WSP07926

• File Number: 8200.766
• Description: Gunnison River General
• State: CO
• Basin: Gunnison
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 3/1/1991
• Author: BLM
• Title: Gunnison Resource Area - Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement - Draft - Chapter 4 to end
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

CHAPTER FOUR

zones could result in changes in seasons of use, class
of livestock, and possible temporary reductions in
livestock forage allocatioDS. These adjustments would
be considered during AMP revi~on or new CRMAP
or AMP development, and could remain the same or
be modified.

Impacts !'rom Soil and Water Resources
Management. Vegetation treatment projects would
improve livestock distribution and improve livestock
forage quality and quantity.

Impacts from Wildlife Habitat Management.
Vegetation treatment projects designed to improve
wildlife habitat would improve livestock distribution
and livestock forage quality.

Impacts from Wilderness Study Area Management.
Management requirements in wilderness study areas
would exclude any land treatment projects and would
severely limit development and maintenance of
livestock watering projects. This could result in heavy
livestock utilization in some areas, especially within
riparian zones, or if necessary, forage adjustments
could occur.

Impacts from Transportation and Access. Acquiring
access into eight areas would improve effectiveness of
administration of the livestock grazing program, but
seven of the eight being for public access also would
increase livestock harassment and vandalism of
livestock facilities.

Impacts from Disposal of Public Lands. Disposal of
2,585 acres of public lands which are currently grazed
by domestic livestock would eliminate 172 A UMs of
livestock forage.

CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ON LIVESTOCK
GRAZING

Increases in livestock AUMs through land treatment
projects and improved vegetation production would
be offset by disposal of public land. Impacts from
achieving less-than-heavy livestock utilization levels in
some riparian zones could result in temporary or
permanent reductions in forage allocations. Impacts

from land disposal would result in a loss of A UMs
and 2,585 acres of suitable grazing lands. The net
effect could be a decrease of 172 AUMs, resulting in
a total grazing preference of 47,256 AUMs.

IMPACTS ON FOREST MANAGEMENT

IMPACTS FROM PROPOSED MANAGEMENT
ACTIONS

Impacts from Forest Management. Approximately
44,062 acres of suitahle commercial forest lands and
19,262 acres of suitable woodlands would be available
for harvest. This would result in an annual harvest of
1,200 MBF of commercial forest products and 400
cords of fuelwood.

Impacts from livestock GrazIng Management.
Livestock utilization and trampling on approximately
400 acres of seedling areas would result in these lands
remaining classified as poorly stocked.

Impacts 'rom Wilderness Study Area Management.
Non-impairment guidelines in wilderness study areas
would preclude the harvest of commercial timber on
approximately 14,400 acres. This would result in a
loss of 432 MBF annually.

Impacts !'rom Disposal of Public Lands. A total of
650 acres of commercial forest lands would be lost
due to public land disposal. This would result in 19
MBF annually being unavailable for harvest on public
lands.

CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ON FOREST
MANAGEMENT

A total of 44,062 acres of suitable commercial forest
lands would be available for sustained yield
production. This would result in the annual harvest
of 1,200 MBF of commercial timber. Approximately
400 cords of fuelwood would be available annually
from 19,262 acres of suitable woodlands. About
15,050 acres of suitable commercial forest lands would
be unavailable for harvest, resulting in a potential
harvest loss annually of 451 MBF. Other forest
products would also be available.

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