Lands in Federal ownership that the Government obtained as a gift or by purchase, exchange, or condemnation. Also see PUBLIC LANDS .

A parcel of federal land, valuable for a mineral deposit or deposits. A claim is a parcel for which one has asserted a right of possession. The right is restricted to extracting and developing a mineral deposit. The rights granted by a mining claim are valid against a challenge by the United States and other claimants only after the discovery of a valuable mineral deposit. There are two types of mining claims: lode and placer. Since October 5, 1992, only claimants who have a legal interest in ten or fewer mining claims nationwide and who also meet other requirements, may perform assessment work and file evidence of assessment. All other claimants must pay an annual fee of $125 per claim to BLM or file for a waiver from payment by August 31. Failure to file by August 31 requires BLM to declare the claim or site null and void by operation of law.

A detailed and specific plan for managing a single resource program or plan element undertaken, as needed, to implement the more general resource management plan (RMP ) decisions. BLM prepares activity plans for specific areas to reach specific resource management objectives within stated timeframes.

See and CLASS II AIR QUALITY RATING .

An area that shares the same air because of topography, meteorology, and climate; the atmospheric zone potentially influenced by air pollutants from various sources.

An area of one or more pastures where one or more operators graze their livestock. An allotment generally consists of Federal rangelands, but may include intermingled parcels of private, State, or Federal lands. BLM stipulates the number of livestock and season of use for each allotment.

A livestock grazing management plan for a specific unit of rangeland and based on multiple use resource management objectives. The AMP considers livestock grazing in relation to other uses of rangelands and to renewable resources--watershed, vegetation, and wildlife. An AMP establishes the seasons of use, number of livestock to be permitted on rangelands, and the range improvements needed.

Step 4 in BLM’s resource management planning process. An AMS describes a planning area’s current public land management and suggests opportunities to better manage this land.

One mature (1,000 pound) cow or the equivalent based upon an average daily forage consumption of 26 pounds of dry matter per day.

The amount of forage needed to sustain one cow, five sheep, or five goats for a month.

A plant that completes its life cycle and dies in 1 year or less. Also see PERENNIAL PLANT .

In wild horse and burro management, a single number that is the high point of an established population range to maintain a thriving natural ecological balance, based on available forage, water, and other resource needs or conflicts.

Habitats confined to streams, rivers, springs, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and other water bodies.

A water-bearing bed or layer of permeable rock, sand, or gravel capable of yielding large amounts of water.

Adding water to an aquifer, a process that occurs naturally from the infiltration of rainfall and from water flowing over earth materials that allow it to infiltrate below the land surface.

A nonportable object, not recoverable from its matrix (usually in an archeological site) without destroying its integrity. Examples are rock paintings, hearths, post holes, floors, and walls.

A designated area on public lands where special management attention is required - (1) to protect and prevent irreparable damage to fish and wildlife; (2) to protect important historic, cultural, or scenic values, or other natural systems or processes; or (3) to protect life and safety from natural hazards.

See VISUAL ASPECT .

Standards and guidelines developed collaboratively by BLM and the Arizona Resource Advisory Council (RAC) to address the minimum requirements of the Department of the Interior’s final rule for Grazing Administration effective Aug. 21, 1995.

A component of the national scenic byway system which focuses primarily on corridors along back country roads which have high scenic, historic, archeological, or other public interest values. The road may vary from a single track bike trail to a low speed, paved road that traverses back country areas. (BLM Handbook H-8357-1, B 2)

Areas with undeveloped, primitive, and self-directed visitor experience without provisions for motorized or mechanized access, except for designated routes. Also see and PASSAGE ZONE .

The portion of stream discharge derived from such natural storage sources as groundwater, large lakes, and swamps but not derived from direct runoff or flow from stream regulation, water diversion, or other human activities.

The constant livestock herd size that is continually licensed but may not be the same as the grazing (carrying) capacity. Also see GRAZING CAPACITY (CARRYING CAPACITY) .

Information prepared by or under the direction of a Federal agency to determine whether a proposed action is likely to (1) harm threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, (2) jeopardize the existence of species that are proposed for listing, or (3) adversely modify proposed critical habitat. Biological assessments must be prepared for major construction activities. The outcome of a biological assessment determines whether formal Section 7 consultation or a conference is needed. Also see BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION .

The full range of variability within and among living organisms and the ecological complexes in which they occur. Biological diversity encompasses ecosystem or community diversity, species diversity, and genetic diversity.

The gathering and evaluation of information on proposed endangered and threatened species and critical and proposed critical habitat for actions that do not require a biological assessment. Also see BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT .

A document that includes the following - (1) the opinion of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service as to whether a Federal action is likely to jeopardize the existence of a species listed as threatened or endangered or destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat, (2) a summary of the information on which the opinion is based, and (3) a detailed discussion of the effects of the action on listed species or designated critical habitat.

Methods of vegetation treatment that employ living organisms to selectively suppress, inhibit, or control herbaceous and woody vegetation. Examples of such methods include insects; pathogens; and grazing by cattle, sheep, or goats.

As listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, birds (other than threatened or endangered species) that are in greatest need of conservation action and without such action might become listed as threatened or endangered.

See SENSITIVE SPECIES .

In prescribed burning, an area having uniform enough conditions of stand and fuel to be treated uniformly under a given burning prescription. The size of burnblocks ranges from the smallest that allows an economically acceptable cost per acre, up to the largest that can conveniently be treated in one burning period.

Setting fire inside a control line to widen it or consume fuel between the edge of the fire and the control line.

Species not protected under the Endangered Species Act, but being considered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for inclusion on the list of federally threatened and endangered species.

The cover or leaves of branches formed by the tops or crowns of plants as viewed from above the cover measured by the vertical projection downward of the extent of the cover and expressed as a percentage of the ground so covered.

A method of estimating the age of an artifact containing carbon by measuring the radioactivity of its carbon-14 content to determine how long ago the specimen was separated from equilibrium with the atmosphere/plant/animal cycle. Continuously produced in the atmosphere by cosmic ray bombardment, carbon-14 decays with a half-life typically described as 5,568 years. An object is dated by comparing its carbon-14 activity per unit mass with that in a contemporary sample.

The amount of recreation use a given resource can sustain before the resource’s quality begins to irreversibly deteriorate.

The most animals a specific habitat or area can support without causing deterioration or degradation of that habitat. Also see GRAZING CAPACITY (CARRYING CAPACITY) .

Mining that only negligibly disturbs Federal lands and resources and does not include the use of mechanized earth moving equipment or explosives or motorized equipment in areas closed to off-highway vehicles. Casual use generally includes panning, non-motorized sluicing, and collecting mineral specimens using hand tools.

Noncommercial or nonorganized group or individual activities on public land. Casual use does the following:

If the use goes beyond those conditions, the activity should be treated as any other organized recreational group or competitive activity or event for which BLM would require the event organizer to obtain a special recreation permit (SRP ).

Extracting mineral materials for limited personal (noncommercial) uses.

A category of federal actions that do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment and for which an environmental impact statement or an environment assessment is required.

The applying of chemicals to control unwanted vegetation.

Under the Clean Air Act, the rating given areas of the country selected to receive the most stringent degree of air quality protection. Also see CLASS II AIR QUALITY RATING .

Under the Clean Air Act, the rating given areas of the country selected for somewhat less stringent protection from air pollution damage than Class I areas, except in specified cases. Also see CLASS I AIR QUALITY RATING .

Occupation of an area by a group of organisms that previously did not occupy the area.

A collective term used to describe an assemblage of organisms living together; an association of living organisms having mutual relationships among themselves and with their environment and thus functioning at least to some degree as an ecological unit.

For purposes of this plan, all competitive events that have an element of speed as a component, including, motorcycle enduros, OHV desert racing, and equestrian endurance rides.

In social ecology, a subdivision of a human resource unit that shows the "catchment area" of a community, or its zone of influence, beyond which people relate to another community. Geographic features or settlement patterns often determine these boundaries. People in CRUs experience great face-to-face knowledge, and the caretaking systems through informal networks are the strongest. Also see HUMAN RESOURCE UNIT (HRU) .

An interest in land which prohibits the landowner from doing things which otherwise would be lawful upon his estate in order to protect the natural resources of the property (e.g., open space, wildlife, riparian habitat, wetlands, etc.). Also see EASEMENT.

A document that describes agreements made between BLM and the public on adjusting grazing use. This document also defines the specific adjustments and the schedule of adjustments (usually over a 5-year period).

An area for which BLM enters into a cooperative management agreement with a local government to manage recreation land.

See DESIGNATED CORRIDOR .

(1) Plants or plant parts, living or dead, on the surface of the ground; (2) plants or objects used by wild animals for nesting, rearing of young, escape from predators, or protection from harmful environmental conditions.

A livestock operation that maintains a base breeding herd of mother cows and bulls. The cows produce a calf crop each year, and the operation keeps some heifer calves from each calf crop for breeding replacements. Between the ages of 6 and 12 months, the operation sells the rest of the calf crop along with old and nonproductive cows and bulls.

Air pollutants for which acceptable levels of exposure can be determined and for which an ambient air quality standard has been set. Examples of such pollutants are ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and PM ₁₀ and PM₂₅.

See CRITERIA AIR POLLUTANTS .

Specific parts of an area (1) that are occupied by a federally listed threatened or endangered plant or animal at the time it is listed and (2) that contain physical or biological features essential to the conservation of the species or that may require special management or protection. Critical habitat may also include specific areas outside an area occupied by a federally listed species if the Secretary of the Interior determines that these areas are essential for conserving the species.

The irreplaceable qualities that are embodied in cultural resources, such as scientific information about prehistory and history, cultural significance to Native Americans and other groups, and the potential to enhance public education and enjoyment of the Nation’s rich cultural heritage. Section 1 of the National Historic Preservation Act states that "the preservation of this irreplaceable heritage is in the public interest so that its vital legacy of cultural, educational, aesthetic, inspirational, economic, and energy benefits will be maintained and enriched for future generations of Americans."

A location of human activity, occupation, or use identifiable through field inventory, historical documentation, or oral evidence. Cultural resources include archaeological and historical sites, structures, buildings, objects, artifacts, works of art, architecture, and natural features that were important in past human events. They may consist of physical remains or areas where significant human events occurred, even though evidence of the events no longer remains. And they may include definite locations of traditional, cultural, or religious importance to specified social or cultural groups.

Cultural resource information embodied in material remains such as artifacts, features, organic materials, and other remnants of past activities. An important aspect of data is context, a concept that refers to the relationships among these types of materials and the situations in which they are found.

The professional application of scientific techniques of controlled observation, collection, excavation, and/or removal of physical remains, including analysis, interpretation, explanation, and preservation of recovered remains and associated records in an appropriate curatorial facility used as a means of protection. Data recovery may sometimes employ professional collection of such data as oral histories, genealogies, folklore, and related information to portray the social significance of the affected resources. Such data recovery is sometimes used as a measure to mitigate the adverse impacts of a ground-disturbing project or activity.

The condition of a cultural property, its capacity to yield scientific data, and its ability to convey its historical significance. Integrity may reflect the authenticity of a property’s historic identity, evidenced by the survival or physical characteristics that existed during its historic or prehistoric period, or its expression of the aesthetic or historic sense of a particular period of time.

A descriptive listing and documentation, including photographs and maps of cultural resources. Included in an inventory are the processes of locating, identifying, and recording sites, structures, buildings, objects, and districts through library and archival research, information from persons knowledgeable about cultural resources, and on-the-ground surveys of varying intensity.

Class I: A professionally prepared study that compiles, analyzes, and synthesizes all available data on an area’s cultural resources. Information sources for this study include published and unpublished documents, BLM inventory records, institutional site files, and state and National Register files. Class I inventories may have prehistoric, historic, and ethnological and sociological elements. These inventories are periodically updated to include new data from other studies and Class II and III inventories.

Class II: A professionally conducted, statistically based sample survey designed to describe the probable density, diversity, and distribution of cultural properties in a large area. This survey is achieved by projecting the results of an intensive survey carried out over limited parts of the target area. Within individual sample units, survey aims, methods, and intensities are the same as those applied in Class III inventories. To improve statistical reliability, Class II inventories may be conducted in several phases with different sample designs.

Class III: A professionally conducted intensive survey of an entire target area aimed at locating and recording all visible cultural properties. In a Class III survey, trained observers commonly conduct systematic inspections by walking a series of close-interval parallel transects until they have thoroughly examined an area.

For cultural resource projects, a detailed design plan that defines the procedures, budget, and schedule for such activities as structure stabilization, recordation, interpretive development, and construction of facilities such as trails. These plans include estimates on workforce, equipment, and supply needs.

A physical location of past human activities or events, more commonly referred to as an archaeological site or a historic property. Such sites vary greatly in size and range from the location of a single cultural resource object to a cluster of cultural resource structures with associated objects and features.

(40 CFR 1508.8) "...is the impact on the environment which results from the incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions regardless of what agency (Federal or non-Federal) or person undertakes such other actions. Cumulative impacts can result from individually minor but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of time."

See CULTURAL RESOURCE DATA RECOVERY .

A manager’s decision on a categorical exclusion review or an environmental assessment. Comparable to the record of decision for an environmental impact statement, the decision record includes - (1) a finding of no significant impact, (2) a decision to prepare an environmental impact statement, or (3) a decision not to proceed with a proposal. Also see RECORD OF DECISION .

Moving grazing animals to various parts of a range in succeeding years or seasons to provide for seed production, plant vigor, and seedling growth.

Three categories of desert tortoise habitat based on population, viability, size, density, and manageability and derived from BLM inventories of desert tortoise habitat throughout the planning areas between 1989 and 1999. The categories are as follows -

Category I: Medium to high tortoise density. Habitat area essential for maintaining large, viable populations.

Category II: Low to moderate tortoise density. Habitat is manageable.

Category III: Isolated patches of good habitat exist but are difficult to manage. Most management conflicts are not resolvable.

BLM’s preferred route for placing rights-of-way for utilities (i.e. pipelines and powerlines) and transportation (i.e. highways and railroads).

The plant community that has been determined through a land use or management plan to best meets the plan’s objectives for a site. A real, documented plant community that embodies the resource attributes needed for the present or potential use of an area, the desired plant community is consistent with the site’s capability to produce the required resource attributes through natural succession, management intervention, or a combination of both.

Recreation that does not require developed sites or facilities.

The right to use land in a certain way granted by a landowner to a second party. Also see CONSERVATION EASEMENT .

See ECOLOGICAL SITE RATING (ECOLOGICAL CONDITION/ECOLOGICAL STATUS) .

The quality of a natural unmanaged or managed ecosystem in which the natural ecological processes are sustained, with genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity assured for the future.

See NICHE.

A distinctive kind of land that has specific physical characteristics and that differs from other kinds of land in its ability to produce a distinctive kind and amount of vegetation.

Descriptions of the following characteristics of an ecological site - soils, physical features, climatic features, associated hydrologic features, plant communities possible on the site, plant community dynamics, annual production estimates and distribution of production throughout the year, associated animal communities, associated and similar sites, and interpretations for management.

The basic inventory of present and potential vegetation on BLM rangeland.

The present state of vegetation of an ecological site in relation to the potential natural community for the site. Independent of the site’s use, the ecological site rating is an expression of the relative degree to which the kinds, proportions, and amounts of plants in a community resemble those of the potential natural community. The four ecological status classes correspond to 0-25 percent, 25-50 percent, 51-75 percent, or 76-100 percent similarity to the potential natural community and are called early-seral, mid-seral, late-seral, and potential natural community, respectively.

Organisms, together with their abiotic environment, forming an interacting system and inhabiting an identifiable space.

Tourism that essentially focuses on natural rather than developed attractions with the goal of enhancing the visitor’s understanding and appreciation of nature and natural features. Such tourism often attempts to be environmentally sound and to contribute economically to the local community.

Qualification of a river for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System by determining that it is free flowing and, with its adjacent land area, has at least one river-related value considered to be outstandingly remarkable.

Any animal or plant species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range as designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act. Also see THREATENED SPECIES .

An off-road competition against the clock and usually over long distances.

(40 CFR 1508.9)

"(a) Means a concise public document for which a Federal agency is responsible that serves to -

(b) Shall include brief discussions of the need for the proposal, of alternatives as required by section 102 (2) (E), of the environmental impacts of the proposed action and Alternatives, and a listing of agencies and persons consulted." Also see ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS) .

(40 CFR 1508.11) "...means a detailed written statement as required by section 102 (2) (C) of the Act" (referring to the National Environmental Policy Act.) Also see ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA) .

Executive Order 12898, "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations," directs Federal agencies to assess whether their actions have disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority or low-income populations.

Part-time or seasonal forage; forage produced by annual forage species.

A stream or portion of a stream that (1) flows only in direct response to precipitation, (2) receives little or no water from springs or no long continued supply from snow or other sources, and (3) has a channel that is always above the water table.

An area fenced to exclude animals.

An organism or species that is not native to the region in which it is found.

A blanket RMP allocation for recreation use made in a resource management plan for all BLM’s land covered by the plan but not otherwise allocated in special recreation management areas or recreation management zones.

The area on the ground defining or delineating the extent of the facility. For a building, it could be the outside edge of the foundation. For a parking lot, staging area, or trail head, it could be a barrier fence or artificial boundary that defines the limits of the particular use.

Mountains formed by block faulting which divides the earth’s crust into fault blocks of different elevations and orientations.

The act that - (1) set out, for the Bureau of Land Management, standards for managing the public lands including land use planning, sales, withdrawals, acquisitions, and exchanges; (2) authorized the setting up of local advisory councils representing major citizens groups interested in land use planning and management, (3) established criteria for reviewing proposed , and (4) provided guidelines for other aspects of public land management such as grazing.

Unrestricted ownership of real property (i.e. land and whatever is erected or growing on it).

A document that is prepared by a federal agency and that briefly explains why an action not otherwise excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) would not significantly affect the human environment and not require an EIS.

Particulate matter that is less than 2.5 microns in diameter. Also see and INHALABLE PARTICULATE MATTER (PM₁₀) .

The rate of heat release for an entire fire at a specific time.

The integration of fire protection, prescribed burning, and fire ecology knowledge into multiple use planning, decision making, and land management.

A plan that defines a program to manage wildland and prescribed fires and documents the fire management program in the approved land use plan.

All the work of extinguishing or confining a fire, beginning with its discovery.

People, equipment, services, and supplies available or potentially available for assignment to incidents.

A stocking rate that is fixed and cannot vary from season to season or year to year. Also see STOCKING RATE .

Nearly level land on either or both sides of a channel that is subject to overflow flooding.

All browse and herbage that is available and acceptable to grazing animals or that may be harvested for feed.

An herbaceous plant that is not a grass, sedge, or rush.

A permit that allows the removal of timber or other resources from the public lands free of charge.

Focal areas for motorized and non-motorized visitation, concentrating use along major access routes. Also see and PASSAGE ZONE .

The fuel composition in natural settings.

The ovendry weight of fuel per unit area usually expressed in tons/acre.

The amount of fuel present expressed by weight of fuel per unit area.

The water content of a fuel expressed as a percentage of the fuel’s ovendry weight. For dead fuels, which have no living tissue, moisture content is determined almost entirely by relative humidity, precipitation, dry-bulb temperature, and solar radiation. The moisture content of live fuels is physiologically controlled within the living plant.

Dust particles that are introduced into the air through certain actions such as soil cultivation or vehicles crossing open fields or driving on dirt roads or trails.

A well, catchment, spring, reservoir, or other feature (human made or natural) that provides a reliable source of potable water on a year-long basis. For such a source of water to be considered functional, the quality and quantity of water must be sufficient to sustain native wildlife populations in the local area. For example, a reservoir that fills up during monsoon rains but goes dry in a few weeks is not functional from a wildlife standpoint.

As Described in 43 CFR 4180, the conditions in which (1) rangelands are in proper functioning physical condition, (2) ecological process are supporting healthy biotic populations and communities, (3) water quality is meeting state standards and BLM objectives, and (4) special status species habitat is being restored or maintained.

The variation in genes in a population pool that contributes to the ability of organisms to evolve and adapt to new conditions.

The highest livestock stocking rate possible without damaging vegetation or related resources. Grazing capacity may vary from year to year or in the same area because of fluctuating forage production.

The amount of time required for livestock to rotate completely through all the pastures under an allotment management plan.

Official written permission to graze a specific number, kind, and class of livestock for a specified period on a defined rangeland.

The use of public land for livestock grazing under permits or leases.

Any period during which no livestock grazing is allowed within an area.

An established period for which grazing permits are issued.

A systematic sequence of grazing use and nonuse of an allotment to meet multiple use goals by improving the quality and amount of vegetation.

See COVER.

See LITTER.

Subsurface water and underground streams that supply wells and springs. Use of groundwater in Arizona does not require a water right, but must only be “reasonable.” Use of Groundwater in Arizona does not convey a water right; use must be "reasonable" and requires a permit from the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Water in the younger, floodplain alluvium is considered surface water. Water in the older, basin-fill alluvium is considered groundwater.

An area that provides an animal or plant with adequate food, water, shelter, and living space.

Process by which habitats are increasingly subdivided into smaller units resulting in their increased insularity and losses of total habitat area.

A site-specific wildlife habitat plan.

An all-encompassing term that includes hazardous substances; hazardous waste; hazardous chemical substances; toxic substances; pollutants and contaminants; and imminently hazardous chemical substances and mixtures that can pose an unreasonable risk to human health, safety, and property.

A geographic area occupied by a wild horse or burro herd and its habitat in 1971.

An area established for maintaining wild horse and burro herds.

A location that was used or occupied after the arrival of Europeans in North America (ca. A.D. 1492). Such sites may consist of physical remains at archaeological sites or areas where significant human events occurred, even though evidence of the events no longer remains. They may have been used by people of either European or Native American descent.

A group of North American Indians who lived between perhaps 300 BC and AD 1400 in central and southern Arizona, largely along the Gila and Salt Rivers.

An area that is roughly equivalent in size to a county but seldom corresponds to county boundaries. HRU boundaries are derived from the cultural descriptors listed below and by self-reporting by residents living in these areas.

Also see COMMUNITY RESOURCE UNIT (CRU) .

Characterized by, relating to, or requiring an abundance of moisture.

The circuit of water movement from the atmosphere to the earth and its return to the atmosphere through various stages or processes, such as precipitation, interception, runoff, infiltration, percolation, storage, evaporation, and transpiration.

Rock, such as granite and basalt, which has solidified from a molten or partially molten state.

A human-caused or natural occurrence, such as wildland fire, that requires emergency action to prevent or reduce the loss of life or damage to property or natural resources.

The person responsible for managing all operations in response to incidents (i.e. wildfires and other events requiring emergency action).

Elements of the human environment affected, or potentially affected, by a change agent. An indicator can be a structural component, a functional process or an index. A key indicator integrates several system elements in such a way as to indicate the general health of that system.

All minerals that humans extract from the earth’s crust except for fuels, metallic ores, water and gemstones.

The downward entry of water into the soil or other material.

The set of systems and facilities that support a region or community’s social and economic structures. Examples of such systems include energy, transportation, communication, education, medical service, and fire and police protection.

Particulate matter in ambient air exceeding 10 microns in diameter. Also see and FINE PARTICULATE MATTER (PM_2.5) .

Parcels of land owned or managed by someone other than BLM but surrounded in part or entirely by BLM-administered land.

The actions taken by the first resources to arrive at a wildland fire to protect lives and property and prevent further extension of the fire.

Water use within a stream channel for such purposes as navigation, recreation, fish and wildlife preservation, water quality improvement, and hydroelectric power generation.

A non-consumptive, State-based water right that keeps water in the stream. In Arizona, an instream flow water right may be obtained for wildlife, fish and recreation purposes. Also see INSTREAM WATER USE .

A stream that generally flows during wet seasons, but is dry during dry seasons.

Plant species that were either absent or present only in small amounts in undisturbed portions of a specific range site’s original vegetation and invade following disturbance or continued overuse.

Forage species whose use serves as an indicator of the degree of use of associated species.

BLM’s authorizing through leases, permits, and easements of uses of the public land. Land use authorizations may allow occupancy, recreational residences and cabin sites, farming, manufacturing, outdoor recreation concessions, National Guard maneuvers, and many other uses.

Minerals whose extraction from federally managed land requires a lease and the payment of royalties. Leasable minerals include coal, oil and gas, oil shale and tar sands, potash, phosphate, sodium, and geothermal steam.

A nationwide (and international) program to help visitors with their decisions when they travel and camp on America’s public lands. The program strives to educate visitors about the nature of their recreational impacts as well as techniques to prevent and minimize such impacts.

The uppermost layer of organic debris on the soil surface, essentially freshly fallen or slightly decomposed vegetal material.

See FUEL MOISTURE CONTENT (FUEL MOISTURE) (IN FIRE SUPPRESSION) .

The unauthorized grazing of livestock.

A soil texture class for soil material that contains 7 to 27% clay, 28 to 50% silt, and less than 52% sand.

Minerals that may be acquired under the Mining Law of 1872, as amended.

The act of taking or appropriating a parcel of mineral land, including the posting of notices, the recording thereof when required, and marking the boundaries so they can be readily traced.

(From BLM 9100 Manual) The work required keeping a facility in such a condition that it may be continuously utilized at its original or designed capacity and efficiency, and for its intended purposes. Road or trail maintenance actions include (a) signage, (b) minor repairs, e.g. correction of drainage, erosion, or vegetation interference problems. Upon performance of condition assessment, maintenance could also be construed as (c) allowing road or trail to remain in present state for regular and continuous use.

Areas that contain values such as outstanding opportunities for primitive and unconfined recreation or outstanding opportunities for solitude and a few human intrusions, where preservation of these values represents a major management focus.

Broad geographic areas that have a particular pattern of soils, climate, water resources, vegetation, and land use. Each MLRA in which range and forest land occur is further broken into range sites.

Rights-of-way along which pass transmission lines (consisting of 115kV or higher) used to transmit large blocks of energy to load centers for distribution.

See ANALYSIS OF THE MANAGEMENT SITUATION (AMS) .

The use of hand-operated power tools and hand tools to cut, clear, or prune herbaceous and woody plants. In manual treatments, workers cut plants above ground level; pull, grub, or dig out plant root systems to prevent later sprouting and regrowth; scalp at ground level or remove competing plants around desired vegetation; or place mulch around desired vegetation to limit the growth of competing vegetation. Manual vegetation treatments cause less ground disturbance and generally remove less vegetation than prescribed fire or mechanical treatments.

The use of mechanical equipment to suppress, inhibit, or control herbaceous and woody vegetation. BLM uses wheeled tractors, crawler-type tractors, mowers, or specially designed vehicles with attached implements for such treatments.

The filing of a claim on public land to obtain the right to any minerals it may contain.

Evidence of the presence of minerals.

The disposal through sale or free use permit of sand, gravel, decorative rock, or other materials defined in 43 CFR 3600.

Materials such as common varieties of sand, stone, gravel, pumice, pumicite, and clay that are not obtainable under the mining or leasing laws but that can be acquired under the Mineral Materials Act of 1947, as amended.

The area with federally administered minerals, where (1) the surface rights are held by BLM, the State of Arizona, or private parties, and located within the administrative boundaries of BLM’s Phoenix Field Office but (2) are not being planned for in the Sonoran Desert National Monument RMP and Phoenix South RMP Revision.

An area, usually designated by name, with described or understood boundaries, where minerals are found and mined under rules prescribed by the miners, consistent with the Mining Law of 1872.

A plan for mineral exploration and development that a mining operator must submit to BLM for approval for all mining, milling, and bulk sampling of more than 1,000 tons and for exploration disturbing more than 5 acres or on special status lands, including wilderness, areas of critical environmental concern, national monuments, national conservation areas, and lands containing proposed or listed threatened or endangered species or their critical habitat. A plan of operations must document in detail all actions that the operator plans to take from exploration through reclamation.

The collection of information to determine the effects of resource management and detect changing resource trends, needs, and conditions.

A pattern of vegetation in which two or more kinds of communities are interspersed in patches.

A designated route that allows for the use of small-wheel-based motorized vehicles such as all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles.

A combination of balanced and diverse resource uses that considers long-term needs for renewable and nonrenewable resources including recreation, wildlife, rangeland, timber, minerals, and watershed protection, along with scenic, scientific, and cultural values.

The allowable concentrations of air pollutants in the ambient (public outdoor) air specified in 40 CFR 50. National ambient air quality standards are based on the air quality criteria and divided into primary standards (allowing an adequate margin of safety to protect the public health including the health of "sensitive" populations such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly) and secondary standards (allowing an adequate margin of safety to protect the public welfare). Welfare is defined as including effects on soils, water, crops, vegetation, human-made materials, animals, wildlife, weather, visibility, climate, and hazards to transportation, as well as effects on economic values and on personal comfort and well-being.

The Federal law, effective January 1, 1970, that established a national policy for the environment and requires federal agencies - (1) to become aware of the environmental ramifications of their proposed actions, (2) to fully disclose to the public proposed Federal actions and provide a mechanism for public input to Federal decision-making, and (3) to prepare environmental impact statements for every major action that would significantly affect the quality of the human environment.

A Federal statute that established a Federal program to further the efforts of private agencies and individuals in preserving the Nation’s historic and cultural foundations. The National Historic Preservation Act - (1) authorized the National Register of Historic Places, (2) established the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and a National Trust Fund to administer grants for historic preservation, and (3) authorized the development of regulations to require Federal agencies to consider the effects of federally assisted activities on properties included on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Also see NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES .

One of the three categories of national trails defined in the National Trails System Act of 1968 that can only be established by act of Congress and are administered by Federal agencies, although part or all of their land base may be owned and managed by others. National historic trails are generally more than 100 miles long and follow as closely as possible and practicable the original trails or routes of travel of national historic significance. Their purpose is identifying and protecting the historic route and its remnants and artifacts for public use and enjoyment.

An area designated to protect objects of scientific and historic interest by public proclamation of the President under the Antiquities Act of 1906, or by Congress for historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, or other objects of historic or scientific interest on public lands. Designation also provides for the management of these features and values.

One of the three categories of national trails defined in the National Trails System Act of 1968 that can only be established by act of Congress and are administered by federal agencies, although part or all of their land base may be owned and managed by others. National Recreation Trails are existing regional and local trails recognized by either the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior upon application.

A group of significant archaeological, historical, or architectural sites, within a defined geographic area, that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. See NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES .

The official list, established by the National Historic Preservation Act, of the Nation’s cultural resources worthy of preservation. The National Register lists archeological, historic, and architectural properties (i.e. districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects) nominated for their local, state, or national significance by state and federal agencies and approved by the National Register Staff. The National Park Service maintains the National Register. Also see NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT OF 1966, AS AMENDED (NHPA) .

Cultural resource properties that meet the National Register criteria and have been determined eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places because of their local, state, or national significance. Eligible properties generally are older than 50 years and have retained their integrity. They meet one or more of four criteria - (a) associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; (b) associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; (c) embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represent the work of a master; and (d) have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.

A system of nationally designated rivers and their immediate environments that have outstanding scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historical, cultural, and other similar values and are preserved in a free-flowing condition. The system consists of three types of streams - (1) recreation—rivers or sections of rivers that are readily accessible by road or railroad and that may have some development along their shorelines and may have undergone some impoundments or diversion in the past, (2) scenic—rivers or sections of rivers free of impoundments with shorelines or watersheds still largely undeveloped but accessible in places by roads, and (3) wild—rivers or sections of rivers free of impoundments and generally inaccessible except by trails with watersheds or shorelines essentially primitive and waters unpolluted.

The diversity of species that have evolved in a given place without human influence.

A species that is part of an area’s original flora and fauna.

Birds that travel to Central America, South America, the Caribbean, and Mexico during the fall to spend the winter and then return to the United States and Canada during the spring to breed. These birds include almost half of the bird species that breed in the United States and Canada.

The role of an organism in the environment, its activities and relationships to the biotic and abiotic environment.

A general term for compounds of nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and other oxides of nitrogen. Nitrogen oxides are typically created during combustion and are major contributors to smog formation and acid deposition. NO₂ is a criteria air pollutant and may have many adverse health effects.

An area in which the level of a criteria air pollutant is higher than the level allowed by the federal standards. A single area may have acceptable levels of one criteria air pollutant but unacceptable levels of one or more other criteria air pollutants. Therefore, an area can be both attainment and non-attainment at the same time.

Pollution sources that are diffuse and do not have a single point of origin or are not introduced into a receiving water body from a specific outlet. These pollutants are generally carried off the land by storm water runoff from such sources as farming, forestry, mining, urban land uses, construction, and land disposal.

the Federal Noxious Weed Act, 1974 (PL 930629) defines a noxious weed as, "any living stage (including seeds and reproductive parts) of a parasitic or other plant of a kind which is of foreign origin, is new to or not widely prevalent in the U.S., and can directly or indirectly injure crops, other useful plants, livestock, poultry or other interests of agriculture, including irrigation, navigation, fish and wildlife resources, or the public health."

A general term for the movement of any particular life essential substance through the physical and biological environment. Essential nutrient cycles include those of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and water.

Any vehicle capable of or designed for travel on or immediately over land, water, or other natural terrain (deriving motive power from any source other than muscle.) OHVs exclude (1) any nonamphibious registered motorboat; (2) any fire, emergency, or law enforcement vehicle while being used for official or emergency purposes; and (3) any vehicle whose use is expressly authorized by a permit, lease, license, agreement, or contract issued by an authorized officer or otherwise approved. (43 CFR 8340.0-5)

See OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE (OHV) .

A method used in the 1990 Clean Air Act to give companies that own or operate large sources in nonattainment areas flexibility in meeting overall pollution reduction requirements when changing production processes. If the operator or owner of the source wants to increase the release of a criteria air pollutant, an offset (reduction of a somewhat greater amount of the same pollutant) must be obtained either at the same plant or by buying offsets from another company.

ACECs which contain unusual natural characteristics and are managed primarily for educational and recreational purposes.

The remains of plants and animals preserved in soils and sedimentary rock. Paleontological resources are important for understanding past environments, environmental change, and the evolution of life.

Lands along secondary travel routes where visitor or other uses would not be directed or encouraged, but could be accommodated. Also see and FRONT COUNTRY ZONE .

The instrument by which the Federal Government conveys title to the public lands.

Payments made to counties by BLM to mitigate losses because public lands cannot be taxed. BLM calculates the amount of payments using a formula based on population and the amount of Federal land in a particular local jurisdiction. These payments are in addition to federal revenues transferred to local governments under other programs, such as income generated from timber harvests, mineral receipts, and the use of federal land for livestock grazing.

Fine liquid or solid particles suspended in the air and consisting of dust, smoke, mist, fumes, and compounds containing sulfur, nitrogen, and metals. Also see and INHALABLE PARTICULATE MATTER (PM₁₀) .

A grazing area that is separated from other areas by fencing or natural barriers.

The removal of soil from the base of a plant, exposing the roots. Pedestalling is often a result of wind and streambank erosion.

A plant that has a life cycle of 3 or more years. Also see ANNUAL PLANT .

A stream that flows continuously during all seasons of the year.

The ease with which gases, liquids, or plant roots penetrate or pass through a bulk mass of soil or a layer of soil.

A person or company permitted to graze livestock on public land.

Commercial Use: The activity, service, or use is commercial if:

Competitive Use: Any organized, sanctioned, or structured use, event, or activity on public land in which two or more contestants compete and either or both of the following elements apply -

Or, one or more individuals contesting an established record such as for speed or endurance.

Organized Group Activity and Event Use: A structured, ordered, consolidated, or scheduled event on, or occupation of, public lands for the purpose of recreational use that is not commercial or competitive.

Vending: The sale of goods or services, not from a permanent structure, associated with recreation on the public lands or related waters, such as food, beverages, clothing, firewood, souvenirs, filming or photographs (video or still), or equipment repairs.

The sum of wage and salary payments, other labor income, proprietors’ income, rental income of persons, personal dividend and interest income, and transfer payments to persons, less personal contributions for social insurance.

Pictures, symbols, or other art work pecked, carved, or incised on natural rock surfaces.

See PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES (PILT) .

A type of house built partly underground by prehistoric people.

A mining claim located on surficial or bedded deposits, particularly for gold located in stream gravels.

See MINING PLAN OF OPERATIONS .

The process of vegetational development by which an area becomes successively occupied by different plant communities of higher ecological order.

The relative wellbeing and health of a plant as reflected by its ability to manufacture enough food for growth and maintenance.

Tiny particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 microns or less. These particles penetrate most deeply into the lungs.

A criteria air pollutant consisting of small particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 microns or less. Their size allows them to enter the air sacs deep within the lungs where they may be deposited in have adverse health effects. These particles include dust, soot, and other tiny bits of solid materials in the air.

a noncompetitive off-highway vehicle ride where riders have a choice of two or more clearly marked loop courses and pass several checkpoints to the finish line. After finishing the course, participants will draw poker hands for cash or other prizes.

A portion of a stream that has reduced current velocity and often water deeper than surrounding areas and that is frequently usable by fish for resting and cover.

A group of interbreeding organisms of the same kind occupying a particular space; a group of individuals of a species living in a certain area.

A disseminated replacement deposit in which copper minerals occur as discrete grains and veinlets throughout a large volume of rock; a large-tonnage, low-grade copper deposit.

The stable biotic community that would become established on an ecological site if all successional stages were completed without human interference under present environmental conditions. The PNC is the vegetation community best adapted to fully use the resources of an ecological site.

The planned applying of fire to rangeland vegetation and fuels under specified conditions of fuels, weather, and other variables to allow the fire to remain in a predetermined area to achieve such site-specific objectives as controlling certain plant species; enhancing growth, reproduction, or vigor of plant species; managing fuel loads; and managing vegetation community types.

See ROAD AND ROUTE TYPES - .

As defined by the Farmland Protection Policy Act of 1981, land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, fiber, forage, oilseed, and other agricultural crops with minimum inputs of fuel, fertilizer, pesticides, and labor, and without intolerable soil erosion, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. Prime farmland includes land with the above characteristics, but is being used to produce livestock and timber. It does not include land already in or committed to urban development or water storage. Also see UNIQUE FARMLAND .

Recreation that provides opportunities for isolation from the evidence of humans, a vastness of scale, feeling a part of the natural environment, having a high degree of challenge and risk, and using outdoor skills. Primitive recreation is characterized by meeting nature on its own terms, without comfort or convenience of facilities.

A linear route managed for use by four-wheel drive or high-clearance vehicles. These routes do not normally meet any BLM road design standards.

The condition where - (1) enough vegetation, landform, or large woody debris is present to dissipate the stream energy of high water flows, thereby reducing erosion and improving water quality; (2) sediments are filtered, bedload is captured, and floodplains develop; (3) flood water retention and ground water recharge are improved, root masses that stabilize streambanks against cutting action develop, and diverse ponding and channel characteristics are created to provide the habitat and the water depth, duration, and temperature needed for fish production, waterfowl breeding, and other uses; and (4) greater biodiversity is supported.

Known or believed to contain oil and gas deposits that have, or at some time in the future, proven economic value.

Lands that are part of the original public domain and have never left federal ownership and lands in federal ownership that were acquired in exchange for public domain lands or for timber on public domain lands.

An order effecting, modifying, or canceling a withdrawal or reservation. Such an order is issued by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to powers of the President delegated to the Secretary by Executive Order No.9146 of April 24, 1943.

As defined by Public Law 94-579 (Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976), lands and interest in land owned by the United States and administered by the Secretary of the Interior through BLM, regardless of how the United States acquired possession. In common usage, public lands may refer to all federal land no matter what agency manages it. Also see ACQUIRED PUBLIC LANDS .

Three sets of proposed management actions for the interpretive use of archaeological sites in the Agua Fria National Monument, varying in the intensity of development and number of facilities. Example actions for each of these levels can be found in the Cultural Resources discussion of the Management Common to the AFNM section of Chapter 2.

A Spanish word meaning "town" or "village" and used to describe an Indian village of apartment-type building with one or more stories. Pueblos are built of adobe or stone and have flat roofs.

Any activity or program on or relating to the public lands designed to improve forage production, change vegetation composition, control use patterns, provide water, stabilize soil and water conditions, or provide habitat for livestock and wildlife. Range improvements may be structural or nonstructural. A structural improvement requires placement or construction to facilitate the management or control the distribution and movement of animals. Such improvements may include fences, wells, troughs, reservoirs, pipelines, and cattleguards. Nonstructural improvements consist of practices or treatments that improve resource conditions. Such improvements include seedings; chemical, mechanical, and biological plant control; prescribed burning; water spreaders; pitting; chiseling; and contour furrowing.

A kind of land on which the native vegetation, climax, or natural potential consists predominately of grasses, grasslike plants, forbs, or shrubs. Rangeland includes lands revegetated naturally or artificially to provide a plant cover that is managed like native vegetation. Rangelands may consist of natural grasslands, savannas, shrublands, moist deserts, tundra, alpine communities, coastal marshes, and wet meadows.

A distinctive kind of land that has specific physical characteristics and that differs from other kinds of land in its ability to produce a distinctive kind and amount of vegetation.

See ECOLOGICAL SITE (RANGE SITE) .

See ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTIONS (RANGE SITE GUIDE) .

Birds of prey.

A relatively homogeneous section of a stream having a repetitious sequence of physical characteristics and habitat types.

See AQUIFER RECHARGE .

See ROAD AND ROUTE TYPES - .

A document signed by a responsible official recording a decision that was preceded by the preparing of an environmental impact statement. Also see DECISION RECORD .

An act of Congress that allows lease or acquisition of public land to be used for recreation or public purposes by local government entities (county or city governments) and nonprofit organizations.

Areas within special recreation management areas (SRMAs) with a particular recreation management focus or resource challenges. See SPECIAL RECREATION MANAGEMENT AREAS (SRMAs) .

A planning process that provides a framework for defining classes of outdoor recreation environments, activities, and experience opportunities. In ROS, the setting, activities, and opportunities for experiences are arranged along a spectrum of six classes: primitive; semi-primitive non-motorized; semi-primitive motorized; roaded natural; rural; and urban. The resulting ROS analysis defines specific geographic areas on the ground, each of which encompasses one of the six classes.

Settings described in the recreation opportunity spectrum (ROS) inventory method, reflecting degrees of remoteness, evidence of humans, and social qualities.

A planned and delineated area with designated recreation opportunities, settings, and activities.

The increase in population caused by natural reproduction or immigration.

An area that has remained unaffected by adverse environmental changes to the surrounding area, allowing a population to survive where others have perished.

A mineral deposit formed by a new mineral of partly or wholly differing chemical composition growing in the body of an old mineral or aggregate.

An area of critical environmental concern that is a physical or biological unit in which current natural conditions are maintained insofar as possible. In RNAs activities such as grazing and vegetation manipulation are prohibited unless they replace natural processes and contribute to protecting and preserving an area. Moreover, such recreation as camping and gathering plants is discouraged.

A statement of proposed identification, documentation, evaluation, investigation, or other research that identifies the project’s goals, methods and techniques, expected results, and the relationship of the expected results to other proposed activities or treatments.

The relative difficulty of building and holding a fire control line as affected by fire behavior, fuel, topography, and soil.

Advisory councils appointed by the Secretary of the Interior and consisting of representatives of major public land interest groups (e.g. commodity industries, recreation, environmental, and local area interests) in a state or smaller area. RACs advise BLM, focusing on a full array of multiple use public land issues. RACs also help develop fundamentals for rangeland health and guidelines for livestock grazing.

A land management designation that provides management consideration to areas that have special resources but don’t need the protection conferred by an area of critical environmental concern.

(43 CFR 1601.0-5 (k))"...a land use plan as described by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. The resource management plan generally establishes in a written document -

It is not a final implementation decision on actions which require further specific plans, process steps, or decisions under specific provisions of law and regulations."

See GRAZING REST .

The process of accurately reestablishing the form and details of a property or portion of a property together with its setting, as it appeared in a particular period of time. Restoration may involve removing later work that is not in itself significant and replacing missing original work. Also see STABILIZATION (CULTURAL RESOURCE).

A grazing system in which one part of the range is ungrazed for an entire grazing year or longer while other parts are grazed for a portion or all of a growing season.

A permit or easement that authorizes the use of lands for certain specified purposes, commonly for pipelines, roads, telephone lines, or powerlines.

A narrow, very shallow (a few centimeters deep), intermittent water course having steep sides and formed as a result of erosion.

Pertaining to or situated on or along the bank of streams, lakes, and reservoirs.

A form of wetland transition between permanently saturated wetlands and upland areas. Riparian areas exhibit vegetation or physical characteristics that reflect the influence of permanent surface or subsurface water. Typical riparian areas include lands along, adjacent to, or contiguous with perennially and intermittently flowing rivers and streams, glacial potholes, and the shores of lakes and reservoirs with stable water levels. Excluded are ephemeral streams or washes that lack vegetation and depend on free water in the soil.

(From BLM 9100 manual) …a transportation facility used primarily by vehicles having four or more wheels, documented as such by the owner, and maintained for regular and continuous use.

a general term denoting the area adjoining the outer edge of the road.

Primary Road - A regularly maintained route, paved or unpaved, wide enough for at least two vehicles to pass. Provides access between two major points. Serves a large area with many routes of lesser quality branching from it.

Secondary Road - Paved or unpaved, a regularly maintained one- to two-lane route with routes of lesser quality branching from it. Connects primary roads and major points.

Tertiary Road - Generally a two-track route that may or may not be usable by a two-wheel drive vehicle. Does not receive formal maintenance.

Single-Track Route - A route up to 1/2 meter wide upon which all-terrain vehicles or trucks are not allowed.

Way - A road-like feature used by vehicles having four or more wheels but not declared a road by the owner. A way receives no maintenance to guarantee regular and continuous use.

Spur - A route that exists for a specific purpose, such as access to a specific use or feature. Uses can be recreational or commercial. Features include campsites, mines, or range developments. A spur route is connected to another road or route type.

Reclaiming or Reclaimed (route) - A route that has had very little or no use, so that there is woody vegetation growing in the route that would be damaged by the passage of a vehicle. Erosion or vegetation may block the route and could damage a vehicle or cause it to get stuck.

The use of specialized motor vehicles for crossing difficult terrain. Also known as extreme technical trail driving.

Any motorized, non-motorized, or mechanized transportation corridor. Corridor may either be terrestrial or waterway. “Roads” and “Trails” are considered routes.

Common variety minerals on public lands, such as sand and gravel, which are used mainly for construction and are disposed of by sales or special permits to local governments.

See CULTURAL RESOURCE DATA RECOVERY .

An early and open process for determining the scope of issues to be addressed in an environmental impact statement and the significant issues related to a proposed action.

Grazing restricted to a specific season.

See ROAD AND ROUTE TYPES - .

640 acres, 1 mile square.

A permit required by the Clean Water Act, under specified circumstances, when dredge or fill material is placed in the waters of the United States, including wetlands.

The requirement of Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act that all federal agencies consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service if a proposed action might affect a federally listed species or its critical habitat.

The removal for a limited period, subject to valid existing rights, of a specified area of the public lands from the operation of the public land laws, including the mining laws, pursuant to the exercise by the Secretary of the Interior of regulatory authority to allow for the orderly administration of the public lands. See WITHDRAWAL.

All species that are under status review, have small or declining populations, live in unique habitats, or need special management. Sensitive species include threatened, endangered, and proposed species as classified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

A trail shared for a variety of uses such as motorized and non-motorized uses; a combination of non-motorized uses such as hiking, horseback riding, and bicycling; or a combination of motorized uses such as dirt bikes and small and large four-wheel-drive vehicles.

The portion of the roadway contiguous to the travelway for accommodation of stopped vehicles.

A Federal law that promoted federal-state cooperation in managing wildlife habitats on both BLM and Forest Service lands. The act requires BLM to work with State wildlife agencies to plan the development and maintenance of wildlife habitats and has as its main tool the habitat management plan.

Parcels of public lands of 5 acres or less that have been found to be chiefly valuable for sale or lease as home, cabin, camp, recreational, convalescent, or business sites under the Act of June 1, 1938.

See ROAD AND ROUTE TYPES - .

An unplanned random trail made by first visitors and then followed by others.

The capacity of a soil in its normal environment to produce a specified plant or sequence of plants under a specified system of management.

A qualitative term used to describe a soil’s resistance to change. Soil stability is determined by intrinsic properties such as aspect, depth, elevation, organic matter content, parent material, slope, structure, texture, and vegetation.

The physical constitution of soil material as expressed by size, shape, and the degree of development of primary soil particles and voids into naturally or artificially formed structural units.

An area containing cultural resources that are of special importance for public use, scientific use, traditional use or other uses as defined in BLM Manual 8110.4.

A permit granted for purposes neither authorized nor forbidden by law.

Areas of intensive recreation use that will be managed to retain recreation opportunities while protecting other resources and reducing user conflicts. See RECREATION MANAGEMENT ZONES (RMZs) .

An authorization that allows for specific nonexclusive permitted recreational uses of the public lands and related waters. SRPs are issued to control visitor use, protect recreational and natural resources, provide for the health and safety of visitors, and accommodate commercial recreational uses.

Plant or animal species listed as threatened, endangered, candidate, or sensitive by the Federal Government or state governments.

Land whose surface rights and mineral rights are owned by different entities.

Protective techniques usually applied to structures and ruins to keep them in their existing condition, prevent further deterioration, and provide structural safety without significant rebuilding. Capping mud-mortared masonry walls with concrete mortar is an example of a stabilization technique. Also see RESTORATION (CULTURAL RESOURCE) .

Chemical or mechanical treatment to increase or maintain the stability of a mass of soil or otherwise improve its engineering properties.

An area where participants in an activity gather and make final preparations for the activity.

See ARIZONA STANDARDS FOR RANGELAND HEALTH AND GUIDELINES FOR GRAZING ADMINISTRATION

The official within and authorized by each state at the request of the Secretary of the Interior to act as liaison for the National Historic Preservation Act. Also see NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT OF 1966, AS AMENDED (NHPA) .

A detailed description of the programs a state will use to carry out its responsibilities under the Clean Air Act. SIPs are collections of the regulations used by a state to reduce air pollution. The Clean Air Act requires that the Environmental Protection Agency approve each SIP.

Lands granted to Arizona by the Federal Government at territorial establishment and at statehood. Totaling 9.4 million acres, these lands are managed by the Arizona State Land Department to yield revenue over the long term for the 14 trust beneficiaries. The chief beneficiary consists of the public schools. Whenever Arizona sells or leases these lands and their natural resources, it must pay the beneficiaries. Revenues from land sales are maintained in a permanent fund managed by the State Treasurer, and interest from this fund is paid to the beneficiaries.

The number of specific kinds and classes of animals grazing or using a unit of land for a specific time period. Stocking rates may be expressed as a ratio, such as of animal units/section, acres/animal unit, or acres/animal unit month.

A water impoundment created by building a dam, digging a depression, or both, to provide water for livestock or wildlife.

The portion of a stream channel that restricts the sideward movement of water at normal water levels. The streambank’s gradient often exceeds 45 ° and exhibits a distinct break in slope from the stream bottom.

A streambank’s relative resistance to erosion, which is measured as a percentage of alteration to streambanks.

Of or pertaining to rock or mineral deposits which generally are found below the ground surface.

See PLANT SUCCESSION .

Concentrates or harvested feed that is fed to livestock to correct the deficiencies of a range diet.

Resources not required for an area to be designated a wilderness but that are considered in assessing an area’s wilderness potential. Such values include ecological, geologic, and other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value.

Achieving and maintaining a permanently high level, annual or regular period production of renewable land resources without impairing the productivity of the land and its environmental values.

As defined by the Endangered Species Act, "...to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, capture, or collect, or attempt to engage in any such conduct..."

Plant species to be reduced or eliminated by a vegetation treatment. Also see VEGETATION TREATMENTS .

Ground-dwelling plants and animals.

See ROAD AND ROUTE TYPES - .

Any plant or animal species likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a part of its range and designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act. Also see ENDANGERED SPECIES .

(Interagency definition) Linear route managed for human powered, stock, or off highway vehicle forms of recreation or for historic or heritage values. Trails are not generally managed for use by four wheel drive or high clearance vehicles.

The terminus of a hiking, horse, or bicycle trail accessible by motor vehicle and sometimes having parking, signs, a visitor register, and camping and sanitary facilities.

A not-for-profit organization whose mission is to increase awareness of ways to enjoy the great outdoors while minimizing human impacts.

Off-road competitions in which the rider has to surmount obstacles. Points are deducted if the rider puts his feet on the ground, goes outside the marked course, or fails to clear an obstacle.

Any use of the public lands not authorized or permitted.

That portion of the forage that can be grazed without damage to the basic resources; may vary with season of use, species, and associated species.

Hoofed animals including ruminants but also horses, tapirs, elephants, rhinoceroses, and swine.

As defined by the Farmland Protection Policy Act of 1981, land other than prime farmland that is used for producing specific high-value food and fiber crops, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. Unique farmland has the special combination of soil quality, location, growing season, and moisture supply needed to economically produce sustained high quality or high yields of specific crops when treated and managed according to acceptable farming methods. Examples of such crops include citrus, tree nuts, olives, cranberries, fruits, and vegetables. Also see PRIME FARMLAND .

A water body determined by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality as an outstanding water resource of the state because of exceptional recreational or ecological significance, such as important geology, flora, fauna, water quality, aesthetic values, or wilderness characteristics.

Lands at higher elevations than the alluvial plain or low stream terrace; all lands outside the riparian-wetland and aquatic zones.

The line, area, or zone where structures and other human development meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetation. This interface creates conflicts and complicates fighting wildfires and conducting prescribed burns, as well as all other natural resource management activities.

The proportion of the current year’s forage consumed or destroyed by grazing animals. Utilization is usually expressed as a percentage.

Locatable mineral development rights that existed when the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) was enacted on October 21, 1976. Some areas are segregated from entry and location under the Mining Law to protect certain values or allow certain uses. Mining claims that existed as of the effective date of the segregation may still be valid if they can meet the test of discovery of a valuable mineral required under the Mining Law. Determining the validity of mining claims located on segregated lands requires BLM to conduct a valid existing rights determination.

Malicious damage or the unauthorized collecting, excavating, or defacing of cultural resources. Section 6 of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act states that "no person may excavate, remove, damage, or otherwise alter or deface any archaeological resource located on public lands or Indian lands…unless such activity is pursuant to a permit issued under section 4 of this Act."

The different plant communities produced by an ecological site.

The composition of an area’s vegetation--plant species, growth forms, abundance, vegetation types, and spatial arrangement.

Treatments that improve vegetation condition or production. Such treatments may include seedings; prescribed burning; or chemical, mechanical, and biological plant control.

A plant community with distinguishable characteristics.

The entire area visible from a viewpoint.

12 visitor hours, which may be aggregated continuously, intermittently, or simultaneously by one or more people.

The visual first impression of vegetation at a particular time or seen from a specific point.

The planning, design, and implementing of management objectives to provide acceptable levels of visual impacts for all BLM resource management activities.

Classes with specific objectives for maintaining or enhancing scenic quality including the kinds landscape modifications that are acceptable to meet the objectives.

Class I - (Preservation) provides for natural, ecological changes only. This class includes wilderness areas, some natural areas, some wild and scenic rivers, and other similar sites where landscape modification should be restricted.

Class II - (Retention of the landscape character) includes areas where changes in any of the basic elements (form, line, color, or texture) caused by management activities should not be evident in the characteristic landscape.

Class III - (Partial retention of the landscape character) includes areas where changes in the basic elements caused by management activities may be evident in the characteristic landscape. But the changes should remain subordinate to the existing landscape character.

Class IV - (Modification of the landscape character) includes areas where changes may subordinate the original composition and character. But the changes should reflect what could be a natural occurrence in the characteristic landscape.

Carbon-containing compounds that with few exceptions evaporate into the air. Often having odors, VOCs contribute to the forming of smog and may themselves be toxic. Some examples of VOCs are gasoline, alcohol, and solvents used in paints.

Construction of artificial, or modification of natural water sources to provide reliable, accessible water for livestock, wildlife, or people.

A topographically delineated area that is drained by a stream system, that is, the total land area above some point on a stream or river that drains water past that point. The watershed is a hydrologic unit often used as a physical-biological unit and a socioeconomic-political unit for planning and managing natural resources.

The comparison of watershed processes to normal or expected measurements of properties such as soil cover, erosion rate, runoff rate, and groundwater table elevation; an assessment or categorization of an area by erosion conditions, erosion hazards, and the soil moisture/temperature regime.

The combination of processes attributed to watersheds as part of the hydrologic cycle, including interception of rain by plants, rocks, and litter; surface storage by the soil; groundwater storage; stream channel storage; soil evaporation; plant transpiration; and runoff. These processes affect the following properties of the watershed: runoff rate, water infiltration rate, soil building rate, soil erosion rate, groundwater recharge rate, groundwater discharge rate, water table elevation, and surface water discharge. These properties in turn affect plant communities through soil attributes, including soil parent material, soil moisture, and nutrients; stream and rivers through flooding duration and magnitude, as well as sediment load, which structures the dimension, pattern, and profile of channels; and lakes and reservoirs through sedimentation and nutrient input.

See ROAD AND ROUTE TYPES - .

Any plant that interferes with management objectives. A weed may be native or non-native, invasive or passive, or non-noxious.

An area that is inundated or saturated by surface or ground water often and long enough to support and that under normal circumstances supports a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil. Wetlands include marshes, shallows, swamps, lake shores, bogs, muskegs, wet meadows, estuaries, cienegas, and riparian areas.

See NATIONAL WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS SYSTEM .

BLM Instruction Memorandum 2003-275 Change 1 defines Wilderness Characteristics as, "Features of the land associated with the concept of wilderness that may be considered in land use planning when BLM determines that those characteristics are reasonably present, of sufficient value (condition, uniqueness, relevance, importance) and need (trend, risk), and are practical to manage.

Naturalness. Lands and resources exhibit a high degree of naturalness when affected primarily by the forces of nature and where the imprint of human activity is substantially unnoticeable. BLM has authority to inventory, assess, and/or monitor the attributes of the lands and resources on public lands, which, taken together, are an indication of an area’s naturalness. These attributes may include the presence or absence of roads and trails, fences and other improvements; the nature and extent of landscape modifications; the presence of native vegetation communities; and the connectivity of habitats.

Solitude and Primitive/Unconfined Recreation. Visitors may have outstanding opportunities for solitude, or primitive and unconfined types of recreation when the sights, sounds, and evidence of other people are rare or infrequent, where visitors can be isolated, alone or secluded from others, where the use of the area is through non-motorized, non-mechanical means, and where no or minimal developed recreation facilities are encountered."

A nonpermitted road on federally managed land.

Any wildland fire that is not meeting management objectives and therefore requires a suppression response.

Any nonstructure fire, other than prescribed fire, that occurs in the wildland.

Areas where urban fuels directly meet natural fuels. This interface occurs mainly within 66 to 200 feet of houses, where fire most directly threatens houses and where a defensible zone can be developed.

A broad term that includes birds, reptiles, amphibians, and nondomesticated mammals.

General areas that are managed to enhance the habitat of one or more wildlife species.

Fencing extending out from a corral and serving to help funnel livestock into the corral.

Withholding an area of federal land from settlement, sale, location, or entry under some or all of the general land laws, for the purpose of limiting activities under those laws in order to maintain other public values in the area or reserving the area for a particular public purpose or program; or transferring jurisdiction over an area of federal land, other than property governed by the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act, from one department, bureau, or agency to another department, bureau, or agency. Also see SEGREGATION.

An area in a drainage that supports plant species more characteristic of uplands than wetlands, but that is more densely vegetated than areas removed from the drainage. Any flows in these channels are characteristically ephemeral but water may also be subsurface and the drainage may not flow.