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Alternative :?: The proposed reopening of the abandoned drill road for 1.~ miles will cross pasture fences four or five times. This has the potential to disntpt grazing patterns and can be especially detrimental to the intensive time-controlled system used in [he ,.rrea. A specific problem is gates being left open that would allow stock to pass from one pasture to another. lfreopened, the drill road will pass six stock ponds. Improper repair of the road could reduce the proper function of these ponds. The proposed mile of new temporary road construction down Long Draw will pass by two stock ponds. A road placement here will likely damage the ponds and reduce the effective movement of livestock. Any €;round disturbance has the potential to cause noxious weed infestations. Revegetating with an approved seed mix as soon as possible will help reduce the noxious weeds. Installation of the GVBs and road access would not greatly affect personal fuelwood gathering opportunities. Hunters visiting the area may be disrupted by the additional traffic on FR 711. ATV use would still be allowed on the reopened drill road, but would be closed to full-sized vehicles (see RFDS). There would be no change from previous yeazs experienced by returning hunters. Hunter patrols by the Paonia District for the past few years have shown between five and seven repeat use hunter camps in the proximate to the project azea. Most of the camps aze along FR 711 and along Deep Creek. These camps are at least 2 miles frotn the proposed GVB drilling area. It is not expected that noise from the drill rigs would disrupt the hwrters, but lights or glow from lights may affect their outdoor experience. Drilling operations may affect the distribution of game in the immediate project and adjacent area (see Section 3.A, Wildlife). Activity in the immediate project area may reduce it as a "huntable azea." Potential use of the azea in winter may effect snowmobiling particularly access on along the Minnesota Creek comdor (FR 711), where snowplowing would be needed. This would reduce the ease of accessibility to the general area for snowmobiling. Lighting at the drill sites will not affect local residents, as the closest private residence is 4 miles distant, and screened by topography. One of the concerns raised during public scoping was the effect of GVB development on the ro~tdless character of the area. Roadless areas are defined to contain the following characteristics and values (USDA-Forest Service, 2000): Provide sources of clean dritilcing water. Function as biological strongholds for populations of threatened and endangered species. Provide large, relatively undisturbed landscapes important for biological diversity and the long-term survival of many at-risk species. 22