Overall Grade: D

Wildlands Protection: C-
Details: Alternative D takes a few positive steps to protect wildlands on the Medicine Bow by proposing the Rock Creek and Laramie Peak roadless areas for wilderness. It also takes a smaller step in the right direction by giving some protective status to other roadless areas. But the Alternative does not do enough to protect wildlands on the Medicine Bow because it fails to protect other roadless areas and would convert the Illinois Creek and Labonte Canyon roadless areas into industrial landscapes.

Wildlife Conservation: D
Details: Probably the greatest threat to sensitive wildlife on the Medicine Bow is the fragmentation of the forest-it has been cut into smaller and smaller pieces due to so many logging roads and clearcuts. Alternative D would continue to fragment the forest. Furthermore, sensitive animals such as bighorn sheep, pine marten, clustered lady's slipper, and Colorado River cutthroat trout would not be given the protection they need-thus threatening their continued survival on the Medicine Bow.

Returning Vanished Wildlife: F
Details: Alternative D fails to take the steps necessary to bring the lynx and the white-tailed ptarmigan back to the Medicine Bow. For lynx, these steps include ending clearcut logging and keeping snowmobiles to roads. Keeping snowmobiles on roads would also be necessary for the successful re-introduction of the white-tailed ptarmigan to the Medicine Bow's ecosystem.

Quiet Recreation: D
Details: Alternative D continues off -road snowmobiling throughout the majority of the forest, which drives quiet recreationists (such as cross-country skiers and snowshoers) away due to the loud noise, odor, and unsafe conditions that it creates.

Hunting and Fishing: C
Details: By proposing two wilderness areas and by protecting some other roadless lands, alternative D takes some steps to ensure quality hunting and fishing experiences in the Medicine Bow. However, the alternative did not receive a higher grade because it detroys some roadless areas, which are utilized by those who enjoy back-country hunting and fishing experiences and are important to elk and deer for security areas. Also, the alternative fails to fully protect deer and elk crucial winter range.