West Elks Addition
6,720 acres (10.5 square miles)
What’s special about it?
The West Elk Addition is home to a prominent geologic feature known as the Dillon Pinnacles, volcanic breccia towers that rise above Blue Mesa Reservoir.
Habitat ranges from sage shrublands suitable for antelope, to ponderosa, aspen, and pinyon woodlands where deer and elk find shelter during the sub-zero winters in the Gunnison Basin, an area that records some of the lowest temperatures in the continental U.S.
In addition to protecting these valuable assets, the West Elk Addition offers an important buffer between the human activities in the Gunnison Valley and the habitat corridor to the north, which supports a variety of wildlife, including the big game that is a critical element of the region’s economy.
Potential threats
The proposed West Elk Addition faces pressures for new roads and trails and other impacts that occur from ATVs, motorcycles, snowmobiles and other forms of mechanized transportation used for recreation and ranching.
Setting
This proposed West Elk Addition is located immediately north of Blue Mesa Reservoir, and adjoins the very southern tip of the existing West Elk Wilderness.
Other info
Most wilderness areas concern just one type of public land (e.g., Forest Service, BLM, Park Service), and some span two different types. The West Elk Addition must hold some kind of record for having the most complicated mix of land ownership: it includes portions of the Gunnison National Forest (US Forest Service),Curecanti National Recreation Area (US Park Service) and Sapinero State Wildlife Area (State of Colorado), as well as BLM lands. Wilderness designation may entail a land swap between the state and federal governments.
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