Coronado NF Plan Revision

[Jeffshadows]

This information is mostly aimed at those of us in the southern portion of the state, but all should feel free to make their opinion known. Coronado NF is revising it's forest management plan and this is our chance to have our voices heard. Please take the time to review the plan, available on the Coronado website (Link from main page) and attend one of the public comment sessions listed below. If you can't make a session, please send your comments in to the FS via email. This is our chance to let them know that hunters are not the biggest users of backcountry forest resources!

Coronado National Forest November 2008 Plan Revision Public Meetings

Meetings will be an open house format with a short presentation at the top of each hour describing steps completed in the revision thus far, and how participants can provide review and comments. You will be invited to review and comment on the draft Desired Conditions, which are social economic and ecological attributes toward which management of the land and resources is to be directed; and draft Land Use Zones. Additionally, the Forest will be presenting the process they are using to identify areas suitable for wilderness. This is your opportunity to speak up for protection of the spectacular Coronado National Forest.

Safford Ranger District
Pinaleno, Galiuro, Santa Teresa & Winchester Mts.
November 5, Wednesday 5:30 ­ 8:30pm
Graham Co. General Services Bldg
Safford, AZ 85546

Douglas Ranger District
Chiricahua, Peloncillo and Dragoon Mountains
November 6, Thursday 4:00 ­ 7:00 pm
Rodeo Community Center
Highway 80 and Hickory St.
Rodeo, NM 88056

November 12, Wednesday 4:00 ­ 7:00 pm
Cochise College, Douglas Campus, St udent Union, Room 501
4190 W. State Hwy 80
Douglas, AZ 85607

Sierra Vista Ranger District
Huachuca and Whetstone Mountains
November 13, Thursday 4:00 ­ 7:00 pm
Buena High School Commons Area
5225 East Buena School Blvd.
Sierra Vista, AZ 85635

Nogales Ranger District
Santa Rita and Tumacacori Mountains
November 17, Monday 4:00 ­ 7:00 pm
Esplendor Resort, Sonoran Ballroom
1069 Camino Caralampi
Rio Rico, AZ 85648

Santa Catalina Ranger District
Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains
November 20, Thursday 4:00 ­ 7:00 pm
Sheraton Tucson Hotel and Suites
Tucson, AZ 85712

Forest­wide
November 22, Saturday 9:00 ­ 12:00 pm
Cochise College, Benson Campus
1025 S Highway 90 (.8mi S of I ­10)
Benson, AZ 85602

If you cannot make these meetings, you can still have input!

Let the Forest Service know what you think by contacting Jennifer Ruyle at (520) 388-8300 or coronado-plan@fs.fed.us

Here are some talking points from Sky Island Alliance for those of us who want to take it a step further:

Speak up For a Quiet and Healthy Forest!

Douglas and Sierra Vista Ranger District Talking Points

This November the Coronado National Forest will be resuming public meetings to present draft sections of the revised Forest Management Plan. The new Plan will affect management of the Forest for the next twenty years or more. The Forest Service is seeking input on draft Desired Conditions, proposed maps of Land Use Zones, and a first draft of Potential Wilderness. This is your opportunity to speak up for protection of the spectacular Coronado National Forest.

The Coronado Planning Partnership has released a report entitled State of the Coronado National Forest: An Assessment and Recommendations for the 21st Century. Please utilize this great tool to inform yourself about the special values of each mountain range on the Forest and to formulate comments to the Forest service. Ask the Forest Service to adopt the Report and the management recommendations contained within, as key components of the new Forest Plan.

Ask for a plan that is conservation-based, protects the amazing biological diversity of the Forest, promotes a healthy and resilient Forest, and that protects quiet recreation opportunities. Attend one of more of these public meetings and talk to the Forest Service about these critical issues:

Quiet Recreation: The majority of Forest visitors travel to the Forest to escape noise and pollution, and engage in quiet and low-impact recreation. These opportunities are threatened by Off-Road Vehicle use.

* Protect opportunities for quiet recreation on the Forest.

Special Interest Area Proposals: Protect biologically and culturally important areas of the Forest through the designation of Special Areas. Support the designation of the following proposed areas:

* Cave Creek Canyon Zoological and Botanical Area to protect the highest density of breeding raptors in the US
* Barfoot Zoological Area to protect the largest known population of twin-spotted rattlesnakes an the US
* Southern Peloncillo Zoological and Botanical Area to protect one of the largest and healthiest wetland complexes in the State of New Mexico and on the Forest.
* Scotia Canyon Zoological and Botanical Area to protect a unique perennial cienega system that is rich in sensitive species such as Chiricahua leopard frog, Huachuca springsnail and Mexican gartersnake.

Wilderness Suitability: Many areas of the Forest remain rugged and wild and are a cornerstone for protecting biological diversity and ecosystem resiliency, and for providing primitive recreation opportunities. As development brings more people to the Forest, quiet, pristine areas on the Forest deserve protection.

* Protect areas of the Forest with wilderness characteristics by designating them as Suitable for Wilderness.
* In the Douglas and Sierra Vista Ranger District support the study of the 319,000 acres identified as suitable for wilderness in State of the Coronado National Forest Report. See maps on page 20 in the Chiricahua chapter, page 32 in the Dragoon chapter, page 18 in the Peloncillo chapter, page 15 in the Huachuca chapter, and page 13 in the Whetstone chapter.

Your input can make a difference! Please attend one or more public meetings in your area.