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

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the "evidence of man's work" is substantially unnoticed. These particular private lands and the unpatented claims are located in the vicinity of Mt. Sneffels. WEST SECTION Wilderness The Wilson Mountains Primitive Area has been managed by the Forest Service since 1932 for protection of its wilderness resource. However, there are evidences of man's activities within the Primitive Area, including six miles of roads which were constructed in 1954 in accord with Primitive Area regulations to combat the widespread epidemic of spruce beetles. About 70,000 insect infested trees were chemically treated and some 20,000 trees were removed for processing through commercial outlets. There are also some 10 miles of authorized roads to patented mining claims and mining claim locations in Big Bear, Bilk, and Elk Creeks. An old wagon road was constructed into Navajo Basin for mining purposes prior to the time that the Primitive Area was designated in 1932. A water transmission ditch, 1/4 mile in length, is in Bilk Creek. Various structures are in place on mining claims or patented mineral lands. There are 24,690 acres within the Primitive Area which have been affected only by the forces of nature; where there is no human habitation; and, in which the evidence of man's activity is limited to 14 miles of trail. About 16,865 acres of roadless lands which are contiguous to the Wilson Mountains Primitive Area meet the suitability criteria defined by the Wilderness Act. (See Current Situation Map). Although portions of these contiguous lands have been used by trail bikes and snowmobiles, these activities have not left the "evidence of man's works" on the land. The remaining lands in the West Section bear substantial "evidence of man's works" in the form of roads, buildings, timber harvesting, developed recreation sites, reservoirs, water transmission ditches, power lines and various other structures which make these lands unsuit- able for inclusion as a Unit of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Minerals Some 670 acres of patented mineral and 2,500 acres of mining claim locations are present in the eastern two - thirds of the Wilson Mountains Primitive Area. Structures and /or roads relating to minerals development are in place on many of these tracts. In addition, there are numerous mining claim locations and patented mineral lands in the eastern one -half of the Section. E'40