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<br />VI. CRITERION 6 - Diversity in the National Wilderness Preservation System <br /> <br />A. >:xpanding the diversity of natLlral systems and features, as reprco",,,'ll;,>,l <br />by ecosystems and landf::> mo. <br /> <br />As identified by the Bailey-Kuchler Ecosystem map of ecoregLons of the <br />United States the Zapata Creek unit is in the southwestern spruce-fir forest of <br />the Rocky Mountain Forest Province. <br /> <br />In Colorado there are approximately 844,000 acres of existing <br />wilderness and 215,300 acres of WSAs in the southwestern sprllce-fir forest <br />vegetative classification of the Rocky Mountain Forest Province. <br /> <br />The region surrounding this unit (which includes the San Luis Valley) <br />is entirely in the Rocky Mountain Forest Province. Along with this unit there <br />are an additional 40,000 acres of spruce-fir forest vegetative classification in <br />the contiguous USFS Sangre de Cristo Range being studied for wilderness <br />potential. <br /> <br />For more detailed information ",'" lcppendix B-l. <br /> <br />B. Expanding the opportunities for solitude or primitive recreation within <br />a day's <J.riving time (5 hours) of major pop'llation centers. <br /> <br />This unit cl1.n be reached within 1 day of driving from f'mr <br />population centers: Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo. <br />detailed information on the relationship of this WSA to other WSAs, <br />wilderness, and major population centers, see Appendix B-2. <br /> <br />,naj or <br />For more <br />designated <br /> <br />C. Balancing the geographic distribution of wilderness areas. <br /> <br />A "Wilderness Status Map" is available in the Bm Canon City Dis tr ict <br />Office showing the location of all Federal lands under stLldy for wilderness <br />designation and all areas either already designated or recommended to Congress <br />as wilderness within the state of Colorado. <br /> <br />" n'" 6" <br />t' . ~ t ,,) <br /> <br />A-48 <br />