San Francisco Blue | Arizona Wildlife Conservation Strategy

This COA incorporates portions of the Blue Range Primitive Area along its northern boundary. Located near the New Mexico state line to the east, and the Eagle Creek COA to the west, the San Francisco Blue COA is characterized by its remote, rugged terrain and sparse road network. Elevations range from approximately 3,600 feet to approximately 8,200 feet, allowing the San Francisco-Blue COA to span four habitat types, from the Petran montane conifer forest within the higher elevations, down to the Great Basin conifer woodland, the Madrean woodland, and the semidesert grassland. This diversity in elevation, combined with diverse topography, geology, and vegetation types, provides habitat for numerous native wildlife and plant species. Named for the two rivers that flow through it, the San Francisco River and the Blue River, along with their key tributaries provide perennial water sources that support diverse assemblages of native aquatic and riparian dependent plant and wildlife species within this otherwise dry and rugged landscape.

Conservation Goals

Improve and maintain forest, woodland, and grassland vegetation communities within their range of natural variability to maintain and improve wildlife habitat, and to 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, and travel, hiding, and thermal cover for a wide variety of wildlife species.

Map

Primary Threats

1. Agriculture

1.3: Livestock farming and ranching

3. Climate Change and Severe Weather

3.2: Droughts

7. Human Intrusions and Disturbance

7.1: Recreational activities

9. Natural System Modifications

9.1: Fire and fire suppression

9.2: Dams and water management

Potential Conservation Actions

1. Land and Water Protection

1.2: Resource and habitat protection

Acquire land and water rights and pursue conservation agreements and easements in and around COAs and other priority areas to maintain water quality and quantity.

2. Land and Water Management

2.3: Habitat and natural process restoration

Maintain natural fire regimes on the landscape through prescribed burns and natural fire management.

3. Species Management

3.2: Species recovery

Establish and augment populations of wildlife species in high quality habitats.
Conduct research that includes surveying and monitoring species and habitats to determine status and conditions so that resources can be appropriately allocated where they are most needed.

3.3: Species reintroduction