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<br />002383 <br /> <br />The Piedra is one of the state's most valuable hunting and fishing <br />areas, due to its low elevation, healthy wildlife populations, <br />scenery, and high quality waters. Sportsmen from the area and <br />around the southwest use the Piedra WSA extensively and are signi- <br />ficant contributors to the local economy. <br /> <br />Resource Information <br /> <br />There are no patented mining claims or <br />area. Over 94% of the WSA is considered <br />locatable or leasable minerals.27 <br /> <br />producing mines in the <br />to have low potential for <br /> <br />70% of the WSA is used for grazing; however, this does not <br />conflict with wilderness designation. Use of the area by off- <br />road vehicles is very low and presents no serious conflict. <br /> <br />The potential timber yield for the area is 6 mmbf annually. When <br />compared to the potential 100 mmbf annual yield of the entire San <br />Juan National Forest, and a timber demand level of 45-60 mmbf per <br />year, it is readily apparent that more than enough timber exists <br />outside the WSA's boundaries to meet that demand, obviating the <br />need to destroy the roadless character of this area.28 <br /> <br />Boundary Issues <br /> <br />The proposed Piedra addition follows the boundary of the existing <br />Piedra WSA with the following four exceptions: <br /> <br />1. The southernmost end of the WSA is extended approximately two <br />miles along the cliff above and to the west of the Piedra River. <br />This area is primarily a steep, east-facing slope with no <br />identified resource conflicts, Timber harvesting has taken place <br />immediately west of the extension within the old RARE II area. <br /> <br />2. The western boundary of the WSA has been extended to include <br />Medicine and Sin Creeks west of Sheep Mountain, and to include a <br />significant area north and west of Slide Mountaining, continuing <br />to the boundary of the existing weminuche wilderness Area in the <br />vicinity of Granite Peak and Grassy Point. Although several <br />timber sales were slated by the Forest Service in this area, the <br />agency has agreed to defer further consideration of the proposals <br />for the duration of its 10-year management plan (1999), Previous <br />and on-going logging activity has taken place near the extension <br />but is outside its boundary. This extension increases the <br />diversity of the unit, allowing a contiguous wilderness area from <br />the low-elevation forests and high quality riparian areas of the <br />piedra to the high peaks of the Weminuche Wilderness. Previous <br /> <br />27~iedra Wilderness Study Area Report, September 1983. <br />28San Juan National Forest Plan, September 1983. <br /> <br />24 <br />