The 55,990 acre San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (SPRNCA) south of Tucson, Arizona has one of the most intact riparian cottonwood gallery and mesquite bosque forests left in the Southwest. It is a precious gem threatened by the BLM’s new management proposal that would make 26,000 acres available to livestock grazing and does not designate any wilderness though about half of the area qualifies. The public must get involved and demand better management for the SPRNCA.
To comment, please send your concerns to the BLM by September 27th blm_az_tfo_sprnca_rmp@blm.gov
You can also email the project director at amarkstein@blm.gov
For more information see contact Western Watersheds Project Arizona office here: arizona@westernwatersheds.org
BACKGROUND
The San Pedro River begins in Mexico and flow north towards Tucson, Arizona and is one of the last free-flowing rivers in the state. Approximately 47 miles are protected within the SPRNCA. Its riparian and desert habitat support some 400 species of birds, and approximately 80 mammals, one of the highest mammal species diversity in the United States.
The SPRNCA is updating its Resource Management Plan (RMP) which is 25 years old. The draft plan has four alternatives. Alternative A would simply continue management under the old RMP. Alternative B would put more emphasis on livestock grazing, ORV use, and other public access. Alternative C, the BLM’s preferred alternative is what it terms “balances” livestock grazing, recreation and public access with “conservation.”
The only alternative that justifies support is Alternative D which will provide the SPRNCA the protection a “nationally” significant conservation area deserves. Alternative D would emphasize resource protection and conservation which one would think should be the emphasis in such a nationally significant area. Alt D among other things would eliminate all livestock grazing in the Conservation Area, would designate 23,000 acres of new wilderness, designate Wild and Scenic River status to various segments of the river, and would mandate the use of “light on the land” restoration techniques. (Other alternatives would allow the use of bulldozers, herbicides, and other measures). Alternative D would also create 5 Area of Environmental Concern (ACEC) designations. Native species that are currently extirpated including Gila topminnow, loach minnow, spike dace, northern Mexican garter snake, and Chiricahua leopard frog would be reintroduced.
LIVESTOCK GRAZING IN A NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA?
Perhaps the biggest change in management is the BLM’s proposal to expand livestock grazing on 19,000 acres of the SPRNCA. The BLM’s preferred alternative C would expand the current livestock grazing from 7,000 acres to 26,000 area. Indeed, one could argue that current management is better than the BLM’s preferred alternative. However, the only alternative that actually protects, conserves and expands overall protection for the SPRNCA is Alternative D.
Support no grazing in the entire SPRNCA, as well as Wilderness designation for 23,000 acres, and W and S river designation.
Please write the BLM and support Alt D before the comment deadline on September 27th. https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/comments/commentSubmissionDisplay.do?submissionId=SPRNCA-1-220768