WSPC07444

• File Number: 7630.500
• Description: Wild and Scenic - Rio Grande River
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 9/1/1989
• Author: DOI-BLM
• Title: San Luis Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement - Draft - Volume II - Chapters 4-Appendices
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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CHAPTER 4
Special Status Plant and Animal Species

Riparian and wildlife developments in the grazing allotments
could result in a net benefit to special plants.

Populations of Astragalus rip/eyl would be adversely affected
as a result of continued grazing use on the stock driveway.

Additional bald eagle roosting facilities and prey develop-
~ent would enhance the habitat in the Blanca WHA through
Implementation of the activity plan. Acquisition of lands
within the Rio Grande River Corridor SRMA would also
enhance bald eagle roosting and prey development.

Waterpower/Storage

There would be no impacts in this alternative.

NATURAL RESOURCE
ENHANCEMENT ALTERNATIVE

The following impacts are the net unavoidable effects in
this alternative.

Minerals Management

Under this alternative, approximately 617,251 (99.5 perceDt)
acres of Federal fluid miDeral estate would be OpeD for
leasing aDd 3,620 acres (0.5 percent) would be closed to
leasing. Appendix B identifies proposed lease stipulatioos
for resource specific requiremeDts for stipulatioD waivers,
exceptions, and modificatioos. Closing 3,620 acres and
placing 87,845 acres (14 percent) under a DO surface
occupancy (NSO) stipulation would result in a significant
impact to fluid mineral resources as approximately 30,000
acres would DOt be feasible to lease because of the ecoDomic
and technological constraints of directional drilling. The Det
effect would be that approximately 587,000 acres (95
percent) would be feasible for leasing. This impact is based
OD the assumption that fluid mineral resources in excess
of oDe-quarter mile from a well site could not in all
probability be drained without the use of directional drilling.
Directional drilling, if feasible, is generally limited to I mile
from surface location or a total drainage distance of 1\4
miles. This generalized distance of I \4 miles was utilized
to determine which areas under NSO restrictioD would DOt,
in all probability, be leased. In addition, management of
384,105 acres (62 percent) of fluid mineral estate under

seasonal use limitations for wildlife and off-highway vehicles
(ORV) could result in higher exploration and development
costs because of poteDtial scheduling inconvenience,
unavailab.ility of equipmeDt during specific time periods, and
potential mterference with production operations.

Tables 4-10 and 4-11 provide acreage values by leasing
category for oil and gas and geothermal resources
respectively.

Managing 3,230 acres of riparian resources under a no
surface occupancy stipulation would result in a low impact
to fluid mineral resources because these areas are 300 feet
or less in width. Some inconvenience and additional cost
could result from application of this stipulation, but no loss
of fluid mineral resource is anticipated.

Management of crucial wiDter range for three or more big
game species (46,590 acres) and areas of bighom sheep
lambing range (6,260 acres) under a no surface occupancy
(NSO) stipulation OD a total of 52,850 acres would result
in a severe impact on fluid mineral resources. Implementation
of this management objective would result in the virtual
elimination of approximately 20,000 acres of fluid mineral
estate from lo:asi.ug.an~ development because of technological
and econOIDlC lImItations. Development of the fluid mineral
resource from the remaining NSO area could occur if
technically feasible; however, such activity would result in
substaDtiaI cost increases (30 to 100 percent) and a substantial
lowering of resource development potential.

The management of 384,105 acres of crucial deer elk
aDtelope and bighorn sheep range, waterfowl babitat aDd
~ptor sites un.der a restriction could result in significant
Impacts to f1wd resources because of the extensive area
involved and the cumulative effect of different seasonal
restrictions on specific areas. These restrictions could result
in significant scheduling inconvenieDce, unavailability of
drilling rigs, aDd additional costs.

Managiug 13,766 acres of special recreation management
areas (SRMA), 17,370 acres of semiprimitive nonmotorized
areas (SPNM), and 1,200 acres of Pike Stockade/Monte
Vista park sites under an NSO stipulation would result in
significant impacts to fluid mineral resources. The impact
of this management decision for NSO on 32,336 acres would
virtually elimina~ approximately. 10,000 acres from leasing
because of technIcal and econolDlcal constraints and would
significantly increase the exploration and development cost
(30 to 100 percent) of the remaining areas. In addition
the implemeDtation of a seasonal use restrictioD to limi;
~HV ~ on ~84,105 acres could result in scheduling
mconvemence, mcreased costs, and potential unavailability
of drilIing rigs.

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