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(to! ~! Management Decisions 011 and Gas. Federal 011 and gas estate will be open to leasing. A seasonal stipulation on seis- mic and drilling actlvttlss will be In effect from Decsmber 1 through April 30 on crucial dser and elk winter range (8,077 acres of federal surface and 280 acrss of spltt-estate). Varlancss In this seasonal rsstrlctlon may be granted (see Appsn- dlxA). locatable Minerals. Federal minerai estate will be open to entry and location. The BlM protective wtthdrawal (PlO 5261 ; September 15, 1972) will be revoked and the BOR wtthdrawal on Fruitland Mesa will be recommended for revocation. Revoking these minerai wtthdrawals will allow for minerai exploration and develop- ment, facilitate resource management, and per- mtt long-tsrm land use planning. Salls and Water Resources. The Elephant Skin Wash salinity control project will be main- tained to reduce saline runoff. Elephant Skin Wash will be protected from surlace-dlsturblng activities. Wildlife Habitat. Bighorn sheep habitat In the Smith Fork Canyon (2,250 acres) will be monitored and protected. Activities and land uses that are consistent with maintaining the necessary forage and Isolated habitat require- ments of bighorn sheep will be permitted. Livestock Grazing. Uvestock prazing will continue at current forage allocation levels and seasons of use unless studies indicate that ad- justments are needed. The 140-acre Gunnison Forks habitat management area will remain un- allotted for livestock grazing. Uvestock forage utilization will be limited to 35 percent In the Elephant Skin Wash area (2,370 acres) H neces- sary to protect salls by maintaining an optimum basal ground cover. Forestry. A 1,255-acre portion (In the Black Ridge area) of the 2,500 acrss of harvestable woodlands within the management unit will be available for harvest. This area will be closed to harvest from December 1 through April 30 to \ Chapter Two protect crucial deer and elk winter range. The remaining harvsstable woodlands (1,245 acres) will be closed to harvest. Off-Road VehIcles. A total of 15,610 acres In the Psach Vallsy area will be open to ORV use. To protect natural and scenic values, vshlcle use In the Elsphant Skin Wash area and the remainder of the management unit will be limited to designated roads and trails yearlong. Visual Reaources. The 15,610 acres open to ORV use will be managed under VRM Class IV guidelines. Major Utllllles. A total of 2,462 acres In the Smiths Mountain and Gunnison Forks areas will be opsn to but not preferred for development of new major utility facllttles. These lands may be utilized for major utility development H there are no feasible alternatives. The remainder of the management unit will be closed to new major utility development to protect natural and scenic values. Acquisition of non-Federal lands. Actions will be Initiated to acquire 2,200 acres of non- federal lands as IdentHled In the Gunnison Gorge Recreation Area Management Plan (RAMP), that are necessary to facilitate public access and en- hance recreational values. Access. Public access will be acquired along the Gunnison Gorge rim southwest of the Gun- nison Forks and from Colorado Highway 92 to the Gunnison River In the Austin area for recrea- tion purposes. Fire Management. A total of 26,070 acres of public land will be managed under the fire sup- pression category and Identified as condttlonal suppression areas. A total of 14,722 acres will be managed under the fire-use category where fire will be utilized as a management tool. Planned or natural Ignitions meeting pre-deter- mined prescriptions will be allowed on these areas. 17