Sec. 5. Special management areas

389 words·~2 min read·/bill/114/hr/2926/ih/section-5

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

There are established in the State: The Sentinel Plain Special Management Area, consisting of approximately 120,600 acres, as generally depicted on the map. The purpose of the Sentinel Plain Special Management Area is to ensure ecological connectivity and movement of wildlife between the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range and the Gila Bend National Conservation Area; to secure native habitat for native species; and to provide recreation and development opportunities that are compatible with native species and with Department of Defense activities related to the Barry M.

Goldwater Air Force Range. The Rainbow Valley Special Management Area, consisting of approximately 23,400 acres, as generally depicted on the map. The purpose of the Rainbow Valley Special Management Area is to ensure ecological connectivity and movement of wildlife between the Sierra Estrella Mountains and the Sonoran Desert National Monument. Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop for each of the Special Management Areas a comprehensive management plan for the long-term protection and management of that area.

Each management plan shall— describe the appropriate uses and management of each special management area consistent with the conservation purpose as specified in section 5(a); be drafted with consultation from local, regional, and State jurisdictions; be developed with extensive public input; take into consideration any information developed in studies and plans for the land within each special management area; shall consider cooperative management alternatives between the Bureau of Land Management and local, regional, and State jurisdictions that further the purposes outlined in section 5(a); and for the purposes of ensuring ecological connectivity and movement of wildlife through the Rainbow Valley and Sentinel Plain Special Management Areas, the management plans shall— prioritize landscape permeability, wildlife connectivity and continued movement of wildlife between the Sierra Estrella Mountains and the Sonoran Desert National Monument across Rainbow Valley, and between the Barry M.

Goldwater Air Force Range and the Gila Bend National Conservation Area across Sentinel Plain, respectively; identify the means to maintain permeability, connectivity and wildlife movement in the area including, but not limited to, wildlife crossing structures and other infrastructure improvements and the criteria to implement such alternatives; incorporate current scientific knowledge of wildlife movement for a variety of identified focal species; and establish a monitoring program to determine the effectiveness of the plan for wildlife connectivity.