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CHAPTER FOUR adjacent to popularly used recreation resources would reduce scenic viewing related recreation experiences and visitor use as a result of lowered scenic quality. Domestic sheep grazing near and above timberline would alter recreation settings and experiences particularly for backcountry visitors, especially in the Silver Creek drainage. Impacts from Forest ManagemenL Timber harvests occurring in a variety of ROS settings would result in a loss and lowering of recreation experiences, ROS settings, scenic quality, and watchable wildlife opportunities. Visitor use in these areas would gradually decrease over the long-term. Impacts from Visual Resource ManagemenL Managing approximately 90% of the planning area under VRM Class IV guidelines would permit extensive changes to occur within the landscapes in the planning area, resulting in lowered scenic quality which, in turn, would result in diminished recreation experiences and altered ROS settings. Impacts from Historical Resource Management. The identification, stabilization and interpretation of historical resources would enhance the selling and experience of recreation visitors by increasing enjoyment and understanding. Impacts from Transportation and Access. Acquisition of public access would increase recreational visitor use and would make available more public lands for recreation activities such as hunting, sightseeing and OHV use. Impacts from Acquisition of Non-Federal Lands. The acquisition of inholdings and lands with significant recreation resources would expand recreational opportunities and would eliminate potential private development. CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ON RECREATION Improved recreation facilities, hunting and fishing opportunities, and increased OHV use would be offset by a drastic decrease in backcountry visitor use and use by those seeking a more primitive experience. The decrease in use would occur because of lowered scenic quality, and thus viewable landscapes, altered ROS settings, displacement of wildlife, and losses of wildlife habitat and fisheries. IMPACTS ON OUTSTANDINGLY REMARKABLE SCENIC VALUES IN SEGMENT A, LAKE FORK OF THE GUNNISON RIVER STUDY CORRIDOR IMPACTS FROM PROPOSED MANAGEMENT ACTIONS Impacts from the Recommendation. In this alternative, the 13.3 mile Segment A of the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River from Sloan Lake to Wager Gulch would NOT BE RECOMMENDED as being suitable for inclusion into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System (NWSRS). The resultant potential and significant impacts to the outstandingly remarkable scenic values (values) that qualify this segment to be eligible for inclusion are discussed below. Impacts from Locatable Minerals ManagemenL If mineral activity were to occur on federal mineral estate, values would potentially be altered in the short-term on an additional 330 acres of public land in the "Loop Road" protective withdrawal, which would be recommended for revocation in this alternative. The total federal mineral estate would thus be available for mineral entry and location, but would be subject to BLM's surface management regulations regarding reasonable reclamation and plans of operation. Impacts from Recreation ManagemenL Managing7.3 miles of public land in Unit C-t (3,665 acres) in the segment as open to motorized vehicular use would result in significant deterioration of scenic values, as a result of physical impacts to terrain from OHV use, especially in the American Basin drainage. Impacts from Visual Resource Management. Managing about 7.3 miles (3,665 acres) of public land in Unit C-t under VRM Class IV objectives could potentially result in an increased amount of visual change and contrast over that currently managed for under VRM Class II objectives. 4-36