WSP10790

• File Number: 8507
• Description: Rio Grande Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Date: 7/1/1994
• Title: Rio Grande National Forest Analysis of the Management Situation part 1
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Management Situation by Revision Topic

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3.

POTENTIAL' WILDERNESS, UNDEVELOPED AREAS, AND
OTHER SPECIAL AREA CONS/DERA TlONS

A. Background

This revision topic includes possible recommendation of areas for wilderness designation by Congress,
consideration of rivers and streams eligible for inclusion in the Wild, Scenic, and Recreation River System
(WS&R), consideration of areas for inclusion in the Research Natural Areas (RNA's) program, and
consideration of other special areas for protected status. It also considers allocation of unroaded areas
to non-development prescriptions such as Backcountry Nonmotorized or Motorized Recreation.

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B. Rea50ne for Inclueion ae s Revieion Topic and Typee of Decieione Needed

There has been considerable interest both locally and regionally in the disposition of the unroaded area$
on the Forest. Many people are interested in leaving areas undeveloped without recommending them
for wilderness designation. They feel that wilderness designation attracts levels of use that would not
otherwise occur. Others place high value on undeveloped areas for their potential to protect biological
diversity. Forest Planning Regulation 36 CFR 219.17(b) requires that roadless areas shall be evaluated and
considered for recommendation as potential Wilderness areas when a Forest Plan is revised. The
disposition of unroaded areas on the Rio Grande will be carefully cOn$idered during the Forest Plan
Revision.

Comments gathered since the 1985 Forest Plan show public interest in the study of rivers 'for possible
inclusion in the W&SR system. Chapter 8 of Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 1909.12, land and Resource
Management Planning, states that such studies should be conducted during Forest planning. The Forest
has identified 13 rivers potentially eligible for inclusion into the W&SR system. The rivers are listed in
Table 11/.18.

36 CFR 219.25 says that . Forest planning shall provide for RNA's.' There are no RNA's established on
the Forest at this time. There is one potential RNA named Hot Creek. The Hot Creek area is exemplary
of the ponderosa pine/Arizona fescue plant association. It is approximately 1,600 acres and is located
on the Conejos Peak Ranger District near the Hot Creek State Wildlife Area. The Forest will be looking
at other potential RNA's during the summer of 1994.

Although Special Areas are not mentioned in the planning regulations, certain areas of the Forest such
as the John Charles Fremont Historical Area and the Blowout Pass Geological Area, often need special
S&G's to manage them adequately. These will be considered during the Forest Plan Revision.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Report for the 1985-91 period recommended two Forest Plan
amendments related to this revision topic:

-- S&G's for wilderness may need to be updated.
-- Management-area prescription allocations for wilderness may need to be revised.

These amendments will be considered during the Fore$t Plan Revi$ion.

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