BLM LIBRARY U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Arizona State Office December 1994 FINAL Arizona Statewide Wild and Scenic Rivers Legislative Environmental Impact Statement DEEPTC. E OF1 TEHED QINITER1IOER R ] DEC 2 0 1994 BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT CEDAR CITY, UTAH The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for the balanced management of the public lands and resources and their various values so that they are considered in a combination that will best serve the needs of the American people. Management is based upon the principles of multiple use and sustained yield; a combination of uses that take into account the long term needs of future generations for renewable and nonrenewable resources. These resources include recreation, range, timber, minerals, watershed, fish and wildlife, wilderness and natural, scenic, scientific and cultural values. s-r N ,<* BLM/AZ/PL-95/002+4333 <ov ^ SfcaH* **«* &\/i<U^ .ATA75 IW ^ ARIZONA WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS FINAL LEGISLATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT RIVERS APPENDIX fi^ ■O fir,' Bureau of Land Management, 1994 u ARIZONA WILD AND SCENIC RIVER FINAL LEGISLATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT WILD AND SCENIC RIVER STUDY AREA RIVER APPENDIX TABLE OF CONTENTS AGUA FRIA RIVER STUDY AREA P. 1 ARAVAIPA CREEK STUDY AREA P. 39 BIG SANDY RIVER STUDY AREA P. 63 BILL WILLIAMS RIVER STUDY AREA P. 99 BONITA CREEK STUDY AREA P. 131 BURRO CREEK STUDY AREA P. 173 CIENEGA CREEK STUDY AREA P. 227 FRANCIS CREEK STUDY AREA P. 253 GILA BOX: GILA RIVER STUDY AREA P. 287 HASSAYAMPA RIVER STUDY AREA P. 343 HOT SPRINGS CANYON STUDY AREA P. 375 GILA BOX: LOWER SAN FRANCISCO RIVER STUDY AREA P. 405 MIDDLE GILA RIVER STUDY AREA P. 447 PARIA RIVER STUDY AREA P. 485 SAN PEDRO RIVER STUDY AREA P. 51 1 SANTA MARIA RIVER STUDY AREA P. 549 SWAMP SPRINGS CANYON STUDY AREA P. 581 TURKEY CREEK STUDY AREA P. 61 1 VIRGIN RIVER STUDY AREA P. 641 WRIGHT CREEK STUDY AREA P. 683 Mi Bureau of Land Management, 1994 IV INTRODUCTION The river appendix contains 20 individual identified a need to inventory and classify rivers environmental impact statements. Each is in the resource areas and districts in order to designed as a stand-alone document and, by its develop management strategies and techniques inclusion in this appendix to the Arizona to protect the river's resource values. Statewide Wild and Scenic Rivers Environmental Impact Statement, is available for public review As a result, the Bureau of Land Management and comment. conducted eligibility evaluations to identify rivers with free flowing characteristics and The purpose and need for the action on each outstandingly remarkable values. By 1993, 20 river study area is similar. Specific portions of river study areas had been evaluated. the subject waterways were identified in resource management plans or resource Waterways in the study areas were assigned management plan amendments as eligible for tentative classifications for management as wild, further study in the wild and scenic river scenic, or recreational on the basis of criteria in evaluation process. The purpose of the action the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. in each case is to determine the suitability for recommending the eligible portions of the river (1 ) Wild river areas -- Those rivers or sections to Congress for inclusion in the National Wild of rivers that are free of impoundments and and Scenic Rivers System. generally inaccessible except by trail, with watersheds or shorelines essentially primitive The action is a response to the Wild and Scenic and waters unpolluted. These represent Rivers Act of 1 968 which contains the following vestiges of primitive America. stipulation. "In all planning for the use and development of water and related land (2) Scenic river areas ~ Those rivers or resources, consideration shall be given by all sections of rivers that are free of impoundments, Federal agencies involved to potential national with shorelines or watersheds still largely wild, scenic and recreational river areas, and all primitive and shorelines largely undeveloped, river basin and project plan reports submitted to but accessible in places by roads. the Congress shall consider and discuss any such potentials. The Secretary of the Interior (3) Recreational river areas ~ Those rivers or and the Secretary of Agriculture shall make sections of rivers that are readily accessible by specific studies and investigations to determine road or railroad, that may have some which additional wild, scenic, and recreational development along their shorelines, and that river areas within the United States shall be may have undergone some impoundment or evaluated in planning reports by all Federal diversion in the past. (P.L 90-342, Sec. 2(b)). agencies as potential alternative uses of the The Bureau of Land Management defined water and related land resources involved" (P.L 90-542, Sec. 5(d)). management objectives and standards for the three categories of rivers. The following The action on each river study area also summarizes the management objectives and complies with the National Environmental Policy standards in the Bureau of Land Management Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190) and the Federal Land Manual 8351 - Wild and Scenic Rivers - P olicy Policy and Management Act of 1976 (P.L. 94- and Program Direction for Identification, 579). Evaluation, and Management. Copies of the Manual are available for reference in the Arizona BACKGROUND Bureau of Land Management field offices. In developing resource management plans, Arizona Bureau of Land Management personnel (1) Wild Rivers: headquarters would be compatible if s uch 8fa3c5i1li t.i5e1s B w).e re screened from the river" (MS Management of wild river areas should give primary emphasis to protecting the values which make it outstandingly remarkable while (3) Recreational Rivers: providing river-related outdoor recreation opportunities in a primitive setting. Management of recreational river areas should give primary emphasis to protecting the values Allowable management practices might include which make it o utstandingly remarkable while construction of minor structures for ... providing river-related outdoor recreation [improvement of fish and game habitat, grazing opportunities in a recreational setting. protection from fire, insects, or disease, Recreational classification is a determination of rehabilitation or stabilization of damaged the level of development and does not prescribe resources], provided the area will remain natural or assume recreation development or appearing and the practices or structures are enhancement. Management of recreational river compatible and in harmony with the areas can and should maintain and provide environment. Developments such as trail outdoor recreation opportunities. The basic bridges, occasional fencing, natural-appearing distinctions between a "scenic" and a water diversions, ditches, flow measurement or "recreational" river area are the degree of other water management devices, and similar access, extent of shoreline development, facilities may be permitted if t hey are historical impoundment or diversion, and types unobtrusive and do not have a significant direct of land use. In general, a variety of agricultural, and adverse effect on the natural character of water management, silvicultural, recreational, and other practices or structures are compatible the river area" (MS 8351. 51 A). with recreational river values, providing such (2) Scenic Rivers: practices or structures are carried on in such a way that there is no substantial adverse effect Management of scenic river areas should on the river and its immediate environment. maintain and provide outdoor recreation opportunities in a near-natural setting. The Recreation facilities may be established in basic distinctions between a "wild" and a proximity to the river, although recreational river classification does not require extensive "scenic" river area are the degree of development, types of land use, and road recreational development. Recreational facilities accessibility. In general, a wide range of may still be kept to a minimum, with visitor agricultural, water management, silvicultural, services provided outside the river area. Future and other practices or structures could be construction of impoundments, diversions, compatible with scenic river values, providing straightening, riprapping, and other modification such practices or structures are carried on in of the waterway or adjacent lands would not be such a way that there is no substantial adverse permitted except in instances where such effect on the river and its immediate developments would not have a direct and environment. adverse effect on the river and its immediate environment (MS 8351 .51 C). The same considerations set forth for wild river areas should be considered, except that Preliminary suitability assessments were motorized vehicle use may, in some cases, be prepared for the State Director's review. All or appropriate and that development of larger parts of 13 river study areas were found to be scale public-use facilities within the river area, suitable in the preliminary assessment. The such as moderate-sized campgrounds, State Director concluded that the preliminary interpretive centers, or administrative assessment would be the proposed action alternative of the Bureau of Land Management. VI By March, 1994 the Bureau of Land Five of these are in the Kingman Resource Area Management had completed preparation of a which covers about 2.6 million acres in west draft environmental impact statement in central Arizona. The study areas include the which the impacts of implementing the Big Sandy River, Burro Creek, Francis Creek, proposed action and other alternatives were the Santa Maria River, and Wright Creek. analyzed. The draft environmental impact statement was issued for a 90-day public The Phoenix Resource Area manages nearly review and comment period early in April, 750,000 acres of public lands in central and 1994. Bureau of Land Management eastern Arizona. Three of the wild and scenic personnel examined the oral and written river study areas are administered by this responses and identified the recommended resource area. They are the Agua Fria River, alternative. This recommended alternative is the Hassayampa River, and the Middle Gila analyzed, and its impacts evaluated in each River below Coolidge dam. of the 20 environmental statements in this river appendix. The third Phoenix District field office, the Lower Gila Resource Area, manages over 3.7 million MANAGEMENT acres in west central Arizona. No river areas in this Resource Area were found to be eligible. The Bureau of Land Management's Arizona public lands are administered by a state office, The Yuma District four district offices, and ten resource area offices. The Yuma District covers nearly 2.5 million acres of public land in western Arizona and The Arizona Strip District about 80,000 acres in California. The Havasu Resource Area, Yuma District, manages lands in The Arizona Strip District administers nearly 2.9 the Bill Williams river study area. There are no million acres, or more than 54 percent of the 5.3 eligible river study areas in the other Yuma million-acre Arizona Strip area composed of District field office, the Yuma Resource Area. lands north and west of the Colorado River to the Utah State border and west to the Nevada The Safford District border. The district and field offices are in St. George, Utah. The Safford District covers approximately 1 .8 million acres of public land in southeastern The Arizona Strip District administers land in Arizona from Tucson east to the New Mexico two of the wild and scenic river study areas. border and south from Winkelman to the Mexican border. Nine river study areas are in The Virgin River Study Area is administered by the Safford District. the Shivwits Resource Area, Arizona Strip District. The Paria River Wild and Scenic River The Gila Resource Area, one of three field Study Area is administered by the Vermilion offices in the Safford District, manages five river Resource Area, Arizona Strip District. study areas. These are the Aravaipa Creek, Bonita Creek, Gila River: Gila Box, Lower San The Phoenix District Francisco River: Gila Box, and Turkey Creek. The Phoenix District consists of approximately Four river study areas are administered by the 7.1 million acres of land generally located in the Tucson Resource Area. They include Cienega central and western portions of the state. The Creek, Hot Springs Canyon, the San Pedro district has three field offices, each responsible River, and Swamp Springs Canyon. for a different geographical subarea. Eight wild and scenic river study areas are managed by the Phoenix District. VII No river areas were determined the be suitable described as "Beginning immediately in the third Safford field office, the San Simon downstream from Alamo Dam to the resource Resource Area. area boundary...." Though not specifically mentioned, this eligibility boundary coincides THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT with the east boundary of the Rawhide STATEMENTS Wilderness. The environmental impact statements are not Subsequent documents, i.e.: the Final decision documents. They are parts of decision Kingman Resource Management Plan (1993), making packages. The environmental impact the Suitability Assessement (1993) for the Bill statement, however, is important because it is Williams River, and the Bill Williams River developed around a public involvement process. Draft Environmental Impact Statement (1994), also described the segment as beginning at The process begins with public scoping Alamo Dam. meetings centering on significant issues identified by affected groups. These include In response to the Draft Wild and Scenic public, federal, state and local agencies, and River Legislative Environmental Impact Indian tribal groups. The process continues Statement, the Army Corps of Engineers with a public review and hearings on the draft noted that the proper boundary for the Bill document. A final environmental impact Williams Wild and Scenic River Study Area statement, incorporating public review begins at the edge of the Alamo Dam comments, is made available to the public prior withdrawal, since the Bureau of Land to the final decision. Management does not have primary management responsibility of this reach After public review of the final legislative (Public Land Order 492). This environmental impact statement the document recommendation moves the wild and scenic will be forwarded to the Department of the river boundary into the Rawhide Wilderness. Interior and then to the President and Congress for decisions. As a result, the boundary has been revised in the recommended alternative. This change The following paragraphs address several also applies to the Big Sandy and Santa items that identified by the public as needing Maria Rivers (each also terminates at the further clarification. Alamo Dam Withdrawal). Since these revisions have not create differences in the 1. In the final legislative environmental river study area management or have impact statements included in this appendix significant impacts on river values, no other major modifications and additions to the text changes related to this issue were made. of the draft document are shown by bold 4. Where grazing management plans print. authorize grazing in wilderness areas the 2. In the maps, segments identified by Bureau of Land Management, as necessary, letters have been changed to numbers for also authorizes limited motor vehicle use. In consistency. those cases where the wild and scenic river within a wilderness area authorized for 3. In the draft Kingman Resource Area limited motor vehicle use is recommended Resource Management Plan (1990) the for a Wild designation, the existing eligible portion of the Bill Williams River was VIII