Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Condition and productivity of the range lands within the subbasin have declined <br />for many years, but no..' appear to have stabilized or to be 'improving. The <br />Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service have @ade range analysis <br />studies and are adjusting stocking to sustained forage production. Private <br />rangelands have received additional grazing pressure due to reduction in <br />Federal Range Permits, l:ut now are being treated for Laprovement. It is esti- <br />mated that approximately 100,000 acres of sagebrush land within this subbasin <br />could be treated for brush control. However, adequate measures would be <br />required to preserve big game winter range and sage grouse habitat. Stock <br />water, fencing, deferred grazing and proper stocking are also needed to improve <br />range forage production. <br /> <br />The high elevation lands, particularly those within the National Forest, are <br />managed under the Multiple Use Concept. This concept provides that no one <br />use will be promoted to the detriment of other uses. These various uses <br />include production of water, timber, range, wildlife and recreation. The <br />Alpine Zone is managed for production of water and forage; wildlife and <br />recreation uses are administered to enhance water production. Timber is <br />produced below the Alpine Zone and overlaps with range use. <br /> <br />On the national forests, there are 717,000 acres producing cOL1ffiercial forest <br />products. Smaller timber areas also occur on the national land reserve and <br />privately-owned lands within the subbasin. An esti~,ated 2 billion board-feet <br />of timber ready for harvesting is growing in the Upper Gunnison are". The <br />Gunnison National Forest currently has 160 million ~oard-feet under contract <br />for cutting with several million board-feet in prospect for sales in the near <br />future. Much land now covered with oak brush can be made productive by <br />reforestation. There are 34,000 acres of national forest land in the Upper <br />Gunnison Subbasin suitable for tree planting. <br /> <br />Cover conditions from a watershed standpoint appear to be generally fair to <br />good above 9,000 feet, but appear poor to fair in the lower area. T!le higher' <br />area includes the Alpirre zone with little timber and the sp~uce-fir zone <br />where timber is the predominant cover. Louer zones are predm:linantly sage- <br />brush-grass combinations. Air.lOSt all of the 'tV'ater yield coues from ebo'"Je <br />the 9,000 feet elevation. <br /> <br />SediL:ent generally comes from the lower zones \\"here cover is less effective. <br />Runoff from these areas is low, due to the lii;dted precipite..tion. Sediment <br />yield is quite low within the subbasin. SUllIDler storms, which account for <br />very little water production, deposit sediment in streams. <br /> <br />Recreation <br /> <br />The Upper Gunnison Subbasin is an area of outstanding outdoor recreational <br />appeal. This outdoor playground ranges from the world-famous fishin3 in <br />the Gunnison River to mountain climbing among the high scenic peaks of the <br />Rocky Mountains. Recreation is becoming a year-round activity, with skiing <br />at Crested Butte and Monarch Pass. Both deer and elk are plentiful, and <br />fishing is good. In 1960, 25,000 hunters and 80,000 fishermen utilized <br />these resources. Reservoir development may have a detrimental affect on the <br />habitat conditions that maintain fish and game unless compensatory measures <br />are taken. <br /> <br />- 26 - <br />