Wildlife Specialist report

Merriam’s wild turkey analysis area. Within these potential disturbance zones motorized
routes continue to cause the potential for disturbance, displacement, avoidance and
harassment. Increase in the level of use on these routes through time would increase the
potential for indirect effects.
Under this alternative you continue to have motorized cross country travel, dispersed
camping, and big game retrieval allowed across the Gila National Forest. These three
types of uses continue to have potential effect to upland game birds. Additionally, these
three types of uses perpetuate the development of additional roads and motorized trails;
potentially allowing for the development of higher road densities. Under the no action
alternative through time the potential for the direct loss of individuals and habitat would
increase, as would the potential for disturbance affects to these species.
Action Alternatives (C, D, E, F, and G): Under all action alternatives motorized cross
country travel (see assumption) is no longer allowed. The change from the existing
condition is a 100% reduction in motorized cross country travel. In the Mearn’s quail
analysis area motorized dispersed camping is reduced by 93 to 100% under all action
alternatives; and 95 to 100% in the Merriam’s wild turkey analysis area. For these focal
species the area of potentially affected habitat for motorized big game retrieval is reduced
by 100% under Alternative E, 94 to 96% under Alternative D, 20 to 95% under
Alternative F, 93 to 96% under Alternative G, and 5 to 95% under Alternative C.
Motorized areas are locations where we have had traditional uses like motorized camping
and OHV use. In the Merriam’s turkey analysis area currently there are 3 acres of habitat
being affect by a motorized area; and 9 acres of habitat in the Merriam’s wild turkey
analysis area. Alternative E and D eliminate these acres of affected habitat, and the
remaining action alternatives propose no change from the existing condition.
Under Alternative D, E, F, and G miles of motorized routes and trails and acres of
potentially affected habitat are reduced, respectively by 17, 25, 13, and 14% in the
Mearn’s quail analysis area, and 30, 48, 20, and 21% in the Merriam’s wild turkey
analysis area. Alternative C adds 15 miles of unauthorized routes in the Merriam’s wild
turkey analysis area. In the Mearn’s quail analysis area the Alternative C reduces the
mile of motorized routes by 7 miles. Alternative C is the only alternative that allows for
an actual increase in miles of routes through the associated analysis areas. Because the
Gila currently allows cross country travel most proposed routes even though
unauthorized are currently being used.
For the focal species and their associated analysis areas Alternative E adds 0 to 2 miles of
routes, Alternatives D adds 3 to 8 miles, Alternative F adds 1 to 22 miles, Alternative G
adds 2 to 23 miles, and Alternative C adds 3 to 53 miles of unauthorized routes.
Alternative C is the only alternative that allows for an actual increase in miles of routes
through the associated analysis areas. Because the Gila currently allows cross country
travel most proposed routes even though unauthorized are currently being used.
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