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000699 January 1990 AMERICAN FLATS/BILL HARE GULCH/LARSON CREEK ACREAGE: 4,710 acres in the Bureau of Land Management Wilderness study Areas DESIGNATION RECOMMENDATIONS: BLM 1,505 (tentative) ARMSTRONG 1,200 WIRTH 3,900 FOREST: Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre and Gunnison COUNTY: ouray/Hinsdale Ouray Land Area sq. miles 542 Hinsdale Land Area sq. miles 1,115 Public Land % of total 46 FS/BLM land % 37/9 FS/BLM land % 78/17 Public Land % of total 95 LOCATION: In the southwestern part are contiguous with the 97,700 acre administered by the Forest Service. Ouray. of the state, these three areas Big Blue wilderness Area They are east of the town of RECOMMENDATION: The 1,505 acres of the American Flats area considered acceptable by the BLM are proposed for wilderness designation with slight modification. This addition would round out a logical boundary for the Big Blue Wilderness without impacts on areas of most concern to local residents. Bill Hare Gulch and Larson Creek are not recommended for designation. GENER~L FEATURES: Most of these WSAs are above timberline. Forest COVEr occurs on 178 acres and elevations range from 11,000 to 13,000 feet. SPECIAL FEATURES: These areas would be small additions to the Big Blue Wilderness and administered by the Bureau of Land Management. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: The BLM's wilderness program is a result of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976. These areas were identified by the BLM as wilderness study areas, and BLM tentatively recommended 1,505 acres as suitable. RELATION TO OTHER WILDERNESS: These areas are adjacent to the Big Blue wilderness. They are near the Mt. Sneffels, Lizard Head, Weminuche and La Garita Wilderness Areas, and the proposed Cannibal Plateau study Area. VEGETATION: Much of these WSAs are above timberline. occurs on 178 acres and is mainly Engelmann spruce. Forest cover WILDLIFE: Many deer, elk and bear are located in the area and SOffiG hunting occurs.