APPENDIX W WILD AND SCENIC RIVER ELIGIBILITY SUMMARY Oh Be Joyful Creek Location & General Description: The Oh-Be-Joyful Quadrangle, Gunnison County, Colorado. 6th PM: T.13S., R.86W., Sections 19, 20 (BLM); T.13S., R.87W., Sections 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. See Figure 1. Oh-Be-Joyful River 2 Wild and Scenic River Eligible Segments 4 o d h a a r t o U l Co Raggeds Wilderness 1 A 1B 1C D 1 Legend: 11/10/05 OWNERSHIP GMUG National Forest BLM Private Lands State Adminsitered Lands Lands in Other Federal Administration Crested Butte WSR Eligible River Segment Figure 1. Oh-Be-Joyful River Eligible River Segments. Ten miles of the Oh-Be-Joyful Creek, including the three forks (Democrat Basin, Dippold Basin, and Blue Lake) are located on the Gunnison National Forest with 0.2 mile of stream on Bureau of Land Management, Gunnison Resource Area. The terminus of Oh-Be-Joyful Creek is approximately 5 miles north, northwest of Crested Butte. Elevations range from 11,200 feet to 9,000 feet at Slate River confluence; vegetation ranges from high-alpine meadows and basins to dense conifer forests. Segment 1A –Class = WILD (4.8 miles) Located within the Raggeds Wilderness. Beginning: At the headwaters beginning at Blue Lake flowing 3.9 miles to the Raggeds Wilderness Area boundary, plus 1 mile of the Democrat Basin fork and 1 mile of the Dippold Basin fork. Termini: The Raggeds Wilderness Area boundary. ORV – Scenery; Botanical (hanging garden) Wild and Scenic River Eligibility Summary Oh-Be-Joyful Creek Describe the ORV: Oh-Be-Joyful Creek and its tributaries offer outstanding scenery due to views of the Ruby Range, a number of waterfalls, lakes and tarns associated with the creek, wild high- alpine flower-filled basins, steep canyons and the wild nature of the roaring creek itself. A hanging garden with sensitive sub-alpine plants, among them, Sullivantia hapemanii var. purpusii resides within the stream corridor. Segment 1B –Class = RECREATION (1.2miles) Beginning: At the Raggeds Wilderness Area boundary, traveling 2.1 miles. Termini: The Confluence with the Slate River. ORV – Recreation (kayaking) Describe the ORV: The outside-of-wilderness segment is world-class kayaking. During the spring run-off, Oh-Be-Joyful Creek attracts kayakers from around the world. The attraction is the series of 18’ to 25’ waterfalls. Management Consideration: This river segment is listed on the State of Colorado’s list of water quality impaired waters in accordance with Section 303d of the Clean Water Act. The impairment is listed as cadmium and zinc, a result of past mining activities. Segment 1C –Class = WILD (3.1 miles) Located within the Raggeds Wilderness. Beginning: At the headwaters above Peeler Lakes. Termini: The confluence with Oh-Be-Joyful Creek. ORV - Scenery Describe the ORV: The Peeler Lakes tributary segment offers outstanding scenery due to: the wild high-alpine flower-filled cirque-like setting of the tributary along with the three Peeler Lakes, the large waterfall below the lakes, the wild nature of the roaring creek itself, and the steep canyon associated with the waterfall. Segment 1D – Class = SCENIC (1.2 miles) Beginning: At the headwaters in Redwell Basin. Termini: The confluence with Oh-Be-Joyful Creek. ORV – Botanical (Iron Fen G2, S2) Describe the ORV: A unique plant community and Iron Fen, Carex aquatilis-sphagnum angustifolium (S2) resides within the stream corridor. Comprehensive Assessment Appendix W 2 Wild and Scenic River Eligibility Summary Slate River Slate River Location & General Description: The Oh-Be-Joyful Quadrangle, Gunnison County, Colorado. 6th PM: T.12S., R.87W., Sections 22, 23, 26, and 35. See Figure 2. Slate River & East River Wild and Scenic River Eligible Segments o d h a a r t o U l Co Maroon Bells-Snowmass S Wilderness la te R iv e r E a s t R i v e r Legend: 11/22/05 WSR Eligible River Segment Wilderness Area National Forest System Lands BLM Administered Lands Raggeds Private and Other Lands Wilderness State Adminsitered Lands Lands in Other Federal Administration GMUG National Forest Boundary Figure 2. Slate River and East River Eligible River Segments. Elevations range from 11,400 feet below Yule Pass to 9,700 feet; vegetation mostly comprises of alpine meadows to isolated conifer forests. The termini of Slate River is approximately 8 miles north, northwest of Crested Butte. The entire segment is located on National Forest lands. Segment 2 –Class = WILD (3.5 miles) Beginning: At the headwaters, below Yule Pass, traveling approximately 3.4 miles. Termini: Approximately 0.5 miles above the Pittsburg townsite. ORV – Scenery Describe the ORV: Slate River offers outstanding scenery due to the narrow canyon in which Slate River resides, along with: views of the Ruby Range and the series of waterfalls throughout the canyon, the wild nature of the roaring river itself, and the wild high-alpine flower-filled “V”- shaped canyon. In the canyon, snowfields are common throughout the year. Comprehensive Assessment Appendix W 3 Wild and Scenic River Eligibility Summary East River East River Location & General Description: The Snowmass Mountain Quadrangle and the Oh-Be-Joyful Quadrangle, Gunnison County, Colorado. 6th PM: T.12S., R.86W., Sections 18, 19, 20, 28, 29, and 33. See Figure 2. Elevations range from 10,400 feet at Emerald Lake to 9,500 feet at Gothic; vegetation mostly comprises of alpine meadows to dense conifer forests and willow-lined river banks. The termini of East River is approximately 8 miles north of Crested Butte. Most of the river segment is located on National Forest lands (5.8 miles), 0.9 miles is located on private lands. Segment 4 –Class = RECREATION (6.7 miles) Beginning: At the headwaters, beginning at Emerald Lake, traveling approximately 4.5 miles. Termini: The Gothic townsite. ORV – Scenery; Botanical (Riparian Willow Carr S2) Describe the ORV: East River offers outstanding scenery due to: views of the Elk Range, number of oxbows/meanders, wetlands, and ponds associated with the river, the scenic nature of the flowing river itself, fishing opportunities, and the steep narrow canyon below Emerald Lake. Areas of sensitive, riparian willows plant community, (Willow Carr, Salix wolfii/Calamagrostis Canadensis (S2)) reside along the length of this segment. Comprehensive Assessment Appendix W 4 Wild and Scenic River Eligibility Summary Lower Taylor River Lower Taylor River Location & General Description: The Taylor Park Reservoir Quadrangle, the Matchless Mountain Quadrangle, the Crystal Creek Quadrangle, and the Almont Quadrangle, Gunnison County, Colorado. 6th PM: T.14S., R.83W., Sections 24, 25, 26, and 35; T.15S., R.83W., Sections 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 17, and 18; T.15S., R.84W., Sections 13, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, and 32. NMPM: T.51N., R.1E., Sections 11, 12, 13, 14, 22, and 23. See Figure 3. Lower Taylor River Wild and Scenic River Eligible Segments r ve Ri lor ay r T we Lo Fossil Ridge Wilderness Legend: 11/22/05 WSR Eligible River Segment Wilderness Area National Forest System Lands BLM Administered Lands Private and Other Lands State Adminsitered Lands Lands in Other Federal Administration GMUG National Forest Boundary Figure 3. Lower Taylor River Eligible River Segment. Elevations range from 9,300 feet at Taylor Park Reservoir dam to 8,000 feet at the town of Almont; vegetation mostly comprises of dense conifer forests, cottonwood-lined river banks, to open grassy parks. The terminus of Taylor River is approximately 10 miles north of Gunnison. Of the 20 miles of eligible stream, 6.4 miles is located on non-National Forest lands. Segment 5 –Class = RECREATION (20.2 miles) Paved road access and adjacent developments. Beginning: Taylor Reservoir Dam Termini: Almont ORV – Recreation (rafting), fisheries (gold medal), wildlife (bighorn sheep) Comprehensive Assessment Appendix W 5 Wild and Scenic River Eligibility Summary Lower Taylor River Describe the ORV(s): Fishing, rafting and kayaking. From Taylor Reservoir traveling downstream, the ORVs are as described: Reservoir to private land – Gold Medal fishing Private land to NF Lotis Creek – This segment is entirely on private land Lotis Creek to Slot – Class 4 rafting and kayaking Slot to South Bank – Class 3 rafting and kayaking South Bank to Five Mile Creek – Class 2 rafting and kayaking Five Mile Creek to Almont – Class 1-2 rafting and kayaking The Taylor River is the seventh busiest river in the State of Colorado in terms of commercially guided rafting. The majority of the commercial and private rafting and kayaking use occurs below Lotis Creek. Approximately 15,000 persons per year use commercial services. Hundreds to thousands of visitors raft or kayak the river. When the River runs clear, commercially guided and private fishermen wade and/or line the banks for trout. Comprehensive Assessment Appendix W 6 Wild and Scenic River Eligibility Summary West Elk Creek Upper West Soap Creek West Elk Creek Location & General Description: The West Elk Peak Quadrangle, the West Elk Peak SW Quadrangle, and the Little Soap Park Quadrangle, Gunnison County, Colorado. 6th PM: T.15S., R.88W., Sections 27, 34, and 35. NMPM: T.51N., R.3W., Sections 8, 9, 17, 19, 20, and 30; T.51N., R.4W., Sections 25 and 36; T.50N., R.4W., Sections 1, 12, 13, 24, 25, and 36; T.49N., R.4W., Sections 2 and 11. See Figure 4. West Elk Creek & Upper West Soap Creek Wild and Scenic River Eligible Segments West Elk Wilderness k e e r C p k a e e So r C t s k e l E W t r s e e p W p U Legend: 11/22/05 WSR Eligible River Segment Wilderness Area National Forest System Lands BLM Administered Lands Private and Other Lands Gunnison State Adminsitered Lands Lands in Other Federal Administration GMUG National Forest Boundary Figure 4.