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<br />CHAPTER ONE
<br />
<br />the quality of Crested Butte's water supply, Soil
<br />erosion and watersbed improvement projects would
<br />be permitted on 28,215 acres in the recommended
<br />West Antelope Creek ACEC if compatible with
<br />management of crocial big game winter nmge, and
<br />within the recommended 4,565 acre South Beaver
<br />Creek ACEC if compatible with protection and
<br />management of skiff milkvelCh (Astragalus
<br />mic:rocymbus), or management of other special status
<br />species,
<br />
<br />Vegetation, Vegetation would generally be managed
<br />to achieve at least a late sera! ecological status,
<br />Specific, desired plant communities would be
<br />identified in activity plans, as would any exceptions
<br />for managing vegetation to achieve other than a late
<br />ecological status, In riparian areas, vegetative
<br />management objectives would be aimed at
<br />maintaining, restoring, or improving lbe diversity,
<br />vigor, and quality of herbaceous and woody plants
<br />necessary for, (I) the, hydrologic functioning of
<br />riparian systems, (2) the control of accelerated soil
<br />erosion and (3) sustained high quality livestock forage
<br />and wildlife habitat.
<br />
<br />Riparian Zones. Existing riparian demonstration
<br />areas and improvements would continue to be
<br />managed and maintained, Riparian areas would be
<br />inventoried and prioritized where necessary to
<br />determine site-specific management strategies,
<br />Strategies, projects, or improvements would be
<br />included in activity plans, such as Coordinated
<br />Resource Management Activity Plans (CRMAPs) and
<br />would be implemented first in high priority areas,
<br />Measures designed to minimize site-specific riparian
<br />deterioration would be required in all plans for
<br />surface-disturbing activities. Special road constroction
<br />standards and protective measures would apply in
<br />riparian areas, in order to retain and protect as much
<br />riparian vegetation, soils, and water as possible, No
<br />commercial timber harvesting, logging decks, or
<br />staging areas would occur in riparian areas or within
<br />an adjacent 30-foot area either side of riparian zones,
<br />unless wildlife or riparian values would be improved,
<br />Existing water source developments or roads that
<br />occur within riparian areas would be relocated,
<br />redesigned, or modified if study shows lbat lbe
<br />hydrologic condition or riparian system is being
<br />negatively impacted. New water sources would be
<br />
<br />developed with concern for lbe protection of riparian
<br />areas,
<br />
<br />About 56 miles (1,000 acres) of riparian areas in
<br />Management Units II and 14 would be managed to
<br />improve and maintain vegetation to help optimize
<br />sage grouse populations, About 99 miles (1,800
<br />acres) of riparian zones in Management Unit 12,
<br />crocial big game winter nmge, would be managed to
<br />increase production and diversity of vegetation to
<br />help support wintering big game, A Habitat
<br />Management Plan (HM P) would be prepared for
<br />Management Unit 12, and would include riparian
<br />zone management strategies, Riparian improvement
<br />projects would be permitted along 58 miles of
<br />riparian areas containing fisheries or potential
<br />fisheries in Management Unit 15, if compatible wilb
<br />fishery management.
<br />
<br />Special Status Plant and Animal Species and
<br />Habitat. Habitat supporting existing populations of
<br />threatened and endangered species (f & E spp,)
<br />would be maintained and protected to insure suitable
<br />habitat conditions and viable populations, Monitoring
<br />and inventori... would continue to be conducted to
<br />provide information for future management.
<br />Measures to protect T & E spp, and their existing or
<br />potential habitat would be required for surface-
<br />disturbing activities, including mining, drilling,
<br />facility constroction, minerai material disposal, and
<br />similar activities, Pre-disturbance clearances and
<br />consultations with lbe United Stales Fish and Wildlife
<br />Service (USF & WS) would continue to be
<br />conducted. Supplemental releases or lbe
<br />reintroduction of T & E spp. could be aulborized,
<br />
<br />Redcloud Peak and Soulb Beaver Creek Areas of
<br />Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs).
<br />Management units 5 and 8 respectively, totalling
<br />10,512 acreS in size, would be designated and
<br />managed to protect and enhance skiff milkvelCh and
<br />Uncompahgre fritillary butterfly populations and
<br />habitat,
<br />
<br />Wildlife Hahitat Management. The HMP for lbe
<br />Planning Area would be revised and implemented in
<br />accordance wilb BLM's Fish and Wildlife Plan for
<br />Colorado-Pro2ram for the Future, Public lands
<br />would be managed for lbe mutual benefit of wildlife,
<br />
<br />1-2
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