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| SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS |
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AREAS OF CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN |
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Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, commonly known as ACECs, are public lands where special management is required in order to protect the area's values. To be eligible for designation as an ACEC, an area must meet criteria for both relevance and importance.
An ACEC possesses significant historic, cultural, or scenic values, fish or wildlife resources (including habitat, communities, or species), natural processes or systems, or natural hazards. In addition, the significance of these values and resources must be substantial in order to satisfy the importance criteria. |
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ACECS UNDER CONSIDERATION
As part of the Uncompahgre RMP development process, existing ACECs were reevaluated to determine whether:
• The relevant and important values are still present and require continued management attention
• Threats of irreparable damage to the values have been identified
• Current management is sufficient to protect the values.
In addition, new ACECs nominated during the public scoping period were evaluated for relevance and importance. The results of these evaluations are detailed in the Draft ACEC Report for the Uncompahgre Planning Area and will be used to develop preferred alternatives for the RMP. |
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PROTECTING SIGNIFICANT VALUES
Restrictions arising from ACEC designation are proposed during formulation of the Final RMP. Restrictions are designed to protect the values and/or serve the purposes for which the designation was made.
Management prescriptions are developed expressly to protect the important and relevant values of an area. Such measures would not be necessary or prescribed if the critical and important features were not present.
Final ACEC Report for the Uncompahgre Planning Area |
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| ACEC |
ACREAGE |
SIGNIFICANT VALUES |
| Adobe Badlands |
6,383 |
• Scenic Mancos Shale hills, flats, and unique formations created by wind and water erosion
• Highly erodible and saline soils resulting in high sediment loads and very saline runoff
• Known and potential habitat for several federally endangered and threatened plant species
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| Fairview |
210 |
• Large population of federally listed endangered plant species
• Significant populations of federal candidate plant species
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| Needle Rock |
80 |
• Volcanic geological structure with high-value scientific, interpretive, and scenic characteristics
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| San Miguel River |
22,780 |
• Unique, high quality riparian vegetation
• Relic riparian communities
• River corridor with high scenic value
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| Tabeguache Creek |
560 |
• Important archaeological sites with a relationship between the Fremont and Anasazi cultures
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LANDS WITH WILDERNESS CHARACTERISTICS |
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| As part of the land use planning process for the Uncompahgre RMP, the BLM assessed public lands within the Uncompahgre Planning Area to determine whether wilderness characteristics are present outside of designated wilderness, existing wilderness study areas, and the congressionally-designated Tabeguache Area. |
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The BLM reviewed the original 1980 wilderness inventories, as well as lands proposed by BLM staff and the public, in order to identify lands with potential wilderness characteristics. Of the eight areas identified through the review, seven were found to possess wilderness characteristics. |
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The 2015 update was conducted in response to BLM Instruction Memorandum 2011-154: Requirement to Conduct and Maintain Inventory Information for Wilderness Characteristics and to Consider Lands with Wilderness Characteristics in Land Use Plans.
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Inventory of Uncompahgre Planning Area Lands with Wilderness Characteristics: 2015 Update |
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| ASSESSMENT AREA |
TOTAL INVENTORIED |
ACRES WITH WILDERNESS CHARACTERISTICS |
ACRES WITHOUT WILDERNESS CHARACTERISTICS |
| Camel Back WSA Adjacent |
8,700 |
6,950 |
1,750 |
| Adobe Badlands WSA Adjacent |
16,520 |
6,180 |
10,340 |
| Lower Tabeguache/Campbell Creek |
11,200 |
11,060 |
140 |
| Dolores River Canyon WSA Adjacent |
32,650 |
550 |
32,100 |
| Dry Creek Basin |
16,890 |
7,030 |
9,850 |
| Norwood Canyon |
5,600 |
0 |
5,600 |
| Roc Creek |
7,650 |
5,480 |
2,170 |
| Shavano Creek |
6,100 |
4,900 |
1,200 |
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WILD & SCENIC RIVERS |
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| Congress authorized the National Wild and Scenic Rivers (WSR) Act in 1968 to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations. The Act safeguards the special character of these rivers, while allowing for their appropriate use and development, and encouraging river management that crosses political boundaries and promotes public participation in river protection. |
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The Act requires the BLM to assess river segments under its management as part of its resource management planning process. The study and designation of rivers consists of a multi-step process: eligibility → suitability → congressional action. Only Congress or (under certain circumstances) the Secretary of the Interior may designate a river for inclusion in the WSR system. The UFO currently does not manage any WSR-designated segments. |
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The Southwest Resource Advisory Council Subgroup and Gunnison Basin stakeholder groups concluded public meetings and submitted their suitability recommendations for eligible segments in the Gunnison, Dolores, and San Miguel river basins to the BLM Uncompahgre Field Office. These recommendations, as well as other public comments, are documented in the WSR Suitability Report and were considered during formulation of the preferred alternative for the Uncompahgre Resource Management Plan. |
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| Wild and Scenic River Suitability Report for the BLM Uncompahgre Planning Area |
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| Uncompahgre Field Manager |
| (970) 240-5300 |
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