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R)ther in p0it)11 T i' nau:uoil <br /> Potential Conflicts: To be discussed thoroughly in the San Juan River Workgroup meetings <br /> and process. <br /> Reasonably Foreseeable Economic Development: <br /> Logging- There is very little land near the East or West Forks that is available for logging due to <br /> wilderness designation, Forest Plan direction and roadless policy. There has been timber cutting in <br /> the past near Wolf Creek Pass. The spruce bark beetle is increasingly spreading from the east <br /> side of the Continental Divide. Renewable Forest Energy LLC (RFE) is proposing to lease land <br /> from Archuleta County and run a 4 megawatt power plant for the purpose of converting woody <br /> biomass into electricity to be used at the local level. This company hopes to have Turkey Springs <br /> ready for a demonstration in the spring of 2010. If this is successful they will proceed with <br /> construction of the power plant. <br /> Oil, gas, and mineral development– There are two patented mining claims on the East Fork. No <br /> mining activity is currently occurring on these patented mining claims. There are historic mining <br /> areas on the East Fork, but no mining activity is currently occurring. There are several unpatented <br /> mining claims near Treasure Mountain. Prospecting activity is occurring on these claims. There <br /> may be other unpatented mining claims. A type of copper (known as Molybdenum/porphory) is <br /> present in epithermal veins. There is moderate to high oil and gas potential on the San Juan Sag, <br /> but no oil or gas drilling is currently occurring. Designated Wilderness Areas are withdrawn from <br /> mineral entry, including oil and gas leasing. There is gravel mining occurring on private lands <br /> within the Area. <br /> Private land development–A potential for residential development exists on the private lands in <br /> the water shed. <br /> Ski areas— The McCarthy property along the East Fork and the National Forest lands south of <br /> that were part of the old proposed East Fork Ski Area. Some of the Boot Jack Ranch property and <br /> the National Forest lands east of Highway 160 near the West Fork were part of the old proposed <br /> Wolf Creek Valley Ski Area. Neither ski area proposal is currently considered feasible. The San <br /> Juan Public Lands Center's 2007 Draft Land Management Plan would change the land allocations <br /> for both areas from one emphasizing downhill-ski-area development to Management Areas 1 and <br /> 3, which would not allow ski area development. <br /> Wolf Creek Ski Area has proposed an expansion of the existing ski area on the Rio Grande <br /> National Forest to include a portion of the San Juan National Forest. Some of that area includes <br /> tributaries of the East Fork of the San Juan River. This proposed expansion is not in the preferred <br /> alternative presented in the Draft Land Management Plan. <br /> 10 <br />