Route Inventory Data Summaries: 7/17/05
Area: River Springs, Pizona, McNamara Lake
Observers: Chris Kassar and Mike Klapp

Routes 01N13, Z166 & Z167

Quad:  River Springs
Documentation on Maps/Guides: 

*shown as 4WD road

Route description: Route 01N13 leaves Highway 120 E just south and east of the McGee Canyon route. It heads east to River Springs before heading into the hill towards Pizona Springs and other points east. Z166 and Z167 exist proximate to McNamara Lake northeast of Pizona.

Narrative Summary: Bladed and high use between Highway 120 and River Springs (Picture 717002). At River Springs route becomes moderate use two-track to Pizona Site (Picture 717003). Tracks from full sized vehicles, mountain bike, stock, dirt bike and ATVs were found between River Springs and Pizona. East of Pizona, some ATV tracks were found, and possibly stock (or wild horses). East of upper river springs and across the state line use continues to decrease with only old dirt bike and likely wild horse tracks were found (Picture 717023). 

West of Pizona the route is sandy in parts, and rocky in others impassable for two-wheeled drive and a little narrow but passable for full-sized 4x4 (Picture 717003). At the southwest end of Pizona Springs a horse pack camp was found with hay bedding along Pizona creek (Pictures 717005, 717006, 717007, 717008). Cutting of willow allows access to this site which, on its southern edge runs right up to Pizona Creek (Pictures 717007 & 717008). Just upstream from the pack camp site the route crosses Pizona creek in a low angle crossing with a short stream capture (Picture 717009). The width of the creek above and below was 1' 8" and in the crossing it was 37' 9". Caddis flies and other aquatic insects were found in the crossing pool along with encroaching willow actively cut back to allow access.

Still southwest of the Pizona site the route travels through open meadows (Pictures 717013 & 717015) and intermittently dips back into the creek or adjacent to it. (Pictures 717010, 717011, 717012, and 717014). The eastern most crossing in this section (Picture 717014) is 2.5' above and below the crossing and 20' in the crossing. Emergent riparian vegetation and aquatic insects were present. Meadow vegetation consisted of grasses and rushes, equisetum, crimson columbine, yellow monkeyflower, buttercups and ranger buttons. 

Just east of the Pizona site the route crosses another meadow (Picture 717016). Signs of stock were present in east end of meadow. Picture 717017 is low use campsite just east of the meadow in 717016 and west of the next meadow crossing pictured in 717018. 
At upper Pizona Spring the route becomes narrow and generally impassable for full-sized vehicles. Southwest of the spring the route passes through a meadow (Picture 717019) before narrowing under thick vegetation (Pictures 717020 & 717021). Beyond the thick vegetation the route opens into another meadow crossing (Picture 717022) before rising out of the canyon and meeting with Z166. 

Z166 crosses the state line (Picture 717023) an then drops down to McNamara Lake (Picture 717026). McNamara Lake was dry at the time of inventory with recent sign of horse and dead toad tadpoles in the lake bottom. Z177 continues south out of the lakebed with little sign of recent use (Picture 717025). 

Rabbitbrush dominant west of River Springs. East of River Spring route alternates between sagebrush scrub, pinon, juniper and willow-dominated riparian communities. Also present in riparian sections: rose, crimson columbine, buttercups, onion, monkeyflower, blue-eyed grass. Wildlife seen: coyote tracks, gray flycatcher, common ravens, red tailed hawk, stellar jays, Lorquin's admiral, Behrs haristreak, Boisduvals blue, and common buckeye. 

Recommendations 
This route passes in and out of critical riparian habitat in an area where there is very little of this type of terrain. Route should be closed or re-routed to avoid this corridor. Horse pack camp at lower Pizona creek should be relocated further from the creek. East of Upper Pizona Spring (Routes Z166 & Z177) appear appropriate save the section of Z177 through ephemeral McNamara Lake.

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