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fl:" ~,~ l),'1 f.... . ~. _' .,.J Alternatives Including the Proposed Action glacial valleys including Boulder Gulch, Campbell Creek, Grizzly Gulch, and the head of American Basin. This would exclude the areas around Jones Mountain-Snare Basin and south of Cottonwood Creek. The Cottonwood Creek Road and mineral activity nears Jones Mountain-Snare Basin physically separates this area from the Handies Peak portion of the .SA. r~.i-,!_e!~~ _~e.s~~:c~e__D_eY~lopment - Subject to vali~ existing rights, all lands within the B,220 acres of the Handies Peak WSA recommended as suitable would be withdrawn from appropriation under the mining and mineral leasing laws. Handies Peak is geologically similar and adjacent to a highly productive area of the Eurek.a Mi ni ng Of stri ct. For the purposes of rtny analysis. it was assumed that similar vein deposits also occur in the Han~ies Peak WSA. Although no site spec; fie mineral investigation has been done in this area, the information indicates a high potential for the lccation of base and precious minerals. uranium, and indications of the critical and strategic minerals cobalt, nickel. and molybdenum in the western half of the WSA. Presently there are approximately 200 mining claims. The Lake Fork area is heavily staked and private land is scattered throughout this basin. Due to the capital needed and economics involved in develop1ng successful mining operation, most claimants with valid existing rights would probably sell their claim to one or two consolidated interests. For the purpose of analysis, one to three signi f1cant underground mines woul d be developed in the Lake Fork drainage areas. The larger of the significant mining operation would invol ve a total of 50 acres of surface di sturbance anrl the other two waul d invol ve no more than 25 acres each. New road construction woul d be bui It wi th a maximum 1 en 9th of 3 miles (5 acres) per mine. Development is also anticipated on private land west of Handies Peak the Shelf Road in the eastern edge of the WSA for base and precious mineral s. The mine would disturb 5 to 15 surface acres. The nonsuitable acreage would remain open to mineral development under the mining and mineral leasing laws. There would be further ex.ploratory work outside of this al ternati ve' s southwes t boundary for base and precious minerals and molybdenum. This would ~isturb about 10-20 acres. Recrea_tion - Suitable portions of the area W'ould he managed to provide a primitive backcountry setting for mountain climbing, hunting, fishing. nature study, hiking. and photography. Recreation activity would center around the main trails up to Handies Peak (14,048 feet) in Grizzly Gulch and Ameri can Bas i n vi a Sl aan Lake. These trail heads would be clearly marked and the trails periOdically maintained. Approximately 75 percent of the 4000 RUDs occurring in the WSA are within the suitable area. Based upon studies showing regular yearly increase of about 9 percent in the use of wi 1 derness, more effort waul d be put into visitor information and education. Recreational vehicle use is not permitted at this time and no additional closures would be necessary. The expected development of mineral resources in American Basin and near Campbell Creek woul d resul tin some motori zed use associated with that use. These areas would not be open to motorized recrea.tion Use. Projected mineral development in the Campbell Creek area woul d al so change the setting to one influenced by motorized use but this portion receives very little recreational use. The nonsuitable portion of the WSA would be managed to maintain a primitive backcountry setting for hi kers, hunters. ff shermen, and photographers. Recreation use would continue to be centered around the Cataract Gulch and Cuba Gulch trails, which are used by hikers and hunters. The area is 23