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rr~"'~'''.., ,I iJ 1 u,J Came species include grouse, tu~keY5, water fowl. rabbits and the four economically important big game species: elk, mule deer, black bear and Bl~horn sheep. ApproxlJaately 3,..00 elk inhabit the Piedra Valley. Elk otcur 1n the largest oUlllbers and provide the highest recreation potential (hunting related) of all big game species. Hunter harvest be[~een 400 and 500 anUnaIs from this elk herd each year. The balance of the esti~ted 2.900 animals using the valley winter to the south In and around the Southern Ute Indian reservation; only about 500 winter within the river corridor. ~le d~er inhabit the sa~ general area as the elk and have similar seasonal distribution. Current numbers are low but trends indicate an increasing population. The Colorado Wildlife Division's fi~ld people estimate that be~een l~O and ZOO bears inhabit the area. Rocky ~untain bighorn sheep are found in the area above timberline io the Weminuche ~ilderness. The current population of 75 to 100 seld~ wander into the river corridor located in the valley bottoms. The Piedra valley contains a variety of vegetative systems that provide a variety of habitat. Table III shows the mdjor habitats ldentified. Riparian habitat is found all along the river .l1thi!) the corridor. Itll area ..,,,1 location varies from a few fe"t bet\o'e..n the wat..r'" ed~e and the steep dry bank. in some loc..tions to strips several hundred f..et wid.. along side streams Joining the river. Riparian habit..t is essential to the survival of ichthyofauna in rhe southwest where very ll..ited lacustrine habitat exists.!l/ Other studies in the Colorado River Basin have sho"," that riparian ecosystems have higher avifauna densitie$ per unit area than any other Forest habitat type. Recent studies indicate that the presence or absence of riparian habitats not only "ff"cts species directly aSSOCiated with such vegetation but also influences wildlife diversity "lid produ,,~ivity in adjacent habit.at types. I The Colorado Division of ~ildlife has the authority to control animal populations lhrough harvest or hunter pressure. Actions taken under rhe State authorities are not affected by Wild and Scenic Rivers consid"ration. Within the riyer corridor, expectations for future big ga~ and non-game populations remain fairly constant with the existing situation. The Piedra River is considered by the Colorado Division of Wildlife to b" a high value fishery. Eight species of fish w"re taken in 8a~ples of the lower river during the study; however, the species diversity decreases as the headwaters are approached. Table IV displays the results of stream sampling accomplished by the State Division of Wildlife. Fishing pr"ssure will continue to increase on the Piedra River. The size and n~ber of fish returned to the cre"l will continue to decrease, as it has 1n recent years. This will be a result of increased harvest of the older age classes as fishing pressure increases. TABLE III ACRES OF WILDLIFE HABITAT i ~ Suitability Non-Game Ilabitat Piedra Valley River* Corridor BigGa.... Winter Habitat Piedra River Valley Corridor Big Game SUI,""erHabitat Piedra River Valley Corridor High Moderate ,,>' Unsuitabh BfI,flOO lOb, 300 11,900 1&,300 30,400 32,500 25,700 116,200 1.700 1,900 ~,SOO B,200 101,700 73,200 Z9,9OO lO,~oo 5.900 *The river corridor acres are also included in the Piedra Valley acres. E./ Hubbard, J. P. L977. l.."ortanc" of Jl;:l;>arian Ecos,.stt!lII' Biotic Considerations .!.'! Importance, Preservation, and Manag~ent Ei Riparian Habitat, A symposium, DSDA - Forest Service. General Techni~al Report RM - ~3,1~-19. 1-10