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EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS <br />It is recommended that as planned. a portion (approximately l 500 feet) of the northernmost <br />section of existing road remain within a 30 foot right-of--way. This plan will avoid several <br />structures including•a house and hunter's cabins. This portion of the road is between drill <br />location OM-Ol-04 and drill location OM-Ol-O1 and begins at its intersection with the dirt road <br />that runs along Bear Creek (from south to north) and continues west until it turns, south.and <br />meets the Delta and Gunnison County lines. It is also recommended that, as planned, only the <br />western portion of drill site OM-Ol-Ol (west of the existing dirt road) be impacted. To the east <br />of the road a historic structure burned down in the 1960s. The Elk Creek Lease plans also <br />specify that the section of existing road extending from the center of drill location OM-Ol-06 to <br />the center of drill location OM-O1-11 remain on the current 20 foot wide two-track to single- <br />track road, Confining disturbance to the road will avoid a hunting camp (modem) wish an <br />inscribed aspen tree visible from the road. <br />SGN3711.1 -Segment of the Fire Mountain Canal <br />Although the entire Fire Mountain Cana] System has not yet been officially determined eligible, a <br />segment to the west of the Project Area in Delta County {SDT1277.1) has been recommended <br />field eligible under Criterion A. That segment as well as the one located in the Project Area <br />should be considered contributing elements to an eligible Fire Mountain Canal System. The <br />segment within the Project Area is recommended eligible under Criterion A because of its <br />association in history with the development of Farming and Ranching within the North Fork of <br />the Gunnison River Valley. <br />M_ananement Recommendations: In the event that this segment of the canal cannot be avoided, <br />it should be photographed and documented to BLM Level II standards. <br />SGN1661.2 - D&RGW Railroad Trestle and Associated Track Segment <br />The D&RGW Railroad was officially determined eligible in 1988 for its association with the <br />expansion of railroads across the central Rocky Mountains beginning in the ] SSOs and continuing <br />until the I930s. This segment of the surviving grade is a contributing element to the railroad and <br />is therefore eligible under Criterion A. In addition, the trestle and grade aze representative of the <br />design and engineering that was used in the construction of high country railroads. As a result, <br />this segment is also eligible under Criterion A. <br />_ManaQement Recommendations: In the event that the trestle within this segment cannot be <br />avoided, it should be photographed and documented to BLM Level II standazds. <br />EVALUATION OF RESEARCH <br />The lack of prehistoric cultural resources in the survey area was expected. The area has been <br />heavily impacted by historic and modern use. The presence of mining, railroading and ranching <br />or ranching related sites within the Project Area was expected due to its proximity to several coal <br />mines and due to its location within a significant western Colorado river valley. The lack of <br />38 <br />