Biological Resources

The Research Ranch, near Elgin in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, is administered by the National Audubon Society. It consists of about 8000 acres of federal and private lands that are managed for ecosystem research projects by the National Audubon Society, which has cooperative agreements with the federal land management agencies. This summary of the early history of land settlement of the Research Ranch area and some of the subsequent land transactions is taken primarily from information in the land records of the BLM and ASLD.

Surveys reported here focus specifically on potential habitat for amphibians: the lentic habitats (ponds and stock tanks) and lotic habitats (ephemeral drainages and creeks) in the Oak Flat/East Plant Area, including portions of Devils Canyon south of U.S. Route 60.

Arizona hedgehog cactus surveys conducted in the vicinity of East Plant, along portions of the existing Magma Mine Road, and along the proposed re-alignment of Magma Mine Road.

Fish surveys were conducted in order to determine the presence of absence of the Gila chub, as well as other native fishes within portions of Devils Canyon and upper Mineral Creek, and within two stock tanks in the vicinity of the Project. The Gila chub is listed by USFWS as endangered with critical habitat under the ESA.

Surveys were conducted for Morafka's desert tortoise (Gopherus morafkai, formerly G. agassizii, Sonoran population) within the Far West property located near Florence Junction, Arizona.

Arizona hedgehog cactus surveys conducted in conformance with the monitoring requirements of the Resolution Copper Mining Pre-feasibility Activities Plan of Operations and the Tonto National Forest's Finding of No Significant Impact.

Bird surveys were conducted in the vicinity of RCM's holdings, near Superior, Arizona. This report provides an inventory of the birds observed as well as a discussion of results from the data collection efforts.

The purposes of this BE are: 1) to describe the physical and biological features of the Analysis Area, 2) to describe and map the plant communities, and 3) to identify the potential for special status species to occur within the Analysis Area.

Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo (WYBC) surveys conducted in portions of Devils Canyon and Pinto Creek in Pinal and Gila counties, Arizona.

Three motion-sensitive cameras besides springs within a study area along Devils Canyon. Cameras captured numerous identifiable images of animals representing both mammals and bird species.