Management Proposals for the Uncompahgre and San Juan National Forests, Public Hearing Notice

Home Browse Search

2. "The eastern one -third of the Uncompahgre Primitive Area and contiguous lands, contains geologic conditions that have a mineral potential. Considerable exploration work is currently being carried on to determine this potential. This area is also laced with four -wheel drive access routes to the patent mining properties and claims. Serious questions can be raised as to its availability for management as a Unit of the National Wilderness Preservation System and the larger portion of this area will not qualify as suitable for management under the definition in the Wilderness Act which defines Wilderness as "an area ... which generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable." During World War II, Government programs were developed to provide assistance to mine operators to increase production and establish reserves of strategic minerals. These programs provided assistance in exploration, development and access road development. Many properties within the Primitive Area received such assistance and a number of Primitive Area wagon roads were improved as access roads as a result of the program, according to the U.S.G.S. report. The U.S.G.S. and Bureau of Mines conducted additional studies of the other lands contiguous to the Uncompahgre Primitive Area in 1972. The report of their study, "Mineral Resources of Study Areas Contiguous To The Uncompahgre Primitive Area, San Juan Mountains, Southwestern Colorado" has recently been completed and is "open filed." In brief, the report indicates there are areas of possible mineral deposits at great depth in the Cutler Creek, Matterhorn Peak, Crystal Peak and Bighorn Ridge areas. There has been some coal mining in the Cimarron Ridge area of Owl Creek in the past. Further development is being considered. Mineral extraction opportunities continue in all management units under present authority. The Current Situation Map indicates areas of identified mineral potential. Water Water is an important resource. Average annual water yield is approximately 570,000 acre feet from the Section and is used in southwest Colorado and throughout the Colorado River Basin. Annual precipitation ranges from 16 to 50 inches, mostly in the form of snow. However, there are high intensity summer rain storms. There are no snow survey courses, no water development proposals, or potential water development sites known at this time in the Primitive Area, however, there are two abandoned ditches (that have reverted to so