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DISCUSSION <br />Despite the limitations of heavy vegetation cover, as expected the survey yielded <br />cultural resources. One prehistoric site and one historic site, were newly recorded and one <br />historic trail was revisited. These sites and their density are consistent with previous finds in <br />the area. Previous studies in the surrounding region have suggested occupation for as long as <br />11,000 years. Although there is new evidence of Paleoindian Era occupations in the region, <br />there is a higher level of data indicating use by Archaic, Formative, and Proto-historic Era <br />peoples. <br />The historic roadway, corral, and trash scatter indicate regional Euro -American <br />activity from the early to mid-century, which is consistent with the homestead land patent <br />records on file for the vicinity. The area surrounding the study location would have seen <br />homesteading and exploration activities as far back as the late 1870s, based on the GLO <br />survey plats. Hunting and trapping, farming and ranching, and mining served to draw settlers <br />to the region over the years. Within the project area, land patent filings suggest an increase in <br />settlement during the 1920s. This appears to correspond to the increased ease of access to the <br />area in general with the paving of Berthoud, Loveland, and Fall River passes and road <br />extensions and expansions through the Gore Range in the Upper Yampa Valley (Athearn <br />1977). <br />DETERMINATIONS OF EFFECT/MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS <br />The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) directs the BLM to ensure <br />that BLM-initiated or authorized actions do not inadvertently disturb or destroy significant <br />cultural resource values. The eligibility determination and consultation process is guided by <br />Section 106 of the NHPA (36 CFR 60, 63, and 800). BLM actions cannot be authorized until <br />the Section 106 process is completed (36 CFR 800.3). An inventory such as this is the first <br />step in the Section 106 process. <br />As a result of the survey, one previously recorded site, 5MF7402.1, an unnamed <br />historic road, was addressed. The southern half of this site was revisited, assigned a new <br />segment number (5MF7402.2), and determined to be a non -supporting segment of a <br />potentially eligible (need data) resource due to the fact that the entire extent of the resource <br />extends beyond the current project boundary and has not yet been fully documented. <br />Additionally, one prehistoric isolated feature site (5MF7727) and one historic site (5MF7728) <br />were newly recorded. Site 5MF7727 is field evaluated as need data and 5MF7728 is field <br />evaluated as not eligible. Concerning the present project, avoidance is recommended for <br />5MF7727, and no further work is recommended for 5MF7402.1 and 5MF7728. <br />wil <br />