WSP09240

• File Number: 7630.290
• Description: Wild and Scenic - Great Sand Dunes National Monument
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 9/1/1972
• Author: National Park Servic
• Title: Wilderness Recommendation - Great Sand Dunes National Monument - Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Preliminary Wilderness Proposal
A preliminary wilderness proposal for Great Sand Dunes has resulted
from the study of the roadless area. The proposal covers some 28,350
acres, and includes nearly all of the prominent dunes area, as well as an
area extending considerably beyond the dunes to the south and west.
The boundaries are defined by land survey references or prominent
topographic features.

On the north, west, and south, the proposed wilderness boundary is
located 1/8 mile inside of, and parallel to, the monument boundary,
except for a deviation in the vicinity of the private land on the north
boundary. The eastern boundary follows land survey references and
Medano Creek to avoid direct influences of the monument road,
present developments, and private land inholdings on the east side of
the monument.

The management zones along the exterior monument boundaries and
along the east side adjacent to the monument's developed areas are
considered the minimum necessary for present and future management
needs.

Wilderness Boundary Description
Beginning at a point 1/8 mile northeast from the southwest corner of
the monument in Section lB, T40N, R73W of the Tenth Standard
Parallel North, the wilderness line runs 1/8 mile from and parallel to the
monument boundary for 1.8 miles to the east line of Section 17, where
it runs in a series of 1/4- and l/2-mile offsets northeast across Sections
16, 10, 9, and 3 to Medano Creek;

Then northeast along the creek to the west line of Section 4, where it
turns north along the extension of the section line for about 4 miles to
Little Medano Creek;

Then northeast along the creek to the NE'l.NE'l.NW'I. of Section 11
T26S, R73W, then north 1/4 mile and east 5/8 mile to a point 1/8 mile
from the east monument boundary;

Then 1/8 mile from and parallel to the east and north boundary to a
point in Section 32, T25S, R73W, Fifth Standard Parallel South;

Then west across Sections 32 and 31 to a point 1/8 mile from the west
monument boundary in Section 31, where the wilderness line then
turns south 1/8 mile from and parallel to the west boundary about 16
mi les to the point of beginning.

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