Snake River Islands Wilderness
The Study Area
The Snake
River
Idahos
South
includes
770
and
U.S
The Snake
River
are
islands
do
that
not
islands
setting
of
the
From Conant
South
of
Hver
the islands
located
Swan
banks
within
and
Valley
mixed
is
withdrawn
are
Fork
varies
landscape
the
Conant
to
Valley the
Beyond
of
river
canyon
trees
within
are
25-mile
of
power
site
The
WSA
State
private
and
of
segment
Idaho
Heise
pattern
for
is
through
the
Heise
corridor
rugged
river
and
as
deep
enters
flat
and
an
of
Idaho
reclamation
occasional
influences
generally
the
alluvial
flood
park-like
olive
alder
character
flood
open
comprising
gorge
cottonwoods
middle-aged
willows Russian
with
characterized
of
overstory
shrubs
covered
the 25-mile
Valley
flows
to
scattered
forbs grasses
cottonwood
support
Valley
An
by dense riparian vegetation
an understory
pastoral
stretch
County
islands
between
the adjacent
of
Twenty-five
characterized
with
The surrounding river
The segment from Swan
dogwood
Bonneville
Reclamation
of
Smaller islands
opening
comprised of 39 separate
is
in
Ownership
see Table
Islands
the larger
on
River
land
public
Service
acres
ID-34-2
Snake
the
by the Bureau
projects
occurs
of
of
acres
Forest
WSA
Islands
Fork
770
--
Study Area
the
plain
of
plain
and
the
and
most scenic
flanked
by
farmland
The
WSA
included
in
was studied
the
Impact Statement
Islands
WSA
wilderness
under
Medicine
the
FEIS
filed
proposed
alternative
603
Section
Lodge
Resource
in
of
the
Federal
Management
December 1987
action
no
770 acres and
wilderness
partial
Land
Plan
Three
Policy
and
alternatives
alternative
wilderness
which
alternative
403
and
Management Act
Medicine
were
is
the
155
Lodge
FLPMA
in
analyzed
the
FEIS
recommendation
acres
and
was
Wilderness Final Environmental
12
islands
of
for the
this
Snake
report an
River
all
Recommendation and
Rationale
recommended
acres
for
wilderness
770 acres recommended
for
nonwilderness
The
recommendation
islands
770 acres
environmentally
natural
the islands
are
managed
recreation
and
and
of
other
conditions
Water
and
cover
from
during
the
erosive
action
islands
in
of
the
the
to
opportunity
naturalness
on
controlled
Use
used since
it
the
flows
carry
In
water
Bureau
the
River
below
39
because
designation
cannot
islands
the
or minimize
avoid
to
motorboat
regulation
easily
be
traffic
of
the spring
of
1986
cubic
gravel
and
identification
cfs
or
has
an island
are
been
have
BLM
configuration
several
dry except
remain
will
by the
altered
control
no
management would
islands
number
cfs stripped
bars
on whether
control
no
per second
26000
size
be
and
These
storage
separated
configuration
flows
left
once
Dam
Palisades
at
for
the islands
that
feet
and
high
and
Reclamation
changed
channels
size
as wilderness
needs projected
or
10000
Island
cfs
of vegetation
within
canyon
rim
Twenty-seven
These
Unwanted
primitive
manage
because
other
of
the
over
an island
over
impossible
of
the
hiking
when
naturalness
onto
the
All
of the
of
islands
these
adjacent
and
cattle
small
livestock
on
nearby
are impossible
ownership
private
seen
the
is
type of
degrade
along
The remaining
activities
and
heard
with
opportunities
difficult
and
for
11
and
allotments
state
boat
summer
nearly
river
or
be
the
which
traffic
grazing
can be
of
cannot
during
influences
also interfere
of
over
islands
by camping
which
that
particularly
landowner
traffic
influences
control
no
nearby
influenced
Livestock
mixed
and
influences
the
and
structures
are
has
on
traffic
adjacent
river
and
this
visitors perception
outside
extensive
is
recreational
traffic
horse
impacts
recreation
from
machinery and
portion
channels
have
highway
motorcycle
grazing
or nonexistent
and
the islands
canyon
has
sounds
traffic
of
BLM
and
allowed
is
Motorboat
and
sights
because
limited
and
recreation
primitive
is
river
water
include
scenic
that
the
farm-related
road
the
trail
and
the islands
motorboats on
of
river
islands
majority
and
solitude
of
the
paralleling
control
The
from
change
wilderness
for
increasing
the islands
low flows have
and
15000-20000
Avoiding
season
values
solitude
least
means
practical
water flow
unnatural
demands
few years
the past
experience
of
wilderness
shallow
heavy and
manage
by
irrigation
flows
high
state-controlled
is
impossible
islands
to
ability
Wilderness boundary
term
use
as nonsuitable
is
by
all
all
term
long
fishing
the
islands
impaired
segment
upper
from the dam and therefore
the long
The
on
river
water releases
over
BLMs
longer
flows
highest
the
Fork are regulated
within
mainland no
the
to
are
would
the
cause
release
to
The
maps 1-6
Proposal
would
It
nonwilderness and
as
Islands
alternative
recommended
are
adjacent
values
affect
both extremely
vegetative
River
The recommendation
depending
significantly
fluctuations
see
the area
designate
Snake
influences
South
the
in
use
to
is
the
wilderness
all
39 islands
wilderness
adversely
levels
fluctuate
and
outside
the
is
All
WSA
Islands
wilderness
term
long
small
extremely
use
variety
the
impacts
as wilderness
River
than
alternative
over
environmental
adverse
other
preferable
environment
Snake
the
for
for uses
from the
cross
for
BLM
national
to
forest
lands
BLM
certain
other
recognizes
natural
resource
that
values
uses
the
that
Snake
are
outweigh
River
and
will
Islands
WSA
be protected
the benefits
of
possesses
but
wilderness
the required
difficulties
designation
404
in
basic
wilderness
wilderness
characteristics
management and
and
has
the trade-offs
with
The
natural
valued
scenic
outlined
in
values
Lodge
Resource
oil
and
and
that
focus
and
Special
on protecting
nonmotorized
RMP
Lodge
includes
gas
sand and
Concern
and
gravel
all
of
decision
geothermal
trout
in
through
uses
wildlife
and
placed
the
special
These
Management Area
and
natural
resources withdrawal
eagle
values
and
and
nesting
and
designations
designations
and
while
relationships
management
an Area
include
The management
resources
areas big game
and highly
wintering
ecosystem
of
objectives
providing
of
and
objectives
Critical
these
accommodating
needs
protective
Snake
bald
important riparian
Management Plan
Recreation
has
include
fisheries
be protected
will
recreation
the islands
be protected
will
cutthroat
These
The Medicine
River
that
uses
ribbon
Medicine
will
designations
resource
blue
and
resources
the
Environmental
motorized
and
values
grounds
wintering
River
of
limitations
Islands
locatable
extraction
405
on
WSA
minerals
development
These
of
limitations
from mining
the
are
claim
South
no
Fork of
surface
location
and
the
Snake
occupancy
closure
to
for
.1
III1IIIIIID
RECOMMENDED
FOR WILDERNESS
RECOMMENDED
FOR NONWILDERNESS
LAND OUTSIDE WSA
SPLIT
____
RECOMMENDED
STATE
PRIVATE
FOR WILDERNESS
ID-34-2
SNAKE RIVER ISLANDS
PROPOSAL
ESTATE
Scale
in
Miles
17/1L
7D
/f7
22
yj
2/
27
cl
cI
fr
___
4i2
R.41
Nj
E.JR.42E
EIIIIII
RECOMMENDED
FOR
WILDERNESS
LIII
RECOMMENDED
FOR
NONWILDERNESS
fITHIWIEF
LAND OUTSIDE WSA
FOR
LIIIIIIIJLIIIJ
SPLIT
ESTATE
STATE
RECOMMENDED
PRIVATE
WILDERNESS
II
ID-34-2
Scale
in
Miles
SNAKE RIVER ISLANDS
PROPOSAL
MAP2
AUGUST
1988
R.42E
LIIIIIII1
RECOMMENDED
FOR WILDERNESS
JEll
RECOMMENDED
FOR
LAND OUTSIDE WSA
R.43E
IllllllllhEI
NONWILDERNESS
SPLIT
ESTATE
STATE
RECOMMENDED
PRIVATE
FOR WILDERNESS
ID-34-2
Scale
in
Miles
SNAKE RIVER ISLANDS
PROPOSAL
AUGUST
1988
17
R.43E
R.42E
tIIIIMhIII
RECOMMENDED
FOR WILDERNESS
RECOMMENDED
FOR
IIIDIMIIIIIII
NONWILDERNESS
LAND OUTSIDE WSA RECOMMENDED
SPLIT
ESTATE
STATE
W%
PRIVATE
FOR WILDERNESS
ID-34-2
Scale
in
Miles
SNAKE RIVER ISLANDS
PROPOSAL
AUGUST
1988
sn4
--v
---
ii
6s
-5120
AOA
28
14o
cc
A-
R.43
LTI
IIIiIiiiitll
RECOMMENDED
FOR WILDERNESS
RECOMMENDED
FOR
IIlIIllLlli
NONWILDERNESS
LANDOUTSIDEWSARECOMMENDED
SPLIT
ESTATE
STATE
____
PRIVATE
FOR WILDERNESS
ID-34-2
Scale
in
Miles
SNAKE RIVER ISLANDS
PROPOSAL
AUGUST
MAP6
1988
Table
--
Land Status and Acreage
Summary
of the
Study Area
SNAKE RIVER ISLANDS WSA
Within
BLM
surface
Split
Estate
and
Study
Area
subsurface
BLM
surface
state
lnholdings
Wilderness
770
only
private
770
Total
Within
Recommended
within
BLM
outside
Split
Estate
within
Split
Estate
outside
Total
BLM
Boundary
WSA
WSA
WSA
Recommended
Land
Wilderness
Inholdings
state
State
outside
land
private
WSA
Within
the
Area Not
Recommended
BLM
for
Wilderness
770
Split
Estate
Total
BLM
for
Wilderness
WSA
BLM
for
the
Land
Not
Recommended
Wilderness
Inholdings
state
770
private
412
Considered
Criteria
Wilderness
Recommendations
the Wilderness
in Developing
Characteristics
Naturalness
The
islands
Snake
and
activity
can be
traffic
and
canyon
cars
have
flow
the
islands
use
instances
has
where
From
islands
influences
to
enough
the
on
which
of naturalness
some
reconnect
of
the
and
parallels
the
follows
the
Controlled
water
the
for
is
trail
hiking
High
the
significance
road
gravel
changed
suitable
the river
some
of
and
horse
islands
have
more
camping
nearest
is
is
16-35
motorcycle
channels
changed
26
Highway
visitors perception
erosive
new banks and
spaces
where
automobiles for rip-rap
bank
river
open
islands
creating
of
character
nearby human
and
by recreationists
the larger
on
48-57
of
degrade
unnatural
cut
vegetation
landowners
private
impacts
caused
some
in
on
Impacts on the natural
left
rings
found
are
The
line
influences
fire
island
ring.s
dominant
off-site
needs have
irrigation
thick
the islands
30 junk
These
Dam
Palisades
Channel
islands
from
over
36-47
islands
from
most
the
heard
and
litter
fire
used by recreationists and
downstream
support
appear
some
and
and
imprints
grazing
Litter
nesting
54 where
island
rim above
water flows
the
influences
frequently
is
livestock
are
Grazing has reduced
seen clearly and
on
particularly
some human
with
islands
waterfowl
spring
Off-site
possible
of
WSA
development
and
camping
river
essentially natural
are
River Islands
islands
to
levels
and
size
configuration
with
the
mainland
Solitude
for solitude
Opportunities
recreation
and
with
others
throughout
the
entire
Primitive
motor vehicle
motorboats
islands
Fork
The
Primitive
the
is
are
of
and
and
is
enhanced
and
small
their
The major
that
and
the islands
along
on
several
is
the
on
several
wildlife
species
motor vehicle
scenery
traffic
and
39 islands
thinner
vegetative
influences
and
16
summer
the
and
35
Highway
the
season
fishing
of
islands
screening
include
island
particular
combination
The remaining 24
islands
the
related
to
offer
particularly
the
the
excellent
where
good
bald
river
413
to
when
seasonal
screening
vegetative
can
some
provide
visitors
26 and
avoid
cannot
nearby
motorboats
of
presence
recreation
quality but
deer
and
their
are
and
golden
use
peaks
waterfowl
eagles
by
from
and
fishery
on
hunting
All of
swift
flat
openings
in
and
these
the adjacent
recreation
influenced
Fishing
trout
skills
grassy
However
primitive
are
activities
cutthroat
test
there
corridor
farm machinery degrades
of high
farm-related
for boaters
challenge
along
and
and
river
larger islands
the islands
found
numerous
are
parallel
offers
of
wildlife
by the spectacular
during
directly
of
diversity
and
outside
of
cover
vegetative
the
Recreation
roads
activity
of
solitude
road between
particularly
on
15
size
unconfined recreation
traffic
available
photograph
motorboats
for
the gravel
segment
popular
channel
river
The abundance
observe
most
camping
opportunities
of
and
size
On
and Unconfined
for primitive
Opportunities
the
river
to
by the
influences
influences
on
traffic
affected
are
outside
because
but
outside
or
vehicle
developments
to
contributes
size
for solitude
opportunities
and
vary
proximity
large
relatively
contact
and
use
the
around
South
water
the thick
vegetation
excellent
chances
recreation
values
and
opportunities
in
nearby presence
to
Features
Special
The most important supplementary
bald
eagle
winter
Wildlife
nesting
while
deer
Service
and
and
as the
roosting
moose
highest
quality cottonwood-riparian
value
of the
and
hunting
sites
use
them
ranked
forest
in
year
Snake
areas
round
ecosystem
in
River
Islands
for other
The
islands
Idaho
WSA
raptors
are
within
The ecosystem
the state
414
is
Elk
an
habitat
wildlife
depend
area
contains
on
the
evaluated
the
most
The
islands
islands
for
by the U.S
extensive
provide
forage
Fish
and
in
and
highest
the
in the
Diversity
Assessing
National
the
and Features
Wilderness designation
or
The
in
islands
Idaho
are
system
is
Represented
the
River
Snake
are
four
other
Preservation
Systems
by Ecosystems
Islands
WSA
areas
would
This
System
BLM
System
in
the
add
ecosystem
state
under
an ecosystem
is
not
study
with
presently
represented
by 18 designated
represented
this
areas
This
ecosystem
in
within
very
an
area
contains
limited
Potential
information
in
evaluated
the
Idaho
representation
by the U.S
most extensive
covering
exists
only
less
in
than
the
and
Fish
and
Wildlife
highest
0.2 percent
Snake
River
quality
Service
of the
Islands
as the
highest
state
and
is
not
ranked
forest
cottonwood-riparian
represented
in
ecosystem
the state
Ecosystem Representation
NWPS
Bailey-Kuchler
areas
classification
Areas
Other
acres
areas
BLM
Studies
acres
Forest
Province
NATIONWIDE
Douglas-Fir
Forest
18
Ecosystem
1349971
26152
IDAHO
Douglas-Fir
is
Forest
19
Ecosystem
415
in
This
the wilderness
in
WSA
TABLE
Rocky Mountain
Idaho
with
Table
The ecosystem
ecosystem
as
of
There
1349971 acres
summarized
of Natural
Diversity
Wilderness Preservation
the National
in
Wilderness
173228
the
Expanding
Within
The Snake
number and
River
Days
Islands
of
acreage
for Solitude
Opportunities
Driving
WSA
Time Five Hours
within
is
areas
designated
or Primitive
five-hour
and
other
drive
BLM
of
of Major
two
study
Recreation
Population
centers
major population
areas
within
Centers
five-hour
Table
drive
of
summarizes
the population
centers
Table
Wilderness
of
Opportunities
Major Population
NWPS
Population
Boise
Centers
Idaho/Salt
Lake
acres
BLM
Studies
areas
acres
City
16
City Utah
Residents
Other
Areas
areas
Utah
Salt Lake
for
Centers
and
vicinity
includes
other
4741570
cities
of
Provo Orem
416
141
and Ogden Utah
5374250
the
the Geographic
Balancing
The Snake
River
Wilderness
existing wilderness
and
Oregon
WSA
Islands
Preservation
wilderness
areas
are
Nevada
in
contribute
the
in
Utah
the
in
southeastern
of
in
the
of
Cascade
Colorado
areas
and
the
within
surrounding
region
the
California
Montana
Idaho
and
Oregon
In
Idaho
Nevadas
Sierra
Areas
geographic distribution
southeastern
in
Mountains
Rocky
the
to balancing
by adding an area
concentrated
and
Washington
areas
would
System
of Wilderness
Distribution
National
the
Idaho
Mountain
Range
There
Wyoming
in
few
are
southern Idaho
Manageability
The Snake
dammed
flow
has
that
did
River
and
are
has no
the
on
of
river
summer
and
by camping
from
the
of outside
on
and
activities
nonexistent
wilderness
of
to
the
it
rim
grazing
11
that
because
this
and
can
River
10000
no
is
variance
formed and
below
levels
land
of
water
in
islands
many
cfs
be
longer
classified
is
the
when
degrade
river
islands
with
on
nearby
is
of
the
which
motor
during
These
machinery
and
and
are influenced
river
can
boats
the
impossible
values
allotments
river
of
nearly
farm-related
road
for solitude
opportunities
visitors
Use
wilderness
canyon portion
and hiking
traffic
horse
and
particularly
scenic
livestock
interfere
extensive
on the small
which
ownership of private
recreation
influences
off-site
paralleling
within
mixed
adjacent
primitive
traffic
traffic
along
motorcycle
also
of the
and
Motorboat
from
traffic
has
Livestock
because
nearby influences
naturalness
impacts
bank
have
islands
At water
river
solitude
limited
is
islands
New
The
levels
ever-changing
values
sounds
the
Fork of the Snake
water
over
bars
gravel
of
South
the
control
no
vegetated
experience
and
landowner
trail
and
islands
and
to
part
state-owned
is
The remaining
onto the islands
channels
on
adjacent
and
canyon
Unwanted
difficult
sights
other
recreational
grazing
cattle
the
have
be
opportunity
majority
Avoiding
become
to
Since
has
and
established
islands
water since
the
islands
traffic
islands
the
on
islands
would
The
wilderness
WSA
now
are
WSA
as
BLM
influences
lands
season
of the
highway
status
several
managed
Reclamation
tree-covered
once
WSA
forest
allowed
fishing
structures
the
naturalness
is
Twenty-seven
include
of
identification
control
national
perception
be
dry causing
Boundary
and
state
cannot
of
qualif for
not
as islands
BLM
some
eroded
channels
WSA
by the Bureau
Islands
regulated
be seen and
cross
heard
shallow or
primitive
recreation
Energy
and
Minerals
and
Geology Energy
and
1984
Geoexplorers
No
active
are
covered
River
The
oil
WSA
Islands
and
GEM
International
assessment
Inc
or patented
and
is
gas
rated
moderate
to
mining
leases
The
moderate
high
for
prepared for the Snake
Conclusions from
claims
potential
for
was
report
1983-84
and
oil
sand and
within
exist
for
the
energy and
gas
low
to
the report
WSA
mineral
moderate
River
Most
of
island
resources
for
Islands
WSA
follows
are as
units
in the
geothermal
and
Snake
low for
gravel
Resources
on
following
considered
by
Values
Mineral
unpatented
locatables
Impacts
Resource
comparative impact table
including
designation
or
summarizes
nondesignation
the
of
effects
the entire
417
on
pertinent
area
as
resources
wilderness
for
all
the
alternatives
in
1983
Table
Comparative
Ofl
the
Impacts by
Alternative
SNAKE RiVER
ISLANDS
ISSUE TOPICS
Impacts
Summary of
PROPOSED ACTION
NO
WILDERNESS/NO
ACTION
Wilderness
Values
the
ness
short
and
would
be
of
eagle
sites
from
of
all
reation
PARTIAL
their
37
in
bald
on
be
is-
and
lost
lands
16-27
which
WILDEJg55
wilderness
wilderness
for
threat
on
reation
benefit
areas
11
on
recreation
with
would
future
reservoir
in
would
wilderness
recreation
velopment
large
lands
exist
the
The
character
not
receive
but
des-
27
remaining
of
de
or without
protection
threat
is-
homesite
with
would
term
and
of the
partial alternative
The
longer
on
benefit
areas
One
the
lose
from
or without
would no
protected
nesting
values
lands
homesite
from
flooding
rec
habitat
ignation
of
be
which would
eagle
scenic
is
designation
would
of
primitive
particularly
bald
char-
habitat
and
islands
wildlife
and
Wilderness
or degraded
from
characteristics
naturalness
particularly
wildlife
development
values
would
Wilderness
rec-
protected
nesting
values
of
primitive
be
habitat
eagle
acter
loss
and
islands
scenic
large
result
charactensti
would
wildlife
impacts
values
foreseeable
39
winter
of
supplemental
the
and
Islands
retain
the
including
Long-term
would
Wilderness
naturalness
supplement
nesting
31-57
would
on
wildlife
wilderness
lands
and
with
construction
reservoir
natural-
recreation
maintained
values
ing
term
primitive
islands along
bald
WILDERJ.4ESS
ALTERNATIVE
Over
al
ALL
ALTERNATIVE
is-
long-
without
inundation
from
reservoir
construction
would
island
recreation
Impacts
to
Endangered
Threatened
and Candidate
ment
Bald
eagle
increase
Recovery
term
term
dam
would
lost
to
per
wintering
Development
and
No
increase
from
and
year
40-80
populations
as
projected
the
long
Eagle
lets
would
nests
Yellowstone
Recovery
would
with
along
be
40-80
the
would
under
26
to
is
the
homesite
Plan
10
produced
birds
wintering
10
eagle
increase
Greater
eag
annual.
would
Bald
the
Bald
Eagle
lets
ly
along
be
degraded
populatio
as
projected
Recovery
be
40-80
the
would
under
Yellowstone
would
with
river
births
populations
from
impacts
site
would
and
Plan
10
eag
produced annual
birds
wintering
river
per
annual
would
birds to
result
to
Power
site
and
reclamation
withdrawals
development
to construct
projects
Options
would
be
and
not
open
potential
be
reclamation
would
allowed
be
projects
revoked
would
Power
and
not
418
site
and
withdrawals
be
reclamation
would
potential
allowed
the
Bald
birds
project
left
over
and
Eaglet
Project
power
the
construction
decrease
decrease
Reclamation
the
eagle
Bald
Plan
Over
habitat
be
would
Site
Bald
ly
inundate
10-20
under
Yellowstone
short
year
would
Greater
Eagle
Power
populations
as projected
Greater
to
on
adjacent
develop.
Species
Impacts
remain
likely
lands
values
be
projects
revoked
would
Local
Social
and
Social
and Economic
economic
were
impacts
Considerations
Summary of WSA-Specific
BLMs
wilderness
in
Management Plan/EIS
Draft
Public
Comments
found
lands
were used
efforts
scoping
to
have
the inventory
favored
value
During
six
further
recreation
study
formal public
of
federal
agencies
the
in
area
wilderness
recommendation
No comments
addressing
intensive
for the
and
various
of
the
received
Islands
and
use
plan
in
the study
an
phase
Resource
Lodge
Public
the inventory
for the ultimate
was
involvement
public
on the Medicine
land
during
alternatives
Study
involvement
public
hearings
part
while
inventory
three
roads
did
not
One had
system excellent
unique cottonwood-riparian
Irrigation structures
ElS
of the Draft
designation
commented on
wilderness
study issues
was
comments
Certain
participation
solicited
formal
three
River
involvement
period
management
and
ElS
of those
and mineral
no
were concerns
exploration
Those
opinion
wildlife habitat
and
of
who
the high
those
who
the islands
review
the
process
favored
protection
comments supported wilderness
this WSA
One had no opinion
containing
public
BLM
and
period
Snake
the
value
11
Nine
review
in
extensive
Wilderness EIS
Lodge
significant
commenters
study stressed
of primitive
opposed
develop
wilderness
stage
further
to
comment
public
Medicine
occurred throughout the wilderness
has
with
issue
recommendations
wilderness
90-day
the
significant
were conducted
study
making
meetings
through scoping
In
and
inventory
important consideration
considered
not
ElS
but
because
the
Snake
the
no
the
River
comments
for
Medicine
gave
of
18
all
specifically
or part
Resource
Lodge
wilderness-related
Lynn
Islands
Crandall
WSA
of the
addressing
WSA
Six
this
WSA
commenters
were
received
Management Plan/Environmental
comments
One
state
In
general
supported no wilderness
agency
for
Impact Statement
supported
BLMs
dam proposal
were received
419
on
the
Medicine
Lodge
Wilderness Final EIS
no