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<br />" ' <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />seem abstruse, but because of the excellence of the exposure, one need not be a <br />professional geologist to appreciate and readily grasp the meaning of the faulting. On <br />several occasions, having pointed out the salient features, I have had the pleasure of <br />seeing visitors' faces light up with recognition and intellectual excitement. ...One can <br />safely say that the display of this fault zone is among the most straightforward in the <br />United States." Refer to Appendix A. <br /> <br />Wilderness Values <br /> <br />The September 1988 'Final Uncompahgre Basin Resource Management Plan and <br />Environmental Impact Statement" has established the 21 ,038 acres within the lower gorge <br />is 'preliminarily suitable for wilderness designation." The area referred to as the Gunnison <br />Gorge WSA (CO-030-388) was determined ....to be natural, and to provide outstanding <br />opportunity for solitude and primitive/unconfined recreation.' The area is therefore worthy <br />of addition to the Wilderness Preservation System. These qualities reinforce the <br />significance of the study area's resources, <br /> <br />National Wild and Scenic River Values <br /> <br />In September of 1979, a Wild and Scenic River study was completed for the Gunnison <br />River downstream from the point where it enters BLCA. The study covered approximately <br />29 miles downstream to the confluence with the North Fork. <br /> <br />Based on the criteria specified in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, it was determined that <br />the upper 26 miles of this study area qualified for designation as a wild river. The study <br />determined that the Gunnison is free-flowing, its length is sufficient to provide a meaningful <br />recreational experience, it has an adequate volume of high quality water to support <br />naturally occurring aquatic resources, its watershed and shoreline are primitive and <br />relatively inaccessible, and its environs possess outstanding remarkable scenery, geology, <br />recreational and wildlife values. The lower 13,5 miles of the 26-mile section determined <br />to be eligible for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic River System, is situated in the <br />lower Gunnison Gorge. The 13.5-mile section beginning at the west boundary of BLCA <br />extends downstream about 1 mile below the confluence with the Smith Fork River. This <br />section of the river beginning at the Chukar trailhead launch site, which is situated <br />downstream approximately 2 miles from the west monument boundary, to the confluence <br />of the North Fork River, is the most used section of the river by floaters. This is due in part <br />to the fact that the upstream portion contains many treacherous elements, such as major <br />rock jams, steep stream grades, and steep-walled cliff areas, River runners in this stretch <br />must carry their equipment over many obstacles that require technical climbing <br />experience, The Gunnison River has also received national acclaim for its Gold Medal <br />Trout Fishery. <br /> <br />CONCLUSION <br /> <br />In conclusion, it has been determined that those resources described above are <br />significant in relation to the purpose for which BlCA was established. Therefore, <br />alternatives for including such resources within the boundary of BlCA were developed <br /> <br />16 <br />