Hualapai Valley | Arizona Wildlife Conservation Strategy

This COA consists of a mosaic of land ownership, including ASLD, BLM, and private landowners. The varied topographic features found in this COA include a playa (Red Lake) on the northern end and rolling semidesert grasslands on the southern portion. This vast area is important to several small populations of American pronghorn. Fencing and agricultural fields pose a major threat to the travel corridors used by pronghorn and other wildlife. Restricting connectivity means a loss of genetic diversity for these populations of American pronghorn.

Conservation Goals

Remove invasive plant species in order to restore and maintain the native grassland habitats for wildlife species.
Improve connectivity by removing barriers to wildlife movement and improve habitat connectivity, thermal cover.

Map

Primary Threats

1. Agriculture

1.1: Annual and perennial nontimber crops

1.2: Wood and pulp operations

3. Climate Change and Severe Weather

3.1: Habitat shifting and alteration

3.2: Droughts

4. Residential and Commercial Development

4.1: Housing and urban areas

4.2: Commercial and industrial areas

6. Energy Production and Mining

6.3: Renewable energy

9. Natural System Modifications

9.1: Fire and fire suppression

9.3: Other ecosystem modifications

Potential Conservation Actions

1. Land and Water Protection

1.2: Resource and habitat protection

Identify and protect wildlife corridors essential to the movement of species between high quality habitat blocks.

2. Land and Water Management

2.2: Invasive/problematic species control

Control the spread of invasive and problematic species, particularly rangeland plant species.

2.3: Habitat and natural process restoration

Implement projects focused on improving the quality of altered systems creating suitable habitat and/or habitat features for wildlife.
Increase connectivity by removing barriers and impediments to species movement.

3. Species Management

3.1: Management of specific species of concern

Conduct research that includes, collaring, surveying and monitoring species and habitats to determine status and conditions so that resources can be appropriately allocated where they are most needed.
Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of management actions, adapting the approach as necessary.

3.2: Species recovery

Augment populations of wildlife species in high quality habitats.

4. Education and Awareness

4.3: Awareness and communication

Increase awareness of effects of specific threats (ie. climate change, invasive and problematic species, illegal take of reptiles and amphibians) on wildlife species and habitats with an emphasis on how the threats can be reduced.

6. Livelihood, Economic and Other Incentives

6.4: Conservation payments and programs

Actively seek opportunities to partner with Arizona agricultural producers and private landowners on a variety of habitat enhancements that benefit both livestock and wildlife.