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<br />Ou(:J{4 <br /> <br />Air quality is considered good, as measured by TSP concentration because <br />there are few sources of air pollution. The monitored concentrations are well <br />below the State's secondary ambient air quality standard. <br /> <br />The only significant noise source in the area is u.s. Highway 160. Average <br />daily traffic volume is 1400 vehicles per day of which 86 percent is automobile <br />traffic. <br /> <br />Aspen, white fir, Englemann spruce, ponderosa pine and open meadows dominate <br />the vegetation within the National Forest System lands and portions of the <br />private lands. Cottonwoods, willow-sedge, and wet meadows are also associated <br />with the private lands, predominantly within the established flood plain of the <br />West Fork of the San Juan River. <br /> <br />Deer and elk utilize the proposed site on both public and private lands. A <br />critical spring and fall major movement corridor for big game (800 to 1000 feet <br />wide) is located at the narrow constricted terrain between u.s. Highway 160 and <br />the cliffs and escarpnent to the east. Various fawning/calving and SlDmler <br />rearing areas are located within and adjacent to the project area. A typical <br />variety of birds and mammals live in the study area; their location depends on <br />the nature of their habitat - i.e. river/floodplain to mountainous sub-alpine <br />terrain. (Formal consultation with the u.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is <br />underway regarding four species of birds that are identified as threatened or <br />endangered) . <br /> <br />Sod o-Economic Environment <br /> <br />Agriculture and tourism are the primary employment sectors in the pagosa <br />Springs/Archuleta COunty region with which the proposed ski area is associated.* <br />l4ining is the primary employer in Mineral County. Historically, unemployment has <br />been high in Archuleta County; and due to the recent closing of the largest mine <br />in Mineral County, unemployment is expected to rise there also. <br /> <br />The population in Archuleta County is concerned about unemployment. There <br />does, however, seem to be an element of resistance to accommodating growth. This <br />unemployment/resistance to growth problem does not seem to exist in Mineral <br />County, since the economy is tied almost exclusively to mining and there is less <br />potential for developnent of tourism. <br /> <br />* Although the project site iE' in ~jneral County it is geographically <br />associated with Pagosa Springs and Archuleta County as a result of being south of <br />Wolf Creek Pass. <br /> <br />v <br />