Backcountry use plan for Chiricahua National Monument

Chiricahua National Monument

The objective of the plan is to provide for long term quality use of the backcountry through planned management without irreversable or irrepairable impacts on the environment. "Under this plan, day use is recognized as providing the maximum quality use...A series of plans are presented for enforcing backcountry carrying capacity." Appendices. (See also NRBIB: CHIR-0331)... Under this plan, day use is recognized as providing the maximum quality use. The plan establishes a total carrying capacity of 26 parties per hour . (78 people) for all trail corridors and six parties (18 people) per day for trailless areas. If the carrying capacity were reached on each day of the year, this could represent an average backcountry use (based on three persons per party) of 71,540 persons per year. A series of plans are presented for enforcing backcountry carrying capacity. Based on present use trends it is anticipated that enforcement of the established carrying capacity may be necessary beginning in 1978.