Alpine Triangle Final Recreation Area Management Plan U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Columbine Field Office 367 Pearl Street P.O.Box 439 Bayfield, CO 81122 & Gunnison Field Office 216 North Colorado Gunnison, CO 81230 This page left intentionally blank. Alpine Triangle Final Recreation Area Management Plan Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE AND NEED ................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose and Need ............................................................................................................. 3 1.3 Overall Vision .................................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Description of the Project Area ....................................................................................... 4 1.5 Planning Process and Public Involvement ...................................................................... 4 1.6 Conformance with the Land Use Plan ............................................................................ 6 1.7 Relationship to Statues, Regulations, or Other Plans .................................................... 7 1.8 Summary ............................................................................................................................ 9 2.0 RECREATION MANAGEMENT: ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES .................... 10 2.1 Travel Management and Access .................................................................................... 11 2.1.1 Motorized Recreation .................................................................................................11 2.1.2 Travel Management Network ....................................................................................12 2.1.3 Transportation Facilities ............................................................................................12 2.1.4 Management, Maintenance, and Monitoring of the Transportation System ..............12 2.1.5 Winter Transportation System ...................................................................................13 2.1.6 Adding and Removing Roads and Trails in the Future ..............................................13 2.1.7 Public Access Easements and Rights-of-Way ...........................................................13 2.2 Recreation Management – Spring, Summer, and Fall Use ......................................... 14 2.2.1 Visiting Cultural Sites and Heritage Tourism ............................................................14 2.2.2 Hiking/Trail Running/Backpacking ...........................................................................15 2.2.3 Hunting and Shooting ................................................................................................15 2.2.4 Fishing ........................................................................................................................16 2.2.5 Camping .....................................................................................................................16 2.2.6 Rock Climbing ...........................................................................................................17 2.2.7 Horseback Riding and Pack Animals.........................................................................17 2.2.8 Whitewater Boating ...................................................................................................18 2.2.9 Geocaching ................................................................................................................18 2.2.10 Mountain Biking ........................................................................................................18 2.3 Recreation Management – Winter Use ......................................................................... 19 2.3.1 Snowmobiling ............................................................................................................19 2.3.2 Developed Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding, Cross-country Skiing, and Snowshoeing ..............................................................................................................19 2.3.3 Heliskiing ...................................................................................................................20 2.3.4 Dog Sledding .............................................................................................................21 2.3.5 Ice Climbing ...............................................................................................................21 2.4 Recreation Management – Resource Protection .......................................................... 22 2.4.1 Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species ........................................................22 2.4.2 Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas ...................................................................22 2.4.3 Lands and Realty ........................................................................................................22 2.4.4 Local Land Use Planning ...........................................................................................22 2.4.5 Visual Resources ........................................................................................................23 2.4.6 Other Resources .........................................................................................................23 2.5 Recreation Management – Facilities, Signs, and Interpretation and Education ...... 23 i Alpine Triangle Final Recreation Area Management Plan 2.5.1 Facilities .....................................................................................................................23 2.5.2 Signs ...........................................................................................................................24 2.5.3 Interpretation and Education ......................................................................................24 2.6 Recreation Administration ............................................................................................. 24 2.6.1 Outfitters and Special Events .....................................................................................24 2.6.2 Competitive Events ....................................................................................................24 2.6.3 Fees ............................................................................................................................24 2.6.4 Dogs ...........................................................................................................................25 2.7 Recreation Marketing ..................................................................................................... 25 2.8 Recreation Monitoring ................................................................................................... 25 2.9 Recreation Collaboration ............................................................................................... 25 3.0 MANAGEMENT GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND MANAGEMENT ACTIONS ..... 26 3.1 Management Prescriptions ............................................................................................ 28 3.2 Management Common to all Recreation Management Zones ................................... 36 3.2.1 Travel Management and Access ................................................................................36 3.2.2 Recreation Management – Spring, Summer, and Fall Use ........................................49 3.2.3 Recreation Management – Winter Use ......................................................................54 3.2.4 Recreation Management – Resource Protection ........................................................55 3.2.5 Recreation Management – Facilities, Signs, and Interpretation and Education ........59 3.2.6 Recreation Administration .........................................................................................60 3.2.7 Recreation Information, Education, and Marketing ..................................................62 3.2.8 Recreation Monitoring ...............................................................................................66 3.2.9 Recreation Collaboration ...........................................................................................67 3.3 Management Unique to Each Recreation Management Zone .................................... 68 3.3.1 Specific Management for RMZ 1 – Alpine Backcountry ..........................................68 3.3.2 Specific Management for RMZ 2 – Heritage Roads .................................................68 3.3.3 Specific Management for RMZ 3 – Animas/Lake Fork River Corridor ...................69 4.0 CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION ............................................................... 72 5.0 LITERATURE CITED .................................................................................................. 74 Appendices Appendix A: Implementation Plan Table Appendix B: Example of Draft Monitoring Plan Strategy from Gunnison Field Office Appendix C: Corridor Management Plan Action Table ii Alpine Triangle Final Recreation Area Management Plan Figures Figure 1.1 Alpine Triangle Project Area Map ................................................................................ 2 Figure 3.1 Proposed Recreation Management Zones ................................................................... 27 Figure 3.2 Proposed Travel Management Network and Facilities ..............................................