Sonoran Desert National Monument Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan: Fid-Bau Portal

Sonoran Desert National Monument Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan

This Record of Decision (ROD) approves the United States (US) Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Managements (BLMs) proposal to manage the BLM-administered lands in the Sonoran Desert National Monument (SDNM) as presented in the attached Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP). This RMP was described as Alternative E in the Lower Sonoran and Sonoran Desert National Monument Proposed RMP and Final Environmental Impact Statement (PRMP/FEIS), which was released on June 15, 2012. While the PRMP/FEIS also addressed management of the Lower Sonoran Decision Area, which is also administered by the Lower Sonoran Field Office, this ROD applies only to those decisions for management of the SDNM. On January 17, 2001, Presidential Proclamation 7397 created the Sonoran Desert National Monument to ensure protection of a spectacular diversity of biological resources, and archaeological and historic sites. These monument objects include abundant saguaro cactus forests; a rich diversity, density, and distribution of plants in the Sand Tank Mountains area; rare patches of desert grasslands; a wide variety of desert wildlife, such as the desert bighorn sheep and Sonoran desert tortoise; and significant archaeological resources, such as large village sites, rock art sites, and lithic quarries. The SDNM is located in Maricopa and Pinal Counties, Arizona, and contains 486,400 acres of BLMadministered lands. The decisions in the RMP only apply to the BLM-administered lands within the Monument. This ROD provides an overview of the alternatives considered; a summary of protests received and clarifications made in response; management considerations and rationale for the decisions; and an overview of public involvement in the planning process.