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1 Mule Creek Gravel Pit )~ronmental Assessment • Page 36 <br />the National Forest trail system. It was established by the previous owners of the pazcel <br /> of private land (who owned an outfitter guide operation) and was used primarily for <br />t horseback riding. Currently, the trail is only used occasionally. It is possible, though not <br /> deternuned, that the trail is a portion of a game trail, and therefore is being used by <br /> hunters, which access [he trail from Forest land azeas. <br />' i <br />h <br />il <br />i <br /> on of the segment of t <br />e tra <br />potent <br />ally <br />The Forest Service is not considering the relocat <br /> affected by the proposed project on National Forest land. The trail was established as a <br />' result of continuous use by the previous owners of the pazcel of private land and did not <br /> follow National Forest trail construction guidelines, nor does it belong to the National <br /> Forest trail system. <br />' <br /> 3.1.3.3 Socioeconomic <br />' 3.1.3.3.1 General characterization <br /> Teller County can be described as a rural setting and has experienced a steady rate of <br />' growth (5.5% - 6.0% per yeaz) in the last two decades. During the early 90s there was a <br /> peak in the growth rate (8% to 12%), and currently the population growth rate is steady at <br /> 3-1/4 to 4% range. Its main cities, Woodland Park (Home Rule Government), Cripple <br />' Creek, and Victor, support important mining activities, and several lazge-scale <br /> businesses. Rapid development is attributed to several factors, including: the advent of <br /> limited-stakes gaming in Cripple Creek, the aggressive expansion of mining by the <br />' Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mining Company/Pikes Peak Mining Company, the <br /> decision by Sturman Industries to locate in Woodland Park, and the expansion of <br /> Colorado Springs suburban areas. The availability of afour-lane highway provides short <br />' driving times from Colorado Springs to Teller County, when compazed to new <br /> developments adjacent to Colorado Springs and in EI Paso County. <br />' Two highways, US Highway 24 and Colorado Highway 67, provide east-west, and north- <br /> south access to the county, respectively. <br />' Teller County offers a diverse range of recreational activities, including the Florissant <br /> Fossil Beds National Monument, and Mueller State Park. A large portion of the county <br /> consists of National Forest lands (Pike National Forest), and associated recreational <br />' areas. <br /> <br />l_J <br />1 <br /> <br />' Hydrosphere Resource Consultants, 1002 Walnut Swte 200, Boulder, CO 80302 <br />