WSP02329

• File Number: 7630.150
• Description: Wild and Scenic-Dinosaur National Monument
• Date: 1/1/1973
• Author: Nat Park Service
• Title: Dinosaur National Monument Wilderness-Wilderness Study
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

Classes I and II identify the lands reserved for visitor accommodations
(both existing and proposed), for administrative facilities, formal
campgrounds, two-way roads, etc., of varying intensities. Class I and II
lands occupy relatively little space in any of the national parks.

Class III identifies the "natural environment areas." As the name of the
category implies, these are "natural environment" lands. These lands
are important to the proper preservation, interpretation, and
management of the irreplaceable resources of the National Park System.
These irreplaceable resources are identified in Class IV, V, and VI
categories of lands. It is the existence of unique features (Class IV), or
primitive lands, including wilderness (Class V), or historical or cultural
lands (Class VI) in combination with a suitable environment (Class III)
and with sufficient lands "for the accommodation of visitors" (Classes I
and II) that distinguish natural and historical areas of the National Park
System from other public lands providing outdoor recreation.

In the natural areas (national parks and national monuments of
scientific significance), Class III lands often provide the "transition" or
"setting" or "environment" or "buffer" between intensively developed
portions of the park or monument (Classes I and II) AND (a) the
'primitive or wilderness (Class V) areas; and (b) the unique natural
features (Class IV) or areas of historic or cultural significance (Class VI)
when these two categories exist outside of the Class V lands.

In the historical areas (the administrative policies for which are
included in a separate booklet), the "environmental" lands (Class III)
serve a similar role in providing the "setting" or "atmosphere" essential
to preserving and presenting the national significance of historic
properties included in the National Park System.

Often, Classes III and V lands both represent significant natural values.
Generally, these values are different in type, quality, or degree.
Accordingly, lands having natural values that do not meet Service
criteria for primitive or wilderness designation may be classified as Class
III even when they do not involve the environment of either Class IV.
Class V, or Class VI lands. In natural areas, "natural environment" lands
are sometimes referred to additionally as "wilderness threshold" when
they abut or surround wilderness.

The "wilderness threshold" lands afford the newcomer an opportunity
to explore the mood and the temper of the wild country before

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