take actions to help protect and maintain high quality water in Oak Creek. 

Highlights include: 

• Along Woody Ridge there are large tracts of unfragmented habitat and remote 

recreation opportunities including Semi-primitive Motorized and Semi-primitive 

Non-motorized ROS settings with Roaded Natural corridors. The challenge here 

will be to maintain remote characteristics as new residential development occurs 

on the west side of Flagstaff. Maintain Woody Ridge as a Semi-primitive Nonmotorized ROS setting with walk-in hunting opportunities. 

• Reference the Fort Valley Ecosystem Management Environmental Assessment

and the “A-1” 10K Ecosystem Management Environmental Assessment for sitespecific desired conditions and actions. 

• Per the Objectives for Recreation Opportunity Spectrum map, maintain Semiprimitive Non-motorized settings on portions of Woody Ridge, A-1 Mountain 

and west of A-1 Mountain. In the remainder of National Forest lands, maintain 

patches of Semi-primitive Motorized habitat with Roaded Natural corridors along 

major roads or in smaller National Forest inholdings. In this MA, the Semiprimitive settings have higher numbers of people than occur in outlying MA’s. 

• The portions of this MA that lie southwest of developed lands are high priority 

for fire risk reduction efforts. This includes the Urban/Rural Influence Zone and 

the Wildland Urban Interface as depicted on the Fire Management Analysis 

Zones map. Reference FLEA area-wide direction. 

• Per the area-wide FLEA direction: meet with specific communities and County 

officials and consider input for Forest road and trail management, discourage 

proliferation of unneeded trails, create a primary trail system that serves as a 

collector for trails that originate in neighborhoods, convert some roads that are 

not needed for the road system into motorized trails. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

West Management Area – MA 38 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-115 

• MIS should be referenced by vegetation and landform type. For example, in 

ponderosa pine less than 40 percent slope, MIS are those listed for MA3. 

• Maintain the major wildlife corridor that crosses Highway 180 and another 

corridor between Pumphouse Wash and Woody Ridge, south of Kachina Village. 

Timber Land Use Classes Acres

Nonforest 1,939 

Forest land withdrawn 

 Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer 0 

 Pinyon-juniper 0 

Unsuitable 173 

Unsuitable (physically unsuited or not capable) 4,339 

Forest lands not appropriate for timber harvest 59 

Suitable Timber lands 30,153 

 

TOTAL 36,663 

All of the following items are Guidelines. 

Recreation 

Areas near to residential private lands may have large numbers of people on some occasions. 

Daytime activities are emphasized with some designated overnight camping opportunities. 

Encounters with other people are frequent here, but there will still be places to "get away" 

and enjoy solitude. 

Recreation Signing 

Adjacent to residential areas improve trailhead signing, brochures and directional signing. 

Recreation opportunities will be somewhat "advertised," but each residential area will need to 

provide input on the level of information provided. 

In the Semi-primitive ROS settings, informational signs and patrols will be similar to what 

they are today. Brochures or other information would be minimal. Recreation opportunities 

Semi-primitive areas will not be "advertised." 

Camping 

Per the Objectives for Camping map (Appendix M) there should be designated dispersed 

camping along the Highway 89A corridor and the Freidlein Prairie Road. Expand the area 

where camping and campfires are prohibited. General dispersed camping should continue in 

the remainder of the MA. 

Non-motorized and Motorized Trails 

When conducting trail planning as described in the FLEA area-wide direction, include 

discussions and input from the County trails coordinator and local groups, as well as 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

West Management Area – MA 38 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-116 

community citizens. Complicated access issues and a multitude of recreation demands occur 

here. 

Balance demands for non-motorized and motorized trails and provide opportunities for both. 

Focus road and trail rehabilitation work in the steep drainages, such as Pumphouse Wash, that 

flow into Oak Creek Canyon and contain fragile plants and rare species. Locate trails and 

manage recreation use to reduce impacts of woody riparian vegetation and riparian habitat in 

Pumphouse Wash. 

Coordinate trailhead parking with future development on adjacent private lands, in order to 

take advantage of the opportunity to be proactive in designing trails and trailheads to 

maintain access to public lands. 

Special-Uses 

Per the FLEA Area-wide direction, focus special use permits away from urban/residential 

areas. Generally, do not place additional outfitter/guide activities or group activities in 

Pumphouse Wash, any spring or perennial stream site, except in support of approved research 

and/or to improve safety or provide site rehabilitation. 

Wildlife 

In the Fort Valley and A-1 Mountain areas, maintain the wildlife travelway that connects A-1 

Mountain, Observatory Mesa, and the slopes of the San Francisco Mountain. 

Lands west of A-1 Mountain in Semi-primitive Non-motorized ROS setting maintain large 

tracts of unfragmented habitat for turkey and bear. 

Watershed 

In the Oak Creek watershed, high priority is given to minimizing soil erosion and 

sedimentation from Forest system roads and trails. Proper maintenance and drainage will be 

emphasized as well as relocating roads from meadows and obliterating unnecessary roads. 

Where perennial stream flow is present, riparian communities should have adequate 

in-stream flows and adequate plant cover to protect stream banks and dissipate 

energy during high flows. Channel characteristics and water support natural 

biodiversity. Ensure adequate instream flow water rights to maintain aquatic 

communities and water sources for wildlife. 

Rare Species 

Avoid or limit human disturbance to rare species such as peregrine falcon and Arizona 

bugbane. 

Non-Native and Invasive Plants 

There are known populations of non-native and invasive plants in this MA, such as bull 

thistle in Pumphouse Wash. Continue efforts to control or eradicate these weeds and 

coordinate with recreation and lands uses to prevent spread. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

West Management Area – MA 38 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-117 

Fire Management 

Per the FLEA Area-wide direction, reduce potential for catastrophic wildfire within the 

Urban/Rural Influence zone. Because of prevailing winds and steep terrain, lands south and 

west of the Urban/Rural Influence zone should be evaluated for wildfire risks and appropriate 

measures taken to reduce potential for catastrophic fire. Continue partnerships with city, 

county, and State fire departments to coordinate fire hazard reduction treatments, prevention, 

and suppression. 

Coordination with Centennial Forest 

Some of the Arizona State Trust Land parcels in this MA are Centennial Forest. 

Coordinate with the Director of the Centennial Forest when conducting management 

activities on adjacent National Forest lands. 
Chapter 4 – Management Direction – Standards and Guidelines 

West Management Area – MA 38 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 - 12/2002 New page 206-118 
Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement Page 237 

APPENDIX D

LAND SUITABILITY CLASSIFICATION - ACRE DISTRIBUTION BY 

MANAGEMENT AREA

 Nonforest Withdrawn 

PP 

Withdrawn 

PJ 

Physically 

Unsuitable/ 

(PJ) 

Physically 

Unsuitable/ 

Not 

Capable 

Not 

Approp 

Suitable Total 

 

MA1 59,729 26,058 70,136 155,923

MA2 1,167 1,028 2,195

MA3 223 6,990 492,251 499,464

MA4 14,092 5,359 656 20,107

MA5 4,487 4,487

MA6 54,566 54,566

MA7 254,033 254,033

MA8 12,273 12,273

MA9 1,544 1,544

MA10 144,275 144,275

MA11 25,689 202,422 228,111 

MA12 17,501 19,367 36,868

MA13 2,865 2,576 3,816 4,454 13,711

MA14 646 3,709 1,477 414 6,246 

MA15 1,532 1,532

MA16 838 838

MA17 1,432 1,629 1,736 4,797

MA18 1,580 1,580

MA19 12,554 12,554

MA20 328 1,121 279 5,607 7,335 

MA21 967 4,541 5,508 

MA22 1,587 924 668 3,179 

MA23 785 785 

MA24 4,045 11,158 15,203 

MA25 1,630 1,994 3,624 

MA26 2,532 2,738 5,270 

MA27 20,329 19,062 39,391 

MA28 2,287 1,016 1,778 5,081 

MA29 974 1,912 2,886 

MA30 118 186 556 860 

MA31 7,484 16,610 4,356 12 1,396 29,858 

Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 New Page 237-1 

APPENDIX D (Continued)

LAND SUITABILITY CLASSIFICATION - ACRE DISTRIBUTION BY 

MANAGEMENT AREA 

Nonforest Withdrawn 

PP 

Withdrawn 

PJ 

Physically 

Unsuitable/ 

(PJ) 

Physically 

Unsuitable/ 

Not 

Capable 

Not 

Approp 

Suitable Total 58,088 

MA33 8,384 14,419 4,167 86 13,775 40,831 

MA34 241 20* 1 39 994 1,295 

MA35 6,953 309† 94‡ 2,107 8,274 40 44,715 62,492 

MA36 223 1,066 8,130 72 11,794 21,285 

MA37 952 4,305 6,595 8,847 20,699 

MA38 1,939 173 4,339 59 30,153 36,663 

TOTAL 321,429 28,639 73,209 604,593 140,805 13,415 633,257 1,815,347 

 

*

 Dorms 

†

 Coulter Plots 

‡

 Coulter Plots 
Coconino National Forest Plan - Amendment No. 17 –12/2002 Replacement Page 233 

APPENDIX B

MANAGEMENT AREAS

No. Description Analysis Areas Acres 

1 Wilderness 35-46 155,923i

2 Verde Wild & Scenic River 34 2,195 

3 Ponderosa pine & mixed conifer < 40% 

slopes 

1-9, 11, 12, 57, 59 499,419ii

4 Ponderosa pine & mixed conifer > 40% 

slopes 

10, 10a, 13, 13a 20,107iii

5 Aspen 14 4,487 

6 Unsuitable timber land 15, 16 54,566 

7 Pinyon-juniper woodland < 40% slopes 17-19 254,033iv

8 Pinyon-juniper woodland > 40% slopes 20 12,273v

9 Mountain grassland 25 1,544 

10 Transition, grassland & sparse PJ above Rim 26, 27 144,275vi

11 Verde Valley -- desert grass, sparse PJ, 

cypress, and chaparral 

28, 29 228,111 

12 Riparian and open water 32, 33 36,868 

13 Cinder Hills 31 13,711 

14 Oak Creek Canyon 30 6,246 

15 Developed recreation sites (public & private) 

and Fairfield Snow Bowl 

22-24, 58 1,487vii

16 Inner Basin 21 838 

17 Special Areas -- RNA's (outside wilderness), 

Geologic, and Botanic Areas 

48-51 4,797 

18 Elden Environmental Study Area 52, part of 53 1,580 

19 Mogollon Rim 12,554 

20 Highway 180 Corridor viii 7,335 

21 Dry Creek Basin NA 5,508 

22 Gateway NA 3,179 
Coconino National Forest Plan Amendment No. 17- 12/2002 New page 233-1 

APPENDIX B (Continued)

MANAGEMENT AREAS

No. Description Analysis Areas Acres 

23 Lower Oak Creek NA 785 

24 Neighborwoods NA 15,203 

25 Red Cliff NA 3,624 

26 Redrock Frontcountry NA 5,270 

27 Savannah NA 39,391 

28 Schnebly Rim NA 5,081 

29 Transition NA 2,886 

30 Bellemont Shooting Facility NA 860 

31 Craters NA 39,858 

32 Deadman Wash NA 58,088 

33 Doney NA 40,831 

34 Flagstaff NA 1,295 

35 Lake Mary Watershed NA 62,492 

36 Schultz NA 21,285 

37 Walnut Canyon NA 20,699 

38 West NA 36,663 

The following will not be delineated as management areas but will be displayed on the map with an appropriate 

symbol:

• administrative sites and electronic sites (738 ACRES)

• non Forest Service lands and Experimental Forests (5410 ACRES)

The changes made on 8/86 reflect changes in boundaries of the Cinder Hills MA and the discovery of an error 

in the classification of 2,187 acres of suitable timber land in MA13 which should have been in unsuitable. The 

suitability change only shows in the individual MA listing of acres by land use classification. 

 

i

 Wilderness acres in plan were 150,180 originally, adjusted to match Wilderness Bill. 

ii Acres do not match AA list because 12,233 acres removed from the AA's to make a portion of MA19 

iii Acres do not match AA list because 321 acres removed from AA's to make a portion of MA19 and 375 acres 

left over from AA 53 added in here. 

iv Acres do not match AA list because 44,952 acres removed to make a portion of MA11. 

v

 Acres do not match AA list because 66,699 acres removed to make a portion of MA11 

vi Acres do not match AA list because 27,279 acres were added from AA's 28/29 to adjust the acres for MA11 

vii Includes existing and potential developed sites, both public and private (summer homes, organization sites, 

and concessionaire -- ski area and lodges). Only the acreage of selected potential sites will be included 

viii Acres are from MA’s 3, 5, 6, 7, 9 – as updated in Amendment 10