Comprehensive Evaluation Report

Kiowa National Grassland provides significant and well-preserved historic (heritage) resources, such as a
section of the Santa Fe National Historic Trail, and Mills Orchard and Ranch, a historic homestead site.
Two scenic byways traverse this part of the Grasslands and management along the viewsheds can have a
significant impact on the recreational experience of drivers. The Canadian Inventoried Roadless Area in
the Mills area provides the largest semi-primitive non-motorized recreation area on the Grasslands. It
includes the Canadian eligible Scenic River corridor which is managed to retain the river’s outstanding
historic, scenic, geologic, and recreational features. Local communities are beginning to capitalize on the
value of these resources; these features and scenery define resident’s “sense of place” and have an
intrinsic value in their quality of life. Visitation is projected to increase as the nationwide interest in
historical and cultural tourism increases.
Managed Recreation Concern Areas
The recreational and tourism trends of the region are an important consideration in deciding which
management strategies can be successfully implemented on the Grasslands. They also identify human
caused threats or areas of concern that have the potential to affect the social, economic, and ecological
sustainability of the Grasslands. Areas of concern for managed recreation on the Grasslands include:
o Continuation and maintenance of the opportunities for working with cooperators in the
development and management of recreational activities.
o Uncontrolled motorized vehicle use on the Grasslands.
o Interest in natural and cultural interpretation and education has been increasing among Grassland
visitors. Development and maintenance of recreational facilities and activities must be
commensurate with the demand for use.
o Thresholds for scenery management objectives are being exceeded in some areas of the
Grasslands.
Need for Change: Managed Recreation
The current Plan does not clearly and specifically address the issues related to recreation and scenic
resources that play a vital role in supporting social and economic sustainability in the Grasslands. The
Plan needs to provide direction that is more specific to the Grasslands for providing these important rural
economic development opportunities:
o The demand for day-hiking, particularly on scenic and interpretive trails, continues to rise on the
Grasslands. The Plan needs to identify and place emphasis on implementing work with
cooperators, including tribes, in managing and maintaining recreation sites, including interpretive
trails, signs, and programs, to support day-hiking development opportunities. Plan focus on this
recreational development can improve rural economic development and working relationships.
However, current plan direction for dispersed recreation is largely silent aside from designations
of specific acreages of ROS classifications. There are also parts of the 1985 Plan which duplicate
existing FS Handbook and Manual direction on coordinating with other agencies which will be
removed from the plan and incorporated by reference.
o Motorized vehicle use can damage important vegetation cover, contribute to the spread of
invasive plants, accelerate soil erosion and stream sedimentation, and degrade riparian
ecosystems, wildlife habitat, scenic quality, and historic sites. There is a need for the revised Plan
to address the risks attributed to off-road motorized recreation in Mills Canyon including the
incompatibility between OHV use and preservation of the outstanding scenic, historic, geologic,
and recreational attributes found in Mills Canyon along the Canadian River.
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