White Knob Mountains Wilderness
The Study Area
The White
WSA
Knob
and
northeast
The
WSA
Antelope
is
private
Valley
stands
concentrated
aspen and
The
WSA
included
in
proposed
Big
action
no
located
and
moist
Section
occur
on
at
the tops
spring
603
of
the
terrain
of the area
and
areas
in
with
slopes
upper
the Federal
of
alternatives
wilderness
were
alternative
analyzed
which
is
in
the
alternative
450
the
of
Canyon
Policy
highest
with
point
Boundaries
road on the north and
hills
with
cooler
feet
above
orientations
feed
2000
rising
southward
mahogany
is
scattered
complex
found
between
Several
pockets
often
aspects
Canyon
and
Management Act
Environmental
for
The
Arco Idaho
see Table
sagebrush-bunchgrass
lower
EIS
the
Mountain
Waddoups
Land
north
WSA
southwest
drainages
supports
elevations
higher
the
Waddoups
and
well-defined
Management Framework Plan/Pahsimeroi
Two
within
present
north
miles
ten
County
on the east south
Several
the majority
or
and
mountainous
feet
Butte
in
are
inholdings
the west
on
7955
While
is
subdivisions
of Douglas-fir
under
Lost
1986
of
transition
studied
the
September
foothill
surround
willow
was
in
by
Creeks
the sage-to-Douglas-fir
of
land
an elevation
to
Cherry and Antelope
and
Forest
state
characterized
No
land
National
and
acres
ID-31-17
of public
acres
the Challis
are generally
WSA
Mountains
9950
includes
9950
--
Study Area
the
recommendation
White
of
this
FLPMA
Impact Statement
Knob
an
ElS
WSA
Mountains
report and
and
all
was
filed
the
wilderness
Recommendation and
Rationale
recommended
acres
9950
for wilderness
recommended
acres
for
nonwilderness
The recommendation
The
the
minimize
environment
the
The White
will
Knob
Certain
long
have
the
and
vehicle
difficult
but
where
There
WSA
and
solitude
the area
WSA
is
recreationists
more
than
where
the
Motorized
wilderness
Knob
use
WSA
Mountains
and
will
The
season
management
travel into
and
Other
similar
four
vehicle
by
present
roadless
primitive
areas
exemplary
but
the
areas
area
and
The
of designated
roadless
lacks
areas
canyons
in
but
within
the
physical
wilderness
more
an
for
available
is
roads
significant
are
the
would
opportunities
designated
but
enter
ways
Visitors
Solitude
on dead-end
traffic
opportunities
million acres
roadless
than
less
be
numerous
opportunities
WSAs
The
with
would
it
include
recreation
primitive
Even
values
WSAs
the
trails
to prevent
areas remote
conditions
watering sites
of
and
opportunities
motor vehicle
of
four
experiences
be
are
these
the
of the
by seeing
of the
Impacts
livestock
impacted
map
the
in
attractive
wilderness
in
six
are located
in
central
areas
to
and
Idaho
situated
recreation
hunting
be
users
over
in five
acres
is
will
or
reasons
over
center
season
hunting
wilderness
naturalness
solitude
opportunities
include
They
400000
WSA
and
Proposal
following
are lacking
because
expected
developed
to
from
avoid
to
Management
WSA
Six vehicle
nearby areas
during
WSAs
the
to
recreation
barriers
Six miles
they
judged
change
Lost
wilderness
naturalness
primitive
other
sites
wilderness
in
are
offer
ranges
as
significant
wilderness
attract
five
are
of
Under
the
on
watering
wilderness
than
least
means
Big
Hill
for the
designation
Natural
is
trespass
maintain
imprints
recreation
recreation
mountain
during
there
abundant
small
relatively
that
nearby
ways
already
primitive
Primitive
features
the
and
on many
impacts
the
Appendicitis
perception
personnel
to
livestock
does not contribute
Idaho
of
BLM
site-specific
and
visitor
occurred primarily
vehicle
the
practical
and
manage this area as
Road that penetrate
two miles
administrative
for
to
Solitude
to
historically
human-caused
encounter these
WSA
from
ways
with
Along
one
education
impossible
vehicle
from
all
policy
The
for wilderness
be found
use
other
cause
designation
Canyon
area
can
BLM
uses
for
would
It
would
impacts
ability
and
solitude
the
WSA
public
numerous
are
unimproved
BLMs
Waddoups
lower
use has
distance
not
the
the area
alternative
regulations
mitigate
for wilderness
affect
of
to
recommended
not
within
the
patrols and
and
Existing
outstanding
penetrate
location
to
vehicles
trespass
signing
The White
miles
considered
although
is
release
to
is
wilderness
all
The recommendation
of the land
nonsuitable
potential
motor
hearing
impacts
use
adversely
The two
the
is
term
long
WSA
conditions
area
area
the
guide
Mountains
term
The
the
recommended
lands
enter
over
environmental
adverse
Framework Plan
shows
alternative
preferable
environmentally
natural
WSA
Knob Mountains
White
the
for
continue
use
possesses
the
trade-offs
existing roads
on
to
amounts
the
approximately
minimum
with
other
and
trails
50
visitor
characteristics
resource
uses
and
will
occur
primarily
annually
days
for wilderness
the
outweigh
study
but
benefits
difficulties
of
in
wilderness
designation
This
area
habitat
has high
would
not
wildlife
be
values
compatible
for wintering
with
deer
wilderness
and
values
elk
and
451
herds
would
Improvements
not
be
necessary
allowed
to
enhance
wildlife
The
natural
motorized
would
be
values
and
game
habitat
Knob
nonmotorized
protected
designations
White
of
that
through
restrict
These
WSA
Mountains
recreation
visual
uses
include
such
management
as
hunting
objectives
motorized use to existing roads
decisions
are
now
pending
the
Management Framework Plan
452
mountain
scenic
and
hiking
to
wilderness
canyon
sightseeing
retain
trails
and
and
the
existing
objectives
decision
and
and
landscapes
camping
landscape
to
found
existing
values
off-road
maintain and
are
and
These
in
vehicle
improve big
the
Big
Lost
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RECOMMENDED
FOR WILDERNESS
RECOMMENDED
FOR NONWILOERNESS
LAND OUTSIDE WSA
FOR
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Ill
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D-3 1-17
WHITE KNOB MOUNTAINS
PROPOSAL
NOVEMBER
1988
Table
Land Status and Acreage
Summary of
WHITE KNOB MOUNTAINS WSA
--
Within
BLM
surface
Split
Estate
and
Study
Study Area
Area
9950
subsurface
BLM
surface
state
Inholdings
Wilderness
the
only
private
9950
Total
Within
BLM
BLM
Recommended
Boundary
WSA
outside
Estate
within
Split
Estate
outside
Total
BLM
Land
WSA
WSA
Recommended
Wilderness
lnholdings
state
State
outside
land
private
WSA
Within
the
Area Not
Recommended
BLM
for
Wilderness
9950
Split
Estate
Total
BLM
for
Wilderness
WSA
within
Split
for
the
Land
Not
Recommended
Wilderness
Inholdings
state
9950
private
454
Considered
Criteria
Wilderness
Recommendations
the Wilderness
in Developing
Characteristics
Naturalness
The White
The
Knob
most
WSAs
WSA
Mountains
apparent changes
good
topographic
concentrated
screening
along
WSAs
tends
wilderness
routes
human-caused
contains
the
to
natural
to decrease
visitor
the
would
but
imprints
character
of the
effect
normally
essentially retains
vehicle
are
and
roads
however
impacts
natural
its
and
trails
most
character
The
reservoirs
of the
impacts are
travel
Solitude
Outstanding
exist
outside
Primitive and
and
Primitive
to merit
in
recreationists
acres
in
five
significant
They
physical
include
roadless
areas
over
The
an
such
influences
on
affect
the
WSA
Mountains
numerous
topography
as
quality of
However
and
canyons
motorized
vehicle
similar
of
variety
disturbances
tall
along
solitude
Recreation
opportunities
Wilderness
features
ranges
four
Knob
White
steep
outside
have
observation
mountain
nearby
the
While
other
Unconfined
wildlife
within
exist
the area
the National
in
hunting
lacks
area
wilderness
each
unconfined recreational
inclusion
backpacking
The
from
visitors
and
roads
cherry-stem
solitude
nearby areas
many
in
screens
vegetation
for
opportunities
opportunities
qualified
Preservation
that
roadless
areas
climbing
similar
and
are located
in
exist
in
Other roadless
but
opportunities
wilderness
central
but
study
are
the
not
WSA
considered
for
hiking
sightseeing
users
primitive
of designated
for further
Opportunities
wilderness
attract
million acres
area
System
photography
offer
the
Idaho
in
six
areas
where
the
and
areas
more
are
and
more
WSA
is
designated
attractive
than
to
400000
situated
Special Features
Wildlife
WSA
habitat
but
is
not
is
the
areas most important
unusual
or
more
important
special
than
feature
that
on
455
Habitat
for
nearby lands
mule
deer
and
elk
is
present
within
the
in the
Diversity
the
Assessing
and Features
The
Knob
White
Preservation
are eight
as
BLM
WSA
designation
study
Wilderness
of Natural
Represented
NWPS
System
other
Diversity
Mountains
Wilderness
Ecosystem
National
This
areas
in
is
of
state
Systems
in
WSA
ecosystem
the
System
by Ecosystems
located
this
Preservation
is
the
Rocky Mountain
would
not
study with
Forest
Province/Sagebrush
new ecosystem
by four
represented
under
add
this
designated
ecosystem
to
areas
This
the
National
with
76129
information
is
Steppe
Wilderness
acres
There
summarized
on Table
TABLE
Ecosystem Representation
NWPS
Bailey-Kuchler
Rocky
Areas
areas
Classification
Mountain
Other
acres
areas
BLM
Studies
acres
Forest
Province
NATIONWIDE
Sagebrush
Steppe
Ecosystem
23
76129
247843
IDAHO
Sagebrush
Steppe
Ecosystem
162710
456
Expanding the Opportunities for Solitude or Primitive Recreation
Within
Days Driving Time Five Hours of Major Population Centers
The White
and
Knob
acreage
of
Mountain
designated
WSA
areas
is
within
and
five-hour
BLM
other
drive
study
from Boise Idaho
areas
within
five-hour
Table
drive
summarizes
of
the
the
population
Table
Wilderness
of
Opportunities
Major
Population
NWPS
Population
Boise
Idaho
Centers
areas
16
for
Areas
acres
4741570
457
Residents
Centers
Other
areas
141
BLM
Studies
acres
5374250
number
center
the
Balancing
Idaho
No
has
the largest wilderness
Return
Wilderness
distribution
Distribution
Geographic
in
area
the
Designation
48
contiguous
Knob
White
of
of Wilderness
Areas
the 2.2 million acre
states
WSA
Mountains
would
Frank
not
Church
balance
help
River
of
geographic
wilderness
of
Manageability
Effective
enter
on
miles
Over 60 percent
to
difficult
with
of
Energy
of
1983
WSA
the
and
and
gas
for
is
based
the
of
on
Service
to
would
be
of
to
difficult
are
WSAs
ability
be
compatible
high
of
the
WSA
the
manage
of
presence
and
WSA
the
is
classified
thermal
covered
is
similar areas
include
generally
by
within
high
of
of
history
and
oil
as being
classified
with
The
and
of
WSA
WSA
is
done
Lastly
The
WSA
in
1981
the
rated
Of
WSA
The
asphalt
of
WSA
the
groups
the
revealed
dominance
as having
subsurface
the
gas leases
Idaho
the
and
Basin
and
elevations
of
1976
after
private
beds
or
the
in
WSA
the
by lease
geothermal resources
This
Range geothermal province
absences
an
All
rocks
granted
for
from
reservoir
oil
excellent
including
structures
source
for
favorability
WSA
and
sources
unfavorable
is
of
of lode
twelve
total
silver
classified
carbonate
low favorability
lack
leads
low-to-moderate
Two
copper
the
classified
is
environment
geologic
WSA
Mountains
are
moderate
setting of the
hydrocarbon
potential
the report
as having
indications
traps
favorable
from
the structural
is
Knob
prepared for the White
was
report
been
has
the
bitumen and
phosphate
quality
of the general
of
major
faults
or
lineaments
All
and
boundary
maintain
effectively
two
boundaries are
not
eastern
to
to
lacking
These
would
that
points
from one
road surface because
the
to
access
that
the
access
WSA
lands
uses
BLMs
limits
vehicles
Conclusions
classification
of
analogy
factors
Negative
this
development
All of
application
lead
forms most
restrict
it
assessment
Inc 1983
southernmost portion
the
except
GEM
Mountains
basis
section
stratigraphic
to
Therefore
Forest
road
vehicle
the
into
as
Values
Mineral
data
geophysical
the
on
difficult
U.S
would
Road
Canyon
vehicles
be
lands
interior
Knob
The
potential
also
International
Geoexplorers
The White
presence
would
Resource
and
ground
The Waddoups
of
which
seven
for blocking
barriers
and
state
are
extend
trails
term
long
Minerals
the
on
There
difficult
or vehicle
because natural
difficult
define
be
routes
bordered by private
is
It
would
Access
east
be
and
locate
WSAs
the
over
Geology Energy
in
would
for solitude
opportunities
openness
trails
management
the WSA
The
bisects
wilderness
west
WSA
the
and
south
the
physically
wilderness
nearly
the
these
Closing
of
Management
wilderness
the area
of
known
mining
claims
claims
only
copper
as having
rocks
for metallic
held
one
resources
the generally
including
unfavorable
involve
prospect
metals
lands
has
lead zinc
including
within
been
the
eastern
developed
silver
portion
work
Assay
titanium
moderate
in
leasable
and
low classification
to the
favorability
and
for other
occurrences
the
favorability
stratigraphic
classification
458
for
common
section
varieties
provides
the
of
limestone
basis
of
this
WSA
Impacts
on
Resources
The comparative impact
alternatives
as
considered
table
including
on
the following
designation
page
summarizes
or nondesignation
wilderness
459
the effects
of the entire
on
pertinent
White
Knob
resources
Mountains
for
all
WSA
the
area
Tabte
Comparative
WSA
ENVIRONMENTAL
Summary
of the
WILDERNESS
Impacts
on
Wilderness
NO
PROPOSED ACTION
ISSUES
Values
Naturalness
paired
tion
Impacts by Alternative
WHITE KNOB MOUNTAINS
ID-31-17
on
ALL WILDERNESS
ALTERNATIVE
ALTERNATIVE
and
980
solitude
acres
of wilderness
No
values
lost
legal
on
or
im
protec
Wilderness
acres
values
retained
on
to
solitude
and
Impacts
would
9950
ness
acres
Subject
not
on
occur
980
9950
natural
acres
acres
Impacts
to
Energy and
No Impact
Mineral
Development
open
to
There
mineral
are
entry
9950
and
leasing
to
Motorized
Recreation
Use
No Impact
of
existing
would be withdrawn
and
and
rights
WSA
oil
gas
leasing
Withdrawal
because
tential
Wilderness
designation
require
validity
mineral
claims
to
50
recreation
visitor
annually
both
term
Impacts
other
public
negligible
on
in
the
of
lands
loca
will
of
not
po
low
would
locatable
use amounting
would
days
the
from
exploration
exam
on
leases
impact
Motorized
460
valid
acres
tion
Impacts
to
9950
short
shifting
would
be
foregone
and
this
be
long
use
to
Local
and
Social
Wilderness designation
No
social
significant
Economic
would
minor
create
would
effects
Considerations
occur
as
favorable
economic
of
wilderness
result
impact because of increased
of the
designation
recreation
Knob
White
Mountains
WSA
Summary
BLMs
of
wilderness
involvement
on
hearings
and
in
EIS
an
scoping
management
those
of
Wilderness was
comments
Twelve
Knob
written
an issue
the
in
Idaho
Nine
have
received
preference
agencies
Historical
written
Society
indicated
Environmental
they had
no
the
did
support
the
WSA
wilderness
objection
the
proposed
The Guard
feels
designation
could
that
and
subject
they
had
Protection
stated
these
action
responses
action
proposed
action
MFP
were
the Draft
proposed
provided
Administration
Comments
no
that
missions
current
received
and
issues
and
public
solicited
and
period
the
during
various
not
was
deferred
for
public
two formal
inventory
for
alternatives
to
no
of
no
the
period
ultimate
have
and
available
the
for
low-level
461
that
No
comments
during
the
study
mentioned
recommended
EIS
White
the
while
three
The Idaho Department
The U.S
Department
the
WSA
training
to
possible
Geological
of
Energy
The Idaho
flights
impact on
significant
airspace
of
wilderness
comment
wilderness
1368
period
than
the Draft
Agency
subject
consideration
comment
EJS
supported more wilderness
the
for
Aviation
to
during
BLM
comment
public
and
participation
value
Big Lost
inventory
public
recommendations
90-day
study
significant
wilderness
original
comments
extensive
wilderness
meetings
develop
to
making
with
Wilderness EIS
Draft
to
the wilderness
during
indicated
and
found
lands
WSA
government
Game
used
were
comments were
Mountains
comments
Seven
not
received
in
phase through scoping
Big Lost/Pahsimeroi
efforts
conducted
were
study
consideration
important
the study
the
and
inventory
involvement was
Comments
WSA-Specific Public
reduction
in
the
commented
which
in
the
area
it
and
Fish
Federal
Air National
were flown
solitude
Survey
of
vicinity
and
opposes
that
Guard
of