Whetstone Mountains | Arizona Wildlife Conservation Strategy

Managed by the USFS, the Whetstone Mountains are a small but rugged mountain range. At more than 7,000-feet, these mountains are lower but still significant part of the sky island archipelago that characterizes southeastern Arizona. Upper slopes are dominated by Madrean woodlands while the lower slopes are dominated by semidesert grasslands. Although not a designated wilderness area, few roads in the area prevent most public access, allowing the range to retain its more wild qualities. However, nearby expanding cities like Sierra Vista and Benson threaten to encroach on the mountain range and compromise habitat connectivity. Maintaining connectivity between the Whetstones and adjacent sky islands should be conservation priority.

Conservation Goals

Maintain/improve connectivity between these and other nearby sky island mountain ranges.
Protect regions of the Whetstones from development and irresponsible recreational use that might compromise the watershed for Cienaga Creek.

Map

Primary Threats

3. Climate Change and Severe Weather

3.1: Habitat shifting and alteration

4. Residential and Commercial Development

4.1: Housing and urban areas

6. Energy Production and Mining

6.2: Mining and quarrying

7. Human Intrusions and Disturbance

7.1: Recreational activities

Potential Conservation Actions

1. Land and Water Protection

1.2: Resource and habitat protection

Develop conservation easements on public or private lands in order to maintain and protect wildlife corridors.

2. Land and Water Management

2.1: Site/area management

Improve protection for areas of the Whetstones that are part of the Cienega Creek Watershed, a critical water source in the area.
Improve fencing and remove other barriers that are impediments to species movement.
Conserve or improve areas for migratory birds identified as important habitats during any part of their annual life cycle (breeding, stopover, or wintering).

2.3: Habitat and natural process restoration

Protect and enhance wildlife corridors that connect this mountain range to nearby sky islands mountains to the north and south.
Reintroduce historical fire regimes to built ecosystem resiliency; restore habitats with climate-resilient native species.