WSP07926 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

1'I"1~1':l7') l;'....) C J . .... grazing at existing allocations in the Powderhom Primitive Area SRMA and in allotments 6208, 6300 and 6309, could result in reduced forage and big game forage quality. Domestic sheep grazing in bighorn sheep ranges south and west of Lake City would result in less forage for, and disease transfer to, bighorn sheep, continued low bighorn sheep numbers, and potentially bighorn sheep elimination Crom this area. Impacts from Forest Management. Prohibiting harvesting from May 1 through June 30 on 5,389 acres of suitable commercial forest lands in elk- calving areas would prevent disturbance to elk from logging during calving season. Harvests in elk calving areas would reduce hiding cover for pregnant and young elk, potentially resulting in the areas not being used as calving areas. Maintaining sufficient elk hiding cover parallel to logging roads and along the perimeter of clear cuts would allow elk the opportunity to use forage produced in the clear cuts without being disturbed from activity on nearby roads, and would screen wildlife from human activity, thereby helping reduce stress and disturbance to animals. Requiring riparian zone values to be maintained during timber harvests would protecllarge trees for non-game wildlife and maintain a variety of habitats. The prescribed management in Appendix A for non-game wildlife regarding timber harvests would provide snags for nesting habitat, perch trees for raptors and brush piles and logs for small mammals. Harvesting ponderosa pine and douglas fir on a sustained yield basis could decrease big game thermal and hiding cover at the rate of 100-150 acres annually. Development of additional roads in elk summer range would also decrease hiding cover, and increase human activity, potentially resulting in changes of traditional use patterns. Impacts from Recreation Management. Development of a visitor and administrative center in Lake City could result in more effective PREFERRED ALTERNAllVE(E) IMPACTS educational programs about wildlife and habitat to the visiting public. Designating 600 acres of public land within the Sapinero State Wildlife Area as ciosed to OHV use would ensue OHV management consistency with the adjoining CDOW land and would improve management of the general area for wildlife. Continuing to limit OHV use from December 1 through March 31 to designated routes, if necessary, on 56,740 acres of crucial elk and deer winter range North of U.S. Highway 50 would prevent disturbance to these animals during the most critical portion of the year. Development of recreation facilities and the associated increased visitor use within the Alpine Triangle SRMA would continue to displace bighorn sheep and elk, especially along Henson Creek and the upper stretch of the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, resulting in loss of habitat and utilization of forage species in other, more isolated, areas. Development of campsites and the associated increased use along the Cochetopa Creek would eliminate bighorn sheep use within 1/2 mile of these areas, and could deter raptors from using the area. Impacts from Transportation and Access. Acquiring public road access into the Rock Creek Park area via Management Uait E-lO and increasing human activity in a previously inaccessible area would disrupt bighorn sheep range and lambing areas, and would force the herd onto marginal habitat. Acquiring public access into elk summer ranges and elk calving areas could result in eventual timber harvests and road building for logging, which would disturb elk, reduce habitat and cover, and increase human activity. Impacts from Acquisition of Non-Federal Lands. The acquisition of private lands in crucial elk and deer winter range would prevent the loss of habitat through subdivision development and human activities. Impacts from Rights-of-Way Management. Disturbances to species and habitat on about 40,613 acres of bighorn sheep range and 4,752 acres of crucial big game winter range would possibly be 4-63