La Madre Foothills Recreation Area Management Plan and Environmental Assessment
Welcome and Project Introduction
Thank you for visiting the virtual public meeting website for the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) La Madre Foothills Draft Recreation Area Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (RAMP/EA).
Background
The approximately 13,565-acre La Madre Foothills area is located on the eastern boundary of the larger congressionally designated Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (RRCNCA). The planning area consists of BLM-administered lands and is adjacent to a section of Las Vegas on the cusp of several major housing developments. The La Madre Mountain Wilderness is located along the western boundary of the La Madre Foothills planning area. The wilderness area is bisected by an off-highway vehicle (OHV) route that is excluded from the wilderness and provides access to the Harris Springs area of the RRCNCA.
In addition to OHV use, the La Madre Foothills project area is a popular location for rock climbing, hiking, equestrian use, and mountain-biking, which has resulted in the proliferation of 49-miles of undesignated social trails. Unauthorized mechanized incursions into the La Madre Mountain Wilderness have been documented in the planning area. Other issues in the planning area include illegal dumping of trash and target shooting. The project area is also home to several rare and protected species of plants and animals, including bighorn sheep and the Mojave Desert tortoise, and contains important cultural resources.
Much of the private land to the east and south of the planning area is set to be converted into major housing developments in the coming years. The La Madre Foothills planning area is a highly valued local recreation resource for residents of adjacent communities, including Summerlin and Skye Canyon. As development continues, access to the La Madre Foothills could come in conflict with private landowners and residents. Currently, there are no services, facilities, or designated recreation uses in the planning area, which has led to a proliferation of redundant social trails, conflict between recreationists, and damage to natural and cultural resources.
La Madre Foothills area
Project description
In response to the need to balance current and future recreational use with the resource protection mandate of RRCNCA, the BLM prepared a Draft RAMP and associated EA per the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The RAMP will address travel and recreational uses within the planning area, plan for future development, and identify and provide for the experiences and benefits sought by the visiting public while protecting natural and cultural resources. These include opportunities provided by the roaded natural and nonmotorized management emphasis areas (MEAs) setting, the low to moderate occurrences of human interaction, and the rugged and untouched nature of the landscape. The RAMP will establish recreation management direction for the area and improve infrastructure, safety, and conservation of natural and cultural resources within the La Madre Foothills area.
The RAMP will also address issues related to unauthorized dumping, target shooting, and unsanctioned trail development. The planning area is adjacent to a section of Las Vegas that is on the cusp of major housing developments, which is likely to create additional use and increase visitation to this area of RRCNCA. Developing this plan will improve and enhance the recreational activities in the La Madre Foothills area to be compatible with the resource protection values of RRCNCA.
Overview Map of Project Area
La Madre Foothills RAMP/EA overview map
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Next Station: NEPA and Public Involvement
For more information on the La Madre Foothills RAMP/EA, please email the BLM.