MOUNTAINS TO MESAS (M2m) CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVE FOR THE GMUG June 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. PURPOSE AND RESERVE DESIGN 4
A. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 4
B. PHYSICAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE 5
C. ECOSYSTEM TYPES AND CONCERNS 7
D. COMPONENTS OF THE RESERVE SYSTEM 12
1. Core Reserves 12
2. Linkages 13
3. Compatible Use Areas 14
E. GUIDELINES FOR SELECTION OF CORE RESERVES AND LINKAGES 15
1. Representation 15
2. Special Elements 16
3. Focal Species 17
F. DATA USED IN DESIGNING THE M2m ALTERNATIVE 19
Table 1. Data Sources used to define Core Reserves, Linkages, etc. 20 Table 2. Data Sources used to define each management prescription 21

G. RELATIONSHIP TO ADJACENT NON-GMUG FOREST LAND 22
H. BIODIVERSITY AND MULTIPLE USE—REGULATORY FRAMEWORK 27

II. IMPLEMENTATION 31

A. LAND MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS 31 Table 3. Crosswalk between Prescriptions 31-32 Table 4. Allowable Uses in Each Management Prescription 33-34
1. Core Reserves and Linkages 35
2. Low Use Compatible Areas 37
3. Medium and High Use Compatible Areas 42
B. ELEMENTS OF BIODIVERSITY 47 Table 5. Existing Wilderness Areas on the GMUG 48
1. Proposed Core Areas and Research Natural Areas 48 Table 6. Proposed Core Areas, Research Natural Areas and
Areas Recommended for Wilderness 48-49
a. Rationale for Selection of Proposed Wilderness 49
b. Areas Recommended for Wilderness 50
c. Areas Recommended for Research Natural Areas 57
2. Restoring Natural Disturbance Regimes 58
3.Invasive Plant Species Management 61
4. Riparian Areas, Wetlands and Aquatic Ecosystems 63
a. Wild and Scenic Rivers 66
5. Recovery of Extirpated, Endangered and Sensitive Species 68
C. ACTIVITIES MANAGEMENT 71
1. Land Tenure Adjustment 71
2. Forest Ecosystems and Silviculture 72
3. Livestock Grazing 73
4. Oil, Gas, and Coal Bed Methane Leasing and Production 75
5. Coal and Hardrock Mining 78
6. Recreation and Travel Management 81
D. EVALUATING THE ADEQUACY OF THE M2M DESIGN IN PROTECTING AND RESTORING BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY 87
Table 7: Comparison of the M2m Reserve Design to Other Assessments 89
Table 8. Comparison of the M2m Reserve Design to Identified Habitat Areas 90 Table 9. Management Indicator Species for Ecosystem Types in the GMUG 91-92

LITERATURE CITED 93