San Bernardino National Forest Land Management Plan - Part 2

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
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