Wildlife Specialist report

Table 14: Pronghorn Analysis Area - Existing Condition and Proposed Change Table by
Alternative:
Existing
Effects Change in Effects
Total NMGF Core Pronghorn Habitat on
Alt B (No
USFS = 58,426 Acres
Action) Alt C Alt D Alt E Alt F Alt G
Motorized Routes
Open Existing ML 2 - ML 5 Miles 315 -17 -105 -135 -92 -98
Acres 43,320 -1,839 -12,489 -16,321 -10,758 -11,466
Reopen Closed ML 1 Miles 0 0 0 0 0 0
Acres 0 68 0 0 0 0
Administrative Route Miles 0 11 29 33 27 28
Acres 0 1,437 4,478 5,190 4,223 4,349
Add Unauthorized Route Miles 0 0 0 0 0 0
Acres 0 59 34 0 34 34
Add Admin. Unauthorized Miles 0 0 0 0 0 0
Motorized Trails
Acres 0 0 25 25 25 25
Existing Road to OHV Trail Miles 0 0 2 0 3 3
Acres 0 0 366 0 466 466
Closed Road to OHV Trail Miles 0 1 1 0 1 1
Acres 0 159 159 0 195 195
Add Unauthorized Trail Miles 0 0 0 0 1 1
Acres 0 31 31 0 196 196
Total FS Routes and Trails Miles 315 310 242 213 254 250
Percent in Miles of Alt. B (Existing) %Miles
Motorized Dispersed Camping Acres 126,017
Percent in Acres of Alt. B (Existing) %Acres
-1.55% -23.18% -32.48% -19.36% -20.71%
- -
- -
116,401 117,712 -126,017
-
116,566 116,972
-92.37% -93.41% 100.00% -92.50% -92.82%
Motorized Areas Acres 0 0 0 0 0 0
-
-
Motorized Big Game Retrieval Acres 126,017 -3,589 117,712 -126,017
-
-25,572 116,972
Percent in Acres of Alt. B (Existing) %Acres
-2.85% -93.41% 100.00% -20.29% -92.82%
No Action Alternative (Alt. B): Under this alternative there are 3,898 miles of
motorized routes in the elk analysis area and 315 miles of motorized routes in the
pronghorn analysis area. These routes continue to cause habitat loss and the potential for
other types of direct effects to this species. The potential for collision loss does exist on
Forest Service routes; however, lower traffic rates and travel speeds on forest routes
reduce this potential. Increases in road densities increases the potential for take
associated with poaching. The potential disturbance zone in the elk analysis area
(1,297,441acres) and pronghorn analysis area (43,320 acres) along motorized routes
continue to cause 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 effects to elk and pronghorn. Additionally, these three types of uses perpetuate
the development of additional roads and motorized trails; potentially allowing for the
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