Laserfiche WebLink
Mule Creek Gravel Pit ~ironmental Assessment ~ Page 35 <br />t activities, the expansion of roads, railroads and logging industry, and the development of <br /> recreation and resort opportunities. <br />' Power's survey aimed the inventory and the evaluation of the historical significance of <br /> prehistoric and historic resources in the proposed project area. Although prehistoric <br /> remains were not expected to be found in the area given the steep slopes of the terrain, <br /> known gravel quarrying and Vansportation route activities in the late nineteenth and early <br /> twentieth centuries indicated the possible existence of limited historic resources. <br />' The conclusions of the survey identify the existence of one segment of a historic site, <br /> known as STL79.2, which consists of an abandoned segment of the Midland Terminal <br />1 Railway system. This railway system served gold mines throughout the region since <br /> 1895, and before it was abandoned in 1949, it was operated by the Golden Cycle Mining <br /> and Milling Company. <br />' The abandoned Midland Terminal Railway bed crosses the azea of the proposed project <br /> next to the base of the gravel pit, and only a small section (approx. 400 feet) is located on <br /> Forest Service System land. However, that section corresponds to the original railroad <br />' bed, not modified by modern construction practices in the area. Therefore, it has been <br /> proposed for eligibility as a historic linear resource, to the National Register of Historic <br />' Places. <br />3.7.3.2 Recreation <br />Recreational opportunities in the area near the proposed project include both the <br />structured setting of Mueller State Park, and the experiences available on open Forest <br />' Service lands. <br />Mueller State Park includes approximately 12,000 acres of forested and meadowed areas <br />' in mountainous terrain. The park offers visitors camping in spectacular forested areas, <br /> but with modem facilities like flush restrooms and a complete camper services building. <br /> The park includes more than 75 miles of improved trails, 45 picnic sites, and 132 <br />' camping sites. In the 1998-1999 season, the park recorded approximately 158,000 <br /> visitors. <br />' Mining at the proposed site could impact visitors to the park through noise, dust and <br /> altered views. Two trails in particular pass near Highway 67 and the mine site. <br /> However, due to the high density of trees in the area in which the park is located, impacts <br />' to park visitors aze expected to be few, if any, both for these trails and the campsites that <br /> are located further away from the highway. The thick Forest shields visitors from <br /> viewing the mine, will dampen noise of the operation, and will help catch dust that may <br />' leave the site. <br />' Recreation activities adjacent to the proposed project are limited to a single trail, used for <br />hiking and horseback riding (personal communication: Tim Grantham, Pike National <br />Forest). It starts on private land, on the South side of the gravel pit site, and heads to the <br />' North, through National Forest land. This unnamed Vail is a social trail, and not part of <br />' Hydrosphere Resource ConsultviCS, 1002 Walnut Suite 200, Boulder, CO BO102 <br />