BOARD02139

• Board Meeting Date: 6/21/1974
• Description: Agenda or Table of Contents, Minutes, Memos
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

proposed wilderness, the National Park Service further recommends that
approximately l30,300 acres be classified as potential areas for addi-
tion. Land so designated would be added to the wilderness through
administrative action of the Secretary of the Interior at such time as
it may qualify,

I

This map was prepared before the wilderness addition was added to it.
So 'most of the Monument, except those heavily used areas around the
Quarry, Deer Lodge and Ladore, would be potential wilderness areas.

The ~ain features of the proposed 45,lOO acres of wilderness include the
spectacular canyons of the Green and Yampa Rivers. Sixty miles of
river are included, 37 along the Green and 23 along the Yampa. The
area contains one of the most beautiful and rugged segments of primitive
river canyon in America. Three short sections of primitive road
totaling 2.9 miles would be closed. But none of these are presently
used by the public. They are located west of the river at the gates of
Ladore, at the head of Jack Springs and south of the Pot Peak drainage.

The viability of the wilderness proposal is dependent upon the revocation
of thirteen power and reclamation withdrawals dating from 1904 to 1943.
These are now in the process of revocation.

There are six existing river campsites within the proposed wilderness.
It is recommended that the river facilities needed to protect the
health of boating parties be retained.

I

A large area, nearly two-thirds of the Dinosaur National Monument, has
been identified as a potential wilderness addition. It has not been
proposed for immediate wilderness status due to incompatible uses
associated with non-federal ownership and, livestock grazing. These
include structures, facilities and activities associated with grazing,
such as allotment and drift fencing, corrals, stockponds, motorized
equipment, vehicles used in ranching operations, etc. ~urther, a
century of grazing coupled with range improvement has resulted in the
introduction of non-native grasses and the encroaohment of sage brush.
Manipulation of the vegetative cover may be required to restore the
original flora and the techniques needed to accomplish this may be un-
acceptable within a wilderness.

In the future, if nonconforming uses are terminated, additional areas
would be added to the Dinosaur Wilderness by Secretarial action without
further legislation.

This is a capsule summary of the proposal. We will be happy to answer

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