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CHAPTER FOUR reducing sediment and. erosion rates, increasing stream channel stability, and improving water quality. Eliminating grazing on riparian vegetation on unit C-ll would improve hydrologic conditions. Continuing to manage 320 acres of public land in the Wildcat Creek drainage as unavailable for livestock grazing would help maintain and protect the water quality of Crested Butte. Vegetation treatments designed to increase ground cover would result in improved hydrologic and soil erosion conditions on these areas. Impacts from Forest Management. Harvest of forest products and associated road construction would increase sediment production and soil compaction on approximately 59,000 acres of commercial forest lands. Impacts from Recreation ManagemenL Managing 135,789 more acres as open to 0 HV use would increase sediment yields and erosion rates. Impacts from Rights-of-Way Management. Identifying 6,150 acres as rights-of-way avoidance areas and 120 acres exclusion areas would help minimize erosion and sediment yields. The remainder of the Planning Area would experience some increase in sediment production and erosion rates. Impacts would occur at stream channel crossings and when construction activities occur during periods of high soil moisture. Impaets from Fire Management. Wildfires tend to result in short-term increases in sediment production. However, in areas where existing vegetation conditions are poor for watershed protection, fue can allow for a natural vegetation type conversion that provides additional watershed cover/protection. Typical flre suppression activities, such as the clearing of flre lines, and the use of fue suppression vehicles and heavy equipment could decrease watershed productivity by removing or damaging protective vegetation and increasing sediment production. CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ON SOIL AND WATER RESOURCES Hydrologic functions of riparian areas, water quality and stream channel stability would be expected to improve in the Long Gulch Demonstration Area, and riparian areas. Future water quantity protection would be provided where minimum stream flows are secured. Sediment and erosion rates would be expected to decrease where surface-disturbing activities are reduced and where basal vegetation cover is improved, and where IGMC's are implemented. Sediment and erosion rates would be expected to increase as a result of more acres open to OHV use. IMPACTS ON RIPARIAN ZONES IMPACTS FROM PROPOSED MANAGEMENT ACTIONS Impacts from Riparian Zones Management. Moving existing watering areas and sources and restricting development of new water sources in riparian zones would indirectly reduce vegetation utilization levels and the effects of trampling. Impacts from Locatable Minerals Management. Federal mineral estate along about 734 miles of identilied riparian zones would be open to mineral entry and location, as a result of all protective withdrawals being revoked, which could result in some loss of vegetation and other mining associated disturbances. About 129 of these miles are located within areas with a high potential for the occurrence of locatable minerals. Reclamation requirements would limit these impacts to the short-term, in most instances. Impacts from Saleable Minerals ManagemenL Damage or removal of riparian vegetation would occur as a result of surface disturbance from mineral material disposal in riparian areas. Impacts from Soli and Water Resources ManagemenL Vegetation treatments designed to increase plant basal cover and reduce soil erosion in 4-30