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Fire Management in the Borderlands: The
Peloncillo Programmatic Fire Plan
Larry S. Allen, Malpai Borderlands Coordinator, Coronado National
Forest, Tucson, AZ
A
mong concerns that brought the Malpai Borderlands Group together was a
common observation that the exclusion of fire was bringing about undesirable ecological changes, and a conviction that high expenditures for aggressive
suppression were not justified. All species and biotic communities of the area had
developed in a regime of frequent wildfires, but introduction of significant numbers of livestock in the late 1800's resulted in modification of ground fuels to the
point that fire spread was inhibited. As ranchers and land management agencies
brought livestock numbers under control and range management improved, the
agencies developed an ability and desire to suppress most wildfires. The result of
this combination of factors was near total exclusion of fire as an ecological factor
in the Peloncillo Mountains for almost 100 years (Kaib, 1998).
In 1984 an area in the San Bernardino Valley was treated with herbicides to
control undesirable shrubs. After about 5 years of moderate grazing the area was
covered with a mix of shrubs and native grasses. A wind-driven wildfire in early
summer 1989 had the potential to reverse the trend toward reoccupation of the
site with desert shrubs. Over the objections of the grazing permittee and many
neighbors, the Arizona State Land Department decided to suppress the fire and
requested assistance from the Forest Service. Although the fire was completely
beneficial and surrounded by a sea of creosote, with no potential for escape, significant resources were expended to bring it under control. This incident was the
catalyst that brought ranchers and environmentalists together to request changes
in suppression policies from all fire management agencies. As a result of influence
from the emerging Malpai Borderlands Group, limited suppression was undertaken when the same area burned in 1992 and again in 1994.
Regional Fire Planning
Fire planning is currently underway for the entire Borderlands area, with several agencies cooperating in places. The New Mexico side of the planning area is
included in the Bootheel Fire Management Plan, approved in 1997 by New Mexico
State Forestry Department and the Las Cruces District ofBLM. Planning for the
San Bernardino Valley is currently being conducted by Natural Resources Conservation Service and Arizona State Land Department. Planning for federal lands
within the Malpai Area is being done under Forest Service leadership.
The Peloncillo Programmatic Plan
All Coronado National Forest Lands, Safford District BLM Lands, and a portion ofLas Cruces BLM Lands in the Southern Peloncillo Mountains are included
in a planning area of approximately 120,000 acres. This lumping of all federal
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USDA Forest Service Proceedings RMRS-P-1 0. 1999.
Fire Management in the Borderlands: The Peloncillo Programmatic Fire Plan
Allen
lands into one planning area will allow many environmental concerns to be addressed at a programmatic level. This is expected to simplifY future decisions concerning management ofwildfires, fire suppression, and the use of prescribed fire.
An interagency, interdisciplinary team has been working on the Peloncillo
Programmatic Plan since April of 1997. After the team identified issues of concern, a proposed action was subjected to public scoping. Fifty-four individuals and
organizations were asked to comment on a scoping report. This resulted in identification of several new issues and the development of four alternatives:
A. No change from present direction.
B. A combination of wildfire with resource benefits, prescribed fire, and appropriate suppression.
C. A combination of prescribed fire and appropriate suppression.
D. An alternative developed by Hidalgo County, New Mexico, which is similar
to Alternative B, but with a greater emphasis on cooperation with local
landowners and governments.
The interdisciplinary team identified 91 wildlife and plant species of concern
for further evaluation. Eight of these species are federally listed as endangered,
three are threatened, and one is a federal candidate species. If it is determined that
the proposed fire policy is likely to adversely affect any of the federally listed or
candidate species, then formal consultation with US Fish and Wildlife Service (as
prescribed by Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act) will be required. Biologists from the Forest Service, Arizona Department of Game and Fish, New Mexico
Department of Game and Fish, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are currently
evaluating potential impacts on species of concern.
This interdisciplinary process revealed certain data gaps and a survey for Mexican
spotted owls, along with habitat studies for the New Mexico ridgenosed rattlesnake, are currently underway. Upon receipt of these data the Forest Service will
initiate consultation as required.
Five key issues for analysis have been identified:
l. Role of fire in the ecosystem
2. Effects of fire on native wildlife and plants
3. Effects of fire on air and water quality of the region
4. Effects of fire on economic, cultural and social stability of the local commu-
nity
5. Preservation of the unfragmented, open space nature of the landscape
Environmental Analysis Report
An analysis of impacts of the listed alternatives on each key issue will be documen ted in an Environmental Analysis Report, and needed changes in fire management policies will be recommended to the Coronado National Forest and the two
BLM Districts. It is currently anticipated that this report will be completed by
sun11ner of 1999.
USDA Forest Service Proceedings RMRS-P-10. 1999.
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Fire Management in the Borderlands: The Peloncillo Programmatic Fire Plan
Allen
Bibliography
Kaib, Mark. 1998. Fire history in riparian canyon pine-oak forests and the intervening desert
grasslands of the southwest borderlands: A dendroecological, historical, and cultural inquiry. Masters Thesis. School of Renewable Natural Resources. University of Arizona, Tucson.
New Mexico State Forester. 1997. Bootheel fire management plan. Socorro.
USDA; USDI. 1995. Federal wildland fire management policy and program review. Washington.
76
USDA Forest Service Proceedings RMRS-P-10. 1999.