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Utah

San Rafael Reef Wilderness Study Area Site-Specific Monitoring Guide

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General Information WildSNAP Monitoring Coordinator

Peter Woodruff, American Conservation Experience

Phone (801) 989-7069

Main Office Phone (801) 946-5201

E-mail wsa@usaconservation.org

Mailing Address 623 East 2100 South, Suite #B1

Salt Lake City, UT 84106

BLM Field Office Price Field Office

Phone (435) 636-3600

E-mail BLM_UT_PR_Mail@blm.gov

Hours Monday through Friday, 8am-4:30pm. Closed federal holidays.

Mailing Address 125 South 600 West Price, UT 84501

District Office Name Green River District

State Office Name Utah State Office

Website https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/utah

For Emergencies: Call 911

R A F

A E

L

S W E

L L

Twin Knolls

Lone ManButte

Lone

Man

Draw Ernie

Canyon

Iron Wash

Three Finger Canyon

Old Woman Wash

Farnsworth Canyon

Eardley

Canyon

Crawford

Draw

BlockMountain

Georges

Draw

Head

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Sinb

ad

Reid

Neilson

Paige

Flat

Draw

Sagebrush Bench

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R a t t l e s n a k e B e n c h

S i n k h o l eF l a t

Sids

Draw

Draw

Horseshoe

Bend

Oil

Well

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Oil

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Drow

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Hol

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Jackass Benches

RestAreas

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Shadscale

Buck

mas

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Red

Reef

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Sprin

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S A N R A F A E L

D E S E R T

WildcatButte

RattlesnakeButte

LandingStrip

Sweetwater Reef

The

Flat

Tops

SandDunes

Sand

Sand

Dune

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LandingStrips

S I N

B A

D

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Chute

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San Rafael River

San Rafael River

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out C

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Wild Horse

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70

70

24

24

70

Temple Mt Rd

24

24

SAN RAFAEL

REEF WSA

Three finger Canyon

Eardley Canyon

Ernie Wash

Iron Wash

* DISCLAIMER: This information is provided as a courtesy only, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made as to the current validity of this information. Weather events can quickly alter trail conditions and increase difficulty levels, be prepared for changing conditions at all times. Unsecured, abandoned mines may be present near the trails--for your safety, never enter abandoned mines. The BLM is not liable for any incidents arising from the use of the information presented here--each user is solely responsible for their own safety while enjoying their public lands. Produced May 2016

NORTH

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

BLM Wilderness Study Area

State Key Observation Point

State Wildlife Refuge

Private

BLM Price Field Office 435-636-3600

San Rafael Reef Wilderness Study Area

Unimproved Surface, 4W

D

Improved Surface, 2WD

State Highway

US Highway

Some primitive routes exist within the WSA and may be driven by motor vehicles, though they are not part of the transportation plan. No cross country travel is permitted, and observe any specific closures identified within the WSA. Primitive routes are rough and unmaintained and subject to closure should their use cause adverse effects to wilderness suitability through expanded disruption of soil and vegetation.

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Preparing to Monitor Preparing for a field visit Print a copy of the “General Orientation Guide: Basics of Wilderness Study Area Monitoring” and this site-specific guide from wildsnap.org. Take printed copies of relevant maps. Copies of the San Rafael Desert 1:100K surface management maps are available for purchase from local BLM Offices (https://www.blm.gov/contact/utah). Long-term volunteers may qualify for free maps under administrative use and a volunteer agreement; discuss with your BLM liaison.

Setting and Terrain

San Rafael Reef Wilderness Study Area (WSA) is located in Emery County approximately 18 miles west of Green River, Utah (pop. 973). The unit is about 22 miles long from north to south and six to eight miles from east to west. The area consists of 59,170 acres of BLM managed land with six parcels of state owned land (4,029 acres) within the WSA boundary.

The WSA makes up the eastern edge of the San Rafael Swell and is a nearly north-south trending hogback that dips steeply eastward. Considered a major geologic feature in Utah, the area consists of canyons from 200 to 1000 feet deep that drain eastward, domes, and vertical fins. Elevations range from 4,800 feet along the eastern base of the Reef to 6,600 feet in the central and northern portions. Vegetation consists primarily of pinyon-juniper woodlands and is barren rock in most places. Desert bighorn sheep, cougars, peregrine falcons, bald eagles, and golden eagles all frequent the WSA. In addition, two endangered plants species (Maguire daisy and Wright fishhook cactus) and two threatened plant species (Jones cyclodenia and Last Chance Townsendia) may also exist in the WSA.

Solitude, recreation, and spectacular views are commonplace in the San Rafael Reef WSA. Due to its relatively easy access from both I-70 and Highway 24, the area offers prime opportunity to explore some of the most beautiful canyon country in the west.

Access Routes

General access directions are given below; please see the “Monitoring Areas and Key Observation Points” section starting on page 6 for additional directions. The access routes to the canyons are very rough terrain and require high-clearance 4WD vehicles. These access routes may be washed out or otherwise impassable. It may be

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necessary to park further away from the Key Observation Point (KOP) and continue by hiking to reach each KOP.

From Price, volunteers can access the San Rafael Reef monitoring areas by traveling south on Highway 6 until reaching the intersection with I-70, a distance of approximately 57 miles. Turn right onto I-70 and travel west for approximately eight miles. Take exit 149, and turn south onto Highway 24. The following table lists all coordinates for the location of each access point. Parking at these points will allow visitors to access the KOPs.

Table 1: Access Point Coordinates

Access Point Name Decimal Degrees Degrees, minutes, seconds

Latitude Longitude Latitude Longitude

3 Finger Canyon Access Point 38.873323 -110.359423 38° 52’ 23.96”N 110° 21’

33.92”W

Eardley Canyon Access Point 38.760446 -110.448727 38° 45’ 37.61”N

110° 26’ 55.42”W

Ernie and Iron Wash Access Point 38.699774 -110.512705 38° 41’ 59.19”N 110° 30’

45.74”W

Note: Gates may be located along the trail. These gates may be closed, but should not be locked. Close these gates after you pass through as there may be cattle grazing in the area.

1. 3 Finger Canyon:

Travel south along Highway 24 for approximately 3.5 miles a dirt route (the Hatt’s Ranch bypass) leading eastward into the WSA. Travel on the Hatt Ranch bypass for 6.4 miles to reach the 3 Finger Canyon trailhead.

2. Eardley Canyon:

From the intersection of I-70 and Highway 24, travel south for 13 miles. Turn right (west) onto a dirt road. Cross over the cattle guard and travel west for 3.6 miles. At 1.6 miles you will cross over Iron Wash. Travel past the wash for two miles until you reach the kiosk. The kiosk is the location of the Eardley Canyon KOP.

3. Ernie Wash:

From the intersection of I-70 and Highway 24, travel south for 18.5 miles. Turn right (west) onto Lost Spring road. Follow Lost Spring road approximately one mile, until you reach a ‘Y’ intersection. Keep right at this intersection and proceed approximately

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two miles to reach the Ernie Wash KOP. The KOP is located were the wash intersects the WSA (a barricade indicates the WSA boundary).

4. Iron Wash:

From the intersection of I-70 and Highway 24, travel south for 18.5 miles. Turn right (west) on Lost Spring road. Follow Lost Spring road approximately one mile, until you reach a ‘Y’ intersection. (From Ernie Wash, simply backtrack to the Y intersection.) Keep left at this intersection. Continue on this road for approximately 1.7 miles to the KOP. The KOP is located 0.25 west of the road that crosses Iron Wash. The KOP is located at a fence. Park at the road and hike to the KOP.

Transportation to and from the San Rafael Reef WSA is not provided by the BLM or ACE. All vehicles should be equipped with at least one spare tire, tools, and supplies to deal with emergencies. While the majority of access roads are 2WD, high-clearance 4WD and all-terrain tires are recommended for all vehicles, particularly during inclement weather when roads may become impassable.

Water Availability There are several springs present in the WSA; however, be sure to pack plenty of water (recommended at one gallon/person/day) particularly when traveling in summer as most sources are intermittent and depend upon seasonal rainfall.

Services and Facilities There are no services immediately near the San Rafael Reef WSA. The town of Green River (pop. 973) can be used to purchase fuel, groceries, water, and limited supplies before traveling to the WSA. Public phones and medical services are also available in the case of an emergency.

Communications Cell phone coverage in the San Rafael Reef WSA is spotty at best. Use of satellite phones or messengers is the only reliable means of communication with the outside world. Personal location devices are not provided by the BLM or ACE; WildSNAP users without access to personal location devices should develop a communication or check-in procedure with family or friends prior to visiting the WSA.

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Monitoring the WSA Signs Portal signs and visitor kiosks have been placed at strategic access points off of main routes along the WSA. Where the WSA boundary occurs at the end of authorized vehicle routes, fiber-glass signs and/or posts have been placed to notify the public that motorized access is not permissible beyond that point. Monitors should report damage of signs to BLM through the app.

Allowable Uses or Exceptions to the Non-Impairment Standard within the San Rafael Reef WSA BLM has an active grazing allotment within the WSA from October through June. Volunteers may encounter cattle and authorized grazing lessees during that time. Volunteers should not expect to encounter any other motorized use within the WSA.

Identified Resource Issues The main resource concerns in the WSA are illegal OHV use, BLM sign vandalism and litter. Visitor use is highest in the spring and fall, particularly during holiday weekends.

Potential or Documented Supplemental Values

Supplemental values include ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value. The BLM has identified the following “special features” in the San Rafael Reef WSA: red grape agate, potential habitat for desert bighorn sheep, black-footed ferret, peregrine falcon, Maguire daisy, Wright fishhook cactus, Jones waxydogbane, Last Chance Townsendia and other sensitive species. Please document any features of interest, such as occurrence of a threatened or endangered species. Please be advised that the location of cultural and archeological resources is protected and should not be shared with other members of the public.

Monitoring Areas and Key Observation Points Volunteers are encouraged to explore the entire San Rafael Reef WSA at their discretion. The BLM has identified monitoring areas, which are general areas of monitoring interest, and Key Observation Points (KOPs), which are exact locations of

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significant management interest within a larger monitoring area of focus. Monitoring areas and KOPs are generally areas of high-use, places that experience surface disturbance, or provide a viewpoint where pictures of the landscape can be taken to track impacts and/or changes to wilderness characteristics over time. The San Rafael Reef WSA has four KOPs, displayed on the overview map.

Table 1: Monitoring Area - San Rafael Reef

Key Observation Point (KOP) Name

Decimal Degrees Degrees, minutes, seconds Latitude Longitude Latitude Longitude

3 Finger Canyon 38.857558 -110.463388 38° 51’ 27.21”N

110° 27’ 48.20”W

Eardley Canyon 38.785759 -110.488535 38° 47’ 8.73”N

110° 29’ 18.73”W

Ernie Wash 38.7297 -110.5336 38° 43’ 46.92”N

110° 32’ 0.96”W

Iron Wash 38.6986 -110.5572 38° 41’ 54.96”N

110° 33’ 25.92”W

The KOPs have been designated as the primary focus of monitoring efforts. However, volunteers are encouraged to explore the associated canyons at their own discretion.

Illustrations of Potential Supplemental Values The figures below were sourced through Wikimedia Commons (licensed for reuse) to illustrate the potential supplemental values that have been identified within the San Rafael Reef WSA.

Left to Right: Desert Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis nelson); Black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes); Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

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Left to Right: Maguire daisy (Erigon Maguieri var. maguierei); Wright fishhook cactus (Sclerocactus wrightriae); Jones cycladenia (Cycladenia humilis var. jonesii)

Left to Right: Last Chance Townsendia (Townsendia aprica); Agat Winogronowy (agate grape)