Comprehensive Evaluation Report

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Need for Change: Ecosystem Diversity The Plan does not clearly and specifically address many of the concerns related to ecosystem restoration and maintenance specific on the Grasslands. The revised Plan should provide direction that is more specific to the Grasslands in relation to ecosystem management: o The ecosystems found on the Grasslands represent remnant pieces of the historical extent in which they were found across the southern Great Plains. Maintaining reference conditions on the Grasslands is, therefore, important to the future survival of species associated with these vegetation types. Current Plan direction does not focus on management activities (fire and grazing) that could be used to achieve plant community desired conditions. Most of the ecosystems found on across the landscape are outside their reference condition in terms of extent, vegetative composition and structure, or disturbance processes; however, the areas of these ecosystems that remain on the Grasslands are near or trending toward their reference condition. There is a need to identify management activities (i.e. prescribed burning, adaptive management strategies) in the Plan that will maintain, or accelerate restoration of, reference conditions, recognizing past events that limit the ability of full restoration. o Each ecosystem type is unique; however, the current Plan provides no specific direction for the majority of the ecosystems found on the Grasslands. Adaptive management techniques would provide managers with the flexibility to implement activities as conditions fluctuate. The revised Plan needs to have management direction to recognize the particular management objectives of each ecosystem (i.e. descriptions of different prescribed burning timeframes for each ecosystem). o There are invasive species (plants) present on the Grasslands that have the potential to affect ecosystem structure, composition, and processes. The current Plan has little direction on the management of invasive species. The revised Plan needs to provide management direction addressing the introduction, spread and control of invasive plants and animals, with increased emphasis on adaptive management (i.e. inventory, monitor, and adjust treatments accordingly). o The concept of climate change is not reflected in the current Plan. The revised Plan needs to address adaptive management of ecosystems with consideration that there may be changes in the climate. Revision Topic 2: Managed Recreation The recreation opportunities on the Grasslands that contribute the most to social satisfaction, quality of life, and the local tourism economy include hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, horseback riding, viewing birds and wildlife, driving to enjoy the scenery and open spaces, and visiting historic sites. The local public has expressed satisfaction with the recreation opportunities provided on the Grasslands, however, the demand for updated or improved amenities at some recreation sites is slowly and modestly increasing. This reflects the fact that while the populations in communities around the Grasslands are declining, visitation from cities outside the area is gradually increasing and producing a gradual change in recreational needs. Camping, often in association with hunting or fishing, is one of most prevalent recreation activities on all four Grasslands. Current Conditions and Trends Some of the key findings identified during evaluation of the Grasslands current conditions and trends follow. 20
Hiking and Camping 13 Based on survey data, day hiking, developed camping, and primitive camping (mostly undeveloped sites within a short distance of a road) are the most frequent outdoor recreation activities in the area. While hiking and camping opportunities are important to the overall experience of Grassland visitors, they may be a secondary or complimentary activity to hunting, fishing, or other recreation opportunities. Camping occurs at developed and primitive sites throughout the Grasslands. On the Black Kettle National Grasslands, camping most often occurs at developed sites or one of the 32 designated-dispersed sites 14 that are accessed from designated roads. On the Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands, camping occurs at developed sites and people also may drive off of the roads to camp. With the implementation of the 2005 Forest Service Travel Management Rule (36 CFR 294),and associated Motor Vehicle Use Maps that will designate the motorized trail system, accessibility for primitive motorized camping may be reduced in some areas of the Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands. Because of this, increased use of developed recreation sites is projected to occur. Otherwise, the future trend for camping is expected to remain fairly stable across the Grasslands. Changes in users and uses on the District have recently spurred management to install a new developed campground at the top of Mills Canyon and improve the site at the bottom of the Canyon. The District will continue to be responsive to recreation changes as resources and management allow. The Black Kettle and McClellan Creek National Grasslands currently contain a total of about 13.7 miles of short, non-motorized hiking trails around the major recreation sites, each of which is less than 2 miles in length. Short trails are planned for some recreation sites on the Kiowa National Grassland, particularly around Mills Canyon. The 2.4-mile portion of the Santa Fe National Historic Trail on the Kiowa National Grassland is becoming more popular for hikers even though it is maintained as a historic site rather than a trail. Because of the flat terrain and fragmented and fenced land ownership pattern, there are currently no areas on the Grasslands which provide backpacking or long trail riding opportunities and none are expected to be developed. Instead, hiking trails provide a mix of day-use opportunities and some provide cultural, historical, or ecological information (interpretation) as well. It is projected that demand for dayhiking and particularly for interpretive trails will continue to rise on the Grasslands. Off-Highway Motorized Use 15 Driving motor vehicles off-road (cross country) is currently allowed on the Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands and prohibited on the Black Kettle National Grassland (since 1990). McClellan Creek National Grassland has an 8-mile trail system that is quite popular for motorbike and all-terrain vehicle use. Several locations on the Grasslands have been identified by the public as areas where off-road driving conflicts with other land use activities. These Grasslands will soon undergo a planning process in accordance with the 2005 Travel Management Rule (36 CFR 294) and designate a system of motorized roads, trails, and areas. Once the Motorized Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) is finalized, driving outside designated routes or areas will be prohibited, unless specially authorized. Off-road driving and the resulting user-created roads in Mills Canyon and a few other areas on the Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands have removed important vegetation cover, accelerated soil erosion and stream sedimentation, and degraded riparian ecosystems, wildlife habitat, scenic quality, and historic sites. Uncontrolled motorized use in Mills Canyon has also impacted the Inventoried Roadless Area characteristics, and contributed to the introduction and spread of invasive plants. 13 USDA 2011b p. 21-22 14 Designated-dispersed sites are places designated (and usually mowed) to provide for parking, camping and day use activities in a natural setting without toilets, tables, and other constructed facilities. The National Survey on Recreation and the Environment would consider these to be primitive camping. 15 USDA 2011b p. 23 21
Page 1 and 2: United States Department of Agricul
Page 3 and 4: Executive Summary This Comprehensiv
Page 5 and 6: three percent of the land with the
Page 7 and 8: Historical Context Beginning about
Page 9 and 10: ural region would be substantially
Page 11 and 12: seven PNVTs found on the Grasslands
Page 13 and 14: Departure from Reference: The shinn
Page 15 and 16: making this an important ecosystem.
Page 17 and 18: conditions relationship to referenc
Page 19 and 20: # Common Name Ranger District Habit
Page 21: determined not to be at risk. None
Page 25 and 26: eplace facilities at the end of the
Page 27 and 28: o The revised plan should acknowled
Page 29 and 30: Livestock and Range Management 21 O
Page 31 and 32: tree removal practices are designed
Page 33 and 34: vital role in supporting social and
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