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1969 Walker Basin Allotment Multiple Use Survey Report

Beaver Creek Ranger District
Coconino National Forest
Region 3
Stage I
Prepared by
Edwin L.McCutchen, Forester
Date 05/21/69

Recommended by
Gerald L. Mundell, DFR
Date 05/28/69

Approved by
Don D. Seaman, Forest Supervisor
Date 07/08/69

Introduction and Description

The purpose of the Walker Basin (W) Allotment Management Plan is to systematically develop the allotment. During the five year period covered by this plan, it will have the following specific, tangible objectives:

  1. Complete the seed and chain phase of the Cedar Flat Revegetation Project.
  2. Improve wildlife habitat by including browse species in the seed mixture to be used on Cedar Flat.
  3. Provide at least two consecutive growing seasons rest for germination and seedling establishment on the Cedar Flat Unit.
  4. Continue management under a deferred rotation system of management with emphasis on balancing utilization between grazing units.
  5. Balance utilization within units through the use of good salting techniques, and riding/herding to break up cattle concentrations.
  6. Settle non use agreement, now in effect, at a level of stocking commensurate with range conditions.

The allotment is used as winter range in connection with the permittee's yearlong cow calf operation. The summer range is on the Long Valley District. A non use agreement was recently settled and obligations now stand at 490 cattle for the period 11/1 5/31. A current non use agreement for range protection is in effect, which reduces numbers on the ground to 425 cattle, 11/1 5/31. Estimated grazing capacity is approximately 20 percent below the 425 cattle to be grazed during the five year non use agreement period.

Management Zones:

The Walker Basin (W) Allotment is mostly within the Woodland Management Zone. However, the lower part of the allotment is traversed north to south by FH 4 618, which includes a Travel Influence Zone.

General Location Map:

A detailed allotment analysis map is bound with the proposed management plan.

Land Status:

There is considerable private land within the administrative boundary of the allotment in the northwest corner. However, most of the private land has been fenced off, and is not within the effective boundary. The only other private land within the allotment is one small tract of approximately 20 acres in the N1/2 NW1/4 SW1/4 Section 9, T14N, R6E which belongs to Rezzonico Ranches, Inc., permittees on the Buckhorn (W) Allotment. The commensurate ranch property is located approximately 11/2 miles north of the allotment boundary in the NE1/4 and SE1/4 Section 28, T15N, R6E.

Physiography:

The Walker Basin (W) Allotment is generally suited to grazing. The topography varies considerably from gently rolling, rocky terrain above the Mogollon Rim to open flats broken by low hills and moderately deep canyons below the Rim. The Mogollon Rim itself is steep and rough, and presents a formidable barrier to cattle movements. Predominant vegetation species above the Rim include Utah and Alligator juniper, snakeweed, blue grama and sideoats grama. Below the Rim the major species include snakeweed, Utah juniper, mesquite, creosote bush, sand dropseed, galleta, curly mesquite and sideoats, grama.

Evaluation of Effects of the Proposed Management Plan on Other National Forest System Resources, Uses, and Activities:

This plan will not affect Air, Minerals, Timber, Land Uses, or Transportation.

  1. Natural Beauty: The allotment in general is esthetically pleasing, with its open areas and the escarpment of the Mogollon Rim. Range improvements such as stock tanks and cattle trails affect natural beauty. Seeding and chaining the Cedar Flat Unit should improve natural beauty of that area, since it will tend to knock down charred remains of burned juniper.
  2. Outdoor Recreation: A potential recreation site in Section 17, Township 14 North, Range 7 East was inventoried in the NFRS. It now appears that this site is not suitable for recreation development, and that it will be removed from the inventory.
  3. Soils: Soils above the Rim are of the Springerville Gem management Group. Revegetation potential is low on those soils which tend toward the Springerville Series, and moderate on those which are Gem providing adaptable species are used. Erosion is not a serious problem on these soils.

    Below the Rim the soils picture changes drastically. Parent materials are limestone and sandstone and erosion (both sheet and gully) is a serious problem. Revegetation potential is generally low. The Cedar Flat revegetation project will adversely affect these soils. The lower country must absorb part of the additional grazing impact during the period in which the Cedar Flat Unit is rested for seed germination and seedling establishment.
  4. Watershed: Most of the drainage on the allotment is to the west. Major drainages on the allotment are Spring Creek, which drains into Walker Creek; Wickiup Draw, and Russell Draw. Major watershed problems are found within the Wickiup and Russell Watersheds. Present watershed conditions are directly related to past grazing management. Unless numbers of cattle are reduced in these areas the proposed plan will adversely affect these watersheds during the Cedar Flat revegetation period.
  5. Wildlife: The Walker Basin (W) Allotment is winter range for deer, elk, and antelope. Other species found on the allotment include turkey, an occasional bear javelina, coyotes, rabbits, quail, and song birds of many varieties.

    The proposed plan should enhance big game habitat in the Cedar Flat Unit. However, unless numbers of cattle are reduced, big game habitat will suffer in the Twin Buttes Unit, and particularly in the Walker Rim Unit due to the necessity of absorbing the additional grazing impact when the Cedar Flat Unit is rested.
  6. Insects and Disease: The Plant Pest Control Division, ARS, has been monitoring grasshopper populations in the Cedar Flat area for the past few years. Near epidemic populations have been noted for at least the past two years. Grasshoppers appear to be rather cyclic and dependent upon weather conditions. ARS representatives have indicated a desire to do a grasshopper control project, but as yet no concrete proposal has been made. A control project would benefit a revegetation project in this area.
  7. Land Ownership and Adjustment: Approximately 420 acres in Section 10, T14N, R5E have been classified as base in exchange lands. The lands involved are mostly unsuitable for grazing due to lack of forage production and erosion. Several proponents have considered the tract, but to date no formal exchange has been proposed.

Recommendations:

Recommend approval of the proposed Management Plan, subject to the following:

  1. 1300 4's for each range development project to be accompanied by a Stage II, Multiple Use Survey Report.
  2. Proposed recreation site in Section 17, T14N, R7E should be eliminated from the NFRS.
  3. In order to preclude undue damage to the grazing, watershed, soils, and wildlife resources, numbers of cattle on the range should be reduced as follows:
    1. Remove replacement heifers to an off forest operation.
    2. Feed bulls in the west end of the Bull Pasture, and open east end for use by cows.
    3. Remove sufficient cows to reduce overall utilization to a maximum of 50 percent.
  4. Include wildlife forage species in all seed prescriptions.
  5. Prepare Stage I Multiple Use Survey Report on grasshopper control on Cedar Flat Unit. Follow up with Stage II Multiple Use Survey Report if ARS makes a concrete proposal for a project of this nature.

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Last Revised: 22 July 2002