Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument : draft resource management plan & environmental impact statement

2005·77 MB·English

by  United States. Bureau of Land Management. Rio Puerco Resource Area

BLM LIBRARY
Monument
National
&
Draft Plan Environmental Impact Statement
The Bureau of Land Management
sustains the health, diversity, and productivity
of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of
present and future generations.
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Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks
National Monument
&
Draft Resource Management Plan Environmental Impact Statement
November 2005
United States Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
Albuquerque District
Rio Puerco Field Office
BLM
Library
Denver Federal Center
OC-521
Bldg. 50,
Box 25047
P.O.
CO 80225
Denver,

United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Take Pride*
New Mexico StateOffice inAmerica
1474 Rodeo Road
P.O. Box 27115
SantaFe,New Mexico 87502-0115
www.nm.blm.gov
InReplyReferTo:
1600(100) November 2005
Dear Reader:
Enclosed for your review and comment is the Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP)/Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument which is administered by
the Bureau ofLand Management (BLM), Rio Puerco Field Office. The document may also be available
electronically at the following website: http://www.blm.gov/nhp/spotlight/state_info/planning.htm.
The plan provides alternatives for managing the natural and cultural resources and uses in the national
monument, which was designated by Presidential Proclamation 7394 in 2001 Your careful review and
.
comments are needed at this time to ensure that your concerns are considered in the planning process.
BLM
After considering public comments on this Draft RMP/EIS, the will select the Proposed Plan. The
plan can be any one alternative or a mixture ofthe actions and prescriptions from various alternatives.
The agency will then release the Proposed RMP/Final EIS to the public, including responses to public
comments received on the draft document.
In order for your comments to be considered in the Proposed RMP/Final EIS, written comments must be
postmarked no later than 90 days following the publication by the Environmental Protection Agency of
the Notice ofAvailability in the Federal Register. Comments on the alternatives and the adequacy ofthe
impact analysis are most useful when they address one or more ofthe following:
• Errors in the analysis;
• New information that would have a bearing on the analysis;
• Misinformation that could affect the outcome ofthe analysis;
• Requests for clarification; and/or
• A substantive new alternative whose mix ofallocations differs from any ofthe existing
alternatives.
Where possible, refer to the pages and paragraphs on which you are commenting. Specific comments will
be most helpful. Those comments addressing the adequacy ofthe Draft RMP/EIS will be responded to in
the Proposed RMP/Final EIS.
To be considered, comment submissions must include a legible full name and street address. Anonymous
comments will not be considered. Written comments may be mailed directly, or delivered to the BLM at:
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
Draft RMP/EIS
BLM
Rio Puerco Field Office
435 Montano Road NE
NM
Albuquerque, 87107-4935
2
Comments may be faxed to the BLM at: (505) 761-891 1 or electronically mailed to:
[email protected]. Comments that are e-mailed or faxed must include “Comments on
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument DRMP/EIS” in the subject line. Comments may also be
submitted electronically by accessing the BLM’s planning website at
http://www.blm.gov/nhp/spotlight/state_info/planning.htm. Interested parties may also provide
written comments during the public open house meetings. In order to ensure that your comments are fully
considered they should be submitted in one ofthe four ways described above.
Comments, including names and street addresses ofrespondents, will be available for public review at the
above address during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
federal holidays), and may be published as part ofthe EIS process. Ifyou wish to withhold your name or
street address, or both, from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you
must state this prominently at the beginning ofyour written comments. Such requests will be honored to
the extent allowed by law. All submissions from organizations and businesses will be made available for
public inspection in their entirety.
Open house meetings will be scheduled to provide the public additional opportunities to submit written
comments on the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument Draft RMP/EIS. All meetings and any
other public involvement activities will be announced at least 15 days in advance through public notices,
media news releases, or mailings. In addition, information regarding the public meetings will be posted
on the above planning website.
Albuquerque District Manager
Enclosure
)
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
Resource Management Plan
and
Environmental Impact Statement
Draft ( x Final ( )
Lead Agency: United States Department ofthe Interior, Bureau ofLand Management
Type ofAction: Administrative
ABSTRACT
This Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
(1) Describes and analyzes three alternatives for managing the public lands and resources ofthe
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, Rio Puerco Field Office, New Mexico;
(2) Decides upon acquisition and management ofinholdings (assuming willing sellers); and
(3) Recommends acquisition ofprivate contiguous lands with resource values similar to or
compatible with resource values within the monument. The alternatives are: (A) Continuation of
existing Management (No Action), (B) Proposed Action, and (C)Adaptive Management.
Comments on this Draft RMP/EIS must be postmarked within 90 days following the date that the
Environmental Protection Agency’s Notice ofAvailability is published in the Federal Register.
Comments should be addressed to:
John Bristol
KKTR NM RMP Team Leader
Bureau ofLand Management
435 Montano Road NE
NM
Albuquerque, 87107-4935

111
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 - PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION 1-1
INTRODUCTION
1-1
DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT& PLANNING AREA
1-
Location and Acreage 1-1
Natural and Cultural Resources and Uses 1-2
PURPOSE OF ANDNEED FOR ACTION 1-12
PLANNING ISSUES 1-12
PLANNINGCRITERIA 1-13
RELATIONSHIPOFTHIS PLANTOOTHER PLANS 1-13
BLM
Relationship to Plans 1-13
Relationship to Other Agencies’ Plans 1-14
CHAPTER 2 - PROPOSED ACTION & ALTERNATIVES 2-1
INTRODUCTION 2-1
Contents ofThis Chapter 2-1
The BLM Planning/Environmental Assessment Process for the Tent Rocks National Monument 2-1
PROCLAMATIONMANAGEMENTREQUIREMENTS (ALLALTERNATIVES) 2-2
MANAGEMENTGUIDANCE COMMONTO ALLALTERNATIVES 2-3
Access and Transportation 2-3
Air Quality 2-3
American Indian Uses and Traditional Cultural Practices 2-3
Cultural Resources 2-3
Environmental Justice 2-4
Fire Management 2-4
Hazardous Materials/Solid Waste 2-4
Lands and Realty 2-4
Livestock Grazing 2-5
Noxious Weed Control 2-5
Paleontology 2-5
Recreational Uses 2-5
Soil and Water Resources 2-6
Special-Status Plants 2-6
Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Wildlife Species 2-6
Vegetation and Woodland Management 2-8
Visual Resources 2-8
Wilderness or Wilderness Study Areas 2-8
Wildlife 2-8
RESOURCE PROGRAM GOALS & OBJECTIVES 2-8
Access and Transportation 2-8
American Indian Uses and Traditional Cultural Practices 2-9
Cultural Resources 2-9
Fire Management 2-9
Livestock Grazing 2-9
Paleontology 2-10
Public Land Health 2-10
Recreational Uses 2-10
Riparian Areas 2-11
Soil and Water Resources 2-1
Unique Geologic Features 2-1
Vegetation 2-12
Visual Resources 2-12
Wildlife 2-12
PROPERTY OF
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES 2-12
Alternative A 2-12
Alternative B 2-23
Alternative C 2-29
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUTNOTANALYZED IN DETAIL 2-32
Leaving the Area as a Pristine and Peaceful Environment 2-32
Maximizing Recreational Use ofthe Monument 2-33
SUMMARY OF IMPACTS 2-33
CHAPTER 3 - AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT 3-1
INTRODUCTION 3-1
ACCESS & TRANSPORTATION 3-1
AMERICAN INDIAN USES & TRADITIONAL CULTURAL PRACTICES 3-2
Pueblo Indian Uses ofthe Planning Area 3-2
Repatriation 3-2
CULTURAL RESOURCES 3-2
National Monument 3-2
Planning Area 3-3
GEOLOGY, MINERALS & PALEONTOLOGY 3-4
Geology 3-4
Minerals 3-4
Paleontology 3-5
LANDS AND"REALTY 3-5
Land Use Authorizations 3-5
Improvements 3-6
LIVESTOCKGRAZING 3-8
RECREATIONAL USES 3-9
Partnerships and Cooperative Management Agreements 3-9
Recreation Opportunity Spectrum 3-9
Recreational Activities 3-10
Visitation and Standard Amenity Fee Site 3-10
Trails 3-11
Interpretation 3-11
Facilities 3-11
Economic Benefits 3-12
Private Inholdings within the Monument 3-13
RIPARIAN AREAS 3-13
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS 3-13
SOILS 3-17
THREATENED, ENDANGERED, & SENSITIVEWILDLIFE SPECIES 3-23
Federally Listed Species 3-23
Sensitive Species 3-23
VEGETATION
3-23
Major Land Resource Area 3-23
Climate, Vegetation and Fire 3-27
Noxious Weeds 3-27
Special-Status Plants 3-28
VISUAL RESOURCES 3-29
WATERRESOURCES
3-35
Climate 3-35
Surface Water 3-35
Groundwater 3-36
Water Quality 3-36
WILDLIFE 3-36
General 3-36
Game Animals 3-38