WSP07795

• File Number: 7630.200
• Description: Wild and Scenic-Eagles Nest
• State: CO
• Date: 9/24/1971
• Author: USFS
• Title: Eagles Nest Wilderness Area-A Proposal-Eagles Nest Wilderness Arapahoe and White River National Forests
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

Testimony at the Oral Hearing revolved around eight major alternatives or ideas as
to the classification of the Gore Range-Eagles Nest Primitive Area and adjacent lands.

1. Hearing Proposal (#1) was for the Eagles Nest Wilderness to contain 71,785
acres. This included 62,125 acres in the Gore Range-Eagles Nest Primitive Area,
of which 36.203 acres are on the Arapaho National Forest and 25,922 acres are
on the White River National Forest. Also included are 13,382 acres of adjacent
lands in twelve areas designated A thru L on the map, page 56. Twelve areas,
designated 1 thru 12, on the map on page 56, presently included within the
Primitive Area, were recommended for declassification.

Six hundred and thirty-five persons. thirty-one groups and four Government
Agencies submitted individually written statements supporting this Proposal.
Eleven individuals gave oral testimony and 4,200 people submitted mass-mailed
signed cards or petition signatures. This amounted to 4,881 responses for this
Proposal or 22.8% of the total.

The feeling was expressed that the Forest Service is much more qualified to
make recommendations and proposals as to what should be classified as Wilder-
ness areas than any special-interest groups who have proposed much larger
withdrawals of public lands.

Some expressed the unquestioned need for Wilderness, but felt it should be
in proportion to those who could use it. Others accept the Wilderness concept.
but don't want to unnecessarily tie up needed/developable resources.

Citizens Groups which generally favored Hearing Proposal # 1 for the Eagles
Nest Wilderness. are listed below.

1. American Farm Bureau Federation
2. American Mining Congress
3. Appalachian Mountain Club
4. Arizona Cattle Growers Association
5. Boulder-South Larimer Livestock Association
6. Campfire Girls of America
7. Colorado Cattlemen's Association
8. Colorado Farm Bureau
9. Colorado Four Wheel Drive Clubs, Incorporated
10. Colorado Open Roads Association
11. Colorado River Valley Resource Conservative and Development Area
12. Colorado State Forest Service
13. Colorado State Grange
14. Colorado Wildlife Federation, Incorporated
15. Colorado Wool Growers Association
16. Consolidated Mutual Water Company
17. Daily Sentinel Newspaper
18. Town of Eagle
19. Gunnison County Stock Growers Association
20. Gypsum Creek Cattle Growers Association
21. Kaibab Lumber
22. Eagle Lions Club
23. Mile Hi Jeep Club of Denver
24. The Nature Conservancy
25. North Park Game and Fish Association

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