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<br />OD2361 <br /> <br />CANNIBAL PLATEAU <br /> <br />Statistics <br /> <br />Jurisdiction: Gunnison National Forest, US Forest Service <br />Gunnison Basin Resource Area, BLM <br />Total Inventoried Roadless Area: <br />Wilderness Study/Further Planning Areas: <br />RARE II Recommendation: <br />BLM Recommendation: <br />Reagan Administration Recommendation: <br />State of Colorado Recommendation: <br />Conservationists' Recommendation: <br /> <br />114,180 acres <br />82,130 acres <br />Further planning <br />44,590 acres <br />58,871 acres <br />63,600 acres <br />79,261 acres <br /> <br />Location <br /> <br />The proposed cannibal Plateau Wilderness lies two <br />of Lake City. It includes the BLM's powderhorn <br />the Forest Service's Cannibal Plateau FPA and a <br />BLM's Slumgulllion Slide WSA. <br /> <br />miles northeast <br />Primitive Area, <br />portion of the <br /> <br />Wilderness OUalities <br /> <br />Cannibal <br />Alaska. 11 <br />the area, <br /> <br />Plateau is the largest alpine tundra area south of <br />The Calf Creek and Cannibal Plateaus form the core of <br />with steep-walled canyons draining to the north, <br /> <br />The presence of 49 mammalian and 146 bird species in the Cannibal <br />Plateau area indicates tremendous ecological diversity, There is <br />excellent summer range in the area, supporting an elk population <br />of more than 400, as well as several hundred mule deer, Extensive <br />elk calving grounds are found in the northern reaches of the area. <br />Most of the streams and lakes support good fisheries.12 <br /> <br />outstanding opportunities for recreation are present. The level, <br />open plateaus are ideally suited for leisurely walking while <br />admiring the breathtaking, panoramic views. Professional out- <br />fitters make use of the area because of its excellent hunting. <br /> <br />The area is used extensively for scientific research, with most <br />work occurring in the southwest corner of the area, in the <br />vicinity of Mesa Seco and Slumgullion Slide. The Slumgullion <br />slide area is a remarkable natural laboratory used to study the <br />important geologic process of earthflows. It is a designated <br />National Natural Landmark. Of particular interest is the <br />continuous grassland gradient from the Mill Creek headwaters to <br /> <br />IlDr. Richard Richards, Professor of Biology, Western State <br />college, Gunnison, CO. <br /> <br />12Colorado Division of Wildlife. <br /> <br />8 <br />