West Mojave Plan FEIR/S - Desert Managers Group

Western Rand Mountains (17,877 acres): The Western Rand Mountains ACECformerly supported high densities of desert tortoises, though tortoise numbers have declinedsubstantially from historical levels. The ACEC is believed to support the Mohave groundsquirrel, and is known to harbor the burrowing owl and the LeConte’s thrasher. A RandMountains Fremont Valley Management Plan was completed in 1993. This plan, which alsoaddressed surrounding lands such as Koehn Lake and lands to the northeast, was prepared incooperation with the CDFG under authority of the Sikes Act. It received a “no jeopardy”Biological Opinion from the USFWS. The plan recommended several amendments to theBLM’s CDCA Plan:• Expand the West Rand Mountains ACEC by 13,120 acres• Change Class M lands in the ACEC expansion and adjacent alluvial fan areas to Class L.• Withdraw 32,590 acres within the Rand Mountains – Fremont Valley management areafrom mineral location and entry. The 6,090-acre Koehn Lake and an additional 8,320acres within the management area will remain as class M and open to mineral entry.• Close the entire management area to off highway vehicle use except for 129 miles ofdesignated open routes.• Categorize portions of the Rand Mountains – Fremont Valley management area as DesertTortoise Category I habitat. These lands lie on both sides of the Randsburg-Mojave Roadsouthwest of Red Mountain and are shown on Illustration #9 illustrated in the 1993management plan.The Rand Mountains Fremont Valley Management Plan reduced the number of openroutes by 90%. Signs were installed to identify open and closed routes of travel. All open routesand many, but not all, closed routes were signed. In selected areas, hay bails and plastic safetyfencing have been used to stop motorcycle use on closed routes or to stop cross-country travel.Hay bales and fencing have been more effective in reducing non-compliance that signs alone.The plan established a goal of ranger patrols eight hours per week plus eight hours eachweekend from March 1 to June 30, September 1 to November 1, and holiday weekends. Rangerstaffing levels have not increased sufficiently to fully achieve this goal over the entire periodsince the plan was approved in 1993. During 2002, one Ranger was assigned primary patrolresponsibilities for the Rand Mountains, Fremont Valley and the Desert Tortoise Natural Area.Patrol effort for the region is now meeting the management goal.3.1.1.3 Wilderness AreasBy enacting the California Desert Protection Act of 1994, Congress designated 69wilderness areas in southern California and directed that they be administered by the BLMpursuant to the Wilderness Act of 1964. Seventeen of these areas are within or partially withinthe planning area. Table 3-2 lists these 17 wilderness areas, together with the amount andChapter 3 3-8