Lands with Wilderness Characteristics: Cucharas Canyon

Spanish Peaks over Cucharas Canyon, Royal Gorge Field Office Photo: John Sztukowski

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 6320. 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.

Lands with Wilderness Characteristics: Cucharas Canyon

BLM Royal Gorge Field Office, Front Range District BLM Unit Identifier: CO-020-042 (Cucharas Canyon)

Submitted by:

Wild Connections 2168 Pheasant Place, Colorado Springs, CO 80909

info@wildconnections.org; (719) 686 - 5905

Prepared by:

John Sztukowski, Wildlands Inventory Coordinator, Wild Connections john@wildconnections.org; (817) 939 - 4239

Report Date:

March 2015

Table of Contents

Map of Cucharas Canyon LWC .................................................................................................................. 3

Overview ......................................................................................................................................................... 4

Discussion of Wilderness Characteristics including Boundary Delineations......................... 6 I. The Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC meets the minimum size criteria for roadless lands. ....... 6 II. The Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC is primarily affected by the forces of nature. .................... 10 III. The Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC provides outstanding opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation. ............................................................................................................................................. 12 IV. The Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC has supplemental values that would enhance the wilderness experience and should be recognized and protected. ........................................................... 13

Summary Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 15

Cucharas Canyon Proposed LWC Waypoints ................................................................................... 17

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Map of Cucharas Canyon LWC

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Overview

The Cucharas Canyon proposed Lands with Wilderness Characteristics (LWC) unit is a low-to-mid elevation area in south-central Colorado, consisting of approximately 6,100 contiguous acres. This unit is located east of the Front Range Mountains in northeast Huerfano County. This unit ranges from an elevation of approximately 6,000 feet in the eastern plains to below 5,300 feet in the northern portion of the unit where Cucharas Creek flows toward the Arkansas River. The proposed LWC supports a diversity of vegetation, primarily consisting of open grassy subtle rolling hills with pinyon pines and junipers in the eastern half of the unit, and a rich riparian canyon with creek that makes up the western half of the unit. Gulches flow through the unit, particularly down to Cucharas Canyon from the east, sprinkling in healthy old growth ponderosa pine with the cottonwood-willow riparian areas.

The Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC is located less than 15 miles east of Walsenburg, CO and about 65 miles south of Pueblo, CO, the nearest major metropolitan city. The majority of the unit is bound by private property, with public access only available via County Road 10 from the south. There are two non-motorized entrances in the west to access Cucharas Canyon by foot or horse, and Kenner Ranch Road (CR 23) in the east, which enters the unit as a cherrystem road.

This land was acquired by the BLM in 1998 due to its unique natural values and cultural resources. The BLM has recognized Cucharas Canyon itself, 1,660 acres of public land, as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) due to its cultural heritage of Native Americans, settlers, and ranchers. The Colorado National Heritage Program (CNHP) research supports the natural values of this area, as they recognize the entirety of the unit to fall within a much larger area with high biodiversity significance, a Potential Conservation Areas (PCA), due to the occurrence of globally vulnerable plant communities, imperiled plant species, and vulnerable and rare animal species such as the swift fox and black-tailed prairie dog respectively. In addition to the unit’s extraordinary biological values, this area is unique for another reason: there are no other roadless areas in the eastern Colorado plains that meet the LWC criteria.

The proposed LWC has high habitat and range values for other wildlife species as well, including the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, black bear, elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, and mountain lion. Critical and valued bird species identified in this area include the bald eagle and scaled quail both of which are species of most concern.

Opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation are abundant in the 6,100 acre contiguous roadless area that forms the proposed Cucharas Canyon LWC. The rolling hills and forested areas of the eastern portion of the unit, as well as the steep ridges and gulches that support Cucharas Canyon all provide extensive opportunity for solitude in the forms of isolation, remoteness, lack of visitation and vegetative and topographic screening. Primitive recreation abounds in all seasons, including hunting, backpacking, hiking, wildlife viewing, bird watching, photography and more.

The BLM inventoried this unit in 2013, identified as unit COF-020-042 (Cucharas Canyon). In the report, the BLM identified an area of 6,061.2 acres (delineated by the blue line in the above map), however reported that this unit does not have lands with wilderness characteristics due to the

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man-made features found within the unit. The BLM cites old routes, livestock improvement projects, two cisterns and historical buildings as the human impacts to the unit.

While the Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC does have the above minor human impacts within the unit, they do not affect the natural integrity or the apparent naturalness of the unit overall (BLM Manual 6310, p 6-7). As the BLM notes, “the majority of the man-made features found within the unit are located near the homesteads found on the eastern side of the unit” (p. 2). Not only are these human impacts mostly isolated, the primary man-made features are the Kenner Ranch structures. And as noted in BLM’s report, they are considered historical and add value to the unit. The livestock improvements are old, sparse, and cannot be seen from much of the unit. There are a few routes within the unit, however most were not constructed by mechanical means, show heavy revegetation, and were difficult to distinguish on the ground. Additionally, many of the BLM’s report photopoints do not provide evidence of maintenance or regular and continuous use on these routes.

Wild Connections on-the-ground inventory provides data and assesses all routes within the unit, as well as information regarding the state of the vegetation in the area. In the following sections, this report will provide BLM with new information regarding the entirety of the routes and wilderness characteristics in this unit. 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). These were the parameters Wild Connections used to defined the boundaries of the Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC. 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 produced a preliminary boundary delineation for this unit based on the size and contiguity requirements stated in Manual 6310 (p 6). In 2014, Wild Connections' mapping teams visited the Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC 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. Wild Connections’ report offers new in-depth data and information, including photo, narrative, and geo-referenced data, supporting the Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC. The boundary delineations and narratives describing the wilderness characteristics found within this unit are detailed below. Waypoints (many 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.

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Discussion of Wilderness Characteristics including Boundary Delineations

I. The Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC meets the minimum size criteria for roadless lands.

The Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC comprises approximately 6,100 contiguous roadless acres, 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" (Manual 6310, p 11). Wild Connections' inventory of this area used the above definitions to determine whether routes that are or are not considered WIRs. Routes that did meet the criteria for WIRs were removed from the unit as cherrystems. The BLM’s assessment of the unit’s boundaries appears to be largely accurate. Private property bounds the unit on all sides, with the exception of a block of state land to the north, limiting public access. All access is via County Road 10 to the south.

Cucharas Canyon (17) - NE Unique geology, deep red sandstone along Cucharas River (p. 15)

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The west side of the unit offers three public access points. The first is merely a lookout, located at the northwest corner of the unit. Waypoint 1 shows where motorized use ends at a BLM fence line, with an opening for foot traffic. A faint route, not constructed by mechanical means and now heavily revegetated, continues for a few hundred feet where it ends at a cliff overlook of Cucharas Canyon. This route will remain within the unit as a way. Approximately two miles south of here along Turkey Ridge Road, which parallels the unit to the west, is an entrance to the unit for the Wilson Trail Crossing at Waypoint 4. The Wilson Trail Crossing is a non-motorized trail that heads east across Cucharas Canyon to Kenner Ranch on the other side. The trail, with BLM sign, meets a junction for the Cucharas Creek trail in the middle of the canyon at Waypoint 5. As viewed, both of these trails were difficult to distinguish on the ground. Neither of these trails were constructed by mechanical means and will remain within the unit as ways. The other BLM public access point to the west of the unit is at the southwest boundary for Sheep Crossing Road at 6, also off of Turkey Ridge Road. This route heads east into the unit for about half a mile to Waypoint 7, where there is a vehicle turnaround and a locked BLM gate that states “No Vehicles Beyond This Point.” This photopoint also captures the entrance open to foot and horse traffic. Sheep Crossing Road was likely originally bladed, is maintained, and shows regular and continuous use. It will be removed from the unit as a Wilderness Inventory Road from Waypoint 6 to Waypoint 7. Sheep Crossing had been historically used as a stock drive, with a four-wheel drive route superseding that until the BLM acquired the land in 1998 and only allowed access for foot and horse. This route essentially heads south making its way down the canyon to Cucharas River. It comes to an unlocked BLM gate at Waypoint 8, just prior to the river. This route was once constructed by mechanical means, however does not show signs of maintenance and is no longer regular and continuous. There is also substantial erosion on portions of the route descending into the canyon, where it has become heavily revegetated as illustrated in Waypoint 8. The BLM supports this, stating, “The route is becoming overgrown with vegetation.” This section of Sheep Crossing will remain within the unit as a way. Just south of this gated entrance is the southern boundary of the unit where there is a locked gate along the boundary fence line with a sign stating, “No Trespassing, Hunting, or Fishing.” However there is no evidence of a route or vehicle use in this short section along the river between these two gates. The Cucharas River trail can be picked up near here, difficult to locate on the ground, but essentially follows the river north to the Wilson Trail Crossing previously mentioned at Waypoint 5. These are the only public access points to the west of the unit, and as documented, motorized-use on this side of the unit is limited to about half a mile along Sheep Crossing Road. There is only one public access point to the unit from the east, via Kenner Ranch Road (CR 23), also accessed from County Road 10 to the south.

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Kenner Ranch Road (CR 23) parallels the unit to the east, with public access into the unit first available at Waypoint 20. However as the photopoint indicates, the entrance is gated and locked with a BLM sign stating, “Closed to Motor Vehicles to Restore Springs, Wetlands Vegetation and Improve Wildlife Habitat.” The gate and sign appear to be effective, as this route is heavily revegetated. Waypoint 21 captures what could loosely be described as a junction one half mile in, showing a very faint social trail branching off the primary route, which also shows much revegetation. The restored route ends less than one half mile further west at a water trough and covered well. Waypoint 23 shows the condition of the route leading up to the livestock improvements. This route was not constructed by mechanical means, shows no signs of improvements or maintenance, is not regular and continuous and will remain within the unit as a way. Note the BLM documented historical structures and two cisterns in the area, however they were not found or observed in Wild Connections on-the-ground inventory. It is presumed that they are located off of the faint route at the aforementioned junction. Regardless, the historical structures add value to the proposed LWC and while the cisterns are man-made impacts, they are not a visual disturbance, as they cannot even be seen nearby, much less affecting the entirety of the unit. Kenner Ranch Road, County Road 23, enters the unit at Waypoint 24 through a boundary fence line. Kenner Ranch Road continues north and then west into the unit for less than two miles, with public motorized access ending at Waypoint 30 (right) at Kenner Ranch and its historical structures. As evidenced in the above photopoint, there are two separate locked gated entrances, closed to motor vehicles, with separate gated access for hiking and horses. The northern gate leads to the adjacent Kenner Ranch ranching structures and the western gate comes to a Y junction just past the ranch. The southern branch leads to the historic Kenner Ranch homestead at Waypoint 32. This route may have been constructed by mechanical means, however is not maintained and is no longer regular and continuous. And as evidenced in the photopoint, the route is heavily revegetated leading up to the homestead. This short route will remain within the unit as a way. The northern route from the above junction is for the Wilson Crossing Trail, with nearby BLM sign indicating as much. This trail is only accessible via foot and horse and exits Kenner Ranch at a gate at Waypoint 33, with a sign stating that “This Trail Maintained by Rocky Mountain Backcountry Horsemen and Bureau of Land Management.” This route may have once seen vehicle traffic, however was not created by mechanical means and shows no signs of improvement or maintenance. Waypoint 34, taken about one-fifth of a mile north, shows this route heavily

Cucharas Canyon (30) - NW End of Kenner Ranch Rd motorized use at historical Kenner Ranch, two locked gates with side gates open to hiking and horse (p. 8)

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revegetated, passing through a trail opening in a fence line, before this route turns west and descends down into Cucharas Canyon. There is one other motorized route in the unit accessible to the public. It is located at Waypoint 28 off of Kenner Ranch Road, a few hundred feet east of Kenner Ranch. There are no signs on the ground indicating the purpose or restrictions for this route, however the BLM inventoried this route as CO-020-042-E and stated that is was constructed to access a developed spring and is now predominantly used for hunting access. The route continues south into the interior for approximately one and one-third mile, ending into a grassy loop at Waypoint 42. This route does not appear to have been constructed by mechanical means, shows no improvements or maintenance, and does not appear regular and continuous. Furthermore, this route shows heavy revegetation and will remain within the unit as a way. There is a short spur off of this route at Waypoint 39, which heads west toward the rim of Cucharas Canyon. The route shows revegetation and sparse use, ending less than one-fifth mile at Waypoint 40 into a sandy turnaround. Outstanding views of Cucharas Canyon and the mountain ranges to the east are attainable just past the end of this route. This route was not constructed by mechanical means, is not improved, and is not regular and continuous and thus will remain within the unit as way. Across from CO-020-042-E, off of Kenner Ranch Road, is a closed motorized route with locked gate. However this route is open to hiking and horses via a separate nearby gate. This all can be seen in Waypoint 27, including an old low water trough that makes up part of the fence line. The BLM inventoried a series of former ranching routes in the northeast section of the unit, stemming from here. There is one more access route to this section a little further east along Kenner Ranch Road at Waypoint 25, however gate is locked and inaccessible to the public. Many of these former routes in this section of the unit are heavily revegetated and difficult to discern on the ground. For example the primary route, accessed at the aforementioned Waypoint 27, was very difficult to follow on the ground not too far from the trailhead. This can be evidenced in Waypoint 46, taken less than one mile from the public entrance, with the faintest of one track remaining, which may even be from horse and hiking use. Also barely discernible in this photopoint is the small earthen dam and water trough that this route was once likely designed to go to. The BLM inventoried this route to continue north out of BLM land, however the route completely disappears a short distance north of the water trough, as evidenced in Waypoint 47. The BLM also inventoried a route that stems from the east near the non-motorized public entrance and loops back to the route near Waypoint 46 and the water trough. Neither junctions nor the route were observed on the ground. This is the case for many of the BLM inventoried routes in this section of the unit. Waypoint 43, along the primary public access route just south of the water trough represents a barely distinguishable junction where one BLM inventoried route traverses north and another east into the unit. Both of these routes completely dissipate into the surrounding naturalness a short distance along them, as evidenced in Waypoints 44 and 45, respectively for the northern and eastern routes.

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Faint evidence of the eastern route picks up at Waypoint 49 near the boundary, denoted by the fence line in view. This also represents a BLM inventoried junction, however the BLM inventoried routes to the southeast and southwest were not observed on the ground. Evidence of a former route was observed along the northeast boundary fence, however that faded quickly at Waypoint 50, which views a gate in the barbed wire fence line. A similar gate was observed about one quarter mile east along the boundary at Waypoint 51. Both of these points show faint former routes, now heavily revegetated, heading south into the interior. Perhaps the most noticeable linear feature in this section of the unit is the former route that heads northeast from the locked gate at Waypoint 25, referenced above. This route can be viewed in Waypoint 54 and again with a junction about one half mile further northeast at Waypoint 56. The route heading southeast dissipates a short distance past the junction. Note the power lines in the distance viewed in the above photopoints are east of the unit’s boundary. Also evidenced in these photopoints is the revegetation of the route, which becomes difficult to discern on the ground, even on the route. While there appears to be a system of routes in the northeast section of the Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC, Wild Connections’ on-the-ground inventory has observed that these routes are either heavily or completely revegetated. The BLM motorized closures of these routes seem to have been quite effective. Furthermore the subtle rolling landscape of this section of the unit interior makes it very difficult to see any of these linear features on the ground, even from a near distance. All of these routes will remain within the unit as ways, as they were not constructed by mechanical means, not maintained, nor regular and continuous.

II. The Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC is primarily affected by the forces of nature.

The Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC is primarily affected by the forces of nature, with human impacts considerably unnoticeable within the unit. Motorized public access to the unit is limited to few public access points in the west and one to the east via Kenner Ranch Road. Motorized use within the unit is quite restricted as Kenner Ranch Road is the only motorized route to extend into the unit, and that dead-ends less than two miles into the unit at the historic Kenner Ranch. Other routes found within the unit showed a lack of motorized use and an overall apparent lack of regular use, with the forces of nature reclaiming many of the former roads. Other human impacts that were observed in the proposed LWC were minor and will be detailed at the end of this section.

The proposed LWC offers a blend of vegetation types, due to the topographic variety and diverse ecosystems found within this unit. The topography is somewhat dichotomous, with a deep rocky canyon and riparian creek making up the western half of the unit, and subtle rolling hills of grasslands sprinkled with juniper-pinyon woodlands in the east.

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The western portion of the unit is encompassed predominantly by unadulterated naturalness. Waypoint 3 views the canyon interior from the northwest scenic outlook. Note that no man-made features are visible within the unit from this high vantage point. Waypoint 9 (right) views Cucharas River in the open Cucharas Canyon from the southern portion of the unit. It is primarily comprised of a grassy riparian area with pinyon pines and junipers climbing the cliff walls. Ponderosa pines mix in as well in the canyon, primarily on the east side as viewed in the above photopoint. Cottonwoods, tamarisk, cacti, sagebrush, and a variety of grasses are also common in Cucharas Canyon. Waypoint 14 views many of these species looking east up Keystone Canyon, one of a few canyons that descend down into Cucharas.

A few minor human impacts were observed in the western portion of the unit. A large old railroad trestle was observed at in the middle of Cucharas Canyon at Waypoint 11, however this can be considered historical, adding value to the unit. A barbed wire fence line with an old open barbed wire gate was observed at Waypoint 16.

The most noticeable human impact in this section of the unit, and perhaps the unit overall, is a power line that traverses across the canyon, observed at Waypoint 18. This power line connects to the historical Kenner Ranch ranch house above the canyon to the east and it is unknown whether this line is active or not. However our inventory revealed that the historical ranch properties do not currently use electricity. Additionally, given the winding nature of the Cucharas River through the canyon and the steep canyon walls, the power line is only noticeable in this immediate vicinity and does not affect the natural integrity of the unit overall.

There were human impacts observed in the eastern portion of the unit as well. The most noticeable of these are the ranch and ranch house at the end of Kenner Ranch Road, however these structures are considered historical and add supplemental value to the unit. This will be expanded upon in the final section on supplemental values.

Minor human impacts were observed in the unit as well, in the forms of routes, rangeland management features, and fence lines. As documented in the previous section, many of the routes within the unit are heavily or completely revegetated, and not noticeable even in near vicinity of the route in most cases. Furthermore, the vegetation and topography of the unit make it difficult to see any of these impacts from the majority of the unit, even in the northeast section where many of these routes are concentrated. Generally, the BLM report photos support this claim as

Cucharas Canyon (9) - NNE View of Cucharas River and riparian vegetation

at southern boundary (p. 11)

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well: they do not provide evidence of route maintenance or regular and continuous use on these routes. Note the BLM photos and photo-log in their report do not align beginning at Photo #19 due to the inclusion of an extra photopoint unaccounted for in the photo-log.

Many of the routes in the proposed LWC appeared to have been established for rangeland management purposes, leading to water troughs, earthen dams, or storage tanks. Water troughs were observed off of routes at Waypoints 23, 27, 37, and 53. Waypoint 46 views a water trough and earthen dam, and Waypoint 55 views an earthen dam in Bull Springs in the northeast part of the unit. A small old tank was observed at Waypoint 38. A larger tank, wide but low to the earth, was observed off of Kenner Ranch Road at Waypoint 26. As viewed in the above photopoints, these rangeland management improvements are negligible human impacts to the unit, as all the structures are very low to the ground and substantially unnoticeable unless in close proximity, thus not impacting the overall naturalness of the unit. The BLM also references cistern tanks in the southeast unit as visual disturbances (in addition to historic structures), however these were not observed off of a nearby route and thus should also be considered substantially unnoticeable.

Waypoint 52 encapsulates a common view from the interior of the eastern portion of the unit. It shows untrammeled naturalness of the low elevation grassland with scattered pinyon pines and junipers. Note this photopoint was taken amidst the BLM inventoried routes in the northeast section and views southwest past Kenner Ranch Road, other motorized and non-motorized routes, and rangeland management features, however none of these are discernible on the ground. Waypoint 22 provides a similar view of the landscape and naturalness from the southeast section of the unit.

While there are a few minor human impacts spread throughout the proposed LWC, these are examples of “human-made features” that are considered substantially unnoticeable and thus do not hinder wilderness characteristics (BLM Manual 6310, p 6). What was observed and inventoried does not affect the natural integrity or the apparent naturalness of the unit overall (BLM Manual 6310, p 6-7).

III. The Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC provides outstanding opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation.

The Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC offers many opportunities for solitude and primitive and unconfined recreation. There are vast opportunities for solitude given the topographic variety and vegetative cover, the few public entry points, and dearth of trails (motorized and non-motorized). Cucharas Canyon, easily accessible via two non-motorized trails, and the side canyons that descend into it provide excellent opportunity for respite and seclusion. For example, Waypoint 12 views the vegetative screening up Emma Paul Canyon from Cucharas Canyon. The wooded grasslands in the eastern section of the unit provide outstanding opportunities for solitude as well, easily available off of Kenner Ranch Road or the Kenner Ranch historical properties. Waypoint 48 exemplifies this section, viewing a scattered pinyon and juniper grassland (with Pikes Peak in the distance) a couple miles north of Kenner Ranch. Additionally,

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the observed lack of visitation and overall use in the unit provide outstanding opportunities for respite and remoteness just about anywhere in the proposed LWC.

Consisting of over 6,000 acres of contiguous unroaded wild land, the proposed LWC offers a variety of primitive and unconfined recreational opportunities as well. There are outstanding opportunities for hiking, backpacking, camping, rock climbing, hunting, wildlife viewing, bird watching, horseback riding, and photography. Cucharas Canyon provides an outstanding area for hiking (Waypoint 13), with an eight mile non-motorized trail through the canyon. Horseback riding appears to be popular in this unit as well, as it was observed that the Wilson Crossing Trail is in part maintained by Rocky Mountain Backcountry Horsemen.

The rim of Cucharas Canyon provides excellent opportunities for photography and scenic viewing (Waypoint 2 - right), an opportunity somewhat rare on the eastern plains. Additionally, there are outstanding opportunities for hunting in this unit. A pair of hunters were observed at Waypoint 31 at Kenner Ranch, hunting for whitetail deer, an uncommon species in the more mountainous region to the west. Additional high value animal species and habitat are documented in the following section.

IV. The Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC has supplemental values that would enhance the wilderness experience and should be recognized and protected.

Wild Connections’ inventory of the Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC 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.

The Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC is special for many reasons. It is unique to this region as it is the only federally managed roadless area in the eastern Colorado plains that meets the criteria of Lands with Wilderness Characteristics.

Cucharas Canyon (2) - S Excellent opportunity for photography and scenic viewing at rim of Cucharas Canyon (p. 13)

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The BLM states in their report that “the Cucharas land was acquired in 1998 after being identified for acquisition in the Resource Management Plan (1996), due to its unique natural values and cultural resources.” The BLM currently recognizes 3,865 acres, aligning with the entirety of Cucharas Canyon, as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), primarily for its cultural resources in the form of scattered sites throughout the ACEC that “reflect the importance of the area to Native Americans, settlers, and ranchers.” In the supplemental values section of their report, the BLM notes evidence of inhabitation by indigenous peoples.

The Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC also has historical value in the form of historical ranching structures. Kenner Ranch Road ends at Kenner Ranch in the unit interior at Waypoint 29, denoted by a BLM sign for the ranch. Just past the non-motorized gate to the west is the historic Kenner Ranch ranch house at Waypoint 32. The BLM also state in their report that there are additional historic structures in the southeast section of this unit.

Nearly the entirety of the Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC has high biodiversity significance (B3), identified by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP). This unit is encompassed within CNHP’s biodiversity assessment of a greater 209,000 acre area identified as Vigil and Saint Vrain, a Potential Conservation Area predominantly comprised of native grassland prairies, with wetland and riparian drainages. This area has high biodiversity values due to the inclusion of globally vulnerable plant communities, plant species such as the state critically imperiled Elton's lip fern (Cheilanthes eatonii), fair occurrence of Simius roadside skipper (Amblyscirtes simius) that is vulnerable in Colorado, fair occurrence of the globally and state vulnerable swift fox (Vulpes velox), and fair occurrences of the black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus).

The swift fox is listed as a threatened species by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), as well as Colorado BLM sensitive. The black-tailed prairie-dog is a species of concern for CPW, Colorado BLM sensitive, and a US Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program’s (WCRP) Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS) Species of Most Concern.

High habitat and range values for many other animal species have been identified in the Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC. Rocky Mountain Wild’s (RMW) Assessment of Biological Impact (ABI) documented the following mammals and associated values within the unit: black bear (Ursus americanus) overall range; elk (Cervus Canadensis) overall range and linkage area; mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) overall range; white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) overall range; pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) overall range; mountain lion (Puma concolor) overall range; and Brazilian free tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) overall range. The Brazilian free tailed bat is a Colorado state ranked critically imperiled species.

Many critical and valued bird species have also been identified in the area. Of note, this unit provides winter forage and winter range for the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), which is listed as Colorado BLM Sensitive, CWCS Species of Most Concern, and Partnership in Flight Priority Bird. This area also provides overall range for the scaled quail (Callipepla squamata), a bird that is Colorado BLM Sensitive and CPW species of concern. Additionally this unit supports wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) overall range and winter range; and great blue heron (Ardea Herodias) foraging area.

Indications of many animal species were observed in Wild Connections’ inventories of the Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC. Deer tracks and scat were observed throughout the unit. Coyote

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tracks and scat were observed along the trail in Cucharas Canyon. Bear scat was observed as well in Cucharas Canyon, at Waypoint 10. Small fish were observed in some of the larger pools of water in Cucharas River, for example at Waypoint 15. Cliff swallow nests were also observed, congregated in several areas of the canyon walls in Cucharas Canyon, as exemplified in Waypoint 19.

There are exceptional scenic views from within the proposed LWC, given the many high vantage points from the Cucharas Canyon rim and open grasslands in the eastern portion of the unit. The BLM states in the supplemental values section of their report that there is “superb scenic viewing from Cucharas Canyon, rare in the plains.” Waypoint 35 views south of the Spanish Peaks over Cucharas Canyon from the rim of the canyon. Waypoint 36 views the Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness of the Wet Mountains to the west from the Wilson Crossing trail as it descends into the canyon. The Sangre de Cristo Mountains can be viewed to the east as well. Pikes Peak to the northwest can also be viewed from the higher elevations in the east, exemplified in Waypoint 41 (right) of Pikes Peak over Cucharas Canyon at dusk.

The 6,100 acre proposed wilderness offers is noteworthy for its disparate geological features, particularly in the canyons. Waypoint 17 views a deep red sandstone layer of the canyon, cut by the Cucharas River. The majority of Cucharas Canyon is from the Jurassic Period, with primary rock types of mudstone and sandstone. Just the northern part of the canyon shows evidence of an older period, consisting primarily of conglomerate and sandstone from the Permian-Pennsylvanian Age. The relatively flat grasslands in the eastern portion of the unit, and above the canyon to the west, consist of sandstone and shale from the Cretaceous Period, the most recent geological period surveyed in the unit. Limestone mixes in as well from the Cretaceous Age in the easternmost portions of the unit. 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' extensive on-the-ground and aerial inventories, the proposed Cucharas Canyon LWC qualifies as Land with Wilderness Characteristics (LWC) in accordance with BLM's Manual 6310. This unit exceeds the 5,000 contiguous roadless acreage minimum as

Cucharas Canyon (41) - NW Scenic view of dusk on Pikes Peak over Cucharas

Canyon (p. 15)

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the proposed LWC offers approximately 6,100 contiguous roadless acres. Given the size of the unit, lack of significant human impacts, disparate topography, diverse ecosystems, and abundant wildlife, the Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC offers outstanding wilderness characteristics - including apparent naturalness and outstanding opportunities for solitude and primitive and unconfined recreation. Additionally, there are substantial supplemental values within the Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC.

The boundaries identified by the BLM generally align with Wild Connection’s inventory. Wild Connections concurs that Kenner Ranch Road and Sheep Crossing Road should be removed from the unit as WIR cherrystems, with all other routes remaining within the unit as ways.

While much of the proposed LWC consists of untrammeled wilderness, human impacts were found. As referenced, former roads, fences, gates, signs, a power line, and historic structures were observed within the unit. Rangeland management in the form of earthen dams, water troughs, and storage tanks were also observed within the proposed LWC. Many of these features are concentrated in the eastern section of the unit near Kenner Ranch, however cannot be seen throughout the majority of the unit. These are minor human impacts, consistent with BLM Manual 6310, as the natural integrity and the apparent naturalness of the proposed LWC in total are not compromised. Wild Connections’ extensive on-the-ground inventory, with photo, narrative, and geo-referenced data, of the Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC supports the claims made in this report. 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 6,100 acre Cucharas Canyon proposed LWC meets wilderness criteria. This area possesses 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 can be sustained.

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Cucharas Canyon Proposed LWC Waypoints

The following photographs correspond with the numbered Waypoints on the above Cucharas Canyon 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.

Cucharas Canyon (1) - ENE

Non-motorized route to Cucharas Canyon overlook in NW unit (p. 7)

Cucharas Canyon (2) - S Excellent opportunity for photography and scenic viewing at rim of Cucharas Canyon (p. 13)

Cucharas Canyon (3) - S

View of Cucharas Canyon interior from NW overlook; no observed man-made features in unit (p. 11)

Cucharas Canyon (5) - NNW Wilson Crossing trail with BLM sign, at Cucharas Canyon trail in Cucharas Canyon (p. 7)

Cucharas Canyon (4) - NNE Non-motorized W entrance to Wilson Crossing

trail (p. 7)

Cucharas Canyon (7) - SSE End of Sheep Crossing Rd cherrystem at BLM locked gate; non-motorized entrance for Sheep Crossing trail into Cucharas Canyon (p. 7)

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Cucharas Canyon (8) - SSE

Unlocked BLM gate on overgrown Sheep Crossing trail just prior to meeting the Cucharas River (p. 7)

Cucharas Canyon (10) - W Bear scat observed in Cucharas Canyon

(p. 15)

Cucharas Canyon (9) - NNE View of Cucharas River and riparian vegetation

at southern boundary (p. 11)

Cucharas Canyon (11) - NNW Large historic railroad trestle observed in

Cucharas Canyon (p. 11)

19

Cucharas Canyon (12) - E View of vegetative and topographic screening of Emma Paul Canyon, from Cucharas Canyon (p. 12)

Cucharas Canyon (14) - SE View of vegetation up Keystone Canyon from

Cucharas Canyon (p. 11)

Cucharas Canyon (13) - SSE Outstanding opportunity for hiking and other primitive forms of recreation in Cucharas Canyon (p. 13)

Cucharas Canyon (15) - NNW Small fish observed in the larger pools of Cucharas

River (p. 15)

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Cucharas Canyon (16) - NE Fence line with old open barbed wire gate in Cucharas Canyon (p. 11)

Cucharas Canyon (18) - WNW Power line traverses Cucharas Canyon, from historic ranch house above the canyon to the E (p. 11)

Cucharas Canyon (17) - NE Unique geology, deep red sandstone along Cucharas River (p. 15)

Cucharas Canyon (19) - NW Cliff swallow nests observed on canyon walls in Cucharas Canyon (p. 15)

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Cucharas Canyon (20) - WSW Closed locked route in E unit, sign states “No Motor Vehicles to Restore Springs, Wetlands Vegetation and Retore Wildlife Habitat” (p. 8)

Cucharas Canyon (22) - SW Untrammeled naturalness of grassland prairie in E unit (p. 12)

Cucharas Canyon (21) - WSW Junction of two revegetated routes from closed route for restoration (p. 8)

Cucharas Canyon (23) - SW Revegetated route ends at old water trough and covered well (p. 8,12)

22

Cucharas Canyon (24) - N Kenner Ranch Road at unit boundary (p. 8)

Cucharas Canyon (26) - NW Low wide tank observed off Kenner Ranch Rd (p. 12)

Cucharas Canyon (27) - N Locked gate for former ranching route, side gate open to hiking and horse; water trough is part of fence line (p. 9,12)

Cucharas Canyon (25) - NE Closed lock gate just off of Kenner Ranch Rd (p. 9,10)

23

Cucharas Canyon (28) - SSE Unmarked motorized route at Kenner Ranch Rd (p. 9)

Cucharas Canyon (30) - NW End of Kenner Ranch Rd motorized use at historical Kenner Ranch, two locked gates with side gates open to hiking and horse (p. 8)

Cucharas Canyon (31) - SW Hunters, hunting whitetail deer, observed at

Kenner Ranch (p. 13)

Cucharas Canyon (29) - W View of historic Kenner Ranch structures at BLM

Kenner Ranch sign (p. 13)

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Cucharas Canyon (32) - ENE Historic Kenner Ranch ranch house

(p. 8,14)

Cucharas Canyon (34) - NNW Revegetated Wilson Crossing trail heads through opening in fence line (p. 8)

Cucharas Canyon (33) - N Wilson Crossing trail access, open to hiking and horse, from Kenner Ranch; Trail maintained by Rocky Mountain Backcountry Horsemen and BLM (p. 8)

Cucharas Canyon (35) - SW Scenic view of Cucharas Canyon with the Spanish

Peaks behind (p. 15)

25

Cucharas Canyon (36) - W Scenic view of the Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness of the Wet Mountains, from Wilson Crossing Trail

(p. 15)

Cucharas Canyon (38) - W Small storage tank observed off of unmarked motorized route (p. 12)

Cucharas Canyon (37) - SSE Water trough observed off of unmarked motorized route, south of Kenner Ranch Rd (p. 12)

Cucharas Canyon (39) - SW Junction for revegetated route at unmarked motorized route (p. 9)

26

Cucharas Canyon (40) - W End of revegetated route into sandy loop just east of Cucharas Canyon rim (p. 9)

Cucharas Canyon (42) - SW End of unmarked motorized route into grassy loop

(p. 9)

Cucharas Canyon (41) - NW Scenic view of dusk on Pikes Peak over Cucharas

Canyon (p. 15)

Cucharas Canyon (43) - W BLM inventoried junction of nearly completely revegetated routes (p. 9)

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Cucharas Canyon (44) - NNW BLM inventoried route to the northeast completely revegetated just past junction (p. 9)

Cucharas Canyon (46) - NE Water trough and small earthen dam observed at revegetated route from Kenner Ranch Rd

(p. 9,12)

Cucharas Canyon (45) - SE BLM inventoried route to the southeast completely

revegetated just past junction (p. 9)

Cucharas Canyon (47) - NNE Route completely disappears north of rangeland

improvement (p. 9)

28

Cucharas Canyon (48) - SSW View of pinyon pines and junipers scattered throughout the grassland prairie of the E unit (p. 12)

Cucharas Canyon (50) - SSW Locked gate and revegetated route observed at NE fence line (p. 10)

Cucharas Canyon (49) - SSW Faint evidence of E route through E unit, BLM inventoried routes to the SE and SW at fence line junction not observed on the ground (p. 10)

Cucharas Canyon (51) - NNE Locked gate and revegetated route observed at NE fence line; power lines beyond unit boundary (p. 10)

29

Cucharas Canyon (52) - SSW View of untrammeled naturalness common in the E interior of the unit (p. 12)

Cucharas Canyon (54) - ESE View of closed revegetated route from Kenner

Ranch Rd (p. 10)

Cucharas Canyon (53) - W Water trough observed off of revegetated route, closed at Kenner Ranch Rd, in NE unit (p. 12)

Cucharas Canyon (55) - SE Small earthen dam observed at Bull Springs in

NE unit (p. 12)

30

Cucharas Canyon (56) - N Junction at revegetated route, southeast junction dissipates quickly; power lines beyond unit boundary

(p. 10)

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