San Juan National Forest, Columbine Ranger District, Timber Harvest and Vegetation Management Units Cultural Resources Inventory.

The area to be analyzed is located near the eastern boundary of the Columbine Ranger District, east of Vallecito Reservoir and the Pine River Valley, and north of Highway 160. The project area is in Archuleta County, directly east of Ute Park and Yellowjacket Creek. Proposed undertakings within the project area will include a combination of mechanical vegetation thinning and timber harvesting, and prescribed fire. Associated ground disturbing activities may include, but are not limited to, salvage harvest that involves hand or mechanized vegetation removal and skidding, horizontal and vertical shaft oak mastication, and the construction of landings, skid trails and temporary roads. Following vegetation thinning and/or removal, a combination of broadcast burning, aerial burning, pile burning, or any combination of these will occur within the project areas. All control lines for the burn will occur along existing roads and trails. Vegetation consists of spruce-fir and cool-moist mixed conifers, interspersed with aspen stands and an understory of oak and thick deciduous shrubs in higher elevations and ponderosa pine with an understory of oak and thick deciduous shrubs in lower elevations. Scattered meadows or grass-covered clearings, springs and riparian areas are also found in the project area. Previous wind events may have blown down isolated patches of dead trees. Elevations range from approximately 7,600 feet around the southern end of the project area to approximately 8,840 feet on the northern portion of the project. The terrain varies from flat and rolling to sloped on the edge of the formations. The area is typically snow covered from December to May. Every attempt has been made to exclude steep terrain based on GIS data layers, however the contractor will work with the Columbine District Archaeologist to determine if acres within the project area exceeding 35% slope will be excluded from the inventory.

Division 41 -

Material Processing and Handling Equipment.