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Comment period for Aravaipa ecosystem management plan closes Nov. 30
Eastern Arizona Courier
http://www.eacourier.com/articles/2010/ ... 135063.txt
Published on Sunday, September 5, 2010 8:37 AM MST

Contributed article

A draft plan to guide management of the Aravaipa ecosystem in southeastern Arizona has been completed and is now available for public review and comment for 90 days.

The Draft Aravaipa Ecosystem Management Plan and Environmental Assessment, a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Land Management, Arizona Game and Fish Department and The Nature Conservancy outlines goals and objectives for managing the diverse resources on approximately 78,000 acres of public and private lands surrounding the BLM’s 19,410-acre Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness. Topics in the draft plan include access and travel management, water and riparian resources, recreation, wildlife habitat, wilderness, threatened and endangered species, prescribed fire, cultural resources, watershed enhancement, information and education, and public safety.
A draft plan for management of the Aravaipa ecosystem is now available for public review and comment for 90 days.

When approved, the Aravaipa Ecosystem Management Plan will establish objectives, policies and management actions for approximately 70,000 acres of public lands managed by the BLM Safford Field Office in and around Aravaipa Canyon. The plan would replace the existing Aravaipa Canyon Wilder-ness Management Plan and guide management for three BLM Areas of Critical Environmental Concern: Turkey Creek Riparian ACEC, Table Mountain Research Natural Area ACEC and Desert Grasslands Research Natural Area ACEC (Pilares unit).

It will also integrate management direction for adjacent properties owned by The Nature Conservancy as part of the Aravaipa Canyon Preserve, which includes 7,802 acres of TNC’s private land within or adjacent to the BLM South Rim Allotment. The plan will incorporate Arizo-na Game and Fish Department management goals for wildlife, hunting and off-highway vehicle recreation throughout the planning area. The riparian corridor along Aravaipa Creek within the BLM wilderness is designated by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission as the Aravaipa Canyon Wildlife Area.

“The draft plan reflects a lengthy public participation to address issues and concerns,” said Tom Schnell, assistant field manager for nonrenewable resources in the BLM Safford Field Office. It is based on a series of collaborative efforts from 2004 to 2009 that began with five open houses in 2004.

A public workshop was held in Willcox in 2005 to group comments into general themes; seven work groups were formed at that workshop. Members continued to work together to develop proposed objectives for the management of the planning area, and these objectives were further refined to address issues raised during scoping.

The Draft Aravaipa Ecosystem Manage-ment Plan and EA are now posted on the BLM Arizona Web site at http://www.blm.gov/az/. The draft plan is also available on CD with four printed maps. Call the Safford Field Office at 928-348-4400 to request the CD/maps or just the maps.

Public meetings will be held during the comment period in the following areas: Safford/ Thatcher, Klondyke, Winkelman/Mammoth and Tucson.

The public comment period closes Nov. 30, 2010. Comments may be submitted by e-mail to SFOWEB_AZ@blm. gov; state Draft Aravaipa Plan Comment in the subject line. Written comments can be mailed to the following address: Draft Aravaipa Plan Safford Field Office, 711 S. 14th Avenue, Safford, AZ 85546.