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OOJ732 Blanca Peak. However, the area east of california Peak to the ute Trail has been included. Though it is outside the study area, there appear to be no conflicts if the boundary skirts the water development in the upper reaches of the Huerfano River. GENERAL FEATURES: This WSA includes the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range, which is characterized by alpine vegetation along its crest and spruce and fir trees at lower elevations. Elevation ranges between 8,200 and 14,345 feet. The Sangre de Cristo range is over 70 miles long. SPECIAL FEATURES: Five mountains, including Blanca, Little Bear, Crestone, Crestone Needle and Humbolt Peaks, exceed 14,000 feet in elevation. The Sangre de Cristo Mountains are highly visible -- viewed primarily from the San Luis Valley and the Wet Mountain valley. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: The Sangres were recommended for wilderness designation as a result of the RARE II process. It was designated a WSA by the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1980, and was again recommended suitable for wilderness by the Forest Service. RELATION TO OTHER WILDERNESS: There are 5 designated wilderness areas in the Rio Grande National Forest, encompassing 257,420 acres. The Sangres are near the wilderness areas of the Great Sand Dunes National Monum~nt, administered by the National Park Service. It is within 65 air miles of the Lost Creek, South San Juan, La Garita, Mount Massive, Hunter-Fryingpan and Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Areas, which total over 512,000 acres. VEGETATION: Alpine vegetation occurs along the crest of the range with spruce fir, Douglas fir and ponderosa at lower elevations. Riparian area vegetation includes willows, sedges and grasses. A prairie grassland not found in other Colorado wildernesses is located on the west side of the range. WILDLIFE: The Sangre de Cristo WSA provides winter range for deer, elk and bighorn sheep. Habitat acreages may overlap as 2 or all 3 species may use the same range. Deer use a total of 16,800 acres, elk use 11,500 acres and bighorn sheep use 27,800 acres. Other species that commonly occur are goshawk, and northern three-toed woodpecker. FISHING: The area is used extensively for fishing. THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES: None has been identified. However, about three miles of Cottonwood Creek have been identified as potential habitat for the greenback cutthroat trout, a federally listed endangered species. This portion of Cottonwood Creek is left out of wilderness so the opportunity to develop this habitat remains. CONFLICTS: There are a variety of conflicts identified by the Forest Service and private individuals. In the study area, and proposed expansion of that area, the Forest Service reports 17 tracts of private land encompassing over 1,123 acres, 3 tracts of land on which minerals rights are reserved encompassing 907 acres, 3 developed 4WD roads, an extensive motorized recreation trail system, an oil and gas lease, easements for several irrigation ditches, mine access, a road right-of-way, and a dam and reservoir.