The Estrella-Maricopa Corridor consists of primarily undeveloped upland Sonoran desertscrub habitat that is an important linkage area for multiple species of conservation interest, such as the Sonoran desert tortoise and the desert bighorn sheep. Planned infrastructure development in the form of highways and industrial-scale renewable energy production within the Rainbow Valley have the potential to disrupt wildlife’s ability to move between the Estrella and Maricopa Mountains.
Conservation Goals
- Incorporate movement corridors into transportation, development, and infrastructure projects which are/will be planned in the area.
- Plan and implement projects intended to maintain habitat connectivity between the Estrella Mountains and Maricopa Mountains as well as the northern and southern ends of the Rainbow Valley.
- Plan and implement habitat improvement projects within the Estrella and Maricopa Mountains and Rainbow Valley.
Map
Primary Threats
1. Agriculture
6. Energy Production and Mining
8. Invasive and Other Problematic Species
11. Transportation and Service Corridors
Potential Conservation Actions
1. Land and Water Protection
- Develop conservation easements or other land acquisitions on public or private lands in order to maintain and protect wildlife corridors and buffer quality wildlife habitat.
2. Land and Water Management
- Reduce common invasive forbs and grasses that thrive in the Sonoran Desert, such as buffelgrass, stinknet, and red brome.
- Create and improve upon rainwater-wildlife catchments to provide reliable water sources for wildlife.
3. Species Management
- Implement long-term monitoring protocols for vulnerable species and habitats to inform adaptive management.
4. Education and Awareness
- Leverage the adjacent urban metro population to increase awareness of habitat and wildlife issues, especially habitat connectivity.
7. External Capacity Building
- Facilitate existing partnerships and networks of organizations including: Gila River Indian Community.
Habitats Present
Strategy Species
Amphibians
Sonoran Desert Toad, Sonoran Green Toad
Birds
American Peregrine Falcon, Gilded Flicker, Bendire's Thrasher
Mammals
Desert Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer
Reptiles
Gila Monster, Red-backed Whiptail, Sonoran Desert Tortoise, Resplendent Shovel-nosed Snake, Sonoran Coralsnake
Fish
See Associated Aquatic COAs for fish species.
Protected Areas and Other Areas of Conservation Value
- Estrella Mountain Regional Park
- Sonoran Desert National Monument
- Gila Indian River Community
- North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness
- South Maricopa Mountains Wilderness
- Sierra Estrella Wilderness
- Lower Gila Terraces and Historic Trails ACEC
Potential Partners
- Bureau of Land Management
- Arizona State Land Department
- Gila River Indian Community
- Pinal County Open Space and Trails
- AZ Department of Transportation
- Private Landowners
- Maricopa County
- Renewable energy industry
Relevant Conservation Plans
- Arizona Landscape Integrity and Wildlife Connectivity Assessment
- USFWS White-nose Syndrome National Plan
- BLM Instruction Memorandum (IM) 2010-181, White Nose Syndrome
- Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances for Sonoran Desert Tortoise
- Candidate Conservation Agreement for Sonoran Desert Tortoise
- Western Burrowing Owl Clearance Protocol
- MOU Between BLM and USFWS for Conservation of Migratory Birds
- Maricopa County Connectivity Assessment
- Arizona Missing Linkages: Gila Bend-Sierra Estrella
- Arizona Wildlife Linkages
Associated Aquatic COAs
- No associated Aquatic COAs