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~,.,~. I"" .;;i,)"-'l':)'l. ' ". RMP pnor to implementing future management actions may be necessary to avoid impacts to bald eagles, peregrines or other sensitive wildlife species. Management Prescription #2 (Identifying Land Use Priorities): The proposed action would identify the majority of the SRMA as a recreation priority. The proposed action would additionally establish or retain a water, soil, wildlife, protected, or no priority for some lands within the SRMA. The most valuable wildlife habitat with the proposed SRMA corridor would retain the wildlife priority established in the 1984 RMP. The management prescription for the recreation priority indicates that wildlife is compatible with recreation and that "Critical wildlife habitats, including threatened and endangered species habitats would be protected by limits placed on the location of recreation developments, certain types of recreation activities, and other compatible uses.". The recreation priority also provides for intensive management of wildlife habitat,within a recreation priority area. If the enlargement of the recreation priority area increases float boating activitieS and/or upland recreation such as hiking, rock climbing, etc. there could be increasing conflict between recreationists and wildlife. Conflict resolution of these issues may dictate management actions sensitive to wildlife concerns to avoid loss of bald eagle habitat and disruption of peregrine falcon breeding activities. Management Prescription #3 and #4 (NSO for oil and gas leasing, Land/Mineral Withdrawal): This prescription is likely to benefit bald eagles and peregrine falcons by prohibiting surlace occupancy for oil and gas development or mining within the SRMA. Disturbance of bald eagle winter habitat as well as winter populations of eagles would be precluded with this prescription. Peregrine falcon breeding activities would not be disrupted by oil and gas activity/ mining activity with implementation of this prescription. VEGET A nON (CoIOT:ldo Standards for Public und Health. AU uplimd \ltgetauon infoml:il.uon fOT Sundard #3) Affected Environment: The uplands within the corridor of the proposed SRMA are dominated by three vegetation types, pinyon-juniper, sagebrush grasslands, and haymeadows. The southwest ponion which is the warmest and driest segment is typified by steep slopes dominated by a pinyon-juniper vegetation type. The species common in the understory include Indian ricegrass, blue grama, western and bluebunch wheatgrass. Common forbs include eriogonum, globe mallow, milkveteh, and phlox. This vegetation type extends from State Bridge to the mouth of Gore Canyon. Because of the steepness of most of the southwest portion of the proposed SRMA, there are few impacts on vegetation from existing uses. Vegetative health on the uplands is generally excellent. The vegetation types on uplands from Gore Canyon to Reeder Creek are a checkerboard of sagebrush grasslands and irrigated hay meadows. The species commonly seen on the drier sites are big mountain sagebrush, fescues, wheatgrasses, and native bluegrasses. Forbs include eriogonum, balsamroot, fringed sage, and low rabbitbrush. The vegetation in the hay meadows includes timothy, clover, meadow foxtail, wheatgrasses and bromes. A description of riparian vegemtion can be found in the Floodplains and Wetlands section of this document. The area between Gore Canyon and Kremmling includes some scattered parcels of BLM where livestock grazing is authorized. These are "Custodial" grazing allotments that are included in 16