San Bernardino National Forest Land Management Plan - Part 2

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Land Management Plan Part 2 San Bernardino National Forest Strategy September 2005 Desert Rim Theme: A remote, high desert landscape with extensive industrial limestone mining operations. Joshua trees at the lower elevations lead to shaded canyons and forested ridges. Some of the largest occurrences of federally listed native plants are found here in the carbonate deposits laid down by ancient inland seas. Solitude and challenge are found within the primitive Bighorn Mountain Wilderness. Setting: The Desert Rim Place is a high desert, remote, rugged landscape formed by complex geologic faulting. This is the location where the north slope of the San Bernardino Mountains links up with the Mojave Desert. In the 1800s, small amounts of gold, silver and lead were extracted here. Today, the majority of land is valued for the presence of large quantities of high quality, limestone mineral deposits used in the production of pharmaceuticals and cement. These carbonate deposits (derived from an ancient inland sea) are also valuable habitat supporting four species of threatened and endangered plants found nowhere else in the world. A portion of the Bighorn Mountain Wilderness, managed jointly by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is located here. Also located in this Place are portions of the North Baldwin Lake and Holcomb Valley Special Interest Area, established for its unique botanical, zoological, and historical features and the Arrastre Creek Special Interest Area established for it's botanical and zoological features. The Desert Rim Place landscape is arid, but contains many intermittent streams and important spring locations. Arrastre Creek, Crystal Creek, Terrace Springs, Visera Spring, Grapevine Creek, Burnt Flat pond, and Marble, Artic and Furnace Canyons provide important water sources for wildlife. The area is known for its unique features and is a popular location for geological exploration. The majority of the land here is under mining claim for limestone and metals. Three large-scale industrial limestone mines are present, annually producing about three million tons of cement-grade limestone and 1.5 million tons of high-brightness limestone. Page 62 Shaded canyons and ridges of the Desert Rim Place are forested with Jeffrey pine, white fir and incense cedar. As the landscape drops in
September 2005 Land Management Plan Part 2 San Bernardino National Forest Strategy elevation toward the desert, pinyon-juniper woodlands cover the slopes and valleys and intermix with Joshua tree woodlands and desert scrub. Tamarisk is affecting riparian habitat in Arrastre Creek and Old Woman Spring. The 1999 Willow Fire burned conifer forest and pinyon- juniper woodland in the western portion of this Place. Suppression of fire is necessary to allow natural regeneration of these habitat types. Carbonate and pebble plain habitat supporting federally listed plant species is present. A large area of critical habitat is designated for the recovery of carbonate endemic plants. An intensive collaborative effort led to the development of the Carbonate Habitat Management Strategy (CHMS) in 2003. The strategy is designed to provide long-term protection for the carbonate endemic plants and also provide for continued mining. Important wildlife habitat and linkages are also present here. Southwestern willow flycatcher and desert tortoise are present. The Cushenbury herd of Nelson's bighorn sheep and California spotted owl are present on the Desert Rim. Excellent year-round deer range is found throughout most of the Place. Pinyon and Joshua tree woodlands provide habitat for rare birds, such as hepatic tanager, calliope hummingbird, gray flycatcher and Lewis woodpecker. Important desert riparian habitats exist in this Place. Access through the Desert Rim Place from the mountains to the desert is via California State Highway 18 west to Lucerne Valley 3NO3, and 2N02 east to Pioneer Town. Ninety miles of road provide access throughout the Place. The Rattlesnake Grazing Allotment, consisting of 1,386 acres on National Forest System land, occurs on the southeast portion of the Place in the Bighorn Mountain Wilderness and on land administered by the BLM. The eastern portion of the Place is managed as Wild Burro Territory. Most of the private parcels within the Place boundary are utilized for limestone mining operations; no residential uses of land exist. Utility and transportation rights-of-way occur within the Place. Primitive and semi-primitive recreation experiences are found in this Place. The Bighorn Mountain Wilderness offers primitive hiking, backpacking, horseback riding and hunting opportunities. Other popular activities include driving for pleasure, wildlife viewing, and OHV use along designated routes. Vehicle trespass and existing structures need evaluation to ensure the area is conforming to wilderness values. No developed recreation sites are located within this Place and conservation education opportunities are limited. Significant heritage resources associated with historic mining and prehistoric habitation occur here and are in need of protection. Although recent efforts to reduce unauthorized uses in this Place have been successful, many unlawful activities continue to occur. Unlawful recreational target shooting, trash dumping, offroad vehicle use, and unauthorized woodcutting continue here, affecting both habitats and heritage resources. Existing Wilderness: • Bighorn Mountain Wilderness 11,905 acres Recommended Research Natural Areas: • Arrastre Flat 347 acres • Blackhawk 1,561 acres Page 63
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San Bernardino National Forest Land Management Plan - Part 2

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