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G~0718 nearby. VEGETATION: About 65% of the area is forested with pinon juniper and ponderosa pine, Douglas fir and spruce fir. The other 35% is nonforested grass, brushland and rock. A preponderance of steep, rocky slopes characterizes the WSA, making timber harvest difficult. WILDLIFE: acres. Winter range for bighorn sheep covers about 2,200 FISHING: Some fishing, with approximately 1,000 annual recreation visitor days. THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES: The WSA is a habitat for the greenback cutthroat trout, classified as threatened -- 3 miles in South Apache Creek, 3 miles potentially in North Apache Creek. The area also has four potential nesting sites for endangered peregrine falcons -- two sites along South Apache and Graneros Creeks, and another 2 within 1/2 mile of the WSA boundary along South Muddy and Little Graneros Creeks. CONFLICTS: Concern has been expressed about the fire hazard of a wilderness in such close proximity to the town of Rye, Colorado. Some forest fires have already occurred in the area and there is a strong likelihood of extensive fire in the future where timber management is forbidden. All but one of the adjudicated water rights in the area are excluded from wilderness designation. The road to the summit of Greenhorn Mountain has been closed to motorized access for several years, but its existence detracts from the wilderness characteristics of the area. WATER CONFLICTS: Nine adjudicated water rights are located within the study area, eight of which can be avoided with minor boundary changes. The WSA covers portions of 4 watersheds: Turkey Creek, Maes Creek, Apache Creek, and Greenhorn Creek. Water production from this area averages about .5 acre feet of water per acre per year, with a current annual water yield estimated at 10,260 acre feet per year. There is a potential to increase this yield by 590 acre feet to about 10,B50 acre feet per year through vegetation management. This increased yield will be forgone if the area is designated wilderness. MINERALS: The WSA has no developed or proven mineral resources. However, the southern portion of the area was recently staked for minerals (probably uranium). According to the Forest Service, about 85% to 90% of the area has high to moderate potential for locatable minerals. However, the US Geological Survey and the US Bureau of Mines completed a mineral resource study finding there is little likelihood of mineral resources in most of the WSA. LEASES: About 100 acres have pending oil and gas leases. CLAIMS: One unpatented mining claim exists in the southern part of the area. This conflict is avoided with a small boundary adjustment. TIMBER: Little logging has occurred in the WSA due to the many rocky, steep slopes. About 22,330 acres (53%) of the WSA is forest land capable of producing regulated timber products, but the steep slopes of the area make timbering difficult. The eastern side of the area is used by local residents for post and pole cutting.