Cucharas Canyon - Wild Connections

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, onthe-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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Cucharas Canyon (17) - NE
Unique geology, deep red sandstone along Cucharas River
(p. 15)
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.
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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
Cucharas Canyon (30) - NW
leads to the historic Kenner Ranch
End of Kenner Ranch Rd motorized use at historical
homestead at Waypoint 32. This route may
Kenner Ranch, two locked gates with side gates
have been constructed by mechanical
open to hiking and horse (p. 8)
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
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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.
Cucharas Canyon (9) - NNE
View of Cucharas River and riparian vegetation
at southern boundary (p. 11)
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
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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 nonmotorized). 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.
Cucharas Canyon (2) - S
Excellent opportunity for photography and scenic
viewing at rim of Cucharas Canyon (p. 13)
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.
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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
14
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.
Cucharas Canyon (41) - NW
Scenic view of dusk on Pikes Peak over Cucharas
Canyon (p. 15)
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 PermianPennsylvanian 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
15
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.
16
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)
18
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)
20
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)
21
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 (25) - NE
Closed lock gate just off of Kenner Ranch Rd
(p. 9,10)
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)
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 (29) - W
View of historic Kenner Ranch structures at BLM
Kenner Ranch sign (p. 13)
Cucharas Canyon (31) - SW
Hunters, hunting whitetail deer, observed at
Kenner Ranch (p. 13)
24
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 (41) - NW
Scenic view of dusk on Pikes Peak over Cucharas
Canyon (p. 15)
Cucharas Canyon (42) - SW
End of unmarked motorized route into grassy loop
(p. 9)
Cucharas Canyon (43) - W
BLM inventoried junction of nearly completely
revegetated routes (p. 9)
27
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 (53) - W
Water trough observed off of revegetated route,
closed at Kenner Ranch Rd, in NE unit (p. 12)
Cucharas Canyon (54) - ESE
View of closed revegetated route from Kenner
Ranch Rd (p. 10)
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)
31