USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Arizona

Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Guide for Forest/Woodland Habitat Diversity

Arizona & New Mexico Mountain, Plateau & Mesa Major Land Resource Areas

Owner/Operator / District
County / Field Office
Program / WHEG No. / Assisted by
Map No. / Location:Sec T R / Acres / Date:
Applies to woodland sites within MLRA’s 36 and 39 (conifer-aspen, pine-oak, pinyon pine-juniper. Complete 1 WHEG per section or major ecological site.
Species commonly occuring in and/or benefitting from proper forest/woodland management: elk, deer, black bear, mountain lion bobcat, turkey, coyote, red fox, cottontail, jackrabbit, woodrats, deer mice, badger, weasel, mountain bluebirds, various tree & crevice roosting bats, raven, woodpeckers, jays, Mexican spotted owl, and various raptors. Forest management for diverse species, various tree age classes, open areas mixed with dense forest, and moderate fire control will benefit most, but not all species.
Factor - Components / Values / Before / After / Weight / Weighted
Score
Before / Weighted Score
After
1 Plant community - Diversity: number of native hebaceous, shrub & tree species
a) <5 herbaceous, <2 shrub, <2 tree
b) 5 to 8 herbaceous, 2 to 4 shrub, 2 tree
c) >8 herbaceous, >4 shrub, >2 tree / 0 - .3
.4 - .7
.8 - 1.0 / X 1
2 Plant community - Woodland habitat structure (layers = tree, shrub, half-shrub, herbaceous)
a) 1 tree layer with minimal understory
b) 1 tree layer, 1 understory layer or small patches of 2
c) 2 tree layers with herbaceous & shrub underlayers / 0 - .3
.4 - .7
.8 - 1.0 / X 2
3 Habitat diversity (open areas include meadows, cienagas, marshes, draws, pastures)
a) >75% of trees in 1ageclass, <20% open areas
b) 50-75% of trees in 1 ageclass, 20-33% in open areas
c) mixed age classes, snags, 33%-50% in open areas / 0 - .3
.4 - .7
.8 - 1.0 / X 1
4 Forest/Woodland management
a) not managed; large clearcuts or fires with >1200 foot
openings; or all slash collected/burned
b) small clearcuts with <1200 foot openings; heavy
dead tree woodcutting; large, hot prescribed burns
c) multiple age & species management; prescribed
burns; thinnings; scattered slash, snags & dead logs / 0 - .3
.4 - .7
.8 - 1.0 / X 1
5 Food - Wildlife foods available (berries, nuts/acorns, tree/shrub browse, herbaceous, insects, seeds)
a) 2 of the 6 available or very limited supply
b) 3 to 4 of the 6 available
c) >4 of the 6 are available and are preferred species / 0 - .3
.4 - .7
.8 - 1.0 / X 2
5 Water - Distribution of perennial water sources
a) 1 per 5 sections or seasonal
b) 1 per 2 to 4 sections
c) 1 per section and accessible to all wildlife species / 0 - .3
.4 - .7
.8 - 1.0 / X 2
6 Grazing management - Large ungulate (livestock & wildlife) impacts on understory
a) yearlong or heavy use of understory
b) rotated, but same season use or moderate use
c) prescribed grazing light use or defer 2 in 5 years / 0 - .3
.4 - .7
.8 - 1.0 / X 1
7 Human disturbance - Contact with humans & pets
a) major road system; urban sprawl; heavy camping
hiking, biking or ORV use
b) graveled side roads, moderate hiking & biking use
c) few roads, no homes, minimal human contact / 0 - .3
.4 - .7
.8 - 1.0 / X 2

Sum ______

Overall score = sum ¸ 12 ® ______

AZ WHEG 4 (FOTG Section II - Wildlife Interpretations) 3/99