Lands with Wilderness Characteristics: Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank

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1 Lands with Wilderness Characteristics: Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank unit, Royal Gorge Field Office Photo: Ryan McCarley The intent of this report is to present objective data to illustrate that the area in question qualifies as Lands with Wilderness Characteristics (LWC), in accordance with Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Manuals 6310 and The information presented in this report meets the minimum standards for review of new information per Manual 6310, and accordingly BLM must review this information and make its findings and documentation of the review process available to the public as soon as practicable.

2 Lands with Wilderness Characteristics: Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank BLM Royal Gorge Field Office, Front Range District BLM Unit Identifier: CO (Red Canyon) Submitted by: Wild Connections 2168 Pheasant Place, Colorado Springs, CO (719) Prepared by: John Sztukowski, Wildlands Inventory Coordinator, Wild Connections (817) Ryan McCarley, 2013 Summer Mapping Intern, Wild Connections Report Date: March 2015 Table of Contents Map of Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank LWC... 3 Overview... 4 Discussion of Wilderness Characteristics including Boundary Delineations... 6 I. The Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC meets the minimum size criteria for roadless lands II. The Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC is primarily affected by the forces of nature III. The Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC provides outstanding opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation IV. The Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC has supplemental values that would enhance the wilderness experience and should be recognized and protected. 13 Summary Conclusion Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank Proposed LWC Waypoints

3 Map of Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank LWC 3

4 Overview The Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed Lands with Wilderness Characteristics (LWC) encompasses over 23,000 contiguous roadless acres in central Colorado s Gold Belt Region. It is comprised of mountain ridges, rolling hills, and steep canyons cut by many gulches and creeks that run throughout the unit. This highly diverse area ranges from 6,000 feet in the Fourmile Creek valley, reaching up to nearly 10,000 feet in elevation near Mount Pisgah in the northeast section of the unit. The Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC area lies in the heart of the Gold Belt Region in central Colorado, approximately 10 miles north of Cañon City, CO. Trending north-south, this area straddles two counties with the southern portion in Fremont County and the northern in Teller County. The northern part of the proposed area is about three miles west of the mining towns of Victor, CO and Cripple Creek, CO. While much of the proposed LWC is surrounded by private property, some distinctive boundaries are present. To the east, the former wagon route now Shelf Road, part of the Gold Belt Scenic Byway, borders portions of the unit and parallels the rest. Similarly, County Road 11, also known as High Park Road, parallels the western boundary and borders the unit in a small section at the westernmost point. County Road 69 is the boundary at the southern tip, while the northern boundary is completely encircled by private property, about one and a half miles south of Teller County Road 1. This unit supports a wide variety of plant and wildlife habitats. The high-elevation areas to the north and west, mostly above 8,000 feet, offer mixed forests of ponderosa pine, aspen, and other conifers, as well as open meadows of montane grassland. The southern and eastern sections of the proposed LWC are more consistent with lower elevation vegetation such as shrubland, pinyon pines, juniper, and cacti. Additionally, the many gulches and creeks within the unit support riparian life, consisting of deciduous trees and brush amongst the dense vegetation. High habitat and range values for many wildlife species can be found in the Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC, including black bear, elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, and mountain lion. Valued bird species are abundant as well in the proposed LWC, including the peregrine American falcon, wild turkey, great blue heron, Canadian goose, Lewis woodpecker, bald eagle and the threatened species Mexican spotted owl. A species of hawk was observed within the unit, as well as the calls of the canyon wren. The proposed LWC has extraordinary biological values. The Colorado National Heritage Program (CNHP) cited several areas within the unit as Potential Conservation Areas (PCA) for having moderate-to-high biodiversity significance, including Booger Red Hill in the west, Hungry Creek Gulch and Pony Gulch in the northeast, and Barnard Creek in the very northwest. Opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation abound in the 23,100 acre contiguous roadless area that forms the proposed Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank LWC. The many gulches, cutting through rock cliffs and forested rolling hills provide extensive opportunity for solitude in the forms of isolation, remoteness, and vegetative and topographic screening. Primitive recreation is 4

5 also available in all seasons, including hunting, fishing, horseback riding, backpacking, hiking, wildlife viewing, and photography. Rock climbing is also quite popular in this region, particularly in the eastern section of the unit known as The Bank, which offers first-class climbing on the red sandstone and limestone cliff walls. In 2013, the BLM inventoried this area as two units: COF (Red Canyon), a 6,469.1 acre area in the southern portion of the unit, considered to have LWCs, and subunit COF A (Upper Red Canyon), a 13,743,1 acre area making up the northern part of the unit, considered not to have LWCs, due to naturalness. These units are delineated by the green (COF ) and yellow (COF A) lines in the above map. Wild Connections agrees with the BLM s inventory of unit COF that it possesses wilderness characteristics. However Wild Connections has found that BLM s subunit contiguous to the north, as well as non-inventoried BLM land contiguous with the subunit, also have wilderness characteristics. The BLM asserts that subunit COF A does not possess wilderness characteristics due to the cumulative effects of man-made features affecting the natural character of the unit. The BLM references impacts of mining activity, mechanically constructed routes, and historic right-of-ways (ROWs) with linear disturbances. Vegetation treatment projects with access routes and visible slash piles and stumps were also cited in BLM s LWC inventory report for subunit COF A. However the BLM s report for COF A does not provide any photo evidence or geo-data to support these claims. Wild Connections does recognize that there are human impacts that exist within subunit COF A, however they were found to be minor and in accordance with BLM Manual 6310 in that they do not affect the natural integrity or the apparent naturalness of the unit overall (p 6-7). Any motorized routes found within the unit and a part of the Gold Belt TMP were removed from the subunit as Wilderness Inventory Road (WIR) cherrystems. The average visitor views only the apparent naturalness of the unit given the topography (mountainous, rough and rocky as reported by the BLM), the large area of the unit (over 13,000 acres in the subunit alone), and general lack of noticeable man-made features. BLM's Manual 6310 states that the boundary delineation for a LWC unit "is generally based on the presence of Wilderness Inventory Roads" but can also be based on property lines between different types of land ownership or on developed rights of way (Manual 6310, p 4). Only after the true boundaries of the contiguous roadless unit are identified can an objective and thorough assessment of that unit's wilderness characteristics be made. In the spring of 2013, Wild Connections did a preliminary boundary delineation for this unit based on the size and contiguity requirements stated in BLM Manual 6310 (p 6). During the following months in the summer of 2013, Wild Connections' mapping teams visited the Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC several times to conduct in-depth, on-the-ground inventories of this unit. Our goal was to assess this area for wilderness characteristics, based on BLM's Manual 6310, and report our findings to the BLM's Royal Gorge Field Office in efforts to identify potential wilderness areas to expand "wildlands" corridors in central Colorado. Additionally we have reviewed the 2013 BLM RGFO inventory and boundaries and have made assessments and adjustments based on our in-depth field inventories. 5

6 Wild Connections report offers new in-depth data and information, including photo, narrative, and geo-referenced data, supporting the Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC. The boundary delineations and narratives describing the wilderness characteristics found within this unit are detailed below. Waypoints (with photos) are referenced throughout this report; the photos with geo-data, time and date stamp, description, and page number can be found at the end of the report, akin to the one shown below. Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (36) - S View of forested canyon interior with the Wet Mountains afar (p. 15) Discussion of Wilderness Characteristics including Boundary Delineations I. The Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC meets the minimum size criteria for roadless lands. The Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC encompasses a unit of approximately 23,100 contiguous roadless acres, well surpassing the minimum size criteria of 5,000 acres to qualify for wilderness, as specified in BLM's Manual 6310 (p 6). With regard to route determination, this manual states that a "way" maintained solely by the passage of vehicles does not constitute a "road" for purposes of inventorying wilderness characteristics. A "way" that is used on a continuous and regular basis still does not constitute a road. Additionally, a vehicle route that was constructed by mechanical means, but is no longer being maintained by mechanical methods is also not a road. By comparison, a Wilderness Inventory Road (WIR) is a vehicle road that has "been improved and maintained by mechanical means to ensure relatively regular and continuous use" 6

7 (Manual 6310, p 11). Wild Connections' inventory of this area assesses routes that are or are not considered WIRs based on the above definitions. Routes that did meet the criteria for WIRs were removed from the unit as cherrystems. The southern boundary of the Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC is bordered by public roads County Road 69 and County Road F24. County Road 69, also called State Road 345A, begins the southwest boundary at Waypoint 1. This road heads east for about half a mile over a ridgeline and then heads south along the ridgeline to the southernmost point of this unit at Waypoint 5. Waypoint 2 (right) and Waypoint 3 offer excellent views of the pinyon pine and juniper mixed forested rolling hills in the southern portion of the unit from this south ridgeline along County Road 69. At Waypoint 6, County Road 69 meets a junction with County Road F24, which heads northeast becoming the eastern half of the southern boundary. A BLM sign just north of here indicates this road to be known also as Trail 5830, open to all motorized vehicles. While this road is maintained and continuous, a high clearance vehicle is necessary to navigate it. As County Road F24 heads west, it passes Maverick Gulch and Seep Springs Draw, at which point it heads north again to Waypoint 7. Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (2) - ENE View of mixed-forest, rolling hill interior from southern boundary (p. 7) At Waypoint 7 a road heads north for approximately one half mile, paralleling Seep Springs Draw to the east-northeast. This road will serve as the southeast boundary from Waypoint 7 to Waypoint 8, and is a cherrystem road into the interior of the unit from Waypoint 8 to Waypoint 9. This cherrystem road is in the BLM Gold Belt TMP, open to all motorized vehicles, and thus will be considered a WIR and removed from the proposed LWC between Waypoints 8 and 9. At Waypoint 8, there is a junction for an ATV road, which serves as the southeast boundary of the proposed LWC for about half a mile until Waypoint 10, where it meets back up with County Road F24. County Road F24 remains the southeast boundary for less than a mile to Waypoint 11, at which point it then parallels the unit to the southeast, giving way to a private property boundary. Motorized and public access picks back up in the east at Waypoint 13, BLM Trail 5825, accessed from Shelf Road to the east. Waypoint 12 shows the entrance to this road, with an open gate, and a view of the interior from the east. Waypoint 14 shows the condition of this boundary road, maintained and continuous, however the vegetation in the road alludes to a general lack of use. Waypoint 6, taken further west along the 5825 boundary road, illustrates the vegetation and 7

8 geology in the east: grassland, cacti, hills of pinyon pine and junipers, with limestone and red sandstone rock formations. At Waypoint 17, a junction is met for BLM Trail 5825D, open to all motorized vehicles, as indicated by the sign in the photopoint. Trail 5825D ends approximately one-fifth of a mile into the interior at a campsite at Waypoint 18. Note in Waypoint 17 and Waypoint 18 that this trail is heavily vegetated, however given that it is in the Gold Belt TMP with a trail sign on the ground, it will be considered a WIR and removed from the unit. Back at Waypoint 17, 5825 heads north-northwest, switch-backing over ridgelines as it gradually gains elevation, and requires a high-clearance vehicle for access. The condition of the road can be viewed in Waypoint 20, which also shows an old dilapidated downed gate. At Waypoint 21 along 5825, a junction is met for a pullout that also has a downed gate. This pullout only continues for about 100 feet to Waypoint 22, ending into a corner of cliff walls. It is possible that this was an old prospecting site, however no evidence of such was found. This pullout will remain in the proposed LWC as a way as it does not appear to be constructed by mechanical means, and is not maintained or continuous. Waypoint 23, further north along 5825, shows vehicle tracks that have been off-road into the vegetation and mud west of the road. Just north of here at Waypoint 24, is a junction to a former route that is barely discernible at this point. This is in the Gold Belt TMP as a closed route, and given the condition of this former route, it will remain in the proposed LWC as a way. Boundary road 5825 reaches an overlook atop a ridgeline at Waypoint 26, offering a sample of the shrubland and pinyon pine forest found in this area, as well as providing excellent views of the interior and the nearby mountains continues north and can be viewed in Waypoints 27, 28, and 29, at which point the road heads east along Espinosa Gulch. Espinosa Gulch meets Sand Gulch at Waypoint 32. Heading south, Sand Gulch was once paralleled by a road, now a designated non-motorized trail as indicated by the trail sign in the photo. Interestingly, this is the first trail seen from The Gold Belt TMP displays several similar closed routes. However none were found on the ground, aside from the one previously referenced, perhaps a testament to the revegetation since the closures heads up Sand Gulch temporarily to Waypoint 33, where a junction is met for a nonmotorized trail, 5825A, which continues into the interior up Sand Gulch. Sand Gulch has a seasonal creek that runs through the canyon, supporting junipers, Gambel oaks, and yellow grass. Rabbit, deer, and coyote tracks have also been spotted off of 5825A. Further up this trail is a former homestead, now a historic cabin. Note that Waypoint 33 marks the boundary line for BLM s unit COF and subunit COF A to the north. This border continues to the eastern boundary of both units, to Shelf Road at Waypoint 55. As 5825 makes its way southeast along a ridgeline, it intersects another non-motorized trail at Waypoint 34, which traverses a ridgeline northwest for about one and a half miles until it ends at The Banks road, As BLM Road 5825 continues southeast, it also meets BLM 5820 for The Banks road, at Waypoint 37, which is a boundary corner of the proposed LWC. 8

9 The Banks Road 5820 is a boundary road in both directions from Waypoint 37, where 5825 ends. The Banks Road heading northwest into the interior is considered a cherrystem WIR and will be removed from the unit. This area of the Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC is a very popular rock climbing destination in the region. In fact, about one-tenth of a mile northwest on The Banks Road 5820 from the 5825 intersection is a junction for a climbing trail at Waypoint 38. About a half of a mile northwest from here along The Banks Road is a climbing trail for The Piggy Bank, with trail, trail sign, and climbing rocks shown in Waypoint 39, right. As The Banks Road 5820 continues northwest along Trail Gulch, the motorized use appears to be less, as evidenced by vegetation growing in the middle of the road in Waypoint 40. Waypoint 41 shows further revegetation in The Banks Road 5820, as well as a windmill within the unit. The Banks Road 5820 comes to a loop junction at Waypoint 42. Taking the loop clockwise, the road continues to follow Trail Gulch northwest. Waypoint 43 shows an old rusted water tank on Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (39) - SSE Climbing Trail, The Piggy Bank, at 5820 The Banks Road (p. 9,13) the side of the road. At Waypoint 45 a junction is met. The gated route to the left is for a nonmotorized trail, 5820e, giving hiking, biking, and horseback riding opportunities to access the interior of the unit. The road itself essentially ends as well, or at least is given more motorized restrictions, as it becomes 5820C, and is only open to ATVs, along with horse, bicycle and foot traffic. About one-tenth of a mile along the ATV trail, it leaves Trail Gulch and inclines northeast to Waypoint 46, where the ATV trail ends at the northern tip of this motorized loop, and becomes open to all motorized vehicles again. In addition to the two motorized trails, Waypoint 46 also shows a windmill with water troughs, suggesting that there is grazing in the area, however the windmill and troughs are not within the proposed LWC boundaries. Motorized access is available north of this junction for approximately one-tenth mile to 47, where it becomes designated as a non-motorized trail, 5820D. At Waypoint 48, 5820D meets a gated fence with a restoration sign, and continues west where it crosses other non-motorized trails (for example trail 5808B at Waypoint 87) and continues to the western boundary of the unit. As The Banks Loop Road makes its way east from the junction seen in Waypoint 46, it encounters a fence with a gate at Waypoint 50. The route leading from this gate is considered a nonmotorized route, however as seen in the photo, there is no discernible route there whatsoever. 9

10 About a half mile south along The Banks Loop at Waypoint 51 is another junction. A cherrystem road heads about one-tenth of a mile to this junction where motorized access ends and two nonmotorized trails begin. Continuing west-southwest from Waypoint 51 along The Banks Loop, takes us back to the beginning of the loop junction at Waypoint 42. This entire loop, and The Banks Road 5820 cherrystem from the 5825 junction at Waypoint 37 leading to it, is considered a WIR and is excluded from the Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC. The area within the loop is excluded as well. At Waypoint 37 just referenced, the junction of 5825 and 5820, The Banks Road 5820 becomes a boundary road heading southeast. Group campsites are available at Waypoint 53 off this road. Waypoint 54 shows the entrance into The Banks climbing area, with the BLM road sign and motorized use designation. Just south of here is the intersection of The Banks Road 5820 and Shelf Road. Waypoint 55, taken at this junction, shows the BLM road sign for The Bank to the left and Cripple Creek to the right. Shelf Road becomes the boundary intermittently heading north, paralleling the unit to the east when it does not border the unit. Shelf Road is the eastern boundary from Waypoints 55 to 56, Waypoints 57 to 58, Waypoints 59 to 62, and the longest stretch, approximately one mile, from Waypoints 63 to 64. The only possible access into the interior from Shelf Road is at Waypoint 60, however as the photo shows, it is gated with no public access. Nevertheless this access road is in the Gold Belt TMP and will be treated as a WIR cherrystem and removed from the unit to Waypoint 61. From Waypoint 64 heading north, there is no public access to the Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC from the east until Cripple Creek in the northeast, as private property borders the remainder of the eastern portion of the unit. County Road 89, heads southwest from Cripple Creek, with motorized access ending at a gate, as seen in Waypoint 65 northeast of the unit. Nevertheless a non-motorized trail continues to the interior, entering at Waypoint 66, and then parallels Pony Gulch. Moffat Drive, just west of here, also has a couple potential access points to the interior. Waypoint 68 shows a small cherrystem heading into the interior on Moffat Circle, just off Moffat Drive, however this ends into private property as indicated in the photo. Moffat Drive itself, further south, ends into the northeast interior. Waypoint 67 shows this road into the interior, appearing as a two-track social route with no observed maintenance or improvements and thus will remain in the proposed LWC as a way. Private property wraps around the remaining of the Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC in the north. Waypoint 69 in the northeast shows a private road that leads to inholdings that border the unit, however there is no public access. County Road 113 parallels the unit to the northwest, however the unit itself is still buffered by private property. Note that the BLM did not inventory the contiguous BLM land to the north of unit COF A, which is corralled by County Road 113. County Road 113 itself ends at Waypoint 70, offering excellent views of the mixed forest interior, but not public access. The first of few access points from the west is at Waypoint 71 off of County Road 11 High Park Road in the northwest section of the unit, just west of Booger Red Hill. A motorized route in the 10

11 Gold Belt TMP heads a short distance into the unit, ending at Waypoint 72 into a gate, where a non-motorized trail, 5808A, continues. The short cherrystem from Waypoint 71 to Waypoint 72 is considered a WIR and will be removed from the unit. Waypoint 74 shows the conditions of the non-motorized trail, 5808A, appearing as a former road now greatly revegetated. At Waypoint 75, this trail becomes a single track, now 5808B, and becomes closed to bicyclists. At Waypoint 77, this trail picks up along High Creek, with the dry creek bed seen next to the trail in the photopoint. Trail 5808B ends at Waypoint 87, picking up two other non-motorized trails in the interior, trail 5820D and 5820F. The only other public access point from the west is at County Road 11 High Park Road, between Waypoints 88 and 89, representing the westernmost section of the Booger Red Hill, Bare Hills, The Banks proposed LWC. There is no access off of this short strip along County Road 11, however parking is available just south of here at Waypoint 90. Waypoint 90, viewed to the right, shows the mixed forest and montane grassland of Bare Hills in the western interior. Note that this section extends west of the BLM inventory for unit COF A, however is contiguous with the unit. Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (90) - SE View of Bare Hills from western boundary (p. 11,12) Private property borders the remainder of the unit to the west, a theme common for much of the Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC boundaries. Blocks of private property also exist within the unit, primarily in the north. There are 20 of these parcels of private land of varying sizes within the unit, with the majority of them under 15 acres in area. Boundary lines on the map above outline these private parcels that will be excluded from the proposed LWC. II. The Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC is primarily affected by the forces of nature. The Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC is primarily affected by the forces of nature, with human impacts substantially unnoticeable within the unit. Public access into the unit is sparse, limiting human impact, particularly because the majority of designated routes into the unit are non-motorized. The proposed LWC offers many vegetation types, due to the abundant gulches and seasonal creeks as well as rolling hills that encompass the unit. Waypoint 4, taken at the southern boundary, provides a view of the untrammeled mixed-forested rolling hills of the interior unit. Waypoint 30, 11

12 taken in Espinosa Gulch in the eastern section of the unit, displays the heavy vegetation of deciduous trees and brush that can be found in the gulches throughout the unit. Grasslands are also prominent in this unit, as exhibited in Waypoint 90 above, with a view of Bare Hills from the west, as well as in the eastern portion of the unit leading up to the rolling hills and cliff walls as demonstrated in Waypoint 18 and Waypoint 52. Waypoint 15 illustrates additional vegetation found in the lower elevations in the eastern portion of the unit: cacti, sagebrush, and sunflowers mixed in with the grass shrubland. Much of Wild Connections inventory of the Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC consisted of untrammeled naturalness, however there were some minor human impacts noted as well. For example, some of the non-motorized trails have fences with gates to pass through, as can be seen in Waypoints 78 and 82 along trail 5808B in the western section of the unit and in Waypoints 45 and 50 off The Banks Loop in the east. Signs of grazing also appear in the proposed LWC. A water trough was observed in the western portion of the unit at Waypoint 81. In the eastern portion of the unit, at the north end of The Banks Loop trail, is a windmill with a couple of water troughs at Waypoint 46, however this section is excluded from the proposed LWC due to the surrounding WIRs. Another windmill was observed leading up this loop, along The Banks Road, at Waypoint 41. Possible fire mitigation, or at least freshly cut trees, was observed as well at Waypoint 86 in the western interior off of trail 5808B in the west. Also in the west along trail 5808B, is an old stock pond, noted by a survey marker at Waypoint 84. While there are a few minor human impacts scattered throughout the proposed LWC, these are examples of human-made feature(s), which are considered substantially unnoticeable and thus do not hinder wilderness characteristics (BLM Manual 6310, p 6). More so, given the mining history in the area, signs of prospecting are present within the proposed LWC as well. There is an old rock structure in the west that may have once been a prospecting hole (Waypoint 85). In the east off of 5825, Waypoint 21 shows a pull off to a rock wall that may have once been mined as well. However, there were no active sites within the unit and even those observed are speculative. Furthermore what was found and inventoried do not affect the natural integrity or the apparent naturalness of the unit overall (BLM Manual 6310, p 6-7). III. The Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC provides outstanding opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation. The Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC offers many opportunities for solitude as well as primitive and unconfined recreation. Given the topographic variety, the few entry points and designated motorized routes, and the extensive size of the unit, there are vast opportunities for solitude. Much of this unit consists of heavily vegetated rolling hills and gulches that screen the visitor from unnatural sights and sounds. Waypoint 80 encompasses both of these described terrains, viewing the interior from the west at trail 5808B, illustrating the vegetative screening amongst the hills with High Creek Gulch cutting through below. There are also opportunities for respite and remoteness in the eastern portion of the unit; for example Waypoint 19 displays the 12

13 vegetative screening provided by a pinyon pine forest. Waypoint 22 shows an example of the topographic screening the canyon walls provide as well within the unit. Consisting of over 23,000 acres of contiguous unroaded wilderness land, the proposed LWC offers a variety of primitive and unconfined recreational opportunities as well. There are outstanding opportunities for hiking, backpacking, camping, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, bird watching, photography, and rock climbing. In regard to camping, there are primitive campsites within the unit, as viewed in Waypoints 25 and 35 off of 5825, and an established group campsite off of The Banks Road at Waypoint 53 that is excluded from the unit. Fishermen were observed and interacted with in the western interior at Waypoint 73, right, as they were looking to fly-fish one of the many creeks within the unit. Signs of horseback riding were also observed in this area. This unit offers outstanding opportunities for bird watching, as hawks were observed fighting in the air in the eastern section of the unit and canyon wrens could be heard calling throughout the unit. However rock climbing is what stands out above the other opportunities for recreation in the Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC. This region of central Colorado is renowned for its climbing, notably in The Bank area. Waypoint 37 shows a group of climbers walking toward this area along The Banks Road. Excellent opportunities for climbing are abounding, as viewed in Waypoints 31 and 49. And as referenced previously, there are established trails for some of the more popular climbs, as noted in Waypoint 38 and Waypoint 39 for The Piggy Bank. Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (73) - NNE Fly-fishermen on trail 5808A (p. 13) IV. The Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC has supplemental values that would enhance the wilderness experience and should be recognized and protected. Wild Connections inventory of the Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC, along with its historical value, supports the existence of numerous supplemental values that contribute to the overall experience of visiting this area and provide additional evidence that this unit's unique qualities should be recognized and protected. The majority of these values support the area s regional ecological importance and rich biodiversity. The supplemental values presented below are not intended to be exhaustive, rather a summarization of some of the widely known significant values for which basic data was available to complement our on-the-ground inventory. 13

14 The Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC possesses extraordinary biological values. This unit encompasses several or portions of several (5) Potential Conservation Areas (PCA) for high biodiversity significance, as identified by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CHNP). All of these PCAs are located in the northern half of the proposed LWC, BLM inventoried CO A. The very northern section of the unit, labeled Barnard Creek in Box Canyon, is considered to have moderate biodiversity significance for a fair occurrence of a globally vulnerable (G3/S3) plant association, thinleaf alder (Alnus incana) / mesic graminoids shrubland. Hungry Gulch and Pony Gulch in the northeast, where most of the private property parcels are located, also have moderate biodiversity significance, for a good occurrence of a globally apparently secure ponderosa pine / Arizona fescue (Pinus ponderosa / Festuca arizonica) woodland. Just east of here along the boundary, the Cripple Creek PCA is documented to have high biodiversity significance due to an excellent occurrence of the globally imperiled plant, Degener beardtongue (Penstemon degeneri), a species endemic to south-central Colorado. There is also a fair occurrence of an apparently globally secure plant association, narrowleaf cottonwood (Populus angustifolia) / coyote willow (Salix exigua) woodland. Booger Red Hill in the west, and the High Park area just west of there, are also recognized as PCAs, regarded to have high biodiversity significance. The Booger Red Hill PCA offers an excellent occurrence of the globally vulnerable Fendler cloak-fern (Argyrochosma fendleri). Additionally present in this PCA is an excellent occurrence of the state imperiled birdbill dayflower (Commelina dianthifolia) and a good occurrence of the state rare Eaton's lipfern (Cheilanthes eatonii). The High Park PCA has high biodiversity significance for a good occurrence of the globally vulnerable Parry's oatgrass (Danthonia parryi) grassland. This association has a limited distribution in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and southern Wyoming. It is suspected that many stands have been altered or destroyed by improper livestock grazing. Many remaining stands are small and/or have been impacted by anthropogenic activities, and are degraded to some degree (NatureServe 2010). The site also includes a fair occurrence of the Gunnison's prairie dog (Cynomys gunnisoni). Gunnison s prairie-dog is noteworthy as it is listed as a species of most concern by the US Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program s (WCRP) Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS), as well as listed as Colorado BLM sensitive. The Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC supports high habitat and range values for many other wildlife species. Rocky Mountain Wild s (RMW) Assessment of Biological Impact (ABI) documented the following mammals take habitation in the area: Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis Canadensis) production area, overall range, summer range, summer concentration area, winter range, and severe winter range; black bear (Ursus americanus) overall range, summer concentration area, and fall concentration area; elk (Cervus Canadensis) overall range, summer range, winter range, severe winter range, and migration corridor; mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) overall range, summer range, winter range, and concentration area; whitetailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) overall range; mountain lion (Puma concolor) overall range; and Aberts squirrel (Sciurus aberti) overall range. Deer tracks were identified along The Banks Loop in Trail Gulch at Waypoint 44. Possible bear scat was observed in the west at Waypoint 83. Trout populations exist within the unit as well, at 14

15 least seasonally, given the many creeks and gulches, and the observed fly-fishermen in the western portion of the unit. Rocky Mountain Wild s ABI assessment also identifies valued bird species in the Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC. Of note, this unit provides winter forage, winter range, and winter concentration area for the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), which is listed as Colorado BLM Sensitive, CWCS Species of Most Concern, and Partnership in Flight Priority Bird. It provides proposed critical habitat for the Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida), which is a CPW endangered species, a CWCS species of most concern, and Partnership in Flight Priority Bird; and nesting area for the American peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum), which is Colorado BLM Sensitive, CWCS Species of Most Concern, and a CPW species of concern. This area also supports great blue heron (Ardea herodias) foraging area; Canada Goose (Branta Canadensis) brood concentration area, foraging area, production area, winter range, and winter concentration area; and wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) overall range, winter range, and winter concentration area. Additionally, hawks and canyon wren were observed within the proposed LWC. Scenic views are many in the proposed LWC given the rolling landscape of the interior with many viewpoints and prominent features nearby. Waypoint 79 shows Pikes Peak over Booger Red Hill from the western interior. Waypoint 52, looking northeast off a non-motorized trail just east of The Banks Loop Trail, shows Red Ridge, viewed near left along the eastern boundary of the proposed LWC, with additional views of the nearby mountains, Grouse Mountain and Little Pisgah Peak. Waypoint 36 provides a view south from trail 5825, displaying the forested canyon interior with a view of the Wet Mountains afar. Further south along 5825 is an overlook at Waypoint 26, offering added views of the local mountains. The geology in this area is noteworthy for its disparate geological features. Waypoint 76 shows a rock cliff viewed from the west, common within the unit. Much of the geology that makes up the Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC is from the Middle (and Early) Proterozoic Age, consisting primarily of granite and granodiorite, representing some of the oldest rock in Colorado. However The Bank area in the eastern portion of the unit, noted for climbing, consists primarily of limestone and sandstone, with conglomerate in the area as well. Waypoint 16, right, shows an excellent view of a red sandstone rock outcropping juxtaposed with the lighter limestone cliffs behind it in the eastern portion of the unit. Other noted geology exists within the unit as well. Booger Red Hill consists primarily of the volcanic rock, quartz latite, from the Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (16) - NNW View of limestone and red sandstone rock formations in eastern interior (p. 15) 15

16 Tertiary Age. Ash-flow tuff from the same age can be found just southwest of here. Further south at Bare Hills in the western portion of the unit, additional volcanic rock from the Tertiary Age can be found in the forms of andesite and tuff. The northernmost area of the proposed LWC in the forms of biotite gneiss, schist, and quartz latite. The southernmost end of the unit is disparate as well, with the geology consisting primarily of quartzite, conglomerate, sandstone, and mudstone. All of the above geological data was obtained from the United States Geological Survey's (USGS) Mineral Resources on-line spatial data, selected for Colorado's geology. Summary Conclusion Based on Wild Connections' on-the-ground inventory, the proposed Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank LWC qualifies as Land with Wilderness Characteristics (LWC) according to BLM's Manual This unit far exceeds the 5,000 contiguous roadless acreage minimum as the proposed LWC offers more than 23,000 contiguous roadless acres. Given the relatively large size of the unit, lack of significant human impacts, and disparate topography, the Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC offers outstanding wilderness characteristics - including apparent naturalness and outstanding opportunities for solitude and primitive and unconfined recreation, notably the exceptional opportunity for rock climbing. Numerous supplemental values further support the proposed LWC. Wild Connections extensive on-the-ground inventory, with photo, narrative, and geo-referenced data, of the Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC supports the claims made in this report, particularly the overall apparent naturalness of the unit, which is in conflict with the BLM s inventory of subunit COF A. Additionally, the outstanding opportunities for solitude and primitive and unconfined recreation as well as the supplemental values provided in this report should be considered new for subunit COF A, as the BLM did not inventory for these characteristics. While much of the proposed LWC consists of untrammeled wilderness, human impacts were observed. As previously documented, there are fences, gates, water troughs, windmills, and possible prospecting sites within the unit. Nevertheless these are minor human impacts, concurrent with BLM Manual 6310, as the natural integrity and the apparent naturalness of the proposed LWC in total is not compromised. The BLM made note of additional human impacts within the unit in their 2013 inventory report of subunit COF A, however did not provide photo evidence or geo-data to support it. Furthermore, these impacts were not otherwise noticed or observed in the multiple inventories that Wild Connections conducted in the unit. Wild Connections inventory has documented the necessary boundaries as well as the wilderness characteristics within the unit. This overview provides new information, including narrative, photo, and geo data, and supporting maps, documenting that the approximately 23,100 acre Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank proposed LWC meets wilderness criteria. This area possesses 16

17 Lands with Wilderness Characteristic status and its wilderness values should be protected and preserved. It is imperative that the BLM recognize and protect these values in their land management decisions, so that these unique and abundant wilderness qualities are sustained. 17

18 Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank Proposed LWC Waypoints The following photographs correspond with the numbered Waypoints on the above Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank map and may be referred to in the report narrative describing the wilderness characteristics. The direction of view (16 point Cardinal) is indicated in the bolded caption. Below this is a short description of the photo, with the referenced page number(s) in parenthesis. The photos are also watermarked with the direction (degrees and cardinal) in the top right, date and time in the bottom right, elevation in the bottom center, and the latitude and longitude in the bottom left. Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (1) - NNE Southwest boundary corner at County Rd 69 (p. 7) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (2) - ENE View of mixed-forest, rolling hill interior from southern boundary (p. 7)

19 Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (4) - N View of mixed-forest interior from S boundary (p. 11) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (3) - NE View of interior from S boundary (p. 7) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (6) - ESE S boundary junction: County Rd 69 at County Rd F24 (p. 7) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (5) - SSW Southern boundary at County Rd 69 (p. 7) 19

20 Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (12) - SW Entrance to eastern boundary road BLM Trail 5825 (p. 7) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (14) - WSW Eastern boundary road BLM Trail 5825 (p. 7) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (15) - WSW Shrubland/grassland of eastern interior (p. 12) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (16) - NNW View of limestone and red sandstone rock formations in eastern interior (p. 15) 20

21 Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (17) - SW BLM motorized Trail 5825D at 5825 (p. 8) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (18) - ENE End cherrystem Trail 5825D (p. 8.12) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (19) - WSW Vegetative screening from a pinyon-juniper woodland (p. 12) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (20) - W Eastern boundary road at 5825, high clearance vehicle required (p. 8) 21

22 Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (21) - WNW Way junction at 5825, (p. 8,12) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (22) - NNW End of way, possible prospecting site; Topographic screening (p. 8,13) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (23) - SSW Vehicle tracks off-road along 5825 (p. 8) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (24) - WNW Former road, now revegetated way at 5825 (p. 8) 22

23 Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (26) - NNE Lookout at eastern boundary road 5825 (p. 8,15) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (25) - NW Campsite in eastern interior (p. 13) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (28) - SSE Eastern boundary road 5825, with view of Wet Mountains (p. 8) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (27) - NW Eastern boundary road 5825 (p. 8) 23

24 Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (29) - ENE Limestone rock cliff in eastern unit along eastern boundary 5825 (p. 8) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (30) - SSW Deciduous vegetation in Espinosa Gulch (p. 11) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (31) - NNE Rock formation in eastern unit; Outstanding opportunity for rock climbing (p. 13) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (32) - SE Non-motorized trail off 5825 at confluence of Espinosa and Sand Gulches (p. 8) 24

25 Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (33) - NW BLM non-motorized Trail 5825A at 5825; parallels Sand Gulch (p. 8) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (34) - NNE BLM non-motorized trail at 5825, to 5820 The Banks Rd (p. 8) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (35) - W Fire pit amidst grassland off 5825 (p. 13) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (36) - S View of forested canyon interior with the Wet Mountains afar (p. 15) 25

26 Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (37) - NNW E boundary junction: 5825 at 5820 The Banks Rd; Group of rock climbers walking into The Bank (p. 8,9,10,13) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (38) - NNE Climbing trail at 5820 The Banks Rd (p. 9,13) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (40) - WSW Cherrystem 5820 The Banks Rd (p. 9) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (39) - SSE Climbing Trail, The Piggy Bank, at 5820 The Banks Rd (p. 9,13) 26

27 Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (42) - WNW 3-way junction; 5820 at The Banks loop (p. 9,10) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (41) - NE Cherrystem 5820 The Banks Rd; windmill in eastern interior (p. 9,12) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (43) - SSW Old rusted water tank off The Banks loop (p. 9) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (44) - SE Deer tracks in The Banks loop rd (p. 14) 27

28 Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (45) - NW 3-way junction; End unrestricted motorized use; non-motorized trail 5820E left and ATV trail 5820C right (p. 9,12) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (46) - SSW Junction: ATV trail 5820C at north end of The Banks loop, unrestricted motorized use reestablished; windmills and water troughs not in unit (p. 9,12) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (48) - NNW Gated fence at 5820D with restoration sign (p. 9) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (49) - W Opportunity for rock climbing north of The Banks loop off of trail 5820D (p. 13) 28

29 Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (50) - NE Non-motorized trail junction at The Banks loop (p. 9,12) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (51) - SE Short cherrystem road off of The Banks loop, leading to two non-motorized trails (p. 10) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (52) - NE View of Red Ridge near left in eastern unit and Grouse Mountain and Little Pisgah Peak afar (p. 12,15) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (53) - SE Designated group camping area off of eastern boundary 5820 The Banks Road (p. 10,13) 29

30 Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (54) - NNW Eastern boundary 5820 The Banks Road with BLM road sign for restrictions (p. 10) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (55) - NNE Eastern boundary junction: Shelf Road at 5820 The Banks Road (p. 8,10) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (60) - NE No public access cherrystem route from eastern boundary Shelf Road (p. 10) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (65) - S End County Road 89, non-motorized trail continues into northeast interior along Pony Gulch (p. 10) 30

31 Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (68) - SSW End short cherrystem public access into private property off Moffat Dr in northeast interior (p. 10) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (67) - SSW Moffat Dr continues as a way in the northeast interior (p. 10) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (69) - WSW No public access at Conley Ranch Rd, just east of the northeast interior (p. 10) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (70) - SSE End of County Rd 113, east of northeast boundary, no public access; view of mixed forest interior (p. 10,11) 31

32 Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (72) - SW End short cherrystem in western interior; Begin non-motorized trail 5808A (p. 11) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (73) - NNE Fly-fishermen on trail 5808A (p. 13) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (74) - SSW Non-motorized trail 5808A, revegetated (p. 11) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (75) - S End 5808A into 5808B, more restrictions (p. 11) 32

33 Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (76) - N Rock formation in W interior (p. 15) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (77) - ESE Non-motorized trail 5808B at High Creek (p. 11) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (78) - SE Gated fence at non-motorized trail 5808B (p. 12) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (79) - NE View of Pikes Peak over Booger Red Hill (p. 15) 33

34 Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (80) - ENE Canyon interior cut by High Creek Gulch (p. 12) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (81) - S Water trough in western interior off 5808B (p. 12) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (82) - S Gated fence at non-motorized trail 5808B (p. 12) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (83) - SSW Possible bear scat in western interior (p. 14) 34

35 Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (84) - ENE Survey marker at old stock pond in W interior (p. 12) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (85) - WNW Rock structure; possible old prospecting hole (p. 12) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (86) - SW Freshly cut trees, possible fire mitigation, off trail 5808B (p. 12) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (87) - E Non-motorized trail junction, end 5808B into 5820D and 5820F (p. 9,11) 35

36 Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (88) - E Western boundary at High Park Road (p. 11) Booger Red, Bare Hills, The Bank (90) - SE View of Bare Hills from western boundary (p. 11,12) 36