havasu nwr wilderness character monitoring report 2011...verde dominate above the salt cedar...

Havasu NWR Wilderness Character Monitoring of 58

Kelly L. Lockman

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

10/14/2011

FWS National Wildlife Refuge System Wilderness Fellows

Report on Wilderness Character Monitoring

Havasu Wilderness

Wilderness.net Webmaster

This document is part of the Wilderness Character Toolbox on http://www.wilderness.net/toolboxes/


Havasu National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness .......................................................................................... 3-5

Havasu NWR and Wilderness Background and Setting .................................................................................................3-4

Havasu NWR and Wilderness Map ................................................................................................................................. 5

Wilderness Resources .................................................................................................................................... 6-8

Wilderness Character Monitoring and Qualities ............................................................................................................ 6

Documents and Staff Consulted ................................................................................................................................... ..7

Process Used to Identify Measures ................................................................................................................................ 8

Selected Measures ....................................................................................................................................... 9-33

Untrammeled .......................................................................................................................................................... 9-13

Actions to Manage Native Wildlife ....................................................................................................................... 9

Actions to Suppress Non-Native Species ............................................................................................................. 10

Percent of Natural Fires Suppressed Averaged Over Wilderness ......................................................................... 11

Number of Hunting Permits ................................................................................................................................ 12

Acres Burned Due to Human Ignited Fires .......................................................................................................... 13

Other Unauthorized Actions .............................................................................................................................. 14 Natural .................................................................................................................................................................. 15-20

Desert Bighorn Sheep ........................................................................................................................................ 15

Extirpated Plants and Animals ............................................................................................................................ 16

Non-Indigenous Species .................................................................................................................................... 17

Present Nurseries with Myotis velifer.................................................................................................................. 18

Feral Burro Populations ..................................................................................................................................... 19

Present Wildlife Diseases .................................................................................................................................... 20

Undeveloped .......................................................................................................................................................... 21-28

Actions to Cleanup Modern Human Debris ........................................................................................................ 21

Number of Inactive Mines ................................................................................................................................. 22

Index of Authorized Non-Recreational Physical Development ............................................................................ 23

Type and Amount Use of Motor Vehicles, Motorized Equipment, and Mechanical Transport ............................. 24

Incidents and Known Vehicle Intrusions .............................................................................................................. 25

Number of Management and Other Documented Flyovers ................................................................................. 26

Inholdings Acres ................................................................................................................................................. 27

Disturbances to Cultural Resources .................................................................................................................... 28 Solitude or Primitive and Unconfined Recreation ................................................................................................... 29-32

Agency Provided Recreation Facilities ................................................................................................................. 29

Acres of Wilderness Recreational Camping is not Permitted ............................................................................... 30

Special Use Permits ........................................................................................................................................... 31

Administrative Travel Routes and Access Roads .................................................................................................. 31

Miles of Wilderness Boundary Adjacent to Private Lands .................................................................................... 33

No Wake Zones in River Channel Adjacent to Wilderness.................................................................................... 34

Measures Not Used ................................................................................................................................... 35-39

Conclusions ..................................................................................................................................................... 40

Appendix

Table of Contents

Cover Photo: Havasu Wilderness - Kelly Lockman


Background

Havasu National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Colorado River between Needles, CA and

Parker, AZ. Havasu Refuge was established by Executive Order 8647 on January 22, 1941, to provide

migration and wintering habitat for migratory waterfowl. It is essentially an overlay on lands

withdrawn and purchased by the Bureau of Reclamation for the operation of Parker Dam and its

reservoir, Lake Havasu. The refuge as established encompassed about 43,000 acres and was enlarged

to 45,761 acres in 1949. With the founding of Lake Havasu City in 1964, the refuge was reduced to

22,007 acres under the Lower Colorado River Land Use Plan. This plan delineated a realignment of

the refuge boundaries with the major portion of Lake Havasu being deleted for recreational

development.

In 1968, the Needles Peaks area was added to the refuge, bringing the total acreage to 41,495.

Four hundred-twenty acres was deleted in 1974 and returned to the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe. In

October 1977, 1,575 acres were purchased from the Arizona Ranch and Metals Company through the

Nature Conservancy as an addition to the Bill Williams Unit. An additional, 2,781 acreas were

withdrawn from the Bureau of Land Management in 1981 to round out the Bill Williams Unit, bringing

the total acreage to 45,431.

The refuge contains three district units. The Topock Marsh Unit in South Mohave Valley

constitutes all refuge land north of I-40. This unit lies at the south end of a 200,000 –acre alluvial

basin and contains a 4,000-acre marsh and 200 acres of cropland.

The Topock Gorge Unit extends from I-40 south to upper Lake Havasu. This is one of the most

scenic features along the Lower Colorado River. Through portions of the Topock Gorge the Colorado

is incised between colorful cliffs rising several hundred feet above the river with peaks in this area

reaching 2,400 feet.

The refuge and the

surrounding area contain much

evidence of early man, especially in

the Topock Gorge. Picture writings

on rock and canyon walls, both

petrogylphs and pictographs,

provide a silent record of the area’s

earliest inhabitants and their

culture. The area was also heavily

prospected during the gold boom

and several inactive mines are

located on the refuge. View of Havasu Wilderness from Colorado River Photo: FWS


The refuge is surrounded by areas of recent developmental growth due to recreational

amenities provided in and along the Colorado River. Lake Havasu City and Mohave Valley has had

rapid population growth since the year of wilderness designation. This places an increasing

importance for refuge and wilderness as well as increases the demand on the refuge and its

resources. Further pressures have been placed on refuge and wilderness areas due to population

growth with Laughlin, NV, Bullhead City, AZ and Needles, CA region as a result of recent

gambling/resort businesses.

Ecological Setting

Havasu National Wildlife Refuge is located in the southern portion of the Mojave Desert. It

lies in one of the hottest and driest regions in the United States. Approximately half of the refuge

habitat is in this category. The desert washes provide excellent habitat and the Mesquite and Palo

Verde dominate above the Salt Cedar moisture elevation. Over 300 species of birds, 42 species of

mammals, and 38 species of reptiles

have been recorded at Havasu

NWR.

Annual precipitation

averages at 5.11 inches. Most of

the rainfall occurs in the form of

thunderstorms in early spring and

late summer. These storms are

often violent and produce severe

washouts in local drainages. The

summers are long and extremely

hot with maximum temperatures

ranging between 115 and 125

degrees Fahrenheit. The winters

are short and very mild with a near

absence of freezing temperatures.

Havasu National Wildlife Refuge still remains an oasis for migratory birds even though Salt

Cedar continues to be an overpowering problem.

The Topock Gorge, the area that is mainly designated wilderness besides the 20 miles of the

Colorado River itself represents one of the last remaining natural stretches along this portion of the

lower river. The riparian zone is used by a wide variety of songbirds, marsh and wading birds. The

emergent vegetation in the backwaters provides nesting habitat as well as nursery areas for

largemouth bass, crappie and channel catfish.

View of Havasu Wilderness Photo: Kelly Lockman


Map of Havasu Refuge and Wilderness as well as immediate surroundings Source: FWS


Wilderness Character Monitoring

Havasu National Wildlife Refuge was part of the initial round in a wilderness character

monitoring pilot program influenced by the Wilderness Act of 1964. Qualities of wilderness character

were derived from the Act and this program was implemented to provide a uniform approach to

monitoring trends and actions in wildernesses across the nation. Along with 18 other USFWS refuges,

wilderness character monitoring measures were created for Havasu National Wildlife Refuge

Wilderness using a baseline year of 2011. The measures selected for Havasu are specific to this

wilderness and unique from any other set of wilderness character monitoring measures. These

measures will allow USFWS and interested parties to monitor how the wilderness character will

change and trends in the future. Trends in wilderness character monitoring can either be improving,

degrading, stable or offsetting stable.

Qualities of Wilderness Character

Untrammeled

“...an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man...” and “...generally appears to

have been affected primarily by the forces of nature” –Wilderness Act of 1964

Wilderness is essentially unhindered and free from the actions of modern human control or manipulation

Natural

“...is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions” – Wilderness Act of 1964

Wilderness ecological systems are substantially free from the effects of modern civilization

Undeveloped

“...an area of undeveloped Federal land...without permanent improvement or human habitation” and

“...where man himself is a visitor who does not remain” – Wilderness Act of 1964

Wilderness retains its primeval character and influence, and is essentially without permanent improvement

or modern human occupation

Solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation

“…has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation“ – Wilderness

Act of 1964

Wilderness provides outstanding opportunities for solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation


Documents Consulted

The documents listed below were the main sources used to help identify measures as well as supplied

data for some of the measures:

Havasu National Wildlife Refuge Annual Narrative Reports – Years 1991 & 1992

Havasu National Wildlife Refuge Brochures

Lower Colorado River National Wildlife Refuges: Comprehensive Management Plan and

Environmental Assessment 1994-2014

Study Report- Needles Wilderness Proposal: Havasu National Wildlife Refuge

Other Documents Consulted

Keeping it Wild: An Interagency Strategy to Monitor Trends in Wilderness Character Across the

National Wilderness Preservation System – Peter Landres and Others – July 2008

Technical Guide for Monitoring Selected Conditions Related to Wilderness Character- Peter Landres

and Others – June 2009

Staff Consulted

Dick Gilbert, Complex Project Leader

Linda L. Miller, Refuge Manager

Jack Allen, Biologist

Kathleen Blair, Complex Ecologist

Wayne Dingman, Law Enforcement

Pamela Scott, Administration

Michael Sambroski, Maintenance and Operations

Benji Stewart, Fire Operations Specialists

Jennifer House, Wilderness Specialist LHFO, Bureau of Land Management

David Roan, Needles Bureau of Land Management

Dave Conrad, Arizona Game and Fish Department

Bob Henry, Arizona Game and Fish Department

Lesley Fitzpatrick, Phoenix FWS Ecological Services

Dr. Patricia Brown, Brown-Berry Biological Consulting


Process Used for Identifying Measures

Steps to identify measures:

1. Meet with key refuge staff members like the Refuge Manager and give a brief overview of the

WCM project. Locate important documents like the CCP, Annual Narratives(starting from year

of wilderness designation), related documents, maps and important contacts.

2. Read important documents to get a better understanding of the goals of the refuge and

wilderness as well as the operations/occurrences that repetitively happen at the refuge. This

may also help identify measures that are not only important to WCM; it may not require the

staff to do a great deal of extra work to collect data after you leave.

3. Setup a day when a knowledgeable staff member is available to give a tour of the wilderness.

Record observations in the field as well as comments by staff. This will also allow you more

time to discuss possible wilderness issues that could translate into a measure. This time with

the staff member is very valuable; ask many questions.

4. Compile a draft of possible measures. Participate in refuge activities to get a better

understanding to what is important to staff. Since it is recommended to only have

approximately 25 final measures, try to identify the most influential measures on wilderness

character that not only fulfill the indicator but also account for different aspects in wilderness

and data is readily available or easy to gather by staff members.

5. Setup a meeting and ask where data can be found for each well received and feasible

measure. This may or may not help you find this year’s data. Most times, unless it is the end

of the year, the data is still being collected for some of the measures.

6. Analyze the revised measure handout to see if what goes on in the wilderness has been

captured with the approximate selection of 25 measures. Also make sure that data can be

easily collected and monitored by refuge staff after you leave. If you are comfortable with the

list, then create a final list to show the key staff members. This meeting should also include

your suggestions for: frequency, unit of measure, weight, significant change, description and

data source for each measure for comment. Make a suggestion for each because it is easier

for staff to comment on something rather than a blank document.

7. Enter measures, related information and available data into database.


Selected Measures

Character: Untrammeled

Indicator: Actions authorized by refuge manager that manipulate the biophysical environment

Measure: Actions to Manage Native Wildlife

Description: A point system of authorized actions to manage native wildlife in wilderness. Actions

include but are not limited to: species surveys in wilderness that disrupt natural routine and

removal/dispatching of wildlife.

Context: Currently Havasu management does not take any actions in wilderness to manage wildlife.

This measure was created as a placeholder for management actions, if any, to native wildlife in the

future. Many of the same wildlife do occur on both Havasu and Kofa. Kofa manages native wildlife

so it is possible in the future that Havasu management may take similar actions on native wildlife.

The refuge staff will have to assign the point value for each specific action, if any.

Data Sources: Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager; Jack Allen, Refuge

Biologist; Kathleen Blair, Ecologist; Bob Henry, AGFD

Process Used to Compile/Gather Data: Conversations with refuge staff and AGFD.

Significant Change: After 2011, any change or increase in the management actions to native wildlife

in wilderness would reflect a degrading trend. If no actions continue; the trend will remain stable.

Data Adequacy: High - conversations with numerous staff members.




Measure: Actions to Suppress Non-Native Plant Species

Description: Number of actions to suppress non-native species. If it is available, this measure could

be edited to count acres of non-native plants suppressed and/or amount of chemicals used to

suppress non-native species.

Context: There are non-indigenous plant species in Havasu wilderness and currently there are no

management actions to suppress these species in wilderness. This measure is to capture any future

actions to suppress non-native plant species by the use of herbicides and other chemicals that would

alter the biophysical environment.

Data Sources: Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager; Jack Allen, Refuge

Biologist; Kathleen Blair, Ecologist

Process Used to Compile/Gather Data: Conversations with refuge staff.

Significant Change: After 2011, any change or increase in the management actions to suppress non-

native species in wilderness would reflect a degrading trend. If no actions continue; the trend will

remain stable.

Data Adequacy: High - conversations with numerous staff members.




Measure: Percent of Natural Fires Suppressed Averaged Over Wilderness

Description: Percent of natural fire starts suppressed in Havasu wilderness. Number of lightning-

caused fires that were suppressed is divided by the total number of lightning-caused fires, multiplied

by 100.

Context: Fires can drastically change the makeup of the wilderness. Also the actions to suppress

these fires can impact the wilderness. This measure accounts for the fire as well as the actions

related to suppression.

Data Sources: Linda Miller, Refuge Manager; Benji Stewart, Fire Operations Specialist

Process Used to Compile/Gather Data: Conversations with key refuge staff.

Significant Change: The significant change for this measure is “Any”. Any increase to the amount of

natural fires that are suppressed and actions of suppression would reflect a degrading trend. Any

decrease in these actions would reflect an improving trend.

Data Adequacy: High confidence in data. Natural fires that receive a suppression response are well

documented by Fire Management Team.




Measure: Number of Hunting Permits

Description: Total number of desert bighorn sheep hunting permits issued each year by Arizona

Game and Fish Department

Context: Desert bighorn sheep hunting is one of the few authorized actions that currently happens

within Havasu Wilderness. Documenting the numbers of permits issued each year and comparing it

to the Desert Bighorn Sheep population, managers will be able to see how the number of desert

bighorn sheep taken from wilderness correlates to the population counts.

Data Sources: Bob Henry, Arizona Game and Fish Department; Jack Allen, Refuge Biologist

Process Used to Compile/Gather Data: Conversations with key refuge staff and agencies.

Significant Change: The significant change for this measure is “Any”. The number of permits issued

is determined by the population counts. Since there is now a low number of permits issued and the

desert bighorn sheep population appears to fluctuate according to survey counts dating back to 1990,

any increase to the amount of hunting permits issued will be seen as a degrading trend. If fewer

permits are issued, this would be an improving trend.

Data Adequacy: High confidence in data.



Indicator: Actions not authorized by refuge manager that manipulate the biophysical environment

Measure: Acres Burned Due to Human Ignited Fires

Description: Acres of wilderness burned from known and documented human/visitor ignited fires in

wilderness.

Context: Fires can seriously alter the current state of the wilderness. Documenting the acres burned

due to human ignited fires with further show the impacts humans can have on wilderness. Havasu is

primarily used by trespassers on ATVs and the continuation of breaking the law by having a campfire

in wilderness would not be out of line to assume as a possible action.

Data Sources: Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager; Wayne Dingman, Law

Enforcement

Process Used to Compile/Gather Data: Conversations with key refuge staff because Havasu no

longer produces an Annual Narrative Report. Legacy data will also have to be found by asking key

data sources.

Significant Change: The significant change for this measure is “Any”. If an amount acres burned

from human/visitor ignited fires were to happen in a given year, it will reflect a degrading trend. If

the amount of human ignited fires were nonexistent for any given year, it would reflect an improving

trend. A change in the amount of human/visitor ignited fires will have a significant change on the

biophysical environment and stable cannot be used for this measure unless it is zero.

Data Adequacy: Medium confidence in data. Havasu Wilderness is not frequently visited by refuge

staff; smaller human/visitor ignited fires will be missed in the data counts.




Measure: Number of Other Unauthorized Actions

Description: A count of the number of unauthorized actions other than human ignited fires and

vehicle intrusions that occur annually in wilderness.

Context: This measure was created to capture unauthorized actions in wilderness that may happen

in the future that are degrading to wilderness character but do not have a specific measure it would

fall under. In the past, a visitor has brought modern human debris into wilderness to erect shrines.

That is just one example of an action that could be captured in this measure. For 2011, there are no

known other unauthorized actions.

Data Sources: Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager; Wayne Dingman, Law

Enforcement


longer produces an Annual Narrative Report.

Significant Change: The significant change for this measure is “Any”. If any amount of unauthorized

actions in wilderness were to happen in a given year, it will reflect a degrading trend. If the amount

other unauthorized actions were nonexistent for any given year, it would reflect an improving or

stable trend.

Data Adequacy: Medium confidence in data. Havasu Wilderness is not frequently visited by refuge

staff; other unauthorized actions will be missed in the data counts.


Character: Natural

Indicator: Plant and animal species and communities

Measure: Desert Bighorn Sheep

Description: Annual population estimates of desert bighorn sheep from aerial and group surveys.

Desert bighorn sheep population estimates are derived using the Kofa Group Size Estimator.

Context: Desert bighorn sheep population size is often monitored by refuge staff and Arizona Game

and Fish Department. The population size from year to year can give a glimpse into the stability and

health of the ecosystem in the wilderness. Population surveys are not administered every year but

are often enough to give an indication of the trend.

Data Sources: Bob Henry, AGFD; Jack Allen, Refuge Biologist


longer produces an Annual Narrative Report. Legacy data will also have to be found by asking key

data sources.

Significant Change: The significant change is 10%. 10% less than previous year reflects a degrading

trend. 10% more than previous year reflects an improving trend. Less than 10% either way reflects a

stable trend. 2011 survey will reflect a stable trend, and the significant change to determine the

trend should be calculated in 2012 or the next year a population size survey is conducted for Desert

Bighorn Sheep.

Data Adequacy: High Confidence in data. Data collected by knowledgeable staff and the Kofa Group

Size Estimator is a very reliable formula to estimate the population size for Desert Bighorn Sheep.


Character: Natural


Measure: Extirpated Plants and Animals

Description: Number of indigenous plant and animal species that have been extirpated based on time

from European contact.

Context: Currently there are no known or documented extirpated species that were mentioned

during the time wilderness character monitoring was conducted. This measure will serve as a

placeholder for any future changes to this measure.

Data Sources:

Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager; Jack Allen, Refuge Biologist; Kathleen

Blair, Ecologist; Bob Henry, AGFD; Lesley Fitzpatrick, Phx Ecological Services

Process Used to Compile/Gather Data: Conversations with key refuge staff and other related

agencies. Havasu no longer produces an Annual Narrative Reports.

Significant Change: Any. Currently there are no documented extirpated species from Havasu

Wilderness so any increase in the number would reflect a degrading trend.

Data Adequacy: Medium Confidence in data. Most of the data is by word of mouth. Documents

could not be located that lists extirpated species from Havasu Wilderness.


Character: Natural


Measure: Non-Indigenous Species

Description: Number of non-indigenous species found in wilderness.

Context: Non-indigenous species can drastically influence and be detrimental to the native species of

a wilderness area. This count gives an idea to the different types of non-indigenous species found in

Havasu Wilderness.

Data Sources: Jack Allen, Refuge Biologist; Kathleen Blair, Ecologist; Needles Wilderness Proposal

Process Used to Compile/Gather Data: Conversations with key refuge staff and lists found in the

Needles Wilderness Proposal

Significant Change: Any. If there is an increase in the number of non-indigenous species in Havasu

wilderness, it will reflect a degrading trend. Any non-indigenous species that are eradicated from

Havasu Wilderness will reflect an improving trend.

Data Adequacy: Medium-High confidence in data. Spatial data of the range of impact these species

have on wilderness would give a better picture as to what is going on in the wilderness than just a

count. It is possible that if the data is collected, this measure could be updated in the future to show

a better picture as to what is going how much non-indigenous species cover is in the wilderness.


Character: Natural


Measure: Present Nurseries with Myotis velifer

Description: Number of old mines and other areas in wilderness observed and documented

containing established maternity colonies of Myotis velifer.

Context: Monitoring bat species, particularly threatened ones, is an important management activity

that should happen regularly on Havasu NWR. Creating a measure for present maternity colonies will

give an idea to the suitability of the habitat on Havasu that is conducive for sensitive bat populations.

Data Sources: Dr. Patricia Brown, BBBC

Process Used to Compile/Gather Data: Conversations with Dr. Patricia Brown, a consultant contact

who was suggested to me by the ecologist, Kathleen Blair.

Significant Change: The significant change for this measure is “Any”. If there is an increase in

documented present maternity colonies, it will reflect an improving trend because there is greater

biodiversity and habitat compatible for sensitive bat species in Havasu wilderness. A decrease will

reflect a degrading trend.

Data Adequacy: High confidence in data; consultant very knowledgeable.

Myotis velifer photographed on Lower Colorado River

Photo: Dr. Patricia Brown


Character: Natural


Measure: Feral Burro Populations

Description: Number of burros counted during scheduled desert bighorn sheep population counts.

Other means of finding population of feral burros in wilderness are allowable but no additional

surveys were accounted for during baseline year.

Context: Feral burros are detrimental to the habitat in wilderness and continue to be a significant

issue even though there are occasional BLM efforts to round up burros. To date, 56 burros in the

immediate surroundings of Havasu wilderness have been captured by BLM. During survey count

flights of desert bighorn sheep, staff also counts the number of burros and gathers a rough estimate

of the population size.

Data Sources: Jack Allen, Havasu Refuge Biologist; Bob Henry, Arizona Game and Fish Department

Process Used to Compile/Gather Data: Conversation about burros with refuge biologist lead to the

findings of current burro population counts.

Significant Change: The population estimates for right now is 27. Since the burro creates a high

impact on wilderness character and nutritional resources in wilderness are low, the significant change

would be “any”.

Data Adequacy: Medium confidence in data. The population count survey is administered during

another survey and burro population is not the main priority; it is desert bighorn sheep population

counts.


Character: Natural

Indicator: Biophysical Processes

Measure: Present Wildlife Diseases

Description: The total number of wildlife diseases documented in Havasu wilderness.

Context: There are no known studies in Havasu wilderness to document the amount, if any, and the

severity of wildlife diseases. This measure would capture any wildlife diseases identified in the

future.

Data Sources: Jack Allen, Refuge Biologist; Kathleen Blair, Ecologist

Process Used to Compile/Gather Data: Conversations with key staff members.

Significant Change: The significant change for this measure is “Any”. If there is an increase in

documented present wildlife diseases, it will reflect a degrading trend. A decrease will reflect and

improving trend.

Data Adequacy: Medium confidence in data. There are currently no known studies or documents of

present wildlife diseases. All data is from knowledgeable staff so there may be no need for wildlife

disease studies if nothing appears to be out of the ordinary with wildlife.


Character: Undeveloped

Indicator: Non-recreational installations, structures and developments

Measure: Actions to Cleanup Modern Human Debris - Abandoned Property, Mine, Military, etc.

Description: Numerical annual count of actions to cleanup modern human debris - abandoned

property, mine and military debris

Context: Cleanups of modern human debris have not happen recently in Havasu Wilderness except

on one brief account given by the Law Enforcement Officer, Wayne Dingman. One visitor to the

wilderness was erecting shrines in wilderness and LE brought him into wilderness to locate and

remove a good amount of the shrines. Future removals, if applicable should incorporate wilderness

legislation and the minimum requirement analysis should be taken into consideration when the

means of removal is selected for each project. For those reasons, this measure will only reflect a

stable or improving trend. This could also entice refuge staff to take on more modern human debris

cleanup projects if it will reflect an overall improving trend in wilderness character.

Data Sources:

Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager; Wayne Dingman, Law Enforcement

Process Used to Compile/Gather Data: Conversations with staff and locating related files regarding

cleanups, like Minimum Requirement Analysis documents.

Significant Change: The significant change for this measure is “Any”. For each action that removes

debris from wilderness using the proper means, an improving trend is recorded. If one action for one

year is followed by just one action the next year, this still shows an improving trend. Stable trend

only appears when no actions are taken. This measure cannot reflect a degrading trend.

Data Adequacy: High confidence in data. Cleanup efforts in wilderness are well documented in the

past and require a minimum requirement analysis of the plans on how to remove the debris.




Measure: Number of Active and Inactive Mines

Description: Number of active and inactive mines found in wilderness.

Context: Havasu has a history in mining and this measure is to document that mining did exist even

though it no longer happens in wilderness. Any type of mining can impact and dramatically change

the wilderness and its character in multiple ways. The ideal objective is Havasu Wilderness remains

an area that is no longer mined for its resources.

Data Sources: Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager; Dr. Patricia Brown, BBBC;

Bureau of Land Management

Process Used to Compile/Gather Data: Conversations with refuge staff and consultant. Contact with

the Bureau of Land Management because they handle the records on mining developments in all

areas including wilderness. A tally of the total amount of inactive mines found wilderness was used

as the data for 2011. No active mines are found in wilderness as of 2011.

Significant Change: The significant change for this measure would be “Any”. Any increase mining

activity would reflect a degrading trend.

Data Adequacy: High confidence in data; conversations with knowledgeable contacts and available

supporting documents.




Measure: Index of Non-Recreational Physical Development

Description: Number of man-made, developed structures in wilderness. The count includes but is not

limited to:

1a. Dams

1b. Tanks

1c. Wells

1d. Catchments

1e. Temporary management related structures

1f. Technology/Scientific Installations

Context: Havasu has only two developments in wilderness. Currently a USGS Gauging Station sits

near the Colorado River that was there prior to wilderness designation and there is a wildlife drinker

that was installed by AGFD in wilderness. Beyond that, there are no known authorized physical

developments in wilderness.

Data Sources: Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda

Miller, Refuge Manager; Jack Allen, Refuge

Biologist

Process Used to Compile/Gather Data:

Conversations with key staff members and

consulting refuge and wilderness documents

Significant Change: The significant change for this

measure is “Any”. If a current structure or

installation is removed from wilderness, it will

reflect an improving trend. If a development is

added to wilderness, this will reflect a degrading

trend. If nothing changes, it will reflect a stable

trend.

Data Adequacy: High confidence in data. Many

reliable sources were consulted and staff

interviewed.

Plastic water tank installation by AGFD in wilderness

Photo: Kelly Lockman



Indicator: Use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment, and mechanical transport

Measure: Type and Amount of Administrative, Non-Emergency, and Emergency Use of Motor

Vehicles, Motorized Equipment, or Mechanical Transport

Description: Index of actual use of equipment or vehicle based on type of equipment (helicopter,

chain saws, etc.) and weighted based on how many days used. Add up all the items used in

wilderness plus the amount of days used to find the total to be imputed as data.

Context: Some management tasks as well as emergencies require the use of motor vehicles,

motorized equipment, or mechanical transport. Though properly filling minimum requirement

analysis will allow refuge staff to pick the least motor or mechanized way to complete a task, at times

motor and mechanized practices are the most practical or financially feasible way to complete a

project. This measure is to inventory and monitor all these insistences as well as emergencies in

wilderness. Currently for 2011, there has been no

administrative or emergency use in wilderness.

Data Sources: Linda Miller, Refuge Manager; Wayne

Dingman, Law Enforcement

Process Used to Compile/Gather Data: Reading

documents as well as consulting with refuge staff.

Significant Change: The significant change for this

measure is “Any”. Any increase the use of motorized or

mechanized items would reflect a degrading trend. Any

decrease in the use would reflect an improving trend.

Data Adequacy: High confidence in data. Havasu

wilderness projects using motor or mechanized

equipment are extremely rare.

View from wilderness boundary with a posted “No

Vehicle” sign Photo: Kelly Lockman




Measure: Number of Management and Other Documented Flyovers

Description: A total count of the number of management and other documented flyovers that occur

annually over wilderness.

Context: It is known that management occasionally does flyovers to do wildlife surveys. There was

one this year for the desert bighorn sheep population survey. In the future, management can also

document any flyovers they witness while working in or in the vicinity of wilderness.

Data Sources: Jack Allen, Refuge Biologist; Bob Henry, AGFD

Process Used to Compile/Gather Data: Conversations with key staff members and partner agencies.

Significant Change: The significant change for this measure is “Any”. Currently the amount of

documented flyovers is relatively small and any change in the number would be considered a

significant change. If the number of flyovers was to increase in a given year, this would reflect a

degrading trend. If the number was to decrease, this would reflect an improving trend. If the

number was to remain the same, it would reflect a stable trend.

Data Adequacy: Medium confidence in this data. Not all of the flyovers can be captured by refuge

staff.




Measure: Incidents and Known Civilian Vehicle Intrusions

Description: Number of incidents and known civilian vehicle

intrusions in wilderness. This count includes:

1a. Violation notices issued for vehicle intrusions in wilderness

1b. Documented vehicle tracks in wilderness

Context: ATV/UTV use is a big recreational component in this area.

There are other places in the county to use ATV/UTVs but some

visitors do not abide by the rules and enter wilderness on their

vehicles. Intruders sometimes even take down refuge fences that

are put up on the boundary and bullets holes are frequently found

in refuge posted signs. Tracks are noticeable and create

considerable damage to wilderness character. Unfortunately it is

difficult to catch every intrusion, but violation notices have been

written in the past and refuge staff does notice the tracks when

out when checking boundary fences.

Data Sources: Wilderness Fellow field survey; Law enforcement

Process Used to Compile/Gather Data: Collecting violation notices from refuge law enforcement and

personal field visits to frequently intruded sites.

Significant Change: The significant change for this measure is “Any”. Even though every instance of

intrusion cannot be completely measured, the amount of violation notices and documented

intrusions captured in a given year will be indicative of what is happening across Havasu wilderness.

An increase in the amount of intrusions will reflect a degrading trend. A decrease in the amount of

intrusions will reflect an improving trend. No change will reflect a stable trend.

Data Adequacy: Medium confidence in this data. Not all of the intrusions can be captured by refuge

staff.

Vehicle intrusion in wilderness


Vehicle intrusion in wilderness Photo: Kelly Lockman Destroyed boundary fence/sign Photo:Lockman



Indicator: Inholdings

Measure: Inholding Acres

Description: Acres of inholdings within wilderness boundaries. Includes any inholding that is within

and/or surrounded by the wilderness boundary line; both AZ and CA sides.

Context: Private land ownership in the form parcels within and/or surrounded by wilderness occur in

Havasu. An inventory of the amount of acres of inholdings will monitor private land ownerships

impact on wilderness character.

Data Sources: Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager; GIS maps

Process Used to Compile/Gather Data: Conversations with refuge staff and reading documents

related to what is going on in the wilderness.

Significant Change: The significant change for this measure is “Any”. If the inholding acres decrease

because the property was gifted/sold to Havasu NWR, this would reflect an improving trend. An

increase in private inholdings within and/or surrounded by wilderness would reflect a degrading

trend. No changes would reflect a stable trend.

Data Adequacy: High confidence in data. Interviewed multiple staff members.



Indicator: Loss to statutorily protected cultural resources

Measure: Disturbances to Cultural Resources

Description: 1a. Severity of disturbances to cultural resources by photos/status reports

1b. Number/severity of disturbance to archeological sites or resources listed on National Register of

Historic Places

1c. Disturbances/Removal of cultural resources like Picture Rock

Context: There are cultural resources in Havasu Wilderness and in the past there have been

disturbances to these areas. Picture Rock is most popular and could possibly be the one that has the

most instances of vandalism. Staff members did not have data to give me on recent disturbances or a

complete list/map of cultural resources on Havasu Wilderness. There is just a general understanding

that there are cultural resources and they are occasionally disturbed.

Data Sources: Havasu Refuge staff


The only known way to gather data is to ask refuge staff if they have noticed and/or documented any

disturbances to cultural resources in wilderness.

Significant Change: The significant change for this measure is “Any”. If there are any increases in

new disturbances, this will reflect a degrading trend. No new disturbances will create a stable trend.

An improving trend does not appear to be plausible for this measure unless there is work to properly

restore or protect existing cultural resources.

Data Adequacy: Low confidence in data. Primitive cultural resources are not particularly monitored

closely and not all of them have been found and mapped out in detail. This measure appeared to be

the most suitable for Havasu because monitoring of all cultural resources is not frequent.


Character: Solitude or Primitive and Unconfined Recreation

Indicator: Facilities that decrease self-reliant recreation

Measure: Agency Provided Recreation Facilities

Description: This count includes but is not limited to:

1a. Number of tent pads

1b. Number of recreational/directional signs (NOT including refuge/wilderness boundary signs)

1c. Number of shelters

1d. Number of backcountry campsites

1e. Miles of maintained foot trails

Context: Havasu refuge staff does not provide or maintain any recreation facilities in wilderness.

This measure is set up to fulfill this indicator and monitor future development of facilities that

decrease self-reliant recreation in wilderness, if applicable.

Data Sources: Linda Miller, Refuge Manager; Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Wayne Dingman, Law

Enforcement; Documents consulted

Process Used to Compile/Gather Data: Conversations with refuge staff and reading documents


Significant Change: The significant change for this measure is “Any”. Any increase to the amount of

facilities would reflect a degrading trend. The trend is now consistently stable because there are no

facilities and the next possible trend would be degrading because they cannot improve on zero.

Data Adequacy: High confidence in data. The sources are very reliable.



Indicator: Management Restrictions

Measure: Acres of Wilderness Recreational Camping is not Permitted

Description: Total acreage in wilderness where visitors cannot freely choose to camp overnight using

non-motorized/mechanized means. Management does not allow recreational camping and any

overnights must be authorized and approved with a special use permit.

Context: Havasu wilderness is rarely visited by citizens; mostly just people intruding on ATVs. The

restriction on the freedom to camp greatly diminishes this character quality, specifically unconfined

recreation.

Data Sources: Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager

Process Used to Compile/Gather Data: Conversations with key staff members.

Significant Change: The significant change is “Any”. If the allowable acres to camp increased, this

would reflect an improving trend.

Data Adequacy: High confidence in data. The sources are very reliable.



Indicator: Remoteness from sights and sounds of people inside the wilderness

Measure: Special Use Permits

Description: Number of special use permits administered by management to allow projects,

overnights, and/or other visitations to wilderness.

Context: Havasu does not keep a record of annual public use numbers nor does it allow recreational

overnight camping to the everyday user. This is the only data collected annually regarding public use

in wilderness.

Data Sources: Linda Miller, Refuge Manager

Process Used to Compile/Gather Data: Conversations with key refuge staff members.

Significant Change: The significant change should be assessed on a year to year basis. The amount

and what the special use permit is allowing will determine the proper trend.

Data Adequacy: High confidence in data. SUPs are well documented by staff.


Character: Solitude


Measure: Administrative Travel Routes and Access Roads

Description: Miles of administrative access routes and roads in wilderness.

Context: There are no current administrative or access routes being used by refuge staff. This

measure is to track future developments under this measure, if any.

Data Sources: Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager

Process Used to Compile/Gather Data: Conversation with key staff members.

Significant Change: The significant change for this measure is “Any”.

Data Adequacy: High confidence in data. Interviewed many staff members.



Indicator: Remoteness from sights and sounds of people outside the wilderness

Measure: Motorboat Citations and Warnings over 86 Decibels

Description: Number of citations and warnings administered by law enforcement to motorboat users

on the Colorado River adjacent to wilderness who exceed the state law of 86 decibels.

Context: Havasu law enforcement primarily patrols the waterways in the Topock Gorge, an area that

is adjacent to wilderness on both AZ and CA sides. They commonly use a decibel meter to calculate

the decibel levels of motorboats used in the area. Warnings and citations are given out to offenders

of a decibel level higher than 86; it is the state law.

Data Sources: Wayne Dingman, Law Enforcement


Significant Change: The significant change is 25%. If there is a 25% increase in the number of

citations and warnings administered, this would reflect a degrading trend. If there is a 25% decrease,

this would reflect an improving trend. Anything lower than 25% would be considered a stable trend.

Data Adequacy: Medium confidence in data. Even though it is easy to calculate the amount of

citations and warnings each year, not all offenders of the state law will be caught by law

enforcement.



Indicator: Remoteness from sights and sounds of people outside the wilderness

Measure: Miles of Wilderness Boundary Adjacent to Private Lands

Description: Total number of miles of privately owned land that shares a boundary line with Havasu

wilderness on both CA and AZ sides. Not to include private inholdings within the wilderness; that is

captured in another measure.

Context: Land parcels in the west tend to have a checkerboard layout and the wilderness is adjacent

to other federal, state and public lands. An inventory of private lands that sit adjacent to the

wilderness show a possible threat of development that would diminish the wilderness character,

particularly the solitude quality. Monitoring these land statuses can assess trends particular to

events immediately outside the wilderness.

Data Sources: Bureau of Land Management contacts; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager


Significant Change: The significant change would be “any”. If there is an increase in the amount of

miles that are adjacent to wilderness boundary, this would reflect a degrading trend. If there is a

decrease in the amount of miles that are adjacent to wilderness boundary, this would reflect an

improving trend.

Data Adequacy: High confidence in data. Very reliable sources and BLM provided GIS layers.

Developed private land parcels near southern boundary of wilderness




Indicator: Remoteness from sights and sounds of people outside the wilderness Measure: No Wake Zones in River Channel Adjacent to Wilderness

Description: Miles of “no wake” zones in main river channel on the Colorado River in areas with

wilderness adjacent on both sides. This is not to include any backwater channels.

Context: The Colorado River has a great amount of boat activity through the Topock Gorge, an area

where most of the land is designated wilderness. The sounds from the boats intrude on the solitude

of the wilderness and the wake can also cause land erosion. Speed, sounds, and wake of the boat can

also disrupt migratory birds and other wildlife that use both the river and wilderness areas.

Data Sources: Dick Gilbert, Project Leader;



Conversations with key staff members.

Significant Change: The significant change

would be “any”. If there is an increase in

the amount of miles that are designated

“no wake” zones this would reflect an

improving trend. If there is a decrease in

the amount of “no wake” zones, this would

reflect a degrading trend.

Data Adequacy: High confidence in data.

Very reliable sources and personally

observed the “no wake” zone in field.

“Slow No Wake” buoy at Devil’s Elbow; wilderness in background



Measures Not Used

The measures listed in this section were not used for various reasons. Some measures no

data is currently being collected and others may have been of low priority or have minimal impacts

on Havasu Wilderness. At this time, this program was not intended to create additional work for

refuge staff. Some of these measures listed below would need considerable amounts of time

dedicated from refuge staff. Collecting data for some of these measures may also create more

degradation to wilderness character than the measure the data is being collected for. Also, Havasu

currently does not have ArcGIS or a staff member who works with the program and many of these

measures were not used because even if data was collected, there is no technical support at this

office or a staff member here who could use ArcGIS. These measures could possibly be used in the

future to gather a more complete picture of wilderness character.



Measures Reason/Priority

Number of scientific research projects Partially captured in Special Use Permits

measure

Low priority

Number of contamination investigations from

prior activities

No data available

Low priority




Number of incidents of abandoned property Captured in modern human debris cleanups

Enormous wilderness to inventory all incidents

Low priority

Number of illegal taking incidents of rocks

and/or species

No data available, not accurately monitored

Hard to distinguish between takings from

wilderness and refuge

Medium priority, possible future measure if it

can be accurately documented


Character: Natural


Measures

Number of native species of concern No specific list

Other measures used had data available

Medium priority, majority are either in river or

riparian zone, mainly outside of wilderness

Acres of non-indigenous plant species Data for this measure is not collected at this time

Possible future measure

Medium priority

Abundance of Herpitiles

Data not collected


Medium-high Priority, illegally taken

Present Bat Species No data collected on specific species; bat measure

used captures the threat/degradation to a specific

species

Medium priority

Character: Natural

Indicator: Physical Resources

Measures

Extent and magnitude of change in water

quality

Data not consistently gathered by refuge staff

Medium priority, drinking water for species

Extent and magnitude of disturbance to desert

pavement

Data not collected

Low priority, disturbance conclusions can be

drawn from vehicle intrusions

Extent and magnitude of soil contaminants

from prior land use activities

Data not collected

Low priority

Extent and magnitude of disturbance or loss of

soil or soil crusts

Data not collected

Low priority


Character: Natural

Indicator: Biophysical Processes


Extent and magnitude of global climate

change

Data not collected by refuge staff

Medium priority

Area and magnitude for pathways for

movement of non-indigenous species into

wilderness

Data not collected by refuge staff

Low priority

Extent and magnitude of wildlife diseases

Data not regularly monitored by refuge staff

Low priority at this time


Indicator: Non-recreational structures, installations, and developments


Number of tracking devices Not currently in wilderness

Would be captured in other measure

Low priority

Miles of wilderness boundary fence No data available

Area would need to be walked, very steep and

long boundary

High priority

Linear miles of utilities Low priority

Low occurrences on wilderness

Possible future measure if changes occur




Measures: n/a




Area and existing or potential impact of

inholdings within and adjacent to wilderness

Impact data not collected

Other measure used

Medium priority, possible future measure


Indicator: Loss to statutorily protected cultural resources

Measures: n/a

Character: Solitude



Amount of visitor use Not monitored

Possible future measure if means of

monitoring visitor use becomes more accurate

Medium priority

Area of wilderness affected by access and

travel routes that are inside the wilderness

Possible future measure if appropriately

analyzed by staff

Medium priority

Number of tracking devices on animals None in wilderness; can be captured with

manage measure

Low priority


Character: Solitude

Indicator: Remoteness from occupied and modified areas outside the wilderness


Area of wilderness affected by access and

travel routes that are outside the wilderness

Partially captured in another measure used

Possible future measure if appropriately

analyzed by staff

Medium priority

Visibility of development from wilderness Partially capture in other used measures

Medium priority, not monitored

Night sky visibility averaged over wilderness

No established protocol


Medium priority, not monitored

Extent and magnitude of intrusions on the

natural soundscape

Usage periods vary greatly during different

times of the year

Refuge staff cannot totally control boat

activities

High priority

Visibility of refuge activities from wilderness Unable to accurately monitor

Low priority

Developmental growth adjacent to wilderness No data available

No GIS currently at office

High priority

Character: Solitude

Indicator: Facilities that decrease self-reliant recreation

Measures: n/a

Character: Solitude

Indicator: Management Restrictions

Measures: n/a


Conclusions

The selected measures give a comprehensive approach to the many actions that happen

within and affect wilderness. Keeping the number of measures under 30, staff will be able to

document the data for each measure more accurately than if there was a measure for every action

related to wilderness character. This is not to imply that every measure data will be one hundred

percent accurate and not every trend outcome is completely controllable by refuge staff. Some of

the measures selected, the action or development does not currently exist on Havasu Wilderness.

The measure was created to monitor potential threats to wilderness in the future.

Havasu Wilderness is generally not visited by a majority of the staff. The maintenance worker

occasionally checks and fixes wilderness boundary fence and law enforcement occasionally monitors

visitor actions in wilderness but they primarily patrol the Colorado River. Havasu has more of a hands

off approach to wilderness management than other areas like Kofa. The lack of management

presence also makes it difficult to monitor, document, and prevent the greatest wilderness

degradation action, civilian vehicle intrusions. The data accuracy for this measure is questionable due

to simply finding more tracks in subsequent years, and it is not a clear indication as to which year

more tracks were created. Therefore, the accuracy of a changing trend for this measure is

questionable.

Out of all the characters for wilderness monitoring, Kofa Wilderness is currently most affected

in the Solitude character. Sounds intrusions is the most degrading at this time. The motorboat use in

the adjacent Colorado River can be heard from all areas of the wilderness. There appears to be no

reduction of use in the foreseeable future and law enforcement currently hands out citations for

sounds that exceed the state law. The next greatest threat is the surrounding pressures from

development in the area. An inventory of the amount of private lands that are adjacent to wilderness

has been used for the 2011 baseline. Future analysis from staff could include the effects from

development and population growth in surrounding areas. Recreational camping is not permitted in

any area and special use permits must be obtained before an overnight in wilderness.

Havasu management does not affect the Untrammeled quality in wilderness. There are

currently no actions to manage native wildlife, suppress non-native plant species or suppress natural

fires. The only action that occurs occasionally is burro roundups that are done by Bureau of Land

Management and Arizona Game and Fish Department. This action is currently taking place by placing

corrals on BLM land; not intrusive to Havasu Wilderness.

Many of the measures selected should reflect a stable trend from year to year unless a very

significant event takes place in wilderness. Significant events include the increase or decrease in

roads, facilities, wildlife water sources, other structures and installations, an acquisition of an

inholding, or an extirpation of a species. This should allow the staff to focus on the measures that

require more work and documentation because significant events in wilderness like the ones

mentioned above rarely go unnoticed by staff and interested parties.


Appendix

Keeping Track of Wilderness Character Monitoring Measures

Refuge: Havasu National Wildlife Refuge

Date: 11/1/2011

Kelly Lockman

Measure Priority

(H, M, L)

Detailed Description of the Data Source(s)

and How the Data Were Gathered

Untrammeled Quality

Actions to Suppress Non-

Native Species

L Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager; Jack

Allen, Refuge Biologist; Kathleen Blair, Ecologist; Bob Henry,

AGFD. Conversations with refuge staff.

Actions to Manage Native

Wildlife

M Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager; Jack

Allen, Refuge Biologist; Kathleen Blair, Ecologist. Conversations

with refuge staff and AGFD.

Natural Fire Starts that

Receive a Suppression

Response

M Linda Miller, Refuge Manager; Benji Stewart, Fire

Operations Specialist. Conversations with key refuge staff.

Number of Hunting Permits M Bob Henry, Arizona Game and Fish Department; Jack Allen,

Refuge Biologist

Acres Burned Due to Human

Ignited Fires

H Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager;

Wayne Dingman, Law Enforcement. Conversations with key

refuge staff.

Other Unauthorized Actions L Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager;

Wayne Dingman, Law Enforcement. Conversations with key

refuge staff

Natural Quality

Feral Burro Populations H Jack Allen, Havasu Refuge Biologist; Bob Henry, Arizona Game

and Fish Department. Conversation about burros with refuge

biologist lead to the findings of current burro population

counts.

Extirpated Plants and

Animals

H Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager; Jack

Allen, Refuge Biologist; Kathleen Blair, Ecologist; Bob Henry,

AGFD; Lesley Fitzpatrick, PHX Ecological Services. Conversations

with key refuge staff and other related agencies.

Non-Indigenous Species H Jack Allen, Refuge Biologist; Kathleen Blair, Ecologist; Needles

Wilderness Proposal. Conversations with key refuge staff and

lists found in the Needles Wilderness Proposal

Present Nurseries with

Myotis velifer

H Dr. Patricia Brown, BBBC. Conversations with Dr. Patricia

Brown

Desert Bighorn Sheep

Population

H Bob Henry, AGFD; Jack Allen, Refuge Biologist. Conversations

with key refuge staff

Number of Wildlife Diseases

L Jack Allen, Refuge Biologist; Kathleen Blair, Ecologist.

Conversations with key staff members


Undeveloped Quality

Actions to Cleanup Modern

Human Debris - Abandoned

Property, Mine, Military, etc.

M Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager;


Conversations with staff and locating related files regarding

cleanups, like Minimum Requirement Analysis documents.

Number of Active and

Inactive Mines in Wilderness

L Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager; Dr.

Patricia Brown, BBBC; Bureau of Land Management.

Conversations with refuge staff and consultant.

Number of Management and

Other Flyovers OR Landings

L Jack Allen, Refuge Biologist; Bob Henry, AGFD

Conversations with key staff members and partner agencies.

Authorized Non-Recreational

Physical Development –

Water Attributes, Utilities,

Technological Installations,

Fences, Signs, Bat Gates,

H Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager; Jack

Allen, Refuge Biologist. Conversations with key staff members

and consulting refuge and wilderness documents

Type and Amount of

Administrative, Non-

Emergency , and Emergency

Use of Motor Vehicles,

Motorized Equipment, or

Mechanical Transport

M Linda Miller, Refuge Manager; Wayne Dingman, Law

Enforcement. Reading documents as well as consulting with

refuge staff.

Incidents and Known Civilian

Vehicle Intrusions

H Wilderness Fellow field survey; Law enforcement. Collecting

violation notices from refuge law enforcement and personal

field visits to frequently intruded sites.

Inholding Acres L Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager; GIS

maps. Conversations with refuge staff and reading documents


Disturbances to Cultural

Resources

M Havasu Refuge staff. The only known way to gather data is to

ask refuge staff if they have noticed and/or documented any

disturbances to cultural resources in wilderness.

Solitude or Primitive

and Unconfined

Quality

Agency Provided Recreation

Facilities

L Linda Miller, Refuge Manager; Dick Gilbert, Project Leader;

Wayne Dingman, Law Enforcement; Documents consulted.

Conversations with refuge staff and reading documents related

to what is going on in the wilderness.

Administrative Travel Routes

and Access Roads

L Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager

Conversation with key staff members.

Number of Special Use

Permits

L Linda Miller, Refuge Manager. Conversations with key refuge

staff members.

Motorboat Citations and

Warnings over 86 Decibels

H Wayne Dingman, Law Enforcement

Conversations with key refuge staff members.


No Wake Zones in River

Channel Adjacent to

Wilderness

M Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Wayne Dingman, Law

Enforcement. Conversations with key staff members.

Miles of Wilderness

Boundary Adjacent to Private

Lands (not for conservation;

could possibly be developed

in future)

H Bureau of Land Management; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager.

Conversations with key refuge staff members.

Acres of Wilderness

Recreational Camping is not

Permitted

M Dick Gilbert, Project Leader; Linda Miller, Refuge Manager

Conversations with key staff members.

WORKSHEET: PRIORITIZING MEASURES OF WILDERNESS CHARACTER

In each row, write the indicator and potential measure in the left column. Use the following criteria and

ranking guide to create an overall score for each measure. Those measures with the highest overall scores

should be the highest priority for assessing trends in wilderness character.

A. Level of importance (the measure is highly relevant to the quality and indicator of wilderness character, and

is highly useful for managing the wilderness): High = 3 points, Medium = 2 points, Low = 1 point

B. Level of vulnerability (measures an attribute of wilderness character that currently is at risk, or might likely

be at risk over 10-15 years): High = 3 points, Medium = 2 points, Low = 1 point

C. Degree of reliability (the measure can be monitored accurately with a high degree of confidence, and would

yield the same result if measured by different people at different times): High = 3 points, Medium = 2 points,

Low = 1 point

D. Degree of reasonableness (the measure is related to an existing effort or could be monitored without

significant additional effort): High = 1 point, Low = 0 point

QUALITY OF WILDERNESS CHARACTER ________ UNTRAMMELED____________

Criteria for Prioritizing Potential Measures

Potential Measure

A. Importance B. Vulnerability C. Reliability D.

Reasonablenes

s

OVERALL

SCORE

Indicator: actions

authorized by manager

to manipulate

environment

Measure: Actions to

3 3 1 1 8



Potential Measure


Reasonablenes

s

OVERALL

SCORE

Manage Native

Wildlife

Indicator: actions


to manipulate

environment

Measure: Number of

Bighorn Sheep

Hunting Permits

Indicator: actions


to manipulate

environment

Measure: Actions to

Suppress Non-

Native Plant Species

Indicator: actions NOT


to manipulate

environment

Measure: Human

Ignited Fires



to manipulate

environment

Measure: Other

Unauthorized

Actions

Names of team members filling out this worksheet: Jack Allen, Havasu Refuge Biologist

STOP!

If A + B ≤

3

3

3

3

3

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

8

9

6

3 3 1 1 8



Potential Measure


Reasonablenes

s

OVERALL

SCORE

Indicator: actions


to manipulate

environment

Measure: Actions to

Manage Native

Wildlife

Indicator: actions


to manipulate

environment

Measure: Number of

Bighorn Sheep

Hunting Permits

Indicator: actions


to manipulate

environment

Measure: Actions to

Suppress Non-Native

Plant Species



to manipulate

environment

Measure: Human

Ignited Fires



to manipulate

environment

Measure: Other

Unauthorized Actions

Names of team members filling out this worksheet: Linda Miller, Havasu Refuge Manager

STOP!

If A + B ≤

1

2

3

2

2

2

1

0

1

1

1

3

3

2

1

2

9

5

6

3 2 2 0 7


QUALITY OF WILDERNESS CHARACTER ________ NATURAL____________


Potential Measure


Reasonablenes

s

OVERALL

SCORE

Indicator: Plant and

animal species

communities

Measure: Extirpated

Plants and Animals


animal species

communities

Measure: Non-

Indigenous Species


animal species

communities

Measure: Present

Nurseries with Myotis

velifer


Animal Communities

Measure: Desert

Bighorn Sheep

Population


Animal Communities

Measure: Feral Burro

Population

Indicator: Biophysical

Resources

Measure: Natural Fire

Starts that Receive a

Suppression

Response

STOP!

If A + B ≤

3

3

3 3

3

3 1

2

2

0

0

0

8

8

7

3

3 3

1 2

2 3

3

1 1

1

1

10

5

9




Potential Measure


Reasonablenes

s

OVERALL

SCORE


animal species

communities

Measure: Extirpated

Plants and Animals


animal species

communities

Measure: Non-

Indigenous Species


animal species

communities

Measure: Present

Nurseries with

Myotis Velifer


Animal Communities

Measure: Desert

Bighorn Sheep

Population


Animal Communities

Measure: Feral

Burro Population

Indicator: Biophysical

Resources

Measure: Natural

Fire Starts that

Receive a

Suppression

Response

STOP!

If A + B ≤

2

3

2 2

2

3 1

1

2

1

1

0

6

6

8

3

3 3

1 1

2 2

2

0

1

8

2

8



QUALITY OF WILDERNESS CHARACTER ________ UNDEVELOPED____________


Potential Measure


Reasonablenes

s

OVERALL

SCORE

Indicator: Non-

recreational

structures,

installations, and

developments

Measure: Number

of non-recreational

development –

mine safety

structures, water

attributes,

buildings, fences,

gates, tracking

devices and

instruments, etc.

Indicator: Non-

recreational

structures,

installations, and

developments

Measure: Actions to

Cleanup Modern

Human Debris -

Abandoned

Property, Mine,

Military, etc

Indicator: Non-

recreational

structures,

installations, and

developments

Measure: Number of

STOP!

If A + B ≤

3

3

1

1

3

3 0

1 8

7

1 1



Potential Measure


Reasonablenes

s

OVERALL

SCORE

Inactive Mines in

Wilderness

Indicator: Non-

recreational

structures,

installations, and

developments

Measure: Number of

Management and

Other Documented

Flyovers

Indicator: Use of

motor vehicles,

motorized

equipment, or

mechanical transport

Measure: Type and

Amount of

Administrative,

Non-Emergency

and Emergency

Use of Motor

Vehicles, Motorized

Equipment, or

Mechanical

Transport

Indicator: Use of

motor vehicles,

motorized

equipment, or


Measure: Incidents

and Known Civilian

Vehicle Intrusions

1

1

2

3

3 3 3

3

3 1

1

1

7

8

10

STOP!

If A + B ≤



Potential Measure


Reasonablenes

s

OVERALL

SCORE


Measure: Inholding

Acres Within

Wilderness

Indicator: Loss of

statutorily protected

cultural resources

Measure:

Disturbances to

Cultural Resources



Potential Measure


Reasonablenes

s

OVERALL

SCORE

Indicator: Non-

recreational structures,

installations, and

developments

Measure: Number of

non-recreational

development – mine

safety structures,

water attributes,

buildings, fences,

gates, tracking

devices and

instruments, etc.

1

3

1

2 2

2

0 7

STOP!

If A + B ≤

STOP!

If A + B ≤

3 2 2 0 7



Potential Measure


Reasonablenes

s

OVERALL

SCORE

Indicator: Non-


installations, and

developments

Measure: Actions to

Cleanup Modern

Human Debris -

Abandoned Property,

Mine, Military, etc

Indicator: Non-


installations, and

developments

Measure: Number of

Active and Inactive

Mines in Wilderness

Indicator: Non-


installations, and

developments

Measure: Number of

Management and

Other Documented

Flyovers

Indicator: Use of motor

vehicles, motorized

equipment, or


Measure: Type and

Amount of

Administrative, Non-

Emergency and

Emergency Use of

Motor Vehicles,

Motorized

Equipment, or

Mechanical Transport

2 1 2 1 6

1 1

1

1

2

3 2

2 1

1

6

7

STOP!

If A + B ≤



Potential Measure


Reasonablenes

s

OVERALL

SCORE

Indicator: Use of motor

vehicles, motorized

equipment, or


Measure: Incidents

and Known Civilian

Vehicle Intrusions


Measure: Inholding

Acres Within

Wilderness

Indicator: Loss of

statutorily protected

cultural resources

Measure: Disturbances

to Cultural Resources


QUALITY OF WILDERNESS CHARACTER ________ SOLITUDE___________


Potential Measure


Reasonablenes

s

OVERALL

SCORE

Indicator:

Remoteness from

sights and sounds of

people inside the

wilderness

Measure: Number

of Special Use

1 3 3 2 9 STOP!

If A + B ≤

3 3 3 1 10

2

3

2

3 2

8

0 8

STOP!

If A + B ≤

1 3


Permits

Indicator:

Remoteness from

sights and sounds of

people inside the

wilderness

Measure:

Administrative

Travel Routes and

Access Roads

Indicator:

Remoteness from

occupied and

modified areas

outside the

wilderness

Measure: Adjacent

Development

Growth

Indicator:

Remoteness from

occupied and

modified areas

outside the

wilderness

Measure: Warnings

and Citations for

Motorboat

Exceeding State

Law of 86 Decibels

Indicator:

Remoteness from

occupied and

modified areas

outside the

wilderness

Measure: Miles of

Wilderness

Boundary Adjacent

to Private Lands

STOP!

If A + B ≤

1 1

3 3 3

3 3

0 9

8

3 3 3 1 10

8 2 2 3 1



Indicator:

Remoteness from

occupied and

modified areas

outside the

wilderness

Measure: Miles of

No Wake Zones in

River Channel

Adjacent to

Wilderness

Indicator: Facilities

that decrease self-

reliant recreation

Measure: Agency

Provided

Recreation Facilities

Indicator:

Management

Restrictions on visitor

behavior

Measure: Acres in

Wilderness

Recreational

Camping is Not

Permitted

10

7

2

2

3 1

1 3 1

1 1

3 3

STOP!

If A + B ≤


QUALITY OF WILDERNESS CHARACTER ________ SOLITUDE___________


Potential Measure


Reasonablenes

s

OVERALL

SCORE

Indicator: Remoteness

from sights and sounds

of people inside the

wilderness

Measure: Number of

Special Use Permits




wilderness

Measure:

Administrative Travel

Routes and Access

Roads


from occupied and

modified areas outside

the wilderness

Measure: Adjacent

Development Growth


from occupied and


the wilderness

Measure: Warnings

and Citations for

Motorboat Exceeding

State Law of 86

Decibels


from occupied and


the wilderness

Measure: Miles of

Wilderness Boundary

Adjacent to Priv. Land

STOP!

If A + B ≤

1

1 1

3 3 3

3

3 3 2

3

0

9

9

8

3 3 3 1 10

8 2 2 3 1

STOP!

If A + B ≤




from occupied and


the wilderness

Measure: Miles of No

Wake Zones in River

Channel Adjacent to

Wilderness

Indicator: Facilities that

decrease self-reliant

recreation

Measure: Agency

Provided Recreation

Facilities

Indicator: Management


behavior

Measure: Acres in

Wilderness

Recreational Camping

is Not Permitted

10

7

2

2

3 1

1 3 1

1 1

3 3

STOP!

If A + B ≤

of 58


Potential Measure


Reasonablenes

s

OVERALL

SCORE




wilderness

Measure: Number of

Special Use Permits




wilderness

Measure:

Administrative Travel

Routes and Access

Roads


from occupied and


the wilderness

Measure: Adjacent

Development Growth


from occupied and


the wilderness

Measure: Warnings

and Citations for

Motorboat Exceeding

State Law of 86

Decibels


from occupied and


the wilderness

Measure: Miles of

Wilderness Boundary

Adjacent to Priv Lands

STOP!

If A + B ≤

1

1 1

2 2 2

2

2 3 1

3

0

7

6

7

3 3 2 0 8

7 3 2 2 1

STOP!

If A + B ≤

of 58



from occupied and


the wilderness

Measure: Miles of No

Wake Zones in River

Channel Adjacent to

Wilderness

Indicator: Facilities that

decrease self-reliant

recreation

Measure: Agency

Provided Recreation

Facilities

Indicator: Management


behavior

Measure: Acres in

Wilderness

Recreational Camping

is Not Permitted

7

7

2

2

2 1

1 3 1

1 1

2 2

STOP!

If A + B ≤