USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Arizona

Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Guide for Chaparral Habitat Diversity

Arizona Interior Chaparral Major Land Resource Area

Owner/Operator / District
County / Field Office
Program / WHEG No. / Assisted by
Map No. / Location:Sec T R / Acres / Date:
Applies to shrubland/chaparral sites within MLRA 38. For pastures that are all grassland use grassland related WHEG. Complete 1 WHEG per large pasture (>640 ac.) or set of small pastures.
Species commonly occuring in and/or benefitting from proper chaparral management: muledeer, bobcat, turkey, javelina, coyote, red fox, cottontail, jackrabbit, mice, badger, weasel, various bats, raven, jays, and red-tailed hawk. Management for diverse species, grasslands mixed with dense shrubs, 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 perennial herbaceous and shrub species
a) 1 to 10
b) 11 to 15
c) >15 / 0 - .3
.4 - .7
.8 - 1.0 / X 1
2 Plant community - Chaparral habitat structure (layers of vegetation)f
a) 1 shrub layer with bare earth understory & openings
b) 1 shrub layer with scattered, grassed openings
c) shrub & herbaceous layers, mixed grassed openings / 0 - .3
.4 - .7
.8 - 1.0 / X 2
3 Habitat diversity (open areas include grasslands & cleared areas)
a) shrub monoculture, <20% open areas
b) 2 shrub species cover >50% of area, 20% - 33% in
open areas
c) multiple species shrub community intermixed or in
mosaic pattern, 33%-50% in open areas / 0 - .3
.4 - .7
.8 - 1.0 / X 1
4 Chaparral management - Seral stages (new, mid or old growth stands)
a) single seral stage due to fire control or large burn
b) 2 seral stages in large blocks
c) all 3 seral stages in mosaic pattern / 0 - .3
.4 - .7
.8 - 1.0 / X 1
5 Food - Available to wildlife (berries, nuts, seeds, insects, herbaceous)
a) only 1 of 5 available or very limited supply
b) 2 to 3 of 5 available most of year
c) 4 to 5 available most of year from several species / 0 - .3
.4 - .7
.8 - 1.0 / X 2
6 Water - Distribution of perennial water sources
a) 1 per 10 sections or seasonal
b) 1 per 4 to 9 sections
c) 1 per 1 to 3 sections & accessible to all wildlife / 0 - .3
.4 - .7
.8 - 1.0 / X 2
7 Grazing management - Large ungulate 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
8 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 5 (FOTG Section II - Wildlife Interpretations) 3/99