WSP05634 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

'. . . 008231 CHAPl'ER VII RJiCREATION, FISH, AND WILDLIFE. Complex. The Golden Circle and Southern Utah National Scenic Parkway Co~ plex would link the national parks, monuments, and recreation areas in southern Utah with those of nortvern Arizona, northeastern New Mexico, and southwestern Colorado. The Utah state Department. of Highways has made preliminary proposals for what may eventually be a road network to connect the recreational re- sources of not only San Juan County but also all of southern Utah. The department will continue to seek the counsel and advice of all involved agencies. Fish and Wildlife Except for Lake Powell, fi,;hing opportunities within the San Juan Area are limited at present. Game. fish are confined largely to the Colo- rado, San Juan, and Dolores Rivers, Recapture and Mill Creeks, several small lakes in the La Sal Mountains, and several small reservoirs in the vicinity of Blanding, Utah. Fishing success is not high in most of these waters. Consequently, fi3hing pressure from the local population is not great and visitors are not presently attracted into the area by fishing opportunities. There is a distinct need for more fishing opportunities for residents of Moab, while additional fishing waters in the vicinity of Monticello and Blanding would also be welcomed. The fishing potential of Lake Powell is great as a supplement to the other recreational resources in attracting visitors to the San Juan Area. The potential will be realized as access is improved. Reservoirs that may be constructed primarily for reclamation or water conservation purposes, as discussed in Chapter IX, would contribute, fulfilling the need for water-oriented recreation and fishing in the area. Mule deer are common throughout the area. They attract large nWI>- bers of out-of-state hunters, generally from California, Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Their most common habitat is mountains, canyons, and ridges with pinon and juniper cover. Bighorn sheep occupy the drier canyons and ridges to the west toward Lake PowelL Their numbers have increased to the point that a limited number of hunting permits for trophy rams are now offered by the State of Utah. Elk inhabit the La Sal Mountains. About 10 elk hunting permits are issued annually. Turkeys also live in the La Sal Mountain area and both spring and fall [,unts are allowed. Upland game birds found in the area include sage grouse on the open benches north of Monticello, pheasants on irrigated lands near Moab and elsewhere, mourning doves throughout the area, and Gambel quail in river bottoms and other areas where permanent water is fo'md. Chukar partridge 76