Desired plant community objectives will be quantified for each allotment through the rangeland monitoring and evaluation process. Ecological site descriptions available through the National Resource Conservation Service and other data will be used as a guide for addressing site capabilities and/or potentials for change over time. These desired plant community objectives are vegetative values that the BLM is managing over the long term. Once established, desired plant community objectives will be updated and monitored based on indicators for Land Health Standard 3. This standard is derived from the Arizona Standards for Rangeland Health, developed through a collaborative process with the Arizona Resource Advisory Council, and identifies the characteristics of and management actions needed to promote and sustain healthy ecosystems on public lands.
Monitoring studies will be used to determine conformance with the Arizona Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Grazing Administration. Monitoring studies generally include actual use, utilization, trend, and climate. The three management categories will be used to set priorities. These studies will be analyzed through the evaluation process to determine management actions needed to achieve standards and meet multiple-resource management objectives.
Livestock management changes may be made when sufficient assessment, inventory, or monitoring data are available.
Management actions outlined in the Arizona Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Grazing Administration will be applied to identify and correct potential erosion problems that could negatively impact other resources. Prioritized emphasis will be placed on those sites that might directly impact species that have been listed as threatened, endangered, or candidate species by USFWS.
Rest rotation, deferred rotation, seasonal or short duration use, or other grazing management systems may be implemented where the need has been identified through monitoring. Also, monitoring will be used to assess the effectiveness of changes brought about by new management practices.
Intensity, season and frequency, and distribution of grazing use should provide for growth and reproduction of the plant species needed to reach desired plant community objectives.
Consider deferment of livestock where possible in cooperation with lease and permit holders. This deferment may allow for the use of prescribed fire or other vegetative treatments, or the use of the area as a grass bank to allow for rest in other grazing allotments.
Administrative vehicular access to repair range improvements by the grazing lessee is assured through issuance of the grazing permit.
One time travel to access sick or injured livestock away from designated routes is authorized to transport the animal to a medical facility.
Any compensation for a loss of range improvements within these pastures will be made in accordance with 43 CFR 4120.3-6.
Following is a discussion of typical design features, construction practices, and implementation procedures for range improvements that could be constructed in a manner consistent with the protection of monument values. The extent, location, and timing of such actions will be based on allotment-specific management objectives adopted through the evaluation process, interdisciplinary development and analysis of proposed actions, and funding.
Fences
All new fences will be built to BLM manual specifications. Fences will normally be constructed to provide exterior allotment boundaries, divide allotments into pastures, protect streams or other riparian areas, and control livestock. Most fences will be three-wire or four-strand with steel posts spaced 16.5 feet apart with intermediate wire stays. Existing fences that create wildlife movement problems will be modified to facilitate movement. Proposed fence lines will usually not be bladed or scraped. Gates or cattle guards will be installed where fences cross existing roads.
Pipelines
Wherever possible, water pipelines will be buried. The trench will be excavated by a backhoe, ditch witch, or similar equipment. Plastic pipe will be placed in the trench and the excavated material will be used to backfill. Most pipelines will have water tanks spaced as needed to achieve proper livestock distribution.
Wells
Well sites will be selected based on geologic reports that predict the depth to reliable aquifers. All applicable state laws and regulations that apply to groundwater will be observed.
Supplemental Feed Authorization
Supplemental feed must be authorized in advance. Supplemental feed means a feed that supplements the forage available from the public lands and is provided to improve livestock nutrition or rangeland management.
If used, salt should be placed at least 0.25 mile from water sources to disperse impacts.