San Bernardino National Forest Land Management Plan - Part 2

September 2005 Land Management Plan Part 2
San Bernardino National Forest Strategy
Fish and Wildlife Service. The site is in very good ecological condition and provides an
excellent example of the rare carbonate plant species and their habitat. Under the Carbonate
Habitat Management Strategy (a multi-jurisdictional plan for conserving federally-listed
limestone endemic plant species while preserving economic interests in the limestone), a portion
of BLM land adjacent to the Blackhawk RNA would also be recommended as an RNA,
effectively creating one large RNA managed by both agencies. The recommended RNA on BLM
land would add approximately 995 acres to the Blackhawk RNA.
Broom Flat 417 acres Places: Big Bear
This area is located on the Mountaintop Ranger District in the eastern San Bernardino
Mountains, approximately three miles from eastern Big Bear Valley, southwest of Broom Flat
and north of State Highway 38. This area is approximately 468 acres and ranges from 7,150 feet
above sea level to 8,095 feet above sea level.
The Broom Flat RNA represents relatively homogenous stands of single-leaved pinyon, western
juniper and curl-leaf mountain mahogany, some of which are notably large and long-lived on the
San Bernardino National Forest. Although there is not a lot of habitat diversity, the RNA does
provide a good representation of all age classes within the dominant pinyon/juniper woodland
type. The aspen grove in the northeast corner is one of only two known groves in the San
Bernardino Mountains and is a disjunct population 200 miles away from the nearest populations
in the Sierra Nevada Range and Mexico. This RNA provides an opportunity to study both rare
and widespread plant communities on the San Bernardino National Forest.
Cleghorn Canyon 1,662 acres Places: Cajon
This area is located on the Front Country Ranger District in the Cajon Pass area in the western
San Bernardino Mountains, and is approximately three miles north of the town of Devore. This
area is approximately 1,880 acres and ranges from 2,920 feet above sea level to 5,280 feet above
sea level.
The recommended Cleghorn Canyon RNA represents a mixture of natural communities and the
target element is western sycamore-alder riparian forest. The canyon is relatively free of
nonnative plant species and is essentially roadless. At least 20 special-status plant and wildlife
species occur in Cleghorn Canyon, including federally threatened, endangered and Region 5
sensitive and watchlist species. Suitable habitat for several more species is also present.
Cleghorn Canyon is also the best remaining corridor for wildlife movement between the San
Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains. Establishment of this RNA would allow for protection
of a diverse array of plant communities and wildlife habitat and would also provide an
opportunity to study the interactions between rare wildlife species and the habitats on which they
depend.
Wildhorse Meadow 1,256 acres Places: San Gorgonio
This area is located on the Mountaintop Ranger District between Wildhorse Creek and Lightning
Gulch south and east of Sugarloaf Ridge in the San Bernardino Mountains. Approximately three
miles south of Big Bear Valley, this area is approximately 1,256 acres and ranges from 8,400 feet
above sea level to 9,465 feet above sea level.
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