Table Of Content

BLM LIBRARY nited States Department of the Interior jreau of Land Management Colorado State Office Colorado October 1991 WILDERNESS STUDY REPORT Volume Three, Pages 353-426 Canon City District Study Areas QH 76.5 . C6 C656 1991 v. 3 SeVpedMalCenter g. 50,OC-521 . Box 25047 - ID . 03 ^ looo QH "H-5 A/ t V^L> / grf A Vt£pk TABLE OF CONTENTS Wilderness Study Area Volume 1 CRAIG DISTRICT Bull Canyon CO-OlO-OOl 3 Willow Creek CO-010-002 17 Skull Creek CO-010-003 31 Black Mountain CO-010-007A 45 Windy Gulch CO-010-007C 55 Oil Spring Mountain CO-010-046 65 Platte River Contiguous CO-010-104 75 Troublesome CO-010-155 83 West Cold Spring CO-010-208 93 Diamond Breaks CO-010-214 105 Ant Hills CO-010-224 117 Chew Winter Camp CO-010-224A 127 Peterson Draw CO-010-226 135 Vale of Tears CO-010-229D 145 Cross Mountain CO-010-230 153 Volume 2 MONTROSE DISTRICT Bill Hare Gulch CO-030-085 169 Larson Creek CO-030-086 175 RedcloudPeak CO-030-208 183 American Flats CO-030-217 197 Handies Peak CO-030-241 205 Menefee Mountain CO-030-251 219 Weber Mountain CO-030-252 231 Cross Canyon CO-030-265 243 Squaw/Papoose Canyon CO-030-265A 255 TABLE OF CONTENTS continued Wilderness Study Area Page Cahone Canyon CO-030-265D 267 McKenna Peak CO-030-286 279 Dolores River Canyon CO-030-290 291 Tabeguache Creek CO-030-300 301 Camel Back CO-030-353 311 Adobe Badlands CO-030-370B 323 Gunnison Gorge CO-030-388 337 Volume 3 CANON CITY DISTRICT Browns Canyon CO-050-002 353 McIntyre Hills CO-050-013 363 Lower Grape Creek CO-050-014 373 BeaverCreek CO-050-016 385 Upper Grape Creek CO-050-017 399 Sand Castle CO-050-135 409 San Luis Hills CO-050-141 417 Volume 4 GRAND JUNCTION DISTRICT Demaree Canyon CO-070-009 427 Little Book Cliffs CO-070-066 439 Black Ridge Canyons CO-070-113 451 Black Ridge Canyons West CO-070-113A 463 The Palisade CO-070-132 477 Dominguez Canyon CO-070-150 487 SewemupMesa CO-070-176 501 Eagle Mountain CO-070-392 511 Hack Lake CO-070-425 519 Bull Gulch CO-070-430 527 Castle Peak CO-070-433 541 BLM Library Denver Federal Center Bldg. 50, OC-521 P-O. Box 25047 Denver, CO 80225 6 \\>:$4o& 3 i <> > Qt(_ ]COO ■f /A / Wl BROWNS CANYON Y- WILDERNESS STUDY AREA The Study Area — 6,614 acres Statement (EIS) published in December, 1987. Two alternatives were analyzed in the EIS; all The Browns Canyon WSA (CO - 050 - 002) is wilderness which is the recommendation of this located in Chaffee County approximately 6 miles report, and a no wilderness alternative. south of Buena Vista and 7 miles northwest of Salida. The north and south borders of the WSA Recommendation and Rationale go through BLM lands and were delineated during f the inventory process to exclude a roadway and a 6,614 acres recommended for wilderness A narrow area with no outstanding wilderness J qualities, respectively. Beginning in the southwest 0 acres recommended for nonwildemess corner of the WSA, the western boundary follows the eastern edge of the Denver and Rio Grande The entire Browns Canyon WSA is recommended Railroad right-of-way which is 100 feet from the for wilderness designation. This is the environ- track center line. North of the point where the mentally preferable alternative as it will result in track crosses the Arkansas River, the boundary the least change from the natural environment follows the water's edge along the east bank of the over the long-term. river until reaching T.15S.R.78W. The boundary leaves the water's edge in this section and follows In recommending this WSA for wilderness a legal subdivision line between public and private designation, the area's spectacular scenery and the lands until it reaches the northwest corner of the outstanding opportunities it offers for primitive, WSA. The WSA is bounded on the east by the unconfined recreation and solitude were primary San Isabel National Forest. These lands are considerations. The rugged topography and shown on the map. groupings of vegetation within the WSA create a variety of settings ranging from canyons and The WSA varies in elevation from about 7,400 gulches with enclosed intimate qualities to open feet along the Arkansas River to about 9,000 feet ridgetops with sweeping views of the Arkansas near the eastern boundary. Topography of the River valley and the nearby Sawatch Mountain area is very rugged with many mountains, canyons range, the highest group of peaks in the Rockies. and gulches. Drainages generally cross the WSA (See photo 1) Numerous rock spires located in an east to west direction and empty into the throughout the area make Browns Canyon particu- Arkansas River. Overstory vegetation is mostly larly scenic. (See photo 2) The WSA's relatively pinon pine and juniper on the lower slopes with low elevation and proximity to a major highway also make it accessible for recreation activities during some ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir in the higher the winter season when nearby high-elevation elevations and more sheltered coves. Broadleaf wilderness areas cannot be reached by most species including aspen, willow and cottonwood potential users. also occur in scattered pockets within the drainages. Understory vegetation includes rabbitbrush, Designation of this WSA as wilderness will blue gramma grass, mountain muhly, Indian enhance the recreation experiences of users along ricegrass, prickly pear cactus, cholla and yucca. the adjacent Browns Canyon segment of the Arkansas River by ensuring that a pristine wilder- The WSA was studied under Section 603 of the ness backdrop will be maintained along the Federal Land Policy and Management Act eastern side of the river corridor. (See Photo 3) (FLPMA) and was included in the Canon City Browns Canyon is the most popular white water District Wilderness Final Environmental Impact rafting area in Colorado and received approximately 353 BROWNS CANYON WSA CO-050-002 90,000 visitor days of use during 1990. To help sheep, and several species of raptors including red- foster an interest and appreciation of wilderness tailed hawk and prairie falcon. The rocky cliffs, values among these users, the Arkansas River Rec- remoteness, and abundance of prey combine to reation Management Plan calls for developing make this WSA suitable habitat for the endan- wilderness interpretive displays at trailheads gered peregrine falcon which the Colorado adjacent to the WSA if it is designated as wilder- Division of Wildlife plans to reintroduce into the ness. area. There has been strong public support for designat- No major resource conflicts or manageability ing the Browns Canyon WSA as wilderness problems would result from wilderness designa- throughout the review process. During formal tion. There are 9 mining claims (post FLPMA) review of the Draft EIS, 41 of 44 commenters located in the northwest portion of the WSA. supported wilderness designation, while none fa- However, surveys completed by the U. S. Geologi- vored releasing the area from wilderness consid- cal Survey and Bureau of Mines indicate minimal eration. Wilderness designation would help mineral potential. The two existing grazing protect the area's diverse natural qualities. The allotments have received little use in the past and WSA represents a transition zone between semi- are considered marginal for grazing because of the arid pinon/juniper woodlands and the Rocky rough terrain, limited forage, and because the rail- Mountain pine/Douglas-fir forest. Due in part to road tracks which parallel the area are unfenced its remoteness and rugged topography, this WSA is and pose a danger to livestock. important habitat for numerous wildlife species such as mule deer, mountain lion and bighorn Photo 1. Browns Canyon W£4. Hiker along way in Middle Cottonwood Gulch. The way was closed to motor vehicle travel in 1976, and now serves as a trail 354 BROWNS CANYON WSA C0050-002 \ Table 1 - Land Status and Acreage Summary of the Study Area Within Wilderness Study Area Acres BLM (surface and subsurface) 6,614 Split estate (BLM surface only) 0 Inholdings (State, Private) 0 Total 6,614 Within the Recommended Wilderness Boundary BLM (within WSA) 6,614 BLM (outside WSA) 0 Split Estate (within WSA) 0 Total BLM land recommended for wilderness 6,614 Inholdings (State, Private) 0 Within the Area Not Recommended for Wilderness BLM 0 Split Estate 0 Total BLM Land Not Recommended for Wilderness 0 Inholdings (State, Private) 0 ) V Criteria Considered in Developing the and Douglas-fir in the higher elevations. Moun- Wilderness Recommendations tain daisy, scarlet gilia, early larkspur and a number of other wildflowers bloom in the area during the spring and summer months. WILDERNESS CHARACTERISTICS The majority of human imprints, associated with Naturalness past mining activities and access routes, were excluded from the WSA during the wilderness The Browns Canyon WSA is predominantly inventory process. A few small abandoned mine natural with negligible human imprints. Topogra- sites and old cabin foundations remain in the phy of the area is rugged with many mountains, southeastern and northcentral portions of the canyons and gulches. Vegetation consists primar- area, however, these are generally not visible from ily of pinon and juniper with some ponderosa pine 355 BROWNS CANYON WSA CO-050-002 Photo 2. Browns Canyon WSA. One of the numerous rock spires which can be seen throughout the HS4. more than 75 feet because of topographic and Primitive and Unconfined Recreation vegetative screening. An old way enters the northwest corner of the WSA near Ruby Moun- The Browns Canyon WSA, with its rugged tain and crosses portions of the Middle Cotton- topography and spectacular views, contains wood and Cottonwood Gulches before exiting outstanding opportunities for primitive and through the western boundary. The way is ap- unconfined recreation. The numerous gulches proximately 3 miles long and was legally closed in provide access for hiking, backpacking, horseback 1976. About three-quarters of a mile of the way is riding and snowshoeing. The way which connects cut and filled, but the disturbance is not visible Middle Cottonwood Gulch with Cottonwood Gulch except from the immediate site. provides a three mile loop trail (see photo 1). The 14,000 foot peaks of the Sawatch range, located Solitude directly west of the WSA, provide a majestic background for photography and scenery viewing. The Browns Canyon WSA offers outstanding opportunities for solitude. Canyons and gulches Many opportunities exist in the area for viewing including Middle Cottonwood Gulch, Cottonwood birds and wildlife. Numerous species of songbirds Gulch, Spring Gulch, Sawmill Gulch and Green and raptors have been identified in the WSA. These include the cliff swallow, warbler, Canada Gulch block out sights and sounds and create many private settings. In addition, the vegetation jay, mourning dove, robin, flicker, magpie, bluejay, screens other uses and provides opportunities for nighthawk (migratory), raven, greathorned owl, seclusion and intimacy. Sounds from the Denver screech owl, saw whet owl, Swainson's hawk and Rio Grande Railroad tracks can sometimes be (migratory), prairie falcon, redtail hawk, golden heard up to a mile within the WSA. However, eagle and turkey vulture. Mammals found within they are generally not perceptible from within the the WSA include mountain lion, bighorn sheep, side canyons. mule deer, bobcat, black bear, several varieties of 356