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<br />Ojj176 <br /> <br />I. INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />A. PROPOSED ACtION <br /> <br />To tec~nd to the Cnited States Congress that the Piedra River be added to the National Wild <br />and Scenic River System. The Yild and Scenic Rivers Act, as amended by Public Law 93-621, <br />January, 1915 (hereinafter referred to as tbe Act), designated the Piedra as a study river along <br />;lich t....elve oebel" rivets located in Colorado. The law o;pecified: "(41) Piedra, Colorado: The <br />KiddIe Fork and East Fork from tbeir sources to tbeir confluence. thence the Piedra to its <br />junction with COlorado Highway 160, including the tributaries and headwaters on National Forest <br />Lands." The study was later amended by Title VlI of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 191& <br />(Public Law 94-486. January, 1916). This amendment eliminated the tributaries and headwaters on <br />National forest Lands. <br /> <br />The Wild and Scenic River study, directed by the United States Congress, determines the river's <br />eligibility; the ,ocisl, econo~ic snd resource 1mplication of the proposed action; and the <br />resultant costs and proposed management of the river. <br /> <br />Undn the authority of Section He) of the Act, the State of Colorado requl!9ted that the study <br />be jointly carried out by the federal Government and the State. In February, 1976, a Federall <br />State study team (hereinafter referred to as the study team) waS for~ed. <br /> <br />B. LOCATION <br /> <br />The Piedra River is located in southwest Colorado, west and south of the Continental Oivide (see <br />Map '1). Generally, the Divide runS north and south through Colorado, but in this area it bends <br />to the west in a sweeping arc before continuing north. Study segments of the river are located <br />on public and private lands in Archuleta, Hinsdale and Kineral Counties within the San Juan <br />National Forest. <br /> <br />C. SCOPE <br /> <br />The study covered S3 ~ile8 of the river and its immediate environment within the river corridor. <br />There are nearly 16,300 acres within the study corridor. Approximately Ig miles and 5,700 acres <br />of the Middle and East Forks are within the Weminuche Wilderness. There are 2,600 acrea of <br />private lands that would be affected by river classification. [ighty-four percent of the study <br />river corridor is on public lands and 8i~teen percent crosses private lands. <br /> <br />D. ISSUES <br /> <br />An intrinsic part of thia study and planning effort waS to obtain public comments concerning the <br />study. The initial thrust of public involvement in the planning process was co identify issues <br />and concerns. Following are the major issues regarding river deaignation as e~pressed by the <br />public. <br /> <br />1) The Federal Government should not force private landowners to open their lands to <br />public use (through easements) since the river runs mainly through public lands and the <br />public currently has acceS5 to ~st of its length. <br /> <br />2) The Federal Government should not use river classification as a .eans to control water <br />uses as provided for under State water laws. <br /> <br />3) Notoriety surrounding river classification will attract and encourage recreation use <br />levels that will degrade the existing river environment. <br /> <br />~) Addition to the National ~Ild Bnd Scenic Rivers System is the only meanS of guarantee- <br />ing protection of the physical, biotic and ecological environment of the river and its <br />!rec~fl~.i~6 ct~r~ctcr. <br /> <br />S) Lumber and livestock uses .ust continue to Insure local economic stability. <br /> <br />6) Wildlife habitat should be managed or enhanced to support larger wildlife populations. <br /> <br />7) Management activities should not alter the natural beauty of the piedra Rivet. <br /> <br />8) Known historiC and cultural resources should be protected. <br /> <br />9) Recreation use controls are needed to prevent overuse and degradation of the river <br />environment. <br /> <br />1-~ <br />