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<br />OIH17 J3 <br /> <br />designated a WSA by the 1980 Wilderness Act. The Forest Service <br />determined that 36,060 acres were suitable for designation. <br /> <br />RELATION TO OTHER WILDERNESS: There are over 2 million acres of <br />wilderness within 150 miles of the area. The Collegiate Peaks <br />wilderness is 5 miles to the southwest, the Holy Cross is 15 miles <br />to the northwest, the Mount Evans is 10 miles to the west, and the <br />Mount Massive and Holy Cross Wilderness areas are also close by. <br /> <br />VEGETATION: Aspen, Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, ponderosa pine, <br />Douglas fir, and lodgepole pine are present. Bristlecone pine and <br />subalpine grasses and sedges, mountain meadows, and alpine tundra <br />characterize the higher elevations. <br /> <br />WILDLIFE: wildlife species which commonly occur are bighorn sheep, <br />elk, mule deer, pine marten, northern three-toed wood peeker, many <br />songbirds and raptors. Important lambing areas for bighorn sheep, <br />calving areas for elk and fawning sites for deer have been <br />identified. In both the northern and southern ends of the WSA <br />habitat management activities must be maintained to sustain the <br />present elk and bighorn sheep herds. These activities would be <br />precluded with wilderness designation. <br /> <br />FISHING: Cutthroat and rainbow trout are common in the area. <br /> <br />THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES: There are no species <br />identified. <br /> <br />CONFLICTS: Several parts of the study area have existing mining <br />claims. The Forest Service has indicated that over 140 claims <br />exist. Parcels of private land and a radio tower on South Peak are <br />excluded from the proposed wilderness designation. The southern <br />portion of the study area is not recommended for designation <br />because of a proposal by Colorado Springs for a tunnel for water <br />development. The area south of the study area is essential habitat <br />for bighorn sheep which must be managed if the bighorn sheep are to <br />be fully protected. Because habitat management is needed to <br />maintain the present population of elk and deer, the areas <br />southeast of the study area are not included in the wilderness. <br />This area also contributes to local firewood needs. <br /> <br />WATER: Parts of six watersheds occur within this WSA, four of <br />which are tributaries to the Arkansas River and two of which are <br />tributaries to the South Platte River. There are no existing water <br />diversions. Current water yield is estimated to be about 33,000 <br />acre feet per year, with a potential to increase the yield by 1,500 <br />acre feet with treatments in spruce fir and in lodgepole pine <br />stands above 9,000. The water is highly valued for agriculture and <br />domestic use. In the southern part of the area, the boundary is <br />drawn to avoid a pipeline and allow for maintenance and emergency <br />repair. <br /> <br />MINERALS: Several mining districts surround the WSA including <br />Granite on the west, Weston Pass on the northeast and Fourmile on <br />the south. Silver, gold and lead continue to be mined in the <br />Granite District. silver, lead and zinc ores occur as replacement <br />deposits in Leadville limestones in the Weston Pass Mining <br />District. The Ruby Mine in this district contained disseminated <br />galena and some sphalerite along with cerussite, calamine and <br />smithsonite. There is high potential for leasable minerals in the <br />