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<br />on~531 <br /> <br />Below its confluence with the Slate River, water produced in the Oh- <br />Be-Joyful drainage is used to help dilute the existing acid drainage <br />from lower Coal Creek and the effluent from the Crested Butte and Mt. <br />Crested Butte waste water treatment plants. It ultimately i,; used <br />primarily for agricultural purposes (irrigation) in the Upper Gunnison <br />Valley or stored in Blue Mesa Reservoir for later use. <br /> <br />E. LIVESTOCK OPERATIONS <br /> <br />Prior to 1972, the Oh-Be-Joyful Drainage and Peeler Basin Areas <br />were grazed by sheep. They were not used by sheEp or cattle from <br />1972 until 1977. About 200 cattle have been using the Oh-Be- <br />Joyful Wilderness Study Area from August 10 to October 10 each <br />year since 1977. <br /> <br />There has been little use by recreation stock in the past and <br />they have not caused any problems. <br /> <br />There are no range improvements in the Study Area and none are <br />planned, <br /> <br />F. VEGETATION <br /> <br />The Study Area vegetation is composed of vegetation common to the <br />alpine and sub-alpine areas in Colorado. The lower north facing <br />slopes have sub-alpine fir and Englernann spruce. The south <br />facing slopes and upper elevations consist of alpine grass, forb <br />and shrub types (see Figure 111-8). Riparian areas are found <br />along Oh-Be-Joyful Creek, Peeler Creek, Peeler Lakes, Blue Lake <br />and in Democrat Basin. <br /> <br />There are no known plants that qualify for consideration under <br />the Federal Endangered Species Act. There are some plants in the <br />area that are not commonly found in the Gunnison Basin such as: <br /> <br />Polystichum ionchitis, mountain holly fern, is found in many <br />places in the Rocky Mountains and other parts of the world. <br /> <br />Corydalis caseana ssp. brandegei corydalis is known in 6 or <br />7 counties in West Central and Southwestern Colorado. <br /> <br />Sullivantia hampemanii var purpusii no common name, is found <br />in 15 or more sites in West Central Colorado. <br /> <br />Eriophorum angustifolium narrow-le,lf cottonsedge, is found <br />in swamps and bogs throughout the ]~ocky Mountains in the U.S <br />and Canada. <br /> <br />Gaultheria humifusa western wintergreen, is scattered in the <br />mountains from southwestern Canada :0 California and Colorado. <br /> <br />The vegetation is in good condition and itable. <br /> <br />28, 29, 30 <br />