BLM LIBRARY 88063274 w. jited States Department of the Interior Ib4)k Bureau of Land Management nU ©S. D4epa}rtm®en*t ofn th®e Insfer®ior Albuquerque Field Office Final Environmental Impact Statement for Riparian and Aquatic Habitat Management in the Albuquerque Field Office - New Mexico Volume 2: Proposed Riparian and Aquatic Habitat Management Plan August 2000 QH BLM/NM/PL-00-010-1040 541.5 .R52 U442 2000 v. 2 c. 2 ft* LIBRARY >Q 50, 3rM Pr \ f D' 3. BOX 25047 DEWVER, Mission Statement It is the mission of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. BLM/NM/PL-00-010-1040 014 ■063 United States Department of the Interior U44Q. Bureau of Land Management Moo td- V. Sl Albuquerque Field Office Final Environmental Impact Statement for Riparian and Aquatic Habitat Management in the Albuquerque Field Office - New Mexico Volume 2: Proposed Riparian and Aquatic Habitat Management Plan August 2000 BLM/NM/PL-00-010-1040 ABSTRACT This U.S. Bureau of Land Management Although the BLM has been implementing (BLM) Albuquerque Field Office Riparian and restoration and protective actions for selected Aquatic Habitat Management Plan (HMP) riparian areas in New Mexico for over a decade, presents an adaptive management strategy for development of measurable goals and endpoints restoring and protecting riparian areas for restoration activities has not been undertaken administered by the Albuquerque Field Office. because of informational and planning needs. Riparian habitats are critical, but very small, For example, additional scientific data for areas in relation to the large amount of land riparian habitats will be obtained and utilized, administered by the BLM. Riparian areas under and proactive strategies for accomplishing BLM jurisdiction are often only small segments riparian-wetland management objectives will be of a larger area over which the BLM has no developed and implemented in the HMP. The management responsibility or authority. The HMP assigns highest priority to implementing BLM plays an important, but limited, role in those management practices identified in current improving and protecting riparian habitats in BLM management guidance for restoring and New Mexico. protecting all riparian habitats under BLM jurisdiction. For riparian areas, the HMP This HMP presents a sequence of tasks for requires a specific focus on riparian individual riparian areas that, when management; decisions regarding other land implemented, will provide a systematic method management activities will be constrained to of achieving proper functioning condition and limit or prevent any adverse impact on riparian long-term stewardship of threatened and areas. endangered species habitat. m , CONTENTS ABSTRACT. iii ABBREVIATIONS/ACRONYMS . ix 1 INTRODUCTION... 1-1 1.1 Reasons for Preparation. 1-1 1.2 Ecosystem Descriptions. 1-1 1.2.1 Riparian Areas . 1-6 1.2.1.1 Rio Gallina. 1-6 1.2.1.2 RitoLeche. 1-8 1.2.1.3 Senorito Canyon. 1-8 1.2.1.4 WilsonCanyon. 1-11 1.2.1.5 Two Bridges. 1-13 1.2.1.6 Coal Creek . 1-13 1.2.1.7 Cerros Colorados . 1-14 1.2.1.8 Cachulie . 1-16 1.2.1.9 San Luis Community . 1-16 1.2.1.10 Lost Valley. 1-18 1.2.1.11 Cabezon Community . 1-19 1.2.1.12 Rio Salado Community. 1-19 1.2.1.13 Long Ridge. 1-22 1.2.1.14 Arroyo Chico - Azabache . 1-23 1.2.1.15 Arroyo Chico - Charlotte’s Well. 1-25 1.2.1.16 Arroyo Chico - Chico Crossing. 1-25 1.2.1.17 Guadalupe Community. 1-26 1.2.1.18 Rinconada Canyon. 1-26 1.2.1.19 Cebolla Canyon . 1-28 1.2.1.20 Bluewater Canyon . 1-28 1.2.1.21 Las Huertas Creek . 1-31 1.2.2 Wetland Areas. 1-31 1.2.2.1 Azabache Flowing Well. 1-33 1.2.2.2 Rio Salado Community. 1-35 1.2.2.3 Cebolla Spring . 1-35 1.2.3 Spring and Seep Areas. 1-36 1.3 Relevant Constraints . 1-43 1.4 Sikes Act Authority. 1-43 2 LAND STATUS AND ADMINISTRATION. 2-1 2.1 Land Status . 2-1 2.2 Administration. 2-1 v CONTENTS (Cont.) 3 HABITAT MANAGEMENT . 3-1 3.1 Approach. 3-1 3.2 Management Objectives . 3-2 3.3 Planned Actions. 3-2 3.4 Evaluation and Monitoring. 3-4 3.5 Implementation . 3-5 3.6 Progress Reporting . 3-16 4 COORDINATION WITH OTHER BLM PROGRAMS, OTHER AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE PUBLIC . 4-1 5 WILDLIFE ECONOMICS . 5-1 6 PUBLIC AFFAIRS. 6-1 7 COSTS AND FUNDING . 7-1 8 CONCURRENCE AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL. 8-1 9 REFERENCES . 9-1 GLOSSARY. G-l TABLES 2.1 Baseline Information for the Specified Riparian Areas within the Albuquerque Field Office. 2-2 2.2 Baseline Information for the Specified Wetland Areas within the Albuquerque Field Office. 2-5 2.3 Baseline Information for the Specified Spring/Seep Areas within the Albuquerque Field Office. 2-7 3.1 Riparian Area Management Practices . 3-3 3.2 Current Management Actions and Adaptive Management Tasks for the Riparian Areas Administered by the Albuquerque Field Office . 3-6 3.3 Management Tasks and Projects Planned or under Consideration for the Specified Wetland Areas within the Albuquerque Field Office Jurisdiction. 3-13 vi TABLES (Cont.) 3.4 Management Tasks and Projects Planned or under Consideration for the Specified Spring/Seep Areas within the Albuquerque Field Office Jurisdiction. 3-14 FIGURES 1.1 Counties, Communities, and Roads in the Area under the Jurisdiction of the Albuquerque Field Office . 1-2 1.2 Riparian Areas under the Jurisdiction of the Albuquerque Field Office. 1-3 1.3 Major Physiographic Features in the Albuquerque Field Office Area. 1-4 1.4 Albuquerque Field Office Land Status. 1-5 1.5 Rio Gallina Riparian Area . 1-7 1.6 Rito Leche Riparian Area. 1-9 1.7 Senorito Canyon Riparian Area. 1-10 1.8 Wilson Canyon, Two Bridges, and Coal Creek Riparian Areas . 1-12 1.9 Cerros Colorados and Cachulie Riparian Areas. 1-15 1.10 San Luis Community and Lost Valley Riparian Areas . 1-17 1.11 Cabezon Community Riparian Area. 1-20 1.12 Rio Salado Community and Long Ridge Riparian Areas. 1-21 1.13 Arroyo Chico and Guadalupe Riparian Areas, Azabache Flowing Well Wetland Area, and Mesa Chivato Springs. 1-24 1.14 Rinconada Canyon Riparian Areas . 1-27 1.15 Cebolla Canyon and Cebolla Spring Riparian Areas. 1-29 1.16 Bluewater Canyon Riparian Areas. 1-30 1.17 Las Huertas Creek Riparian Area. 1-32 1.18 Springs of the Canon Jarido and Mesa Portales Areas . 1-34 vii FIGURES (Cont.) 1.19 Cebollita Spring Riparian Areas. 1-37 t 1.20 Tamarisk, Eddelman, and Ojo Grande Springs Riparian Areas. 1-38 1.21 Armijo Spring Riparian Area. 1-39 1.22 Dry Spring Riparian Area. 1-40 1.23 Chijuilla Spring Riparian Area. 1-41 1.24 Elk Springs Riparian Area. 1-42 3.1 BLM Form 6780-2: Habitat Management Plan Progress Report. 3-17 VIII