7386

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7386
• Author: National Park Service.
• Title: Resource/Boundary Evaluation for Lands Adjacent to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument, Colorado.
• USFW Year: 1990.
• USFW - Doc Type: Washington, D.C.
• Copyright Material: NO

disturbing activities.

Wildlife Habitat. Bighorn sheep habitat in the Smith Fork Canyon (2,250 acres) will be
monitored and protected. Activities and land uses that are consistent with maintaining
the necessary forage and isolated habitat requirements of bighorn sheep will be permitted.

Livestock Grazing. Uvestock grazing will continue at current forage allocation levels
and seasons of use unless studies indicate that adjustments are needed. The 140-acre
Gunnison Forks habitat management area will remain unallotted for livestock grazing.
Uvestock forage utilization will be limited to 35 percent in the Elephant Skin Wash area
(2,370 acres) if necessary to protect soils by maintaining an optimum basal ground cover.

Forestry. A 1 ,255-acre portion (in the Black Ridge area) of the 2,500 acres of harvestable
woodlands within the management unit will be available for harvest. This area will be
closed to harvest from December 1 through April 30, to protect crucial deer and elk winter
range. The remaining harvestable woodlands (1,245 acres) wi/l be closed to harvest.

Off-Road Vehicles. A total of 15,610 acres in the Peach Valley area will be open to ORV
use. To protect natural and scenic values, vehicle use in the Elephant Skin Wash area
and the remainder of the management unit will be limited to designated roads and trails
yearlong.

Visual Resources. The 15,610 acres open to ORV use will be managed under VRM
Class IV guidelines.

Major Utilities. A total of 2,462 acres in the Smiths Mountain and Gunnison Forks areas
will be open to, but not preferred for, development of new major utility facilities. These
lands may be utilized for major utility development if there are no feasible alternatives.
The remainder of the management unit will be closed to new major utility development
to protect natural and scenic values.

Acquisition of non-Federal lands. Actions will be initiated to acquire 2,200 acres of
non-Federal lands as identified in the Gunnison Gorge Recreation Area Management
Plan, that are necessary to facilitate public access and enhance recreational values.

Access. Public access will be acquired along the Gunnison Gorge rim southwest of the
Gunnison Forks and from Colorado Highway 92 to the Gunnison River in the Austin area
for recreation purposes.

Fire Management. A total of 26,070 acres of public land will be managed under the fire
suppression category and identified as conditional suppression areas. A total of 14,722
acres will be managed under the fire-use category where fire will be utilized as a
management tool. Planned or natural ignitions meeting pre-determined prescriptions will
be allowed on these areas.

For more detailed information concerning the existing management of Units 4 and 6,
contact the BlM area or State office.

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