Wildlife Specialist report

AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT
The Gila National Forest is located in southwest New Mexico. The Forest is divided
into six Ranger Districts that have the responsibility of managing a land mass of 3.3
million acres within Catron, Grant, Sierra, and Hidalgo Counties. Within this acreage
there are 792,000 acres of designated Wilderness, and 2,300 acres of designated and
proposed Research Natural Area. The Forest is currently open to motorized cross country
use except in wilderness, designated and proposed Research Natural Areas, and restricted
off-road vehicle areas or areas specifically signed or closed by Forest Order.
The Forest landscape includes a wide variety of mountainous terrain. The Mogollon,
Pinos Altos, Black Range, and Tularosa are the larger mountain ranges on the forest.
Elevation ranges from 4,200 feet in the semi-desert lowlands to almost 11,000 feet in the
rugged Mogollon Mountains. Lower elevations are characterized by rolling hills
dissected by moderately steep canyons and sand washes. Higher elevations are
characterized by rugged mountains, deep headwater canyons, elevated mesas, and rock
walled cliffs. Rocky outcrops are prevalent, with some of the most rugged and remote
areas in the southwest found along the west face of the Mogollon Mountains and the east
face of the Black Range Mountains.
Major drainages on the Forest include the main-stem and headwaters of the Gila, San
Francisco, and Mimbres rivers. The Forest also has drainages that flow into the Rio
Grande from the Black Range Mountains. Drainages that flow out of the Black Range
that support perennial flow include Animas, Seco, Palomas, Cloride, and Percha creeks.
The southwest side of the Black Range is drained by the headwaters and main-stem of the
Mimbres River. Major tributaries to this river include McKnight Creek, and Iron Creek.
Major tributaries within the Gila and San Francisco watersheds include the West, Middle,
and East forks of the Gila River; Beaver, Taylor, Diamond, South Diamond, Black
Canyon, Little, Sapillo, Turkey, Mogollon, Bear, Sycamores, Willow, Negrito, Tularosa,
Centerfire creeks and Dry Blue River. Major variables that relate directly to the spatial
distribution of riparian vegetation along these drainages are flooding, groundwater
conditions, and various soil properties (particularly soil moisture). The flow regimes of
the Gila, San Francisco, and Mimbres Rivers are primarily unrestricted by major
impoundments or diversions; therefore, channel configurations are widely variable and
the vegetation communities are represented by a diverse mosaic of many communities.
Within these drainages there are tributaries and associated springs and seeps that support
perennial and intermittent waters sources with associated riparian vegetation. Lakes on
the Forest include Lake Roberts, Snow Lake, and Quemado Lake.
Vegetation on the forest is diverse and complex. Tree, shrub, grass and forb species from
the Rocky Mountains and Mogollon Plateau are integrated with species from the
Chihuahuan Desert. The highest zone encompasses Engelmann and corkbark fir
communities, followed by the Engelmann spruce and Douglas-fir community. Douglasfir,
ponderosa pine, white fir, and southwestern white pine are dominant members of the
next lower community. Aspen is commonly intermixed in portions of these higher
elevations. Ponderosa pine is typically intermixed with either Gambel oak or alligator
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