Study Area
Boulder Creek Wilderness
The Study Area
WSA
The Boulder Creek
acres
1930
state
land
the
Challis
of
of
and
BLM
on
WSA
Small
were
was
the
the
of
the
is
the
Area
ElS
an
WSA
and
There
and
Statewide
all
is
202
in
Custer
are
no
of
state
Federal
alternative
with
sagebrush
Land
and
Policy
pockets
resident
and
and
no
778
of
Challis
The
WSA
Idaho
is
dropping from 8100
of
fish
wilderness
the
includes
north
by
feet
on
the
west
to
Boulder Creek
feet
6140
flows
habitat
Management Act
ElS
on
formed by state lands and
is
Little
Douglas-fir
WSA
The
bounded
The western boundary
terrain
Impact Statement
report
southwest
inholdings
lands
by public
both anadromous
Environmental
wilderness
or
moderately steep
primarily
of the
27 miles
County
private
on the south
consists
provides
Section
acres
located
Vegetation
WSA
under
studied
in
The
Forest
east side
Wilderness Study
analyzed
ID-46-13
see Table
Boulder Creek Road
through the center
The
1930
lands
National
elevation
--
finalized
alternative
in
FLPMA
September
which
is
the
and
was
1989
included
Two
recommendation
in
the
alternatives
of
this
Recommendation and
Rationale
recommended
acres
for
wilderness
recommended
acres
1930
for
no nwi Iderness
The recommendation
The
uses
environment
natural
environmental
The
WSA
was
RARE
II
merits
and
The
studied
The U.S
Clouds
Area
lacks
quality of
the
necessary
the wilderness
when combined
inclusion
the
pipeline
National
developments
thousands
of
of vegetative
acres
of
screening
primarily motorcycles
WSA
RARE II
The
that
are
present
of
acres
with
the
was
the
land
to
to
be
the
However
the area
alternative
the
the
present
are
of
II
The
the
U.S
that
the
in
On
Area
The
Forest
Boulder
to
Creek
for
least
avoid
or
II
WSA
WSA
minimize
the
adverse
map
Area
Boulder-White
Since
designation
cannot
for other
from
change
Proposal
wilderness
Creek
the
the
RARE
Service
suitable
release
cause
means
practical
not
the
sounds
of
of
recommendation
their
WSA
perception
and
stand
on
the
own
its
These
own however
generally
these
values
national
natural
appears
for solitude
forest
is
are
values
were
they
but
similar to
there
those
considered
considered
ranch
and
to
two
are
afforded
by the areas small
lessened
farm
were
not
recreational
merit
short
water
by the
size
and
lack
activities
WSA
for primitive
acres
would
It
on the Boulder
was
Opportunities
diminished
of
acre
Area
II
all
and
as wilderness
for designation
locally
sites
use
shown
are
determined
System
WSA
outside
opportunities
are similar to thousands
land
433000
has
RARE
throughout
qualities
would
key consideration
adjacent
to
allow
these
designate
wilderness
RARE
qualify
impact naturalness
adjacent
which
the
BLM
Wilderness Preservation
which
all
contiguous
suitable
values
with
the
federal
determined that
characteristics
does offer outstanding
Area
1930
recommended
outstanding
in
entire
Service
to not
is
is
term The recommendation
long
for wilderness
Forest
not
is
the
The
impacts
alternative
preferable
over
WSA
Boulder Creek
for the
environmentally
by
adjacent
and
the
unconfined recreation
areas small
lands
779
size
and
when combined
lack
of
vegetative
with
the
adjacent
screening
The
values
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RECOMMENDED
FOR WILDERNESS
RECOMMENDED
FOR NONWILDERNESS
LAND OUTSIDE WSA
FfflhIllIllIffll
SPLIT
R.18E
ESTATE
STATE
RECOMMENDED
PRIVATE
FOR WILDERNESS
Scale
in
Miles
ID-46-13
BOULDER
CREEK
PROPOSAL
JANUARY
1989
Table
Land Status and Acreage
--
BOULDER
Wilderness
Within
BLM
surface
Split
Estate
and
of the
Study Area
Study Area
1930
subsurface
BLM
surface
state
Inholdings
Summary
CREEK WSA
only
private
1930
Total
Within
BLM
within
BLM
outside
Split
Estate
within
Split
Estate
outside
Total
BLM
for
the
Recommended
Boundary
WSA
WSA
Land
WSA
WSA
Recommended
Wilderness
private
Inholdings
state
State
outside
land
WSA
Within
the Area
Not
Recommended
BLM
for
Wilderness
1930
Split
Estate
Total
BLM
for
Wilderness
Land
Not
Recommended
Wilderness
Inholdings
state
1930
private
781
Considered
Criteria
Wilderness
Recommendations
the Wilderness
in Developing
Characteristics
Naturalness
WSA
The Boulder Creek
the
on
feet
east side
Fork Roads
East
and
sounds
travel
this
road on
into
of
essentially natural
is
more
the
basis
and
thousands
of
of
1930 acres
size
farm/ranch
U.S
to
activity
farm
local
Forest
lack
be
is
However
the
to
recreation
moderately
steep
the proximity
of vegetative
apparent
and
ranch
WSA
The
imprints
on the west side
elevation
small
especially
acres
few human
with
in
feet
WSAs
traffic
adjacent
regular
tens of
8100
than
with
coupled
sights
access
to
and
screening
visitor
Boulder
narrow width
the
throughout
These
traffic
from
rising
to the
WSA
6140
Creek
and
the
cause
Vehicles
roads are the only
vehicular
lands
Service
Solitude
small
visitor
lack
the
Recreation Area
WSAs
narrow width
Primitive
WSA
Boulder Creek
backpacking
However
fishing
the
opportunities
WSA
roads
the
visitor
is
horseback
size
the
1.25
hilly
Creek
and
U.S
Forest
Service
large
River
mile
its
Boulder
Canyon
wide
nature
acreage
narrows into
corridor
However
features
to
and
adjacent
the
including
the
WSAs
above
to
popular
the
Sawtooth
and when combined
bottleneck
the
for primitive
riding
within
and
cross-country
and
proximity
narrow corridor
unconfined
to
the
just
recreation
snowshoeing
skiing
Boulder Creek
above
these
Possible
photography
East
and
roads
East
within
activities
bird
Fork
with
Road
earshot
which
could
be
called
focal
782
or
destination
point
for
visitors
include
watching
Fork Road
Features
any special
due
East Ford Roads are noticeable
Recreation
narrow width
visitor
within
the
to
access
Salmon
through
provided
of
the
of
does offer opportunities
hunting
primarily
influences
provide
kept
and Unconfined
by keeping
lacks
These
outside
The East Fork
areas small
Special
The
WSA
the
WSA
the
on
exist
of vegetation
throughout
National
the
and
size
do
for solitude
Opportunities
lessens
hiking
or sightseeing
these
Diversity
in the
Assessing
National
the
Diversity
and Features
Wilderness designation
Creek
WSA
represents
represented
in
seven
BLM
other
as
of
in
Boulder
Rocky
the
state
under
System
Systems
by Ecosystems
Creek
Mountain
Preservation
WSA
would
Forest
Wilderness Preservation
the National
areas
of Natural
Represented
the
the
Wilderness
study
with
not
new ecosystem
add
Province/Western
System
this
Spruce-Fir
NWPS
by 41
This
ecosystem
or
landform
Forest
designated
information
to
the
with
areas
is
NWPS
This
ecosystem
The
ecosystem
4756981 acres
summarized
on
Table
Ecosystem Representation
NWPS
Classification
Rocky Mountain
Areas
areas
acres
Other
areas
BLM
Studies
acres
Forest
Province
NATIONWIDE
Western
Spruce
Fir
Forest
41
Ecosystem
4756981
64171
IDAHO
Western
Spruce
Fir
Forest
Ecosystem
26910
783
is
There
TABLE
Bailey-Kuchier
Boulder
37261
are
Expanding the Opportunities for Solitude or Primitive Recreation
Within
Days Driving Time Five Hours of Major Population Centers
The Boulder Creek
designated
areas
WSA
and
other
is
within
BLM
five-hour
study
areas
drive
from Boise
within
Live-hour
Idaho
drive
Table
of
summarizes
the population
the
number and
center
Table
Wilderness
of
Opportunities
Major Population
NWPS
Population
Boise
Idaho
Centers
Areas
areas
acres
16
4741570
784
for
Residents
Centers
Other
areas
141
BLM
Studies
acres
5374250
acreage
of
the
Balancing
Wilderness designation
within
the
NWPS
Geographic
of
the
would
but
Boulder
further
of Wilderness
Distribution
WSA
Creek
would
concentrate
contribute
not
wilderness
Areas
areas
to balancing
the
geographic distribution
of
areas
Idaho
in
Manageability
The
WSA
could
2000 acres
wilderness
and
values
for primitive
and
be
its
managed
long
in
extremely
area
this
wilderness
as
The
narrow shape
private
unconfined recreation
lands
.25
and
by bringing
and
terms of access
in
area
mile
one
at
the public
in
the
sights
point
road on
and
existing imprints
However
could
restrict
significantly
the east side
sounds
of
degrade
farm/ranch
its
the
the
small
and
solitude
and
activities
size
to
ability
less
opportunities
motorized
use of
road
Energy
and Minerals
The U.S
metallic
Impacts
The
Geological
Survey
mineralization
is
on
following
including
Resource
and
lacking
Values
the
in
Bureau
the
of
WSA
Mines
The
mineral assessment
prepared
WSA
low to no
has
potential
for
for the
WSA
in
1983
Evidence
geothermal energy resources
Resources
comparative
designation
impact table
or nondesignation
summarizes
of
the
the
effects
entire area
as
on
pertinent
wilderness
785
resources
for
all
the
alternatives
than
retain
considered
of
the
Table
Comparative
WSA
Summary of
ID-46-13
the
BOULDER
PROPOSED ACTION
ISSUE TOPICS
Impacts by Alternative
NO
CREEK
ALL WILDERNESS
ALTERNATIVE
WILDERNESS
Impacts
Roadless
on
USFS
No impact
No impact
No impact
Values
No impact
No impact
Recreation
No impact
20
Mineral
No impact
No
No impact
No impact
Boulder-White
Cloud
Areas
Values
Impacts
on
Impacts
on Water
Impacts
on Motorized
Impacts
on Energy and
Wilderness
Quality
preserved
visitor
days
significant
Development
Impacts
on
Livestock
Grazing
and
Range
Management
786
displaced
impact
annually
Local
The
and
Social
and
social
Economic
economic
were
factors
not
formal
public
Boulder Creek
review
WSA
of
Public
the
considered
27
ETS
Draft
were held
hearings
issue
significant
commcnts were
written
at
Idaho
favoring
Those
opposed
would
eliminate
suppression
in
The Bureau
of
Indian
Affairs
The Bureau
Historical
agencies
of
to
has
been
not
wilderness
motorized
the
commenters
beauty of the area
One
were concerned
individual
with
of
enhancement
general
stated
specifically
its
lock-up
wilderness
opposed
the adjacent
of
of
wilderness
the land
designation
addressed
specifically
the
15
of
II
the
Boulder
Boulder-White
opportunities
the
including
would
for
designation
designation
RARE
the
written
specific
wilderness
supported wilderness
enhancement
its
and
for wilderness
five
15
Of
Idaho
preclude
that
regulations
responsible
fire
WSA
the
Environmental
Indian
not
the
recommended
designation
uses
Reclamation
the
Society
did
commented on
wilderness
which
which
of
Challis
for
the
Clouds Area
study
received
Boise and
Falls
wilderness
the WSA
Three
received 12 comments favored
WSA Seventeen persons testified Of the 17 persons who testified
Creek WSA one person opposed and one individual had no opinion
comments
Those
the
in
Comments
Public
Summary of WSA-Speciflc
During
Considerations
Affairs
voiced
identify
Idaho
commented on
concern
its
specific
of
Department
Protection
that
conflict
Agency
the
the
U.S
Welfare
and
Fish
impact of nondesignation
archaeological
with
Health and
and
and
historical
any of the alternatives
787
the
Idaho
Wildlife
State
Service
on anadromous
inventories
have
not
Historical
all
fisheries
been
the
Society
commented on
The Idaho
completed
Bureau
the Draft
The
State
other
of
EIS