Laserfiche WebLink
<br />:,;;1:, ' <br /> <br />Forestry. Woodland harvest and/or management would be permitted only for control of <br />insects and disease if determined necessary to protect resources outside the <br />management unit. There is a total of 337 acres of productive woodlands within the WSA <br />that would be unavailable for harvest. <br /> <br />Recreation. Recreation use would be regulated as necessary to protect wilderness <br />values. Highest priority would be given to low-impact recreation activities that could not <br />be accommodated outside the wilderness environment. Opportunities for non-motorized <br />recreation in a predominantly natural environment would be maintained. Facilities, <br />improvements, and signs would be limited to those necessary to protect wilderness <br />resources along with public health and safety. Permits would be required for all <br />commercial recreation uses and, if necessary to protect wilderness values, for all non- <br />commercial recreationists. Hunting, fishing, and recreational trapping would be permitted. <br /> <br />The river corridor would be managed to maintain very low human group concentrations <br />and little overall evidence of human use. River-boating use would be limited to six to ten <br />group encounters per day with no more than two (as per the 1988 Gunnison Gorge <br />RAMP) commercially outfitted trips allowed per day. Allocations between private and <br />commercial river-boating use would be made if necessary to protect wilderness values or <br />to emphasize opportunities for specific recreational experiences such as self-reliance as <br />opposed to guided and outfitted experiences. <br /> <br />Off-Road Vehicles. Vehicle use in general would be eliminated from the management <br />unit. Vehicle use would be permitted in certain circumstances involving valid existing <br />rights, livestock grazing, fire suppression, life-threatening emergencies, and wilderness <br />area administration. The rugged canyon area has few vehicular access routes. <br /> <br />Cultural and Paleontological Resources. In most instances, cultural and <br />paleontological resources would be subject to the forces of nature in the same manner <br />as other wilderness resources. Study or management would not entail excavation, <br />stabilization, or interpretation. Exceptions may be granted by the BlM State Director for <br />unusually significant cultural or paleontological resources. <br /> <br />Visual Resources. The management unit would be managed under VRM Class I <br />guidelines. <br /> <br />Major Utilities. The management unit would be closed to development of utility facilities. <br />The area is not within the lands identified as needed for future major utility development <br />in the 1980 and 1985 Western Regional Utility Corridor Study(s). <br /> <br />Hydroelectric Developments. Several hydroelectric projects have been proposed for <br />development on the Gunnison River which would be within or affect the WSA. Protective <br />withdrawals have restricted major on-the-ground evaluations by the proponents. The <br />existing powersite reserves and BOR withdrawals affecting the Gunnison Gorge would be <br />recommended for revocation. However, the final determination on the status of these <br />withdrawals will be made by the President and Congress. Congress could elect to <br />establish Wilderness and yet retain power of withdrawal, giving them the prerogative to <br /> <br />30 <br />