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<br />Zapata Creek <br />Unit No. CO-050-139B <br /> <br />I. CRITERION 1 - Evaluation of Wilderness Values <br /> <br />Each of the fOllowing components contributes to the overall value of an area for <br />wilderness purposes. <br /> <br />,; <br /> <br />A. <br /> <br />Quality of the area's mandato~ wilderness characteristics <br /> <br />1. Naturalness - The two parcels of this unit (720) acres are located <br />on the slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Range. They are sj;eep with the major <br />drainages of Urraca and Zapata Creeks, and Raspberry Canyon cutting through <br />them. The vegetation on the hillsides is mixed conifer with some low growing <br />brush. Visually it is impossible to tell where the lands administered by BLM <br />and the USFS land begin because of similiarities of vegetation and land <br />contour s. <br /> <br />The southern parcel of this unit shows no imprints of man. The <br />northern parcel contains a way in Raspber~ Canyon used by four-wheel drive <br />vehicles as an access route into the higher elevations of the Sangre de Cristo <br />Range. The way is deteriorating through natural processes and is visible for <br />only a short distance because of the surrounding vegetation, and terrain. <br /> <br />2. Outstanding opportunities for solitude or primitive and <br />unconfined recreation. <br /> <br />a. Solitude - These two parcels, while small in size, contain <br />varied topography. Screening provided by pinon-juniper and other vegetation as <br />well as adjacent USFS land included in the wilderness study process offers <br />secluded areas for visitors. <br /> <br />Outside sights and sounds originate mostly from the houses <br />and buildings in the valley and Colorado State Highway 150. The effects of <br />these sights and sounds are very minimal. <br /> <br />b. Primitive and Unconfined Recreation - Visitors can hike the <br />stream beds to the higher elevations of the USFS Sangre de Cristo Range. <br /> <br />This unit is considered roaded-natural. <br /> <br />B. Special features: Quality of the area's optional wilderness <br />characteristics. <br /> <br />Even though the Sangre de Cristo Range is known for its scenic beauty, <br />the quality of this WSA is neither abundant enough nor important enough to be <br />considered a supplemental value. <br /> <br />C. Multiple resource benefits: The benefits to other multiple resource <br />values and uses which wilderness designation of the area could ensure. <br /> <br />Wilderness designation would have little or no effect on water <br />quality, watersheds, or other multiple uses. <br /> <br />A-41 <br /> <br />t,I'f'"'o"-,, <br />".... i vU <br />