Sears Point ACEC: SEZ Regional Mitigation Site

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Sears Point ACEC SEZ Regional Mitigation Site

• Thomas Jones
• Asst. Field Manager
• Bureau of Land Management
• Yuma Field Office
• November 14, 2014

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Site Location
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Site Description

• The Sears Point ACEC is located approximately 5
  miles from the SEZ and encompasses 28,500 acres.
  The ACEC also contains a 3,700-acre core area
  that includes a high concentration of petroglyphs
  which are within an NRHP-listed archaeological
  district.

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Site Description

• The Sears Point ACEC also includes a large
  concentration of geoglyphs , trails, and
  surficial features that date back several
  thousand years.

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Site Description

• The Sears Point ACEC was designated as such
  because of the archaeological district as well as
  the prominent basalt mesas, historic trail
  corridors and important riparian vegetation
  including a mesquite bosque and the Fred J.
  Weiler Greenbelt.

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Site Description

• The Fred J. Weiler Vegetation Habitat Management
  Area surrounds and overlaps approximately 12,400
  acres of the Sears Point ACEC.

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Possible Mitigation for Sears Point ACEC

• Construct recreational facilities including a
  visitor host site.
• Install interpretive panels at the central mesas
  and at main points of interest within the ACEC.
• Establish a parking area and install barriers as
  needed to control access and prevent damage to
  cultural and natural resources.
• Pursue the withdrawal of an additional 4,900
  acres of Federal land within the ACEC.
• Develop a Sears Point ACEC plan.
• If needed, designate and construct a campground
  within the ACEC expansion area.
• Inventory and monitor mesquite trees along the
  Gila River within the ACEC to determine age,
  structure, and health.
• Seek to acquire non-Federal lands and interests
  within or adjacent to lands within the ACEC

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Possible Mitigation for Fred J. Weiler Greenbelt

• Treat non-native invasive species
• Install fire breaks and complete hazardous fuel
  reduction activities to protect mesquite bosques
  and native woodlands.
• Inventory and map the focal plant communities
• Monitor ground disturbing activities by OHV use
  and other sources of disturbance or habitat
  alterations to assess the conditions and trends
  of plant-species populations
• Develop a management plan in coordination with
  AGFD and USFWS
• Identify additional plant populations which
  meet VHA criteria.

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Other Options?
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Other Options