2022-02-22_PERMIT FILE - C1980007 (4)

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West Elk Mine 2.04-3 Rev. 06/05- PR10, 03/06- PR10, 04/06- PR10, 09/07- PR12; 07/18- PR15; 01/22- MR459 Gunnison National Forest Within the West Elk Mine permit area, the USFS manages approximately 6,217 acres of public land located in T13S and T14S, R90W, 6th P.M. All USFS lands are within the Gunnison National Forest. These lands fall within Management Areas 5A and 6B. Management Area 5A is generally located south and west of Minnesota Creek and north of an imaginary line connecting Mount Lamborn and Beaver Reservoir within the Gunnison National Forest. Management Area 6B is roughly bounded on the southwest by Minnesota Creek, on the south by Gunnison Creek, on the east by Coal Creek, and the north by the Forest boundary. The topography of the area is steep with vegetation communities ranging from sage-grass to oakbrush and Douglas fir forests. Given the rugged topography, relative inaccessibility and predominantly undisturbed vegetation communities, the historic land uses of the area have been limited to livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, and dispersed recreational activities (hunting, trapping, horseback riding, and some off-road vehicle use). The USFS has not developed or provided a discussion of the capability of the land to support a variety of uses, recognizing that the historic land uses have been limited to those identified. The management emphasis for Management Area 5A (identified as wildlife habitat on Map 67) is to optimize winter range for big game, including deer, elk, pronghorns, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats (USFS 1991). It is noted that it is unlikely that pronghorns, bighorn sheep, or mountain goats would be found in the specific lands within the West Elk Mine permit area. Grazing in this management unit favors big game, with a goal of maintaining vegetation in mid-seral or better range condition. Emphasis is placed on maintaining shrub species with varied age structure. Livestock use is to be limited to avoid competition with big game species. Dispersed recreation is to be managed to limit winter use to very low or low densities. The existing pre-mining management prescription for Management Area 6B (identified as rangeland on Map 67) is livestock grazing (USFS, 1991). A description of the management prescription states in part; "The area is managed for livestock grazing. Range condition is maintained through use of forage improvement practices, livestock management, and regulation of other resource activities. Conflicts between livestock and wildlife are resolved in favor of livestock." There are also riparian areas identified in Exhibit 32B. These are Management Areas 9A, which correspond to riparian area management. Resource use will be managed to protect and maintain the riparian area. Vegetation treatment will enhance plant and animal diversity. Primitive, semi- primitive, non-motorized, semi-primitive motorized, roaded natural and rural recreation opportunities can be provided. Compatible land uses include dispersed recreational activities, and wildlife habitat. Land capability and productivity is assessed in terms of providing adequate forage for the livestock grazed on the management area as a whole. The capability guideline is to maintain capability at 60 percent of potential, and to allocate no more than 80 percent of available forage to livestock, leaving the remainder for big game populations.