The Lower Little Colorado River COA consists of approximately 165 miles of the Little Colorado River and associated riparian and adjacent upland habitat, from Lyman Lake, at an elevation of approximately 5,900 feet, downstream to the boundary of the Navajo Nation northwest of the City of Winslow, at an elevation of approximately 4,800 feet. Three habitat types are included within this COA, beginning upstream within the Great Basin conifer woodland habitat type, then quickly transitioning into the Plains Great Basin grassland and Great Basin desertscrub vegetation types. This COA provides habitat for aquatic and riparian dependent species, as well as migratory birds, and provides connectivity between other COAs, including the Rim to River, Silver Creek, Petrified Forest Puerco River, and the Middle Colorado River.
Conservation Goals
- Improve and maintain woodland, grassland, and desert scrub vegetation communities within their range of natural variability for wildlife habitat, and make these communities more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
- Improve and maintain the hydrologic and ecological function of the watershed conditions, streams, riparian and wetland areas and the habitats they support.
- Promote native riparian vegetation and native fish recovery.
- Maintain and enhance travel corridors for a wide variety of wildlife species.
Map
Primary Threats
1. Agriculture
2. Biological Resource Use
3. Climate Change and Severe Weather
7. Human Intrusions and Disturbance
8. Invasive and Other Problematic Species
9. Natural System Modifications
11. Transportation and Service Corridors
Potential Conservation Actions
2. Land and Water Management
- Conserve a variety of habitats that support healthy populations of fish and wildlife as climate changes.
- Improve recreational management to better protect riparian areas.
- Restore and maintain diverse habitats to support broad species assemblages that account for range shifts.
- Identify and protect key wildlife corridors for landscape connectivity.
- Improve management of water quality and quantity to maintain and enhance water levels for wildlife habitats.
- Develop and enhance artificial waters on the landscape.
3. Species Management
- Establish new wild and/or captive populations of climate vulnerable SGCN, including Chiricahua leopard frog and narrow-headed gartersnake.
- Collect specimens or samples for taxonomic analysis, genetics, research, and/or disease testing.
- Implement long-term monitoring protocols for vulnerable species and habitats to inform adaptive management.
Habitats Present
- Great Basin Desertscrub
- Plains and Great Basin Grasslands
- Great Basin Conifer Woodlands
- Lotic Systems
- Lentic Systems
- Wetlands
- Springs
Strategy Species
Amphibians
Birds
American Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle, Ferruginous Hawk, Golden Eagle, Mountain Plover, Prairie Falcon, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Swainson's Hawk, Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Invertebrates
Mammals
Black-tailed Prairie Dog, Gunnison's Prairie Dog, Mexican Gray Wolf, Stephen's Woodrat, Hoary Bat, Mexican Free-tailed Bat, Silver-haired Bat, Big Free-tailed Bat
Reptiles
Fish
See Associated Aquatic COAs for fish species.
Protected Areas and Other Areas of Conservation Value
- No associated Protected Areas
Potential Partners
- Navajo Nation
- Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Bureau of Land Management
- Arizona State Land Department
- Coconino County
- Audubon Southwest
- Private Landowners
- Pueblo of Zuni
- Apache County
- Navajo County