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Alternate Land Uses • the proposed alternate land use wnsists of two parts. Part one is the • conversion of all cropland to pastureland. Part two is the conversion of 1965.3 acres (1239.8 affect acres) from rangelarrl to pastureland. Map 63 and Table 117 show the acreages associated with this proposed lard use change. The conversion of cropland to pasturelarrl s oong~atible with adjacent lard uses and is consistent with past management practices. As can be seen on Map 63 the premine croplard and pastureland have not been separated but have been c~nbined under improved lard. This is because classification as to cropland or pastureland depends on the year of observation, because of the past practice of converting cropland to pasturelands. 4his proposal is also consistent with the Conservation Reserve Pirogram considering the high erosion potential for these lands as discussed order Section 779.22. 'Ihe conversion of rangeland to pasturelarri is also omi¢~atible with adjacent lard uses aryl consistent with past managm~ent trends. ~m~*+ation of aerial photography shwa that it is the logical extension of the previous trend for • improving land in Eclanan Park and the surrounding area for agriculture and livestock production. F]~mination of aerial photography and vegetative data collected on the previously described range sites shwa that both brush control aryl seeding to improved graccac such as smooth brume were ir~ortant management practices. This propa.~al is also wnsistent with Routt County ASCS program for assisting (by cost sharing) ranchers with brush control. Literature provided by the CSU Routt County Extension Office reports that a threefold increase in forage production can be expec,~ted from brush control. As previously mentioned, these proposed uses fall under current Routt County zoning regulations for agricultural uses. As a result no zoning changes are rer;uired. • MR 91-73 780-206 Revised 09/06/91