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<br />OQ[jG25 <br /> <br />of primitive conditions permits phenomena such as natural insect <br />investations, floods, and naturally caused fires. Where wildfire, <br />however, is a serious threat to lives, property, or irreplaceable <br />wilderness resources, the most advanced methods of control are per- <br />missible under wilderness management. None of the wilderness areas <br />involve the closure of fire roads. An existing fire lookout near <br />Grand Lake is recommended for continued use in the designating legis- <br />lation. The master plan recommends that natural wildfires should be <br />allowed to burn themselves out where they do not threaten an undesir- <br />ably large area or lands outside the park. From 1930-1972, there were <br />214 man-caused fires and 60 lightning-caused fires. Only eight of the <br />lightning fires exceeded .25 acre in size; three were .25-five acres, <br />and one was 960 acres. Wilderness designation will not adversely <br />affect wildfire management. <br /> <br />Control work on insect infestations involves about 3,000 acres in a <br />narrow strip, 23 miles long, adjacent to the eastern park boundary. <br />Management practices consist of treatment for mountain pine beetle <br />infestations of ponderosa pine. There is some potential for infesta- <br />tions on the lodgepole pine and the spruce-fir forests. Wilderness <br />designation will preclude the use of mechanized equipment such as power <br />saws which are used to cut down the infected trees. Costs will increase <br />since hand saws would have to be utilized; some consideration, however, <br />is being given to injecting the trees and leaving the dead trees stand- <br />ing. The master plan recommends the perpetuation of the dynamic eco- <br />systems through the restoration of natural environment rhythms, <br />including insect infestations. <br /> <br />In addition, wilderness designation would have no effect on the <br />regulation of excess wildlife populations should a need arise to control <br />numbers. Nor does it prohibit reintroduction of native populations <br />such as the otter and native greenback trout recommended for restora- <br />tion to their former ranges by the master plan. <br /> <br />Wilderness designation does preclude the use of mechanized equipment <br />for trail maintenance, rehabilitation, or construction purposes. This <br />includes helicopters, chain saws, generators, rock drills. and other like <br />equipment. Since existing park operations utilize some of this equipment. <br />an impact of wilde~ness would be the increase in trail maintenance. The <br />manpower and fund requirements to maintain the trails at standard will <br />increase considerably in same circumstances with this loss of equipment. <br />The 2,160 mandays presently allotted could be expected to increase <br />by 10% under wilderness management. The impact on trail construction <br />is minimal since the master plan recommends no new trail construction; <br />it is probable, however, that an improved trail system, involving new <br />trail construction, may be recommended in the future. The existing <br />trail system is 300 miles long. Foot trail use and backcountry use <br />is growing at a rate nearly four times that of other park uses. Horse <br />use, however, is decreasing. <br /> <br />21 <br />