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<br />,
<br />
<br />10
<br />
<br />(Sections 19,20,23,24,26,30 and 31, T. 8 N., R. 72 W., 6th P.M.;
<br />Sections 5,6, and 8, T. 7 N., R. 72 W., 6th P.M.; Sections 13,14,
<br />15, 25, 26 and 27, T. 8 N., R. 73 W., 6th P.M.; Sections 1, 2, 7, 11,
<br />14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22 and 30, T. 7 N., R. 73 W.; Sections 12 and
<br />13, T. 7 N., R. 74 W., 6th P.M.). As discussed in the analysis for
<br />this wilderness in Appendix III, there is no indication of any present
<br />or foreseable future water development at these sites that would pose
<br />an immediate threat to wilderness values. However, because their
<br />topography, sizes and locations would permit water development that
<br />might have an effect on wilderness water resources, the Forest Service
<br />will perform a specific investigation with regard to these lands.
<br />
<br />On the White River National Forest above the Eagles Nest Wilderness,
<br />there is a large parcel of land of approximately 400 acres (Sections
<br />16 and 21, T. 4 S., R. 81 W., 6th P.M.) and a smaller one of 160 acres
<br />(Section 12, T. 4 S., R. 81 W., 6th P.M.). There are two conditional
<br />water rights associated with this area, both of which predate the
<br />wilderness designation. One of these belongs to the Denver Water
<br />Board in conjunction with the Piney Reservoir Unit of the Roberts
<br />Tunnel Collection System. The Board must comply with Forest Service
<br />conditions in the development of the water at this site, as their use
<br />will involve wilderness and non-wilderness NFS lands.
<br />
<br />As discussed in the individual wilderness analyses in Appendix III,
<br />the threat to wilderness from future water developments on the above-
<br />described and other numerous small non-Federal lands is minimal due to
<br />the topography of the sites, their location in the upper watersheds,
<br />the cost of construction and general engineering feasibility. The
<br />land areas in private ownership are steep, deeply channeled land or
<br />very small cirque basins, none of which provide opportunity for
<br />development of storage or diversion facilities at reasonable cost.
<br />Moreover, these areas are in the upper portions of drainage basins,
<br />have very limited storage capability, and are long distances from
<br />users. Furthermore, for many of these locations, any practical
<br />development of the water resource would entail storage on or diver-
<br />sions across wilderness or non-wilderness NFS lands, which will
<br />require Presidential or agency authorization. These factors, along
<br />with the high construction costs of water developments make them
<br />undesirable for development. However, in the event of such a
<br />proposal, the management actions set forth below will be used to
<br />protect wilderness water values.
<br />
<br />5. MANAGEMENT MECHANISMS FOR PROTECTION OF WILDERNESS WATER RESOURCES AND
<br />THEIR SPECIFIC COLORADO APPLICATION
<br />
<br />The Forest Service is responsible for assuring that the water and dependent
<br />resources on NFS lands, including wilderness, are managed in accordance with
<br />applicable legal authority. This legal authority is contained in the
<br />provisions of numerous statutes including, but not limited to, the Organic
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