santa catalina - sky island alliancesanta catalina ecosystem management area ridge wilderness...

Santa Catalina RANGER DISTRICT

www.skyislandaction.org 11- 1 State of the Coronado Forest DRAFT 11.05.08

DRAFT 11.05.08 State of the Coronado Forest 11- 2 www.skyislandaction.org

CHAPTER 11 Santa Catalina Ecosystem Management AreaRidge Wilderness encompasses 56,933 acres of rugged,steep terrain. Prominent topographical features suchas Finger Rock, the Window, and Table Mountain arevisible from the Tucson metro area. The northern sideof the Catalinas remains much less developed than thesouthern side. The small town of Oracle sits near theForest boundary and the rough Oracle Control Roadleads up the north slopes connecting with Catalinahighway. Most of the Santa Catalina range is managedby the Coronado National Forest except for a smallarea at the western foothills that is encompassed byCatalina State Park.

The eastern side of the Catalina range remains partof an important wildlife corridor stretching across theSan Pedro Valley to the rugged and remote GaliuroMountains. The northern and eastern slopes of theCatalina Mountains drain into the San Pedro Riverbasin, contributing to the watershed health of one ofthe most biologically diverse stretches of river in theUnited States. Northwestern slopes of the range feedinto the prominent Cañada del Oro wash thatoriginates near the top of Mount Lemmon and carrieswater all the way to the Santa Cruz River on thewestern edge of the Tucson area.

The Santa Catalina Mountains are separated fromthe Rincon Mountains by a low area on the easternside of Tucson known as Redington Pass. The RinconMountains form the eastern boundary of the Tucson

The sprawling Santa Catalina EcosystemManagement Area (EMA) encompasses 265,148 acreswith elevations ranging from approximately 2,850 feetto 9,150 feet at the summit of Mt. Lemmon. This isone of the largest Management Areas on theCoronado National Forest (Figure 11.1). The SantaCatalina and Rincon Mountain Ranges form thenorthern and eastern boundary of the Tucson Valley.

The Santa Catalina Management Area experiencesthe most intense recreational use on the entire Forest.The paved route of General Hitchcock Highwaytransports visitors into the heart of the Santa Catalinarange. Starting in saguaro dotted hillsides at thenortheastern edge of Tucson, the highway crisscrosses25 miles of steep mountain slopes passing numerousdeveloped campgrounds and scenic pullouts along theway. Atop the range, the road continues throughmixed conifer forest ending near the summit ofMount Lemmon. Mount Lemmon Ski Valley is anoperational ski hill just outside the mountaincommunity of Summerhaven. Summerhaven is apopular summer retreat from the heat of thesurrounding desert.

The suburban edges of Tucson reach the very edgeof the Forest along the western and southern flanks ofthe Catalina Mountains. Numerous canyon trails startat these suburban edges and lead up the southern faceof the Catalinas into Pusch Ridge Wilderness. Pusch



Figure 11.1 Overview of the Santa Catalina EMA


The mountains of the Santa Catalina EMA providerunoff to a number of water courses in the area.Cañada del Oro is the most important and wellknown riparian area in the northern portion of theCatalina Range. This wash carries runoff north out ofthe mountains then turns back to the southwestflowing through Catalina State Park. Its routeconnects a number of side canyons and recharges thestressed aquifer that provides water to the growingpopulation centers of Oro Valley and Catalina. Cañadadel Oro and the Tucson water supply is also fed bywaters running down westerly canyons fromSamaniego Ridge into Sutherland Wash. The lowerSan Pedro River Valley is fed by Alder, Edgar, andBuehman Canyons that carry water from the upperreaches of the Catalina range near Butterfly Peak outto the east. Further upstream, the San Pedro riverinesystem is fed by side canyons in the Happy Valley andLittle Rincon Mountains that drain into Ash Canyon.At the east end of the Tucson basin, Agua CalienteCanyon and Tanque Verde Canyon travel west fromthe Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains providing asource of recharge for the major metropolitan area.During flash flood events these waters make their wayacross the entire city connecting with the Santa CruzRiver.

The front range of the Catalinas south of Romeroand Sabino Canyons is of the Catalina gneiss complex,a metamorphic rock. The northern slopes of the rangeare composed of a mosaic of parent materials thatinclude granite and diorite, schist, andesite, slate andshale, quartzite and limestone.

The Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains arehome to a great diversity of species, many of which areat the northern edges of their range in the UnitedStates. Pusch Ridge has a small remnant population ofdesert bighorn sheep in Arizona. Four animals wereobserved in the Sabino Canyon area in the Spring of2004. Nesting Bell's vireo, broad-billedhummingbirds, blue-gray gnatcatchers and a varietyof other birds can be spotted in front range canyons ofthe Catalinas and Rincons. Perhaps the rarest plant inArizona, Anoda reticulata, was found in Finger RockCanyon in 2007. This plant was first collected in theCatalinas in 1881 and has also been collected in thePajarita Mountains in 1939 and 1940. The collectionof the plant in the Catalinas by David Bertelsen wasonly the sixth in the United States.1 Canyon tree frogsand red-spotted toads are often seen near flowing

basin. A large portion of the Rincon Mountains,including Helen’s Dome and Tanque Verde Ridge liewithin the Saguaro National Park’s East Unit. Much ofthe rest of the range is encompassed in RinconMountain Wilderness with approximately 38,590 acreslocated above 3,800 feet elevation. Access to RinconWilderness is via two dirt routes that enter the Forestfrom the east side through Happy Valley. The easternflanks of the Rincons are part of the same linkage ofnatural lands that connect wildlife movements acrossthe San Pedro River to the Galiuro and Winchestermountain ranges to the east. Western slopes of theRincons contribute to the water supply of Tucsonwhile eastern slopes drain to the San Pedro River.

Natural HistoryThe Santa Catalina Ecosystem Management Area

encompasses a broad continuum of vegetation types.Traveling up the Santa Catalinas from the mouth ofSabino Canyon to the top of Mount Lemmon onetraverses Sonoran desert with saguaro-studdedhillsides, Madrean encinal, transition zones withplants and animals characteristic of the RockyMountains and ends in montane mixed-conifer forest.Douglas fir and quaking aspen stands occur on thenorthern slopes of the Santa Catalina’s highest peak,Mount Lemmon (9,155 ft.). Downslope from hereand on the northern slopes of Butterfly Peak andMount Bigelow, ponderosa pine dominate thelandscape. Between 4,500 and 7,000 feet elevationmixed oak woodlands intersperse with piñon andjuniper. Along the lower reaches of western slope ofSamaniego Ridge pointleaf manzanita and cat-clawacacia are common species, while stands of Palo Verdeand iconic saguaro cactus occur. Along Cañada delOro, Molino, and La Milagrosa Canyons magnificentstands of Frémont cottonwood are joined by velvet ashand other riparian obligates.

The Santa Catalina and Rincon mountain rangessupport permanent and ephemeral streams whosewaters flow out into the surrounding lowlands. One ofthe most prominent and well known perennial watersof the Santa Catalinas is that of Sabino Creek whichcarries water from the southwestern slopes of therange to the Rillito River. Sabino Canyon is abiological gem that is home to riparian and aquaticvegetation, longfin dace and Gila chub. SabinoCanyon is a popular recreation destination due to itslush riparian habitat, proximity to Tucson, and ease ofaccess with a motorized tram carrying visitors into thecanyon on a paved route.

water in canyon bottoms but can be found up to amile from water making use of cracks in rocks. Speciesof special interest such as desert tortoise, Gila monster,coatimundi, and peregrine falcon are found here. Inhigh elevations near Butterfly Peak, Mexican spottedowls and Northern goshawks occur. Along thenorthwestern slopes of the Catalina Range alongRomero Canyon and the Cañada del Oro, yellow-

nosed cotton rat, Mexican long-tongued bat and lesserlong-nosed bat are found. Romero Canyon containspermanent pools of water where various amphibiansbreed. Canyon spotted whiptail lizards are found inthe Catalina Mountains in Finger Rock, Pima andVentana Canyons. They are also found in the RinconMountains near Happy Valley along with black hawksand lowland leopard frogs.


The Santa Catalina Ecosystem Management Areaharbors a unique combination of vegetation types andspecies that contribute to the biological diversity ofthe Coronado National Forest. The Forest Servicerecognizes that building a framework for ecologicalsustainability will require management of entirebiological communities combined with specialmanagement for particular species. For revision of theForest Plan the Forest Service identified species thatwill be the focus of planning efforts. Species andvegetation types of management interest found acrossthe Coronado National Forest were described andlisted in the Forest Overview (Table 1.1, page 1-11).Described here are species and vegetation typesspecifically found on the Santa Catalina EcosystemManagement Area. The Forest Service identified 45species of plants and animals including fourThreatened or Endangered species, along with otherspecies determined to be Species of Concern orSpecies of Interest (Table 11.1). These species will beused to guide management decisions.

Through contact with regional scientists andexperts, and other people familiar with the SantaCatalina, we identified ecological systems,physiographic features, additional species and culturalresources that should also be considered in the ForestPlan revision. Ecological systems and the processesthat sustain them are the foundations of nativebiological diversity. Vegetation communities andaquatic habitats that are especially species rich,diverse, or threatened; or are endemic to the region orlocality are of particular management concern. Toevaluate current conditions and managementprescriptions for ecological systems the Forest Serviceis using the framework of Potential Natural VegetationTypes. Potential Natural Vegetation Types are defined

as the vegetation that would dominate a site undernatural disturbance regimes and biological processes.Using this classification allows current vegetation tobe compared effectively to vegetation under historicconditions. Because Potential Natural VegetationTypes are relatively broad groupings, and because theForest contains a high diversity of vegetation types, wepresent ecological systems as a focus for managementdirection. These ecological systems are cross-walkedwith the Potential Natural Vegetation Types used bythe Forest Service (Table 11.2). Although there aremany fine variations in plant communities on theSanta Catalina Ecosystem Management Area,ecological systems classify plant communities intobroader groups so as to be most useful formanagement actions such as mapping, landmanagement, and monitoring. Plant communitieswere grouped based on shared characteristics such asnatural processes (e.g. fire and flood), substrates (e.g.shallow soils, limestone outcroppings), and localclimate.2 Figure 11.2 shows the distribution ofecological systems in the Santa Catalina EMA.

While managing for resilient ecological systemswill effectively capture most species on the Forest,some species will need special attention. These speciesmay not be adequately protected by managing forecological systems and may require specificmanagement actions or monitoring. Species that willneed special management attention include speciesthat are endemic to the region or locality, species thathave a restricted distribution within the region, andspecies dependent on specialized habitat. Otherspecies that will need special consideration are speciesthat area rare, vulnerable or declining throughouttheir ranges; are rare, imperiled or vulnerable in theU.S. portion of their ranges that overlap the CoronadoNational Forest; or are harvested for economic

Elements of Biological Diversity and Cultural Heritage


AmphibiansRana yavapaiensis

BirdsEmpidonax fulvifrons pygmaeus

Glaucidium brasilianum cactorumMeleagris gallopavo mexicana

FishAgosia chrysogasterGila intermedia

InsectsAmeletus falsusArgia pimaArgia sabinoOphiogomphus arizonicusSpeyeria nokomis coerulescensTaenionema jacobii

MammalsChoeronycteris mexicanaMacrotus californicusNyctinomops femorosaccusOvis canadensis mexicanaSciurus arizonensis

MollusksSonorella odorata

Plants: Non-vascular Mannia californica

Plants: Vascular Abutilon parishiiAcacia millefoliaAgave schottii var. treleaseiAllium gooddingiiAnoda abutiloidesArabis tricornutaArceuthobium blumeri

Bouteloua eludensBouteloua parryiCynanchum wigginsii (=Metastelma

mexicanum)Draba helleriana var. bifurcataDrymaria effusa var. effusaEryngium sparganophyllumEscobaria vivipara var. bisbeeana

Lowland Leopard Frog

Northern Buff-breastedFlycatcher

Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-owlGould’s Turkey

Longfin DaceGila Chub

False Ameletus MayflyPima DancerSabino DancerArizona SnaketailBluish FritillaryA Stonefly

Mexican Long-tongued BatCalifornia Leaf-nosed BatPocketed Free-tailed BatDesert Bighorn SheepArizona Gray Squirrel

Pungent Talussnail

A liverwort

Pima Indian MallowMilfoil AcaciaTrelease shindaggerGoodding’s OnionFalse Indian-mallowRincon Mountain RockcressSouthwestern White Pine Dwarf-

mistletoeSanta Rita GrammaParry’s GrammaNarrow-leaf (Wiggins) Swallow-

wortHeller’s Whitlow-grassPinewood DrymaryArizona EryngoBisbee’s Pincushion Cactus

Hackelia ursinaHermannia paucifloraHeuchera glomerulataHexalectris spicata var. arizonicaHieracium rusbyiImperata brevifoliaJusticia longiiLupinus neomexicanusMacromeria viridiflora var. thurberiMacromeria viridiflora var. viridifloraMalacothrix stebbinsiiMammillaria heyderi var. macdougaliiMammillaria mainiaeManihot davisiaeMargaranthus solanaceusMuhlenbergia dumosaMuhlenbergia elongata (=M.

xerophila)Muhlenbergia palmeri (=M.

dubioides)Notholaena lemmoniiNothoscordum texanumOpuntia laevisPenstemon discolorPenstemon superbusPerityle dissectaPhaseolus supinusPhlox tenuifoliaPhoradendron bolleanum ssp.

pauciflorumPinaropappus roseus var. foliosusPlagiobothrys pringleiPotentilla thurberi var. thurberiRhamnus crocea ssp. pilosaSalvia amissaSamolus vagansScutellaria tessellataSisyrinchium arizonicumSisyrinchium cernuumSisyrinchium longipesThelypteris puberula var. sonorensisTumamoca macdougaliiViguiera dentata var. lancifoliaViola umbraticola var. glaberrimaWoodsia phillipsii

ReptilesAspidoscelis burti stictogrammaGopherus agassizii

Chihuahuan StickseedSanta Catalina BurstwortChiricahua Mountain AlumrootCrested CoralrootRusby’s HawkweedCalifornia SatintailLong-flower TubetongueNew Mexico LupineGiant-trumpetsGiant-trumpetsStebbins Desert-dandelionLittle Nipple CactusMain’s Nipple-cactusArizona ManihotNetted GlobeberryBamboo MuhlySycamore Muhly

Southwestern Muhly

Lemmon’s Cloak-fernTexas False-garlicNew Mexico Prickly-pearCatalina BeardtongueSuperb BeardtongueSlimlobe RockdaisySupine BeanSanta Catalina Mountains PhloxRough Mistletoe

White RocklettucePringle’s Popcorn-flowerThurber’s CinquefoilRedberry BuckthornCatalina Mountain SageChiricahua Mountain BrookweedHuachuca Mountains SkullcapArizona Blue-eyed-grassNodding Blue-eyed GrassTimberland Blue-eye-grassAravaipa WoodfernTumamoc Globe-BerrySunflower Golden-eyePonderosa VioletPhillips’ Cliff Fern

Canyon Spotted WhiptailDesert Tortoise (“Sonoran”

population)

Table 11.1 Species Identified by the Forest Service to Guide Management Decisions


BirdsAimophila botterii Aimophila carpalis Ammodramus bairdii Athene cunicularia hypugaea Callipepla squamata Pipilo aberti Vireo bellii

InsectsAbedus herberti Argia sabino

MammalsMyotis velifer

PlantsAnoda reticulataEchinomastus erectocentrus var.

erectocentruGraptopetalum bartramii

Botteri’s SparrowRufous-Winged SparrowBaird’s SparrowBurrowing OwlScaled QuailAbert’s TowheeBells Vireo

Giant Water BugSabino Canyon Damselfly

Cave Myotis

Needle-spined cactus

Bartram Stonecrip

Table 11.3 Additional Species that RequireSpecial Management Consideration

interests. Table 11.3 lists additional species whoseneeds should be assessed during plan revision.

The Santa Catalina Mountains contain a wealth ofprehistoric and historic influences. Visible andphysical remnants of previous human habitation ofthe area include built structures, physical sites, orobjects or assemblages of material culture. Humanuses of the land compatible with the protection ofbiological diversity, and traditional uses of the land arealso an important part of the Cultural Heritage of thearea (Table 11.4).

Opportunities for solitude and primitive recreationOpportunities for quiet recreation

Table 11.4 Elements of Cultural Heritage

Table 11.2 Foundations of NativeBiological Diversity

“Potential Natural Vegetation Types” (bold) as theycorrespond with The Nature Conservancy’s “EcologicalSystems”_______________________________________

Desert CommunitiesSonoran Palo Verde-Mixed Cacti Desert ScrubChihuahuan Desert Scrub

Interior ChaparralInterior Chaparral

Madrean Encinal WoodlandMadrean Encinal

Mixed Broadleaf Deciduous Riparian ForestDesert Riparian Woodland and Shrubland

Mixed Conifer ForestMontane Mixed Forest

Piñon-Juniper WoodlandPiñon-Juniper Woodland

Semi-desert GrasslandsApachean Grassland and SavannahApachean ShrublandApachean Riparian Grassland

Wetland/CienegaCienega


Figure 11.2 Ecological Systems of the Santa Catalina EMA

� The Santa Catalina EMA remains situated in alandscape in which wide-ranging species (black bear,mountain lion, deer, pronghorn, desert bighorn sheep,Mexican gray wolf, jaguar, coati, and others) are ableto move between the Santa Catalina EMA and thefollowing: Galiuro EMA, Winchester EMA, LasCienegas National Conservation Area, and theTortolita Mountains and other surrounding wildlands.

� Historical fire patterns are returned to thelandscape. They restore a broad mosaic pattern ofdifferent habitat types, as well as historical plant

diversity. High-intensity stand-replacing fires occuronly at historical intervals due to the composition offire-adapted vegetation types.

� The Santa Catalina EMA contributes to the healthand recharge of the San Pedro River Watershed andthe Santa Cruz Watershed.

� The Santa Catalina EMA has areas that offer highquality primitive recreation where quiet and solitudecan be experienced. Wildlife and human visitors arefree from direct disturbance and noise.


Desired Conditions

Conservation Assets

Conservation assets work on behalf of Foresthealth on the Santa Catalina Ecosystem ManagementArea. They will contribute to the Forest Service’sability to maintain ecological sustainability on theManagement Area. The following emerged asstrengths and opportunities for conservation on theSanta Catalina Ecosystem Management Area.

Sonoran Desert WeedwackersThe Sonoran Desert Weedwackers started working

in 2000 to remove non-native fountain grass andbuffelgrass from Tucson Mountain Park. They nowwork to remove these invasive grasses at SaguaroNational Park East, which borders the Santa CatalinaEMA on the southwest, and in the Tanque VerdeValley. Although they are not currently working onForest Service land, their work to eradicate verydetrimental species from neighboring lands willcontribute to the long-term health of the Forest by

helping prevent further spread of buffelgrass andfountain grass to the Forest.

Trees for Mt. LemmonTrees for Mt. Lemmon works to assist the Mt.

Lemmon community to recover from the Aspen Fireof 2003. Since the fire the group has worked toeducate property owners in the Summerhaven area,and to reforest and re-vegetate burned areas usingtrees, shrubs and plants of local origin. The grouppromotes reforestation to FireWise standards forwildland/urban interface. Most recently the group hasreceived a grant from the University of ArizonaCooperative Extension's Forest Health Program toconduct surveys for, and treat areas invaded bycheatgrass. Cheatgrass is a highly flammable grass thatwould alter fire characteristics and the length of thefire season on Mt. Lemmon if it was to spread.

The Coronado National Forest and surroundinglands have experienced a variety of changes in thetwenty plus years since the current Forest Plan waswritten. Management concerns and threats exist in theSanta Catalina Ecosystem Management Area that arenot addressed in the Forest Plan, or have not beenadequately dealt with through management. TheForest plan revision will update existing managementdirection and add new management direction, both ofwhich should address these concerns. The followingissues present challenges to ecological sustainabilityon the Santa Catalina Ecosystem Management Area.

ADJACENT LAND USESThe Santa Catalina Ecosystem Management Area is

already flanked by dense residential developmentalong the southern slopes and most of the westernedge of the Catalinas. However, vital wildlife corridorsstill exist between the western edges of the SantaCatalinas and the Tortolita Mountains Thesemovement corridors are threatened by suburbandevelopment along the western slopes of the Catalinas.

DEMOGRAPHICSThe surrounding towns of Tucson, Oro Valley, and

Vail are growing rapidly which is expected to continueto increase visitor use of the Santa Catalina EMA.Because of the immediate proximity of these Forestlands to the urban center of Tucson, recreational use isboth an important resource provided by the Forestand an increasing source of threat to the ecologicalintegrity of the mountains.

Resources likely affected include: wide-rangingspecies (mountain lion, black bear, coatimundi,pronghorn and deer); species sensitive to humandisturbance (e.g., bats, lizards, desert box turtle,jaguar, Mexican spotted owl, desert bighorn sheep,and Coues’ white-tailed deer); species vulnerable totrampling; desert tortoise; and all native vegetationtypes and their associated flora and fauna.

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATIONIn recent years the mountains of the Santa Catalina

EMA have experienced intense stand replacing fires.Threats include the suppression of natural fireregimes, and changes in natural watershed function/flow regimes.

INVASIVE SPECIESA variety of invasive grass and shrub species are

found on the Santa Catalina EMA. Those speciescurrently posing the most serious ecological threat tothe area include giant reed grass (Arundo donax),fountaingrass (Pennisetum etaceum), buffelgrass (P.ciliare), red brome (Bromus rubens), cheatgrass (B.tectorum), Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostislehmanniana), Asian mustard (Brassica tournefortii),Rhus lancea (Rhus lancea) and Tamarix species. Otherinvasive species that are present in the EMA includesoft feather pappusgrass (Enneapogon cenchroides),stinkgrass (Eragrostis cilianensis), weeping lovegrass(E. curvula var. conferta), rose Natal grass (Melinisrepens), and common Mediterranean grass (Schismusbarbatus). Nonative grass and shrubs compete withnative plants for vital nutrients and can crowd outnative species. They can also change the fire regime ofareas where they are growing leading to more intenseor more frequent fires than native plants are adaptedto. Invasive plant species can often spread rapidly andaggressively and get out of control if not proactivelymonitored for and eradicated.

ROADS/TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMMuch of the front range of the Catalinas is

protected by Pusch Ridge Wilderness, steep terrainand the availability of motorized access along thepaved General Hitchcock Highway. The area aroundRedington Pass is a popular destination for motorizedrecreation. The area has become riddled with illegaluser created roads that have opened the way for otherunacceptable uses of Forest land such as trashdumping. The roads along the eastern side ofRedington Pass affect drainages that feed into the SanPedro River. The eastern slopes of the RinconMountains in the area of Happy Valley have also beensubject to motorized recreation abuses with newillegal roads being created by off-road driving.

Affected resources include: springs; ephemeralwatercourses; seeps; scenic resources, all ecologicalsystems, all native vegetation types and theirassociated flora and fauna, riparian plant and animalspecies, species especially sensitive to directdisturbance, wide-ranging species of terrestrialanimals, game species; prehistoric and historical sites,structures, and artifacts.


Threats to the Forest: A Need for Change


The Santa Catalina Ecosystem Management Area(EMA) offers a multitude of outdoor recreationexperiences to the nearby urban center of Tucson. Italso supports a unique mix of species and habitats thatcontribute to ecological sustainability on theCoronado National Forest. Maintaining a balancebetween recreation uses of the area and protection ofwatersheds and native species in the area should be amajor focus and driver for future management. New

management direction that shows foresight andproactively addresses threats will create a long-termframework for ecological health and sustainability inthe Santa Catalina EMA. To confront threats andcapitalize on conservation assets, we recommend thefollowing objectives and management actions to beincorporated into the revision of the CoronadoNational Forest Plan and subsequent project levelactivities.

Recommended Objectives and Management Actions

Foster public-private partnerships that will lead to landscape-levelconservation through coordination of land use across Forest boundaries.

Work with neighboring cities and counties to plan for wildlife corridors andinfluence land use planning that affects Forest lands.

Evaluate and monitor current human use of the Santa Catalina EMA. Undertakemanagement planning that specifically addresses recreational use of the area.

Maintain wildlife corridors between the Santa Catalina EMA and the GaliuroEMA, Winchester EMA, Las Cienegas NCA, San Pedro River Valley, and TortolitaMountains and other surrounding natural areas.

Maintain the ecological integrity of the Santa Catalina EMA in the face offurther development of the surrounding lands and increased visitor use.

Maintain extant species on the Santa Catalina EMA that are sensitive tohuman disturbance and impacts of increased recreational use of the area.

Implement wildland fire use for restoring natural fire patterns and for restoringnative species. Especially in unroaded portions of the Management Area.

Maintain and/or restore natural fire patterns and frequencies.

Restore and maintain natural disturbance regimes (e.g., fire, flood), in amanner that promotes naturally functioning ecosystem processes.

Restore Madrean Pine-Oak Woodland and Madrean Encinal to resilientecological systems that tolerate wildfire, flood and other natural influences.

Adjacent Land Uses

Objectives Actions

Ecological Restoration

Objectives Actions

Restore historical native wildlife diversity.

Manage habitat for all wild, native species so that they persist over largescales of time and space.

RECREATIONAL PLANNING

Minimize wildlife disturbance due to recreational uses of the Forest.

Minimize damage to natural and cultural resources due to recreational usesof the Forest.

Minimize interference with quiet recreation through management ofmotorized recreation.

Nonextractive Uses

Objectives Actions


Figure 11.3 Travel Management Plan and Route Recommendations for the Santa Catalina EMA


Increase proactive law enforcement management of the Redington Pass area.Enforce cross-country travel restrictions.

Do not allow any further creation of roads in the Santa Catalina EMA.

Monitor closures and restoration efforts. Upgrade barriers where necessary toinsure restoration success.

See Figure 11.3 for the recommended transportation system for the SantaCatalina EMA.

Reduce the transportation network to the minimum that is consistent withthe Travel Management Rule.

Mitigate impacts of the existing transportation system and of motorizedrecreation on all physiographic features, species, and ecological systems onthe EMA.

Correct existing maps of boundaries of inventoried roadless areas to reflect thetrue boundaries on the ground.

Manage 128,986 acres of the Santa Catalina EMA to maintain their currentwilderness suitability. See Figure 11.4 for a map of the area to be managed forwilderness suitability.

Designate the Agua Caliente Zoological Area to protect the habitat values andunusual species found in the area. (See page 11-18 for further details.)

Designate 1,103 acres as Finger Rock Canyon Research Natural Areas to protectthe mosaic of vegetative associations found in the area, and to protect ongoingbotanical research in the area. (See page 11-16 and Figure 11.5 for furtherdetails.)

Protect Roadless area values and characteristics.

Provide opportunities for quiet recreation on the Santa Catalina EMA.

Minimize habitat fragmentation and degradation, and maintain biologicalcorridors and essential habitat for species through the exclusion of roads.

Adequately consider the suitability of national forest system lands forinclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Roads/Transportation System

Objectives Actions

Proactively identify invasive species that may pose a threat to the ecosystemand monitor for their presence before the threat is out of control. Some speciesto be included on a watch list are Enneapogon cenchroides, Eragrostiscilianensis, Melinis repens, and Lantana camara.

Reduce the spread of invasive species, eliminate invasive exotics and activelydeter new invasions.

Invasive Species

Objectives Actions

Special Management Areas

Objectives Actions

Wilderness

Pusch Ridge Wilderness Pusch Ridge Wilderness was designated in 1978

and consists of 56,933 acres. This Wilderness is themost heavily traveled Wilderness on the CoronadoNational Forest. It is accessible on the south from anumber of trails on the northern edge of Tucson, onthe west by trails originating in Catalina State Park,and from trails accessible from the General HitchcockHighway that ascends to Mt. Lemmon. Pusch RidgeWilderness is characterized by rocky bluffs,picturesque rock formations, towering peaks and deepcanyons.

Rincon Mountain Wilderness Rincon Mountain Wilderness consists of 38,590

acres. It borders Saguaro National Park east on threesides and is much less accessible than the nearbyPusch Ridge Wilderness. Access is limited to a severalrough dirt roads on the northwest side, trails leadingout from the National Park and trails entering fromthe east side. The Rincon Wilderness is rugged andsteep with areas that are difficult to reach on foot andimpassable on horseback. This wilderness offersexcellent opportunities for solitude despite its closeproximity to Tucson.


Figure 11.4 Area Suitable for Wilderness and to be Managed for Wilderness Characteristics


RESEARCH NATURAL AREASResearch Natural Areas are special management

areas established to protect land in perpetuity asliving, learning centers for ecological research andecosystem restoration. They should include broadrepresentation of the ecological diversity that occurson the Forest. Two Research Natural Areas currentlyexist in the Santa Catalina EMA: Butterfly Peak andSanta Catalina. The pristine nature and outstandingbiological characteristics of Finger Rock Canyonwarrants its designation as a Research Natural Area.

Proposed Finger Rock Canyon Research Natural Area The Finger Rock Canyon drainage contains

stretches of perennial water and harbors a number ofplant species considered Sensitive by the ForestService. Habitat in the canyon supports a great varietyof nesting birds, reptiles and amphibians.

NAME: Finger Rock Canyon Research Natural Area

SIZE: Approximately 1103 acres (446 hectares)

BOUNDARIES: The Research Natural Area (RNA)would be bounded on the southeast, northwest, andnorth by the ridges that surround the Finger RockCanyon drainage and on the south, by the CoronadoNational Forest boundary. It would include MountKimball above 6850’ elevation (Figure 11.5).

ELEVATION: Approximately 3,120 to 7,255 feet

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF AREA: The RNA wouldconsist of the Finger Rock Canyon drainage in theSanta Catalina Mountains. The entire proposed RNAis within Pusch Ridge Wilderness and the BighornSheep Management Area.

CURRENT USES: This area is currently used forwildlife viewing, hiking, rock climbing, running,camping, hunting, and botanical research.

JUSTIFICATION FOR DESIGNATION: The Finger RockCanyon drainage includes an intermittent stream, aspring, and several small pools that contain wateryear-round in most years. The dominant bioticcommunities are desert scrub, oak woodland, andoak-pine woodland. Riparian scrub, scrub grassland,and pine forest are much more limited in extent butprovide significant habitat for diverse species.Riparian scrub is a common xeroriparian habitat type

in the Coronado National Forest but receives littleattention in comparison to vegetative associationssupported by perennial water. The area is relativelypristine, has no evidence of major human disturbancein the past fifty years, and has no known conflictinguses.

Certainly there is no area in the CoronadoNational Forest, and probably in the United States,with more baseline floristic data. Since 1984, DaveBertelsen has conducted a phenological study of theflora of the drainage (i.e., recorded blooming taxa)and collected specimens of all observed pteridophytaand spermatophyta for identification by the Universityof Arizona Herbarium. His primary focus has been onthe area thirty feet on either side of the route to Mt.Kimball (Trails 42 and 62), resulting in a “transect” ofapproximately 1.6 million square feet. This study isunique not only in the length of time it has beenconducted, the significant elevation gradient, and thesize of the study area, but also in that observationshave included all spermatophytes — mostphonological studies focus on one or a few species.The flora currently consists of 589 taxa, and thenumber of floristic observations in the first twentyyears of the study exceeded 111,000. Theseobservations have been data-based by the U.S. ParkService’s Sonoran Desert Network and will be madeavailable to the public through an interactive internetweb site.

The flora of the drainage includes seven ForestService Sensitive plant species: Parish’s abutilon(Abutilon parishii), Trelease shindagger (Agave schottiivar. treleasei), Chihuahuan stickseed (Hackelia ursina),Arizona false pennyroyal (Hedeoma dentatum),sparseleaf hermannia (Hermannia pauciflora),trumpet morning-glory (Ipomoea tenuiloba var.lemmoni & var. tenuiloba), and weeping muhly grass(Muhlenbergia xerophila). Trelease shindagger andweeping muhly (ten known locations) are found onlyin Arizona. In June 2007, Anoda reticulate wasobserved. This was the first record in the SantaCatalina Mountains since 1881 (when the holotypewas collected by Lemmon and Pringle) and the firstreport in Arizona since 1940.

The greatest threats to the proposed RNA are

Special Management Areas

invasive grasses with the potential to significantly alterthe ecosystem, particularly if climate change continuesas expected. Of the nineteen non-native grasses foundin the are, the following are of particular concern: redbrome (Bromus rubens), Bermuda grass (Cynodondactylon), soft feather pappusgrass (Enneapogoncenchroides), Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostislehmanniana), Natal grass (Melinis repens), buffelgrass(Pennisetum ciliare), and fountain grass (P. setaceum).Red brome has been found as high as 6200' elevation;pappusgrass, 5900'; Lehmann lovegrass, 7255'; Natalgrass, 6200'; buffelgrass, 5200'; and fountain grass,5750'. With the exception of red brome (whichBertelsen collected in 2006 at a record 8000' in theCatalinas), all are Arizona elevation records for thesespecies.

During the course of the floristic study, Bertelsenalso recorded observations of selected fauna. To date,132 species of birds, 33 species of mammals, 32species of reptiles, and 5 species of amphibians havebeen seen. Birds have include merlin, band-tailedpigeon, buff-collared nightjar, rufous hummingbird,red-faced warbler, rufous-winged sparrow, andnesting populations of peregrine falcon, spotted owl,varied bunting, Bell’s vireo, painted redstart, andAbert’s towhee. Black-throated sparrows, verdins, andphainopeplas, which the National Audubon Societyreports have experienced population declines of 63%to 65% in the past forty years, are still relativelycommon. Four skunk species, gray fox, coati, ringtail,Arizona gray squirrel, Merriam kangaroo rat, Mexicanwoodrat, collard peccary, white-tail deer, desertbighorn sheep (likely extirpated), and occasional blackbear and mountain lion are among the mammals thatreside in or have used the area. Reptiles andamphibians recorded include desert tortoise, regal &short-horned lizards, canyon spotted whiptail lizard,Madrean alligator lizard, reticulate Gila monster,Smith’s black-headed snake, Arizona coral snake, fourrattlesnake species (Mohave, black-tailed, tiger, &Arizona black), canyon tree frog, Sonoran desert toad,and lowland leopard frog (probably extirpated).

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE USE: The area canserve as a significant outdoor laboratory to documentand analyze the effects of drought and climate change,the impact of invasive species, and populationdynamics of selected flora and fauna. The area couldagain support a small number of desert bighorn andserve as a lambing area if sheep are re-introduced.

Current uses are compatible with a RNA designation,especially if Bighorn Sheep Management Arearegulations continue to be in force and be enforced. Awildcat trail to Finger Rock and numerous spur "socialtrails" should be eliminated since they are vectors forthe spread of invasive species and fragment wildlifehabitat. Because one of only five clumps has beenkilled by trampling, the very rare population ofweeping muhly should be protected by redirectingfoot traffic, possibly through signage. Efforts shouldalso be made to eliminate fountain grass andbuffelgrass while this is still possible; moreover, thespread of Bermuda, Natal, and pappasgrass should bemonitored to determine if future action need betaken. Periodic trail maintenance, particularlypruning, would help minimize the "footprint" of thetrails and thereby prevent destruction of sensitive orrare plants found along the trails.

PROPOSED BY: David Bertelsen, AssociatedResearcher, University of Arizona Herbarium


Research Natural Area. Map detail from: U.S.Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. Pusch RidgeWilderness, Coronado National Forest. 1986, reprinted 1991.

Figure 11.5 Proposed Finger Rock Canyon

SPECIAL INTEREST AREASSpecial Interest Areas are designated to protect

unique values including botanical, zoological,geological, historical, or scenic values. They may alsobe designated to protect and manage sensitive orimperiled species or other elements of biologicaldiversity. Special Interest Areas help the Forest Servicepreserve important historic, cultural and naturalaspects of our national heritage. The extraordinarycharacteristics of the Management Area warrant thedesignation of a new Special Interest Area, the AguaCaliente Zoological Area.

Proposed Agua Caliente Zoological AreaThe watershed of Agua Caliente Creek is home to a

variety of unusual plant species and is rich in reptileand amphibian species. The area's great riparianresources can be enhanced through removal of non-native fish species, and restoration of native frogs andfish.

NAME: Agua Caliente Zoological Area

BOUNDARIES: This Zoological Area represents thewatershed of Agua Caliente Creek from the NationalForest boundary (or the confluence of Agua Calienteand Milagrosa Canyons) to its headwaters in theRedington Pass area.

ELEVATION: Approximately 2,900 to 5,369 feet at thetop of Agua Caliente Hill.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF AREA: This ZoologicalArea includes Sonoran Desert cactus forests,sycamore-ash-walnut riparian forests, juniper-oakgrasslands, numerous perennial pools and springs.Classic examples of Catalina gneiss and towering cliffscharacterize this watershed.

CURRENT USES: This area is currently used forwildlife viewing, rock climbing, and hiking. There areseveral grazing allotments but cattle are onlyoccasionally present.

JUSTIFICATION FOR DESIGNATION: This area is notheavily used, but is well known to herpetologists forits habitat values, and by botanists for the unusualspecies found there. In addition to the typical desertcanyon bird species such as canyon wrens, prairiefalcons, great horned owl, elf owl, red-tailed hawks,

ravens, swallows, Gambel’s quail and numeroushummingbird species, many migrating species can bespotted here because of the perennial waters.Mammals include gray fox, coatimundi, deer, javelina,bobcat, raccoon, cottontail, coyote, ringtail cat andnumerous species of rodents.

In addition to bird species, the area is rich inreptiles and amphibians. Desert tortoise, Sonoranmud turtle, Gila monsters, western diamond backedrattlesnakes, sand snakes, coral snakes, gopher snakes,black necked garter snakes, Sonoran whipsnake,whiptail lizards, greater earless lizards, zebra-tailedlizards, canyon tree frogs, Sonoran desert toad, red-spotted toads, and lowland leopard frogs have all beenobserved here.

Unfortunately, the headwaters of Agua CalienteCreek contain a dammed pond that at some point hadbeen stocked with non-native mosquito fish and greensunfish. In recent years, as a result of heavy rains, thesefish have washed down into the canyon. As a result,the populations of leopard frogs and canyon tree frogshave diminished.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE USE: Botanical, birdand reptile research should be encouraged within theZoological Area, especially because there are nocomprehensive biological inventories of this area, andrapid change or loss of species could occur due toincreased recreational use and global climate change.Wildlife viewing, camping, and hiking shouldcontinue to be permitted. Rock climbing should berestricted to non-breeding seasons for any sensitivespecies, such as prairie falcons.

The Forest Service should initiate a program toeradicate the non-native fish species for the purposeof restoring the leopard frog and canyon tree frogpopulations, and the functioning of the entirewatershed. The treatment applied at Sabino Canyon toprotect the native fish species there may beappropriate here, also. Several members of the TucsonHerpetological Society have expressed interest inrestoring the amphibian species to these canyons, sosupport for protection already exists.

PROPOSED BY: Lainie Levick, Hydrologist, University of Arizona



1 Bertelsen, David. 2008. Personal communicationwith David Bertelsen, 9/22/08.

2 Marshall, R.M., D. Turner, A. Gondor, D. Gori, C.Enquist, G. Luna, R. Paredes Aguilar, S. Anderson, S.Schwartz, C. Watts, E. Lopez, P.Comer. 2004. An

Ecological Analysis of Conservation Priorities in theApache Highlands Ecoregion. Prepared by The NatureConservancy of Arizona, Instituto del MedioAmbiente y el Desarrollo Sustentable del Estado deSonora, agency and institutional partners. 152 pp.

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