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Chspter Two species, would be permissible If wilderness characteristics would not be Impaired. Bighorn sheep habitat and deer and elk winter rangs would be managed In cooperation with ths Colorado DOW. Supplemental releases of bighorn sheep would be permitted as Identified In the 1986 reintroduction plan or Its future amendments. Livestock Grazing. Livestock grazing and facility maintenance would be managed at levels and conditions sstabllshed prior to wilderness designation. New rangeland Improvements would be permissible If determined to be neces- sary for rangeland and/or wilderness protection. Forestry. Woodland harvest and/or manage- msnt would be psrmltted only for control of In- sects and dlssase If determined necessary to protect resources outside the management unit. There 15 a total of 337 acres of productive wood- lands within the WSA that would be unavailable for harvest. Recreation. Recreation use would be regu- lated as necessary to protect wilderness values. Highest priority would be given to low-Impact recreation activities that could not be accom- modated outside the wilderness environment. Opponunltles for non-motorized recreatIon In a predominantly natural environment would be maintained. Facilities, improvements, and signs would be limited to those necessary to protect wilderness resources along with pUblic health and safety. Permits would bs required for all commercial recreatIon uses and, If necessary to protect wilderness values, for all non-commer- cial recreatlonlsts. Hunting, fishing, and recrea- tional trapping would be permitted. The river corridor would be managed to main- tain very low human group concentrations and little overall evidence of human use. River-boat- Ing use would be limited to six to ten group en- counters per day with no more than two (as per the 1988 Gunnison Gorge RAMP) commercially- outfitted trip allowed per day. Allocations be- tween private and commercial river-boating use Management Dec's.ons would be made If necessary to protect wilder- ness values or to emphasize opponunltles for specific recreational experlences such as self- reliance as opposed to guided and outfitted ex- periences. Off-Road Vehicles. Vehicle use In general would bs eliminated from the management unit. Yehlcle use would be permitted In cenaln cir- cumstances Involving valid existing rights, live- stock grazIng, fire suppression, Iffe-threatsnlng emergsncles, and wilderness area administra- tion. The rugged canyon area has few vehicular access routes. Culturalsnd Psleontologlcal Resources. In most Instances, cultural and paleontological resources would be subject to ths forces of na- ture In the sams manner as othsr wlldsrness resources. Study or management would not en- tail excavation, stabilization, or Interpretation. exceptions may be granted by the BLM State Director for unusually significant cultural or paleontOlogical resources. Visual Resources. The management unit would be managed under YRM Class I guidelines. Major Utilities. The management unit would be closed to development of utility facilities. The area is not within the lands Identified as needed for future major utility development In the 1980 and 1985 Western Regional Utility Corridor Study(s). Hydroelectric Development. Several hydroelectric projects have been proposed for development on the Gunnison River which would be within or affect the WSA. Protective withdrawals have restricted major on-the- ground evaluations by the proponents. The ex- Isting powerslte reserves and BOR withdrawals affecting ths Gunnison Gorge would be recom- mended for revocation. However, the final deter- mination on the status of these withdrawals will be made by the President and Congress. 20 I