Study Area
Goldburg Wilderness
The Study Area
WSA
The Goldburg
BLM
of
lands
Creek on
and
east
on the west
alluvial
is
the
ID-45-1
There
foothills
sagebrush-grass
are
no
--
is
3290
located
inholdings
acres
in
Custer
in
the
by the North Lemhi Mountains
by private
ranging
with
and
public
lands
1.5
in
miles
from 6100 feet of elevation
fingers
and
patches
of
29 miles
County
WSA
The
WSA
the Challis
east of
southeast
of
Challis
bounded
on
the
National
Forest
the townsite
on the west
Douglas-fir
is
side to
extending
WSA
of
8800
.25
mile
Goldburg
feet
downslope
on
from
The
Idaho
north
north
The
of the
WSA
the eastern
U.S
Forest
WSA
lands
by public
Hillside
consists
side
includes
.5
of
mile
Creek
Jeep
westward
The dominant
Service
3290
south
USFS
acres
of
Big
Trail
sloping
vegetation
lands
202 of the Federal Land
and Management Act FLPMA and was included in the
was studied under Section
Policy
in
Management Framework Plan Amendment/Small Wilderness Study Area Environmental Impact Statement finalized
Two alternatives were analyzed in the ElS an all wilderness alternative
and
which
no wilderness alternative
September 1989
The
Mackay
is
the
recommendation
of
this
report
767
Recommendation and
Rationale
recommended
acres
3290
for wilderness
recommended
acres
for
nonwilderness
The recommendation
alternative
the
is
for the
all
The recommendation
of public
land
WSA
The
are
would
shown
studied
was
as the
Since
designation
its
The
own
of
acres
land
configuration
be perceived
combined
the
II
Area
Preservation
System
with
lack
no projected
the
and
WSAs
management
to
which
the
WSA
RARE
of vegetative
3290 acres
The potential
demand
WSA
of vegetative
adjacent
lack
the
1196
The
II
The
WSA
especially
appears
these
on the
Of
yield
these
are
is
preferable
the
over
The
impacts
Forest
term
long
entire
was
the
that
RARE
Service
Area
II
These
were
but
acres
3290
North Lemhi
II
not suitable
for wilderness
WSA
Goldburg
cannot
are
acres
there
by the areas
are
designation
to
as
estimated
would
and
by the
similar
classified
is
allows
for primitive
diminished
stands
to
are several
edge which
are
were considered
values
not considered
afforded
small
stand
remove
this
outstanding
inclusion
signs
areas
long
and
sights
small
of acres
MBF
forest
per
in
the
man
of
by the thousands
and
long
narrow
lands
lands
year
to
when
adjacent
size
of
narrow
sounds
unconfined recreation
commercial
124
size
outside
thousands
at
merit
site-specific
are similar to those
lessened
western
present
on the commercial
768
natural
opportunities
qualities
years wilderness
they
opportunities
values
WSAs
930
U.S
RARE
determined
has
however
Solitude
of
acre
340416
recommendation
the
own
However these
The values that
ten to twenty
environmentally
environment
for designation
does offer outstanding
forested
timber
in
generally
perception
Area
The
wilderness
environmental
adverse
BLM
suitable
qualify
their
impact naturalness
screening
are
to
On
WSA
The
minimize
than
from the natural
determined that the
consideration
Area
screening
harvestable
for the next
II
other
change
the contiguous
Service
recommended
was the key
values
with
Forest
characteristics
RARE
adjacent
and
not
is
or
for uses
least
map
conjunction
the necessary
the
to avoid
means
The U.S
the area
cause
Proposal
adjacent
the
throughout
configuration
is
RARE
lacks
in
1987
rangeland developments
primarily
Of
with
Wilderness
National
of
in
quality of the wilderness
when combined
Goldburg
would
It
practical
for wilderness
the
and
merit
all
to release
is
alternative
use
Area which was completed
on
WSA
Goldburg
wilderness
suitable
for
Although there
timber from potential
harvest
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RECOMMENDED
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ESTATE
STATE
PRIVATE
FOR WILDERNESS
Scale
in
Miles
ID-45-1
GOLDBURG
PROPOSAL
JANUARY
1989
Table
Land Status and Acreage
--
Summary
of the
Study Area
GOLDBURG WSA
Wilderness
Within
BLM
surface
Split
Estate
Area
and subsurface
BLM
surface
state
Inholdings
Study
3290
only
private
3290
Total
Within
BLM
BLM
within
outside
Recommended
Boundary
WSA
Estate
within
Split
Estate
outside
Total
BLM
Land
WSA
Recommended
Wilderness
Inholdings
state
State
outside
land
private
WSA
Within
the Area
Not
Recommended
BLM
for
Wilderness
3290
Split
Estate
Total
BLM
for
Wilderness
WSA
WSA
Split
for
the
Land
Not
Recommended
Wilderness
Inholdings
state
3290
private
770
Considered
Criteria
Wilderness
the Wilderness
in Developing
Recommendations
Characteristics
Naturalness
WSA
The Goldburg
foothills
in
ranging
with
sagebrush-grass
7600
generally
The
and
of
and
and
is
size
small
of
sounds
6100
road usage
general
lack
of
the
of
to
The
majority
8800
WSA
consists
the
on
feet
timber
of the
of westward-facing
The
east side
on
exists
sloping
dominant
the
upper
alluvial
vegetation
elevation
is
east
side
lands
WSAs
lower
of
the
to
proximity
elevation
80 percent
approximately
The
imprints
side
west
forest
because
lessened
in
the
on
the national
to
and
few human
with
feet
of Douglas-fir
patches
adjacent
is
naturalness
narrow configuration
sights
from
fingers
feet
perception
essentially natural
is
elevation
vegetation
the
Road
Pahsimeroi Valley
and
screening
topographic
The
closeness
relief
the
allow
WSA
Solitude
The
WSA
the lack
allow
contains
outstanding
lower elevation
of
the outside
sights
Primitive
WSA
RARE
Study Area
Road does
lessen
Backpackers
from
and
WSA
lacks
outstanding
and
watching
these
and
screening
be
to
Opportunities
relief
topographic
the
evident
when combined
feeling of
with
and
solitude
the
is
RARE
adjacent
the small
size
and
II
narrow
Unit
due
However
to
which
configuration
lessened
Recreation
exist
for
camping
hiking
However
sightseeing
and
for primitive
opportunities
the
long
when
unconfined recreation
backpacking
narrow shape of the
combined
WSA
and
with
snowshoeing
skiing
cross-country
proximity
to
the
adjacent
hunting
the
Pahsimeroi
opportunities
campers
approximately
Special
The
contains
bird
photography
sounds
and Unconfined
Goldburg
II
vegetative
and
for solitude
opportunities
would
80 percent
feel
of
confined
in
this
small
area
Sightseers
would
be
able
to
view
the unit
Features
any special
features
which
could
be
called
focal
771
or
destination
point
for
visitors
outside
sights
and
sounds
Diversity
in the
National
the Diversity
Assessing
and Features
of
Wilderness designation
ecosystem
There
are
is
other
BLM
of Natural
Represented
the
in
represented
eight
as
Wilderness
Goldburg
the
National
study
areas
Preservation
Systems
by Ecosystems
WSA
would
add
an
ecosystem
Wilderness Preservation
in
System
the
state
under
study
not
System
with
this
presently
NWPS
ecosystem
represented
by four
This
Idaho
in
designated
However
areas
information
is
with 76129
summarized
Table
TABLE
Ecosystem Representation
NWPS
Bailey-Kuchler
Rocky Mountain
Areas
areas
Classification
acres
Other
areas
BLM
Studies
acres
Forest
Province
NATIONWIDE
Sagebrush
Steppe
76129
Ecosystem
23
247843
IDAHO
Sagebrush
Steppe
162710
Ecosystem
772
this
acres
on
Expanding the Opportunities for Solitude or Primitive Recreation
Within
Days Driving Time Five Hours of Major Population Centers
The Golburg
areas
and
WSA
BLM
is
other
within
study
five-hour
areas
within
from
Boise
five-hour
drive
drive
Idaho
of
the
Table
summarizes
population
the
number and
acreage
center
Table
Wilderness
Opportunities
of Major Population
NWPS
Population
Boise
Idaho
Centers
Areas
areas
acres
16
4741570
773
for
Residents
Centers
Other
BLM
Studies
areas
acres
141
5374250
of
designated
the
Balancing
Idaho
the
has
Wilderness
within
largest wilderness
Wilderness
NWPS
the
would
but
the contiguous
in
area
of
designation
further
of Wilderness
Distribution
Geographic
WSA
this
48
would
in
areas
Frank
2.2 million acre
contribute
wilderness
concentrate
the
states
not
Areas
to balancing
the
Church
River
of
No
distribution
geographical
Return
of
areas
Idaho
Manageability
WSA
The
be
could
could
near
the west
and
sounds
of
Energy
and
WGM
Inc
in
side
Minerals
Resource
mining and
and
solitude
and
activities
to
ability
retain wilderness
the
for
opportunities
motorized
of the
use
However
in
value
and
primitive
small
its
The
area
the
3290
size
unconfined
recreation
and
acres
and
lands
private
the
long
road
public
by bringing
in
the
sights
road
Values
geological
prepared
consultants
Geology
and
Energy
Mineral
assessment
for the
WSA
Goldburg
1983
WSA
The Goldburg
evidence
about
belt
All
of
the
northwest
two
miles
north
WSA
based
is
setting of the
WSA
The Goldburg
is
potential
WSA
and
source
major lineaments
150C
quartzites
contain
WSA
these
and
is
as unfavorable
as
reservoir
of
is
is
WSA
classified
commodities
and
probably
WSA
indirect
to
the
based
WSA
occur
is
small
WSA
on
favorable
as unfavorable
underlie
the
in
for
intrusive
In
mineral
bodies
deposits
occurs
cobalt
addition
The
oil
is
and
gas
based
the
at
present
in
on
indirect
Ima mine
about
same
the
strike
indirect
low favorableness
comprises the lower
of
evidence
The
regional
Precambrian
by unfavorable
is
geological
rocks
both
the
WSA
for
low to high
elevations
is
classified
in
the
as
WSA
40C
to
which
unfavorable
over
might
for
150C
lie
along
low to high
evidence
sodium
host
indirect
direct
The
evidence
The Goldburg
WSA
evidence
The geologic
blocks
thrust
The remainder
direct
evaluation
limited
on
based on
underlain
on limited
mineral
based
repnrted
entirely
based
during
are
as having
area
thorium
WSA
minerals
underlying
classified
for
and
from the
almost
is
faults
as unfavorable
are not
uranium
occurrences
no
evidence
range-bounding
classified
the
of
nonmetal
locatable
Goldburg
Goldburg
on
for
moderately favorable
the
rocks
the
based
of
unfavorable
although
north
obtained
results
discouraging
classified
is
related
WSA
classified
generally
just
accumulation of metallic
the
for
mineralization
Bid Creek
at
geothermal resources
underlying
The Goldburg
is
or possible
WSA
The Goldburg
WSA
for the occurrence
southwestern edge
to
moderately favorable
as
of the
the
on
and
favorable
geothermal resources
40C
the
as unfavorable
classified
The
of
Goldburg
classification
setting
classified
is
Tungsten-copper-molybdenum-silver
miles
eight
to
the
degrade
farm/ranch
the
restrict
terms of existing imprints
in
as wilderness
managed
narrow configuration
and
potassium on
limited
direct
evidence
The Precambrian
rocks
for leasable
commodities
WSA
774
based
on
limited
direct
evidence
No
rocks
known
The Goldburg
is
almost
Impacts
The
WSA
entirely
on
classified
as having
by Precambrian
low favorability
quartzites
and
for saleable
no large
resources
alluvial
based
deposits
on
are
limited
mapped
direct
in
the
evidence
The
WSA
WSA
Resources
following
designation
is
underlain
or
comparative impact table
nondesignation
of
the
summarizes
entire
area
the
effects
on
as wilderness
775
pertinent
resources
for
all
alternatives
considered including
Table
Comparative
Summary
WSA
on
USFS
Impacts
on
Wilderness
Impacts
on
Water
Impacts
on
Antelope
Impacts
on
Motorized
North
Lemhi
Roadless
Impacts by Alternative
GOLDBURG
PROPOSED ACTION
WILDERNESS
ISSUE TOPICS
Impacts
of the
ID-45-1
NO
No Impact
ALL WILDERNESS
ALTERNATIVE
No impact
Area
Values
Quality
of
Values
Goldburg
lost
on
930
acres
Values
would
No Impact
No Impact
No Impact
No Impact
No Impact
WSA
be
maintained
Creek
Recreation
occurs
Impacts
on
Forest
Product
Sales
No Impact
closed
Product
potential
776
to motorized
use
now
sales
of
foregone
124
MBF
including
per
year
None
Local
The
and Economic
Social
and
social
economic
factors
Considerations
were
not
Summary of WSA-Specific
Public
written
Of
occurred
throughout
comments were
received
of
the ten
WSA
Goldburg
of
designation
Those
favoring
which
has
not
Pahsimeroi
Those
The
Historical
of
the
study
eight
17
process
the
formal
During
WSA
Goldburg
review
public
Public
of the
hearings
were
EIS 27
Draft
held
at
Idaho
testified
persons
wilderness
opposed
commented on
wilderness
been
to
recommended
comments
favored
who
persons
designation
wilderness
wilderness
testified seven
for the
WSA
Goldburg
for the
WSA
Two
supported wilderness
but
specifically
commenters
one
opposed
for the
designation
opposed
wilderness
the
of Indian
not
Affairs
voiced
identify
Idaho
were
commented on
specific
its
and
designation
concerned
of
Department
Protection
concern
its
beauty of the area
extension
logical
the
that
fact
the
of
area
RARE
the
North
Lemhi
was
in
headwaters
the
II
of
Area
the
needs more protection
that
designation
Environmental
the
for wilderness
fishery
Reclamation
the
Society
did
one
an anadromous
Affairs
Bureau
agencies
No
Of
review
addressed
specifically
received
WSA
the
in
any kind
opposed
The Bureau
Indian
for the
designation
the wilderness
ten
Seventeen
comments
written
specific
wilderness
Idaho
Challis
which
issue
significant
Comments
Public
involvement has
Boise and
Falls
considered
that
conflict
Agency
the
general
Health and
and
the
US
and
historical
any of the alternatives
777
lock-up
Welfare
and
Fish
impact of nondesignation
archaeological
with
with
the
of
Idaho
Wildlife
on
the
land
State
Service
anadromous
inventories
had
not
Historical
all
fisheries
been
Society
the
Bureau
the
Draft
commented on
The Idaho
State
The
other
completed
of
ElS