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16 I 10;Fi~eManaQement The San Juan National Forest has not had any large fires in recent history. In the past 50 years only six fires have exceeded 200 acres. The largest on record over this time was a 1,200-acre fire in 1956. The primary reason large wildfires have not occurred on the San Juan National Forest is that since most of the area is at the high elevations where temperatures are cool and natural fuelsla/ are wet most of the year, they are usually relatively easy to control. The occurrence of weather conditions (primarily winds) related to large fires is less frequent in southwest Colorado than in many other parts of the west. There is evidence of many uncontrolled large, devastating fires having occurred prior to the turn of the century. They have played a major role in shaping the vegetative conditions that now exist on the Forest. The aspen stands occupying about 270 thousand acres are largely the result of wildfires that burned off the conifers. Under natural succession, the :aspen stands will be replaced again with conifers. l4an may interfere, of course, for the benefit of aesthetic, wildlife, and other values in certain areas. Natural fuels accumulate on commercial forest lands on the San Juan National Forest con- siderably faster than they decay. The dead litter accumulates to the point that cross country travel becomes difficult and catastrophic fires become more likely. It will eventually become necessary to either remove fuels in the course of timber manage- ment logging practices or through prescribed (controlled) burning or suffer the consequences of wildfire. This plan proposes that most of this dead and dying material be removed and utilized for wood products. 11. Cultural Resources The National Register of Historic Places, as published in the Federal Register on February 4, 1974, and subsequent monthly supplements, have been consulted, The following historic sites and landmarks all or partially within the San Juan National Forest are listed: Chimney Rock Archeological Site; the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad; and the Silverton Historic District. The Forest Supervisor and the Colorado State Historical Society also maintain an inventory of known properties within the Forest boundary. Both inventories have been consulted. At this time, no additional sites on the National Forest are pending nomination. The Rico Town Hall inside the Forest boundary on private land, has been nominated. The San Juan area is rich in historic and archeological values. There is abundant evidence that early Anasazi Indians as well as the Navajos, Utes, and Apaches inhabited the area. Evidence of early mining activity can also be found throughout mountainous portions of the National Forest where old cabins, mills, mine shafts, and railroads attest to this period of our history. Other sites in the vicinity of the San Juan National Forest which have been nominated to the National Register are: Escalante Ruin, near Dolores. and the Sacred Mountain Historic District (Mciunt Ute Indian Reservation). Sites on the Historical Cultural Inventory of the Colorado State Historical Society include: Oenver and Rio Grande Railroad (includes the Durango Silverton Railroad), Fort Lewis No.1, Pfeiffer Battle Site, Tierra Amarilla Land Grant, Domenguez-Escalante Expedition Route, Animas City, Baker Bridge. Fort Lewis No.2, and the Rivera Expedition Route. Black Bear and Wolf Creek Passes, on the boundary of the Forest, are also on the inventory. These sites will be protected pending determination of their significance for the National Register.of Historic Places. 15/ Fuels: (Fire Management) As used here, refers to any material that will carry and sustain a forest fire, primarily natural materials both live and dead.