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