WF-4. Emphasize and give priority to managing priority species and priority habitats in the event of conflicts between resource management objectives. Priority species include the following, as specified in Appendix H of the Proposed RMP :

Priority habitats include areas allocated as WHAs (for example, bighorn sheep habitat), ACEC s, riparian areas, springs, bat roosts, and desert tortoise habitat.

WF-5. Reintroductions, transplants, and supplemental stockings (augmentations) of wildlife populations will be carried out in collaboration with AGFD or the USFWS for the following purposes:

Species that may be reintroduced, transplanted, or augmented include but are not limited to pronghorn; desert bighorn sheep; mule deer; desert tortoise; beavers; lowland leopard frogs; Mexican garter snakes; and native fishes like spikedace, Gila chub, Gila topminnow, desert pupfish, longfin dace, speckled dace, and desert sucker.

WF-6. Management of habitat for Birds of Conservation Concern will emphasize avoidance or minimizing impacts and restoring and enhancing habitat quality to implement Executive Order 13186. Through the permitting process for all land use authorizations, ensure the maintenance of habitat quantity and quality. Take (as defined in the Glossary) of migratory birds from authorized activities will be minimized or avoided.

WF-7. Identify, minimize, and mitigate for wildlife habitat degradation, loss, and fragmentation to achieve Desired Future Conditions.

WF-8. Authorized activities will ensure the maintenance of bat roost habitat quantity and quality, using mitigation to achieve the DFC.

WF-9. Domestic sheep and goat grazing will be prohibited within nine miles of occupied desert bighorn sheep habitat to avoid disease transmission and comply with applicable BLM guidelines. Desert bighorn sheep habitat is depicted on Map 6 .

WF-10. The density and distribution of wildlife waters will be maintained, improved, or increased throughout the planning areas to sustain and enhance wildlife populations across their range.

WF-11. All existing wildlife waters will be maintained or improved as needed to maintain the presence of perennial water for wildlife.

WF-12. New wildlife waters will be built when needed to maintain, restore, or enhance native wildlife populations or distributions.

WF-13. Reasonable administrative vehicular access will be allowed for AGFD staff to wildlife water facilities for maintenance, repair, or research.

WF-14. Water developments, including those for purposes other than wildlife, will include design features to ensure safe and continued access to water by wildlife.

WF-15. The area contains suitable habitat for relocating and releasing individual animals and release of rehabilitated wildlife. These types of wildlife releases are not intended to establish new populations but are appropriate in areas of suitable habitat. Wildlife species that can be released include but are not limited to black bears; mountain lions; burrowing owls; and other raptors, reptiles, and game species.

WF-16. The evaluation of vehicle routes, in conjunction with the route designation process, will consider the effect of routes on wildlife habitat values. Routes that conflict with maintaining sensitive wildlife habitat will be mitigated to achieve DFC. Mitigation will include, but not be limited to the following:

WF-17. Administrative access will be allowed by law for enforcement and AGFD and USFWS staff for natural resource management. AGFD ’s use of motorized and mechanized equipment off designated routes is considered an administrative use and will be allowed in suitable locations (as agreed to by BLM and AGFD ) for such purposes including, but not limited to the following:

WF-18. Implement seasonal restrictions or closures when vehicle use degrades habitat values.

WF-19. Adverse impacts to native animal communities from invasive species will be reduced. Efforts to control or eradicate invasive wildlife species will be carried out in cooperation and collaboration with AGFD or other organizations.

WF-20. Maintenance of wildlife habitat will be given management priority in resolving resource conflicts.