Study Area
Hells Half Acre Wilderness
The
WSA
The Hells Half Acre
WSA
includes
Boundaries
The
state
and
accumulated
of
are
WSA
action
as
such
to
and
was
filed
all
studied
in
under
near
the
October
1986
wilderness
wilderness
and
Two
west
Idaho
of
of
acres
state
is
and
contain
by deep
interrupted
vary
mosses inhabit
flows
the
in
widely
barren
lava
kipukas
dense stands
areas
and
mourning
doves
inhabit
boundary
threatened
within
rabbits
more
the flow
that
are
endangered
wide
and
the
flows
most
have
diverse
escaped
variety
frequently
and kipukas and
sensitive
or
ridges
soils
while
trees
the lava
fissures
where
on
surfaces
of juniper
coyotes
No
The
Table
see
20 to the north and
crevices
depending
antelope
grouse and
Idaho
Falls
land
west
density
lava surfaces
lava
WSAs
2560
animals or
area
Section
the Eastern Idaho
Sage
the
that
and
type
Mule deer
grasses
of
and
south
east
and
older
ten miles
County
consist
moonscape
on the older
and
extent
to occur
flat
as lichens
kipukas
Bonneville
edges of the lava flow near State Highway
the
on
Vegetation
developed
limited
known
in
included
ElS
resembles
forbs
shrubs
in
Inholdings
the outside
lands
vegetation
The
lava
land
mammals on Hells Half Acre
hunted
plants
The
flow
acres
located
is
public
private
Pioneer plants
desert
sighted
are
lava
sparse
encroaching
high
of
are generally
and
communities have
plant
66200
--
ID-33-15
acres
WSA
BLM
5200-year-old
depressions
the
66200
of the
to
adjacent
Area
Study
603 of the Federal
Land
Management Framework
alternatives
alternative
no wilderness
which
is
were
the
analyzed
in
recommendation
alternative
388
Policy
Plan
and
Management Act
Amendment/Environmental
the
ElS for Hells Half Acre
of
this
report
66200
acres
FLPMA
and
was
Impact Statement
WSA
would
the
proposed
be designated
Recommendation and
66200
Rationale
recommended
acres
for
wilderness
recommended
acres
for
nonwild erness
The recommendation
preferable
environment
the
over
recommended
for
recommendation
from
acquired
the outstanding
the
long
State
of
challenging
factors
this
be
The 66200
to
that
is
The
to
for
WSAs
WSA
ruggedness
ridges
flow
acquired
State
can
be
uses
and
are
is
This
map
Proposal
that
inholdings
natural
WSA
the
to
anticipated
be
and
crevices
of
integrity
and maintain
lava landscape
5200-year-old
the
volcanic
features
National
Natural
other
designated
designation
outstanding
exposed
includes
nearly
example
of
Fractures
large
depressions
of
portion
three-fourths
single-event
and
ridges
WSA
the
of the
geologic
caves
44000
are
acres
is
Landmark
and
Interstate
rugged
striking
15 Thousands
National
Parks
volcanic
landscape
lava tubes
Hiking
of
one
of
the
the
of people
of
travel
and
caving
shield
Idaho
which
highway
solitude
will
youngest
flow
this
trails
camping
southeastern
lava
offer excellent
The absence
environment
the
to
scenery
surround
flats
the
among
volcanos
their
for those
maintain
help
on
in
high
scenic
is
the
way
willing
isolated
and
pressure
U.S
can
because
of
the
be
rewarding experience
managed
to
preserve
motor vehicles
to
pose some
through exchange
incompatible
of
and
surface
for recreationists
area
kipukas
and
and
harsh
an
is
sagebrush-covered
along
this
inaccessibility
lands
and
Grand Teton
size
large
challenging
The
field
smooth
Natural
and
and
of the
character
of
acres
the
within
as wilderness
for wilderness
The
field
fairly
visitors
into
venture
flow
the
land
Yellowstone
to
2560
land
Acre
environmentally
from
change
public
Half
areas fissure ridges
the
adds an element of uncommon
Farm
backdrop
Hells
the
as
opportunities
areas value
preserved
fully
National
WSA
desert
least
BLM-administered
the preservation
among
recreation
the
lava
across
designated
The
the
to
apply
ensure
recommended
acres
Hells Half Acre
feature
shown
is
The
as wilderness
the
cause
protected
contribute
common
would
for solitude
primitive
of
would
exchange
through
area
It
acres
66200
and
further
will
Idaho
of
entire
the area
to designate
is
alternative
designation
opportunities
Landmark would
Several
term The
for wilderness
the
wilderness
all
wilderness
Wilderness designation
Also
the
is
WSA
Hells Half Acre
for the
alternative
concern
would
The Idaho
for
its
future
supplement
Department
wilderness
and
of
values
well-defined
management
the wilderness
Lands
has
389
the
over
wilderness
of
the
values
expressed
long
boundary
area
and
term
along
as wilderness
remove
willingness
the
to
the
its
extreme
margins of the lava
These
possibility
exchange
of
inholdings
conflicts
if
with
Conflicts
with
geothermal
the
WSA
other
and
oil
suggests
uses
of
gas would
be
resource
and
that
the
low potential
Hells
curtailed
exists
Half Acre
by
for these
permitted The impact would be minor because adequate
future
demands Other stone collection sites are available
Snake
the present
River Plain
use
is
Motorized
low 150
visitor
recreation
days
per
would
are
limited
designation
energy sources
be
the
WSA
wilderness
quantities
outside
be eliminated
year
390
Lava
the
but
However
building
of stone
WSA
the
and
Exploration
the
stone
the
of
structure
of
geologic
collection
are available
in
development
elsewhere
Hells Half Acre
impact would
would
to
flow
not
meet
and
be negligible because
71
4kj
hiS
tttt
cnrz-j
Iii
1t
fl244rtTff
-M
5J
-c
jLAA
NcfLt_h
34
i._j
35
35
KLSJZ
36
36
E.I
HIIMIMIII
RECOMMENDED
FOR WILDERNESS
RECOMMENDED
FOR
LAND OUTSIDE WSA
37
E.t
SPLIT
E-
NONWILDERNESS
RECOMMENDED
ESTATE
STATE
PRIVATE
FOR WILDERNESS
Scale
in
Miles
ID-33-15
HELLS
HALF ACRE
PROPOSAL
OCTOBER
1988
Table
Land Status and Acreage
Summary
HELLS HALF ACRE
--
Within
BLM
surface
Split
Estate
Inholdings
and
Wilderness
of the
Study Area
Study Area
66200
subsurface
BLM
surface
state
only
2560
private
68760
Total
Within
outside
WSA
WSA
Split
Estate
within
Split
Estate
outside
Total
BLM
BLM
BLM
for
within
Land
the
Recommended
Wilderness
Boundary
66200
WSA
WSA
Recommended
Wilderness
66200
Inholdings
state
State
outside
land
2560
private
WSA
Within
the
Area Not
Recommended
for
Wilderness
BLM
Split
Estate
Total
BLM
for
Land
Not
Recommended
Wilderness
Inholdings
Appendix
within
the
state
is
private
detailed
description
of
inholdings
study
392
and/or
split
estate
tracts
included
Considered
Criteria
Wilderness
Recommendations
the Wilderness
in Developing
Characteristics
Naturalness
The
been
has
basalt
surface
dump
sites
higher
in
points
of
Hells
towns
the
and
activities
of
Half Acre
Idaho
Falls
The
overall
southeast
of naturalness
in
the
and
Wilderness Preservation
the National
with
the
have
human
negligible
settlement
stopped
of
the
at
of
edge
The
imprints
Snake
the
River
the
of the WSA
consist of 18 faintly
visible
appearance
from the naturalness
are minor and do not detract
natural
impacts
south
north
development
Farming
natural
since
lava
flow
lava
5200-year-old
and
Plain
leaving
is
generally
hardened
the
untouched
These
and
highways
to
land
virtually
the
Impacts on
predominantly
is
obstacle
an
unusable
considered
and
WSA
Hells Half Acre
flow
visitor
view
can
Idaho
Shelley
for
this
the
influences
designation
From
lava
edges
roads and
borders
along the
Few
areas
either
the
high
quality
with
compare
border
the
farm
minor
is
small
six
on
traffic
to
up
and
area
large
rural
land
of these
studied
or being
of
occurs
Farming
naturalness
impact on
System
cultivated
trails
vehicle
Hells Half Acre
Solitude
The
WSA
offers outstanding
trails
hiking
The
encounters with
reducing
from
feeling
nearness
of
of
other
solitude
civilization
for
created
for
Half Acre
photographers
Snowshoeing
those
lava
lava
offers
lava tunnels
and
willing to
features
conditions
geology
is
provide
travel
another
recreational
significant
challenge
size
the lava
and
into
rugged
provides
human
other
this
easily
removed
rarely
found
of
physical
the
is
and
lava hiking
rugged
topography and
adequate
this
country
could
may
landscape
human
lack
find
of
for
screening
influences
from
to
those
mental challenge
allows
visitors
and
willing to
who
find
393
features
for
outstanding
to explorers
enthusiast
in
myriad of volcanic
as
Sightseeing
offer
of interest
for
activities
as well
buffs
portions
activity
large
in
activity
venture
of being
its
detract
that
the
activity
Recreation
skiing
destinations
of
relief
sharp
Others who
awareness
can be explored
cross-country
spot
The
The nearby farming
visitors
their
outstanding
brave the rough
offer
Camping
some
Unconfined
which
and
secluded
visitors
heightens
Primitive and
Hells
find
because
for solitude
opportunities
can
visitor
this
to
aspect
in
botanical
to
its
and
of
The
primitive
Similarly
unique beauty
each
terrain
for
The many
expedition
recreation
subjects
features
zoological
rugged
have
forces
excellent
explorers
the quality of
water
Volcanic
provide
winter
discover
enhance
pack
that
into
and
rewarding
the
harsh
Special Features
The
scientific
44000
Snake
of
acres
River
the lava
anomaly
desert
is
covered
is
been
Plain
It
prime
For the
of special
flats
and
educational
has
and
scenic
includes
excellent
to
interest
cultivated
of the
this
uncommon
The
lava flow
farm
and
WSA
Hells Half Acre
Landmark because
Natural
examples
of pioneering
illustration
visitor
values
National
designated
of
plant
pahoehoe
lava features
communities
striking
landscape
adds an element of
land
394
The
area
of
important
unusual
of geologic
ferns
the scenic
significant
are
its
change
in
the
contrast
importance
deep
cracks
portion
large
within
occurrence
The
are
to the southeastern
the
ecology
botanical
Idaho
from the surrounding sagebrush
in the
Diversity
Assessing
National
the
and Features
WSA
Hells Half Acre
is
largely
absent
Hells Half Acre
characteristics
This
in
state
could
is
located
increase
associated
ecosystem
the
Represented
with
study
with
the
the
well
total
area
lava flow
that
this
Systems
by
twice
generally
area
This
with
this
is
Desert Ecosystem
the
ecosystem
the age
30245
information
--
in
nationwide
represented
is
Province
Sagebrush
represented
designated
ecosystem
System
by Ecosystems
Intermountain
not
is
by one
represented
under
in
ecosystem
Preservation
of Natural
Diversity
as
is
This
Wilderness
of the
acres
wilderness
and
There
summarized
add
Craters
are
on
where
system
vegetation
vegetation
designated
and
the
Moon
other
BLM
of
11
If
landform
Wilderness
study
areas
Table
TABLE
Ecosystem Representation
NWPS
Bailey-Kuchier
Intermountain
Areas
areas
Classification
Other
acres
areas
BLM
Studies
acres
Sagebrush
Province
NATIONWIDE
Desert-Vegetation
Absent
Largely
Ecosystem
30245
12
870403
11
646687
IDAHO
Desert-Vegetation
Absent
Largely
Ecosystem
30245
NEVADA
Desert-Vegetation
Absent
223716
Largely
Ecosystem
395
Expanding
Within
number
WSA
Half Acre
residents
WSA
Time Five Hours
Driving
is
of
acreage
or Primitive
within
five-hour
designated
and
BLM
other
Centers
Major Population
from two major population
drive
areas
of
Recreation
study
Table
centers
within
areas
summarizes
five-hour
drive
would
are
not
of
over
would
the
primitive
to
expected
Idaho
population
increase
and
for solitude
Pocatello
come
likely
100000
land
area
recreation
from
benefit
long
available
by about
most
the
percent
The
distances
from
Boise
to
one
the
local
area
Idaho
and
However
communities
These
local
Salt
Lake
City-Ogden
most wilderness
of
Idaho
Falls
communities
visitors
Blackfoot
have
Wilderness
of
Centers
Idaho/Salt
Major Population
16
City Utah
and
Other
acres
BLM
areas
Studies
acres
City
Utah
Lake
Residents
Centers
Areas
areas
Lake
for
Opportunities
NWPS
Population
Salt
the
vicinity
includes
other
4741570
cities
396
of
Provo Orem
141
and Ogden Utah
Utah
to
the
and
combined
people
Table
Boise
of
centers
population
Hells
and
for Solitude
Opportunities
Days
The Hells Half Acre
the
the
5374250
the
Balancing
WSA
Hells Half Acre
Wilderness
WSA
is
The
located
Idaho
recommended
for
the
No
in
to
area
the
is
to
the
balancing
wilderness
designated
Craters
designation
located
acres
contribute
System
nearest
to
Adjacent
3958158
would
Preservation
of Wilderness
Distribution
Geographic
the
is
Moon
of the
Great
acre
346800
There
are
over
the
of areas
Wilderness
other
where
the
south-central
in
which
wilderness
National
the
Idaho
Wilderness
Rift
five
within
southeastern
in
designated
Craters
President
the
by
been
acre
43243
proposed
Congress
geographic distribution
have
areas
Areas
has
areas
been
totaling
Idaho
central
Manageability
WSA
The
can
be
managed
ruggedness
inaccessibility
flow
lands
State
and
Mineral
the
Minerals
of
Resource
Mines
leased
The
exploration
coal
gas or
the
No
have
area
commodities
WSA
The
areas
Analysis
might be
mineral
Impacts
on
half
has
the
values
boundary
area
and
expressed
along
the
the
margins
of the lava
if
inholdings
of
possibility
conflicts
with
make an exchange
to
willingness
extreme
its
These
as wilderness
remove
of
WSA
of
WSA
the
lacks
have
from these
for
known
is
to
gas
within
exist
but
lessors
favorable
structures
low heat
indicates
prepared by the Geological
in
Survey
1987
and
are
reports
and
oil
and
host rocks
been
the
WSA
and
The
gradients
have
shown
not
for the
interest
several
resource
wells
in
oil
and
adjacent
to
of
occurrence
for
potential
these
low
about
likelihood
contain
basalt
tons
150000
for
with
of basalt
stone
from
near the edge
lie
the
WSA
mineralization
potential
for
stone
building
of the decorative
development
suitable
samples
associated
resource
Lands
of
because
showed
is
It
of
no
suitable
stone
the
is
lava
decorative
moderate Most
field
concentrations
concluded
therefore
for use as
considered
of
any elements which
that
the
WSA
has
low
metals
Resonrces
following
considered
of
management
term
long
Values
thermal water
contains
which
wilderness
the wilderness
of
Conclusions
area
values
well-defined
future
supplement
water which
is
The
veneer
for
and
Hells Half Acre
1985
in
has
Industry
The
would
for the
assessments
Bureau
concern
wilderness
its
preserve
The Idaho Department
uses
incompatible
Energy
pose some
through exchange
acquired
to
motor vehicles
to
comparative impact
including
designation
table
summarizes
or nondesignation
the
of
effects
the
397
entire
on
pertinent
area
as
resources
wilderness
for
all
the
alternatives
Table
Comparative
WSA
ENVIRONMENTAL
Impacts
on
Wilderness
Values
scenic
44000
mark
would
Natural
ing
the
cle
use
near
Energy and
Mineral
from
mineral
no
building
stone
mitted
cause
be
but
to
Motorized
Recreation
Use
are
meet
collection
side
the
WSA
and
the
Snake
in
the
River
demands
available
recreation
both
would
in
the
of shifting
be
short
use
Lava
Half
be
per
be
would
Oth
out
Acre flow
Plain
days would be
pacts
com
minor
are
150
ally
be
of stone
Hells
No Impact
poten
not
future
sites
Motorized
visitor
the
the
not
and
oil
of low
would
quantities
to
by
withdrawn
mineral
would
impact
on
anticipated
collection
the
on
vehi
would
be
Because
impacts
available
disturbed
of energy
adequate
er stone
be
rights
would
entry
modities
motor
visitors
existing
WSA
the
for occurrence
tial
Impacts
valid
to
turbed
remov
by
of
use amounting
and
to
foregone
long
other
negligible
398
term
public
to
annu
Im
lands
No
vehicle
naturalness
grade
cles
presence
of
vehicles
motor
leases
gas
not
because
trails
hear
Subject
Development
would
acres
miles
rehabilitated
trails
disturbance
Solitude
the
or
be
Continued
18
Land
Natural
would
of
lava
on 66200
of vehicle
surface
and
communities
plant
preserved
miles
NO WILDERNESS
features
special
National
acre
be
character
18
along
to
ACRE
HALF
pahoehoe
pioneering
and
see
and
values
5200-year-old
formations
Impacts
the Impacts by Alternative
HELLS
ID-33-15
PROPOSED ACTION ALL
WILDERNESS
ALTERNATIVE
ISSUES
Wilderness
Summary of
Impact
ALTERNATIVE
of
motor
trails
Solitude
infrequent
fringes
of
vehicles
would
would
presence
the
slightly
WSA
on
de
be
dis
of
vehi
Local
and
Social
Wilderness designation
No
social
significant
Economic
would
minor favorable
create
would
effects
Considerations
occur
was
wilderness
and
inventory
the study
phase through scoping
comment
public
received
and
period
the
during
alternatives
for the
During
the wilderness
ultimate
inventory
comments supported
to include
characteristics
and
educational
value
naturalness
solitude
during
the
issue
during
the
study
WSAs
The
conflicts
The need
of
The two
had
had
of
commenter
from Utah
be made
the
Three
in
Indian
Affairs
and
and
and
and
Draft
and
issues
WSA
Hells Half Acre
high
of scenic
said
Twenty-
wilderness
quality
features
value wildlife
the
area
lacked
study
the
the
No comments
comments
of
subject
during
Comments
study
following
points
to
be
received
considered
centers
population
but
and
has
already
EIS
comment
two
strongly
closeness
to
supported wilderness
wilderness
enough
period
or
the
at
the
supported
public
hearings
recommendation
status of minerals
the
emphasized
Supporters
Company
Comments
study
value
wilderness
areas
in
90-day
activities
All
features
EIS
significant
comments
offered
to
formulation
Four
was not
steps
involvement
special
for further
because of the unknown
WSA
Light
the
when Idaho
the
WSA
emphasized
closeness
mineral
during
the
consideration
for
develop
involvement
public
public
Wilderness
Draft
addressed
that
and
solicited
alternative
have
qualify
MFP
as wilderness
special
use
WSA
and
areas high quality wilderness
major
but
Idaho
asked
population
that
for
because industry
values
One
centers
boundary
adjustment
area
government
Environmental
important
Power
quality
and
and
to
vegetation
formulation
objected
the
to explore
conflicts
not
Big Desert
Half Acre
wilderness
against
chance
resource
flow
received
Hells
the
use
recreation
Hells Half Acre
the
participation
to
recreation
diverse
would
found
lands
and
primitive
alternative
lava
those
were deferred
wilderness
comments
the
wilderness
not yet
and
of
BLM
used
were
comments
and
and
the original
motorbike
to protect
mentioned
solitude
inventory
outstanding
specifically
lack
in
of
recommendation
recreation
primitive
with
31
importance
identification
The
received
public
Eastern Idaho
the
efforts
scoping
management
naturalness
the wilderness
during
Seventy-eight
the
EIS
extensive
recommendations
on
hearings
and
BLM
WSA
scientific
Wilderness was not an issue
received
formal
of increased
result
designation
on issue identification
meetings mailings
period
with
wilderness
making
two
inventory
various
seven
in
impact as
Comments
were conducted
study
an important consideration
economic
of wilderness
result
Public
Summary of WSA-Specific
BLMs
as
agencies
Protection
commented on
Agency
concurred with
the
stated
the
that
WSA
they
recommendation
The Idaho
had
no
objection
Department
to
the Draft
of Fish
EIS
and
Game
proposal
and
because of Hells Half Acres high-quality wilderness
399
the
U.S
The Bureau
of
values
HELLS
APPENDIX
Estimated
Costs
HALF
of Acquisition
Within Areas Recommended
of
Type
by
Ownership
Estate
federal
Number
Legal
Total
Description
Holdings
Designation1
by
Estate
federal
state
private
other
Subsurface
Presently
Surface
Estate
Estate
Proposed
Method
Costs
Processing
in
Costs
Exchange
N/A
6400
Exchange
N/A
6400
of
in
Acquisition
Yes
34
640
Stale
State
34
640
Slate
State
Yen
35
640
State
State
Yes
Exchange
N/A
6400
35
640
State
Slate
Yes
Exchange
N/A
6400
No
36
No
Parcel
It
16
No
Parcel
Sec
Land
Preferred
for
16
Parcel
Sec
of
Acquisition
No
Parcel
Sec
Estimated
Cost
of
state
other
Acquisition
Sec
Estimated
Cost
Acquisition
private
of
Owners
Acreage
for
of
Type
Ownership
ACRE
of Nonfederal
36
flThe
estimated
mtneral
estates
holdin64
and
costs
with
in
no
listed
in
this
way
represenl
an
in
appendix
similar characsenslim
offer
to
to
no
those
purchase
way
formal
represent
included
or
in
the
exchange
WSA
at
the
appraised
The
cosl
value
estimates
estimate
are
of
the
land
for purposes
incladed
In
400
this
or
mineral
estate
of establishing
appendix
bat
are
range
rough
estimates
of potential
costs
based
on
so the
sales or
government
exchanges
nf
of lands
aausnng
or
nonfedeml