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Chapter Two Cultural Resources. A total of 5,848 acres of public land between Colorado Highway 90 and the Big Sandy Wash will undergo a Class III cul- tural Inventory to determine the signifIcance and 'location of high-value archeological sltss, Upon completion of the Inventory and data analysis, soms of these sites may be assigned a special designation and a managemsnt plan may be devsloped. Visual Resources. The management unit will be managed under VRM Class III guidelines, ex- cept for Escalante Canyon which will be managed under VRM Class II guidelines to protect Its scenic qualities. Acquisition of Non-Federal Lands. If they are available, non-federal lands that would Improve livestock management and Increase crucial deer and elk winter range may be acquired. Access. Public road access will be acquired Into the Olathe Reservoir area for hunting and other recreational purposes. Public trail access will be acquired on the McCarty Trail In lower Es- calante Canyon to provide additional access Into the Dominguez Canyon WSA. Fire Management. A total of 97,543 acres of public land will be managed under the fire sup- pression category, with 8,657 acres Identified for Intensive suppression and 88,886 acres Iden- tified for conditional suppression. A total of 89,267 acres will be managed under the fire-use category where fire will be utilized as a manage- menttoo!. Planned or natural Ignitions meeting pre-determlned prescriptions will bs allowed on these areas. MANAGEMENT UNIT 2 67,320 Acres of Public Surface; 14 percent of the Planning Area Managemsnt Unit 2 consists of 67,320 acres of public land located primarily on the southern end of ths Uncompahgre Plateau and In the lower r ' . ., . . ,- . 0' ,. . . '. Management Decisions elevations of the North Fork Valley. These areas have large wintering deer and elk populations. Approximately half of the management unit Is considered crucIal deer and elk winter range. A portion oflhe unit, In the Camel BackJRoubldeau Creek area, Is suitable habitat for desert bighorn sheep. Ths management unit will bs managed to Im- prove the areas' capabilities to support wintering deer, elk, and bighorn sheep populations. Land treatment projects and other facilities designed to Improve the quality and quantity of winter habitat will be developed. Wildlife will have first priority for all additional forage made available as a result of BLM habitat Improvement projects. All other land uses will be permitted If they will not dsgrade the areas' winter range capabilities. Disturbances will be minimized from December 1 through April 30 on crucial deer and elk winter range (37,007 acres). Habitat In the Camel BackJRoubideau Creek area will be available for possible Introduction of desert bighorn sheep. Coal. Federal coal estate will be open to leas- ing. Within crucial deer and elk winter range, seasonal stipulations on new road and facility construction may be necessary from December 1 through April 30 to reduce stress on wintering deer and elk. Oil and Gas. Federal 011 and gas eslats will be open to leasing. Within crucial deer and elk winter range (37,007 acres offederal surfacs and 8,850 acres of spllt-eslate), seasonal stipulations on seismic and drilling activities will be in effect from December 1 through April 30 to reduce stress on wintering deer and elk. Variances to this seasonal stipulation may be granted (see Appendix A). Minerai Materials. Federal minerai eSlate will be open to disposal of minerai materials. Within crucial deer and elk wlntsr range, seasonal restrictions on disposal activities may be neces- sary from Decembsr 1 through April 30 to reduce stress on wintering deer and elk. 14