Study Area
Sand Butte Wilderness
The
The Sand
WSAs
The
WSA
Butte
20792
includes
Area
Study
ID-57-8
of
acres
Pagan
an
North Pagan
Road
and
an old
is
Butte
is
formed by
water
volcanic
to
be
The
Butte
natural
and
may
was
in
alternatives
no
the
dirt
underlying
craters
feature
caused
rapidly
of
are
miles
no
northeast
estate
split
on
the
and
on
the north
trail
west and
WSA see
BLM Road
BLM Road
by
east
by
WSA
Table
the
south
and
The
Shoshone Idaho
of
lands within
roads
by
above
of
the
of the craters
flow
in
exposed
is
3212
the
3209
the
covered
In
places
soils
by wind-deposited
these
areas
lava
Although
formations
such as
common
are
the rapid
the
lava
an older
lava flow
subsidence
portion
35
County
There
jeep
nonsystem
composed
prominent
rises
WSA
The
generation
is
covered
excellent
an
is
when
steam
The cone
terrain
surrounding
interior
Butte
of
broken
by
example
magma
erupting
surrounded
is
lava
lake
maar
of
contacted
ring of
by
Overall the cone
crater
ground
ejected
appears
sand amphitheater
generally
WSA
report
most
the
range from 4250
Vegetation
included
the
material
sagebrush
Lincoln
lands
cat line
generally
flat
blisters
unnamed
violent explosion
Elevations
The
is
relatively
ridges
pressure
Sand
WSA
Butte
WSA
the
in
acres
boundaries are formed by the following
and
The Sand
located
is
BLM-administered
Road
South
20792
--
reach
consists
heights
studied
under
Monument
were
analyzed
wilderness
feet
along
of
of
WSAs
sagebrush
six
feet
Section
Final
in
the
the
alternative
average
of
the
Environmental
EIS
and
all
canopy
Federal
is
three
Land
wilderness
wilderness
623
and
grasses
four
Policy
and
EIS
alternative
alternative
feet
at
forbs
to
Impact Statement
an enhanced
an
with
4974
to
boundary
interspersed
the
603
southern
feet
the
summit
Although
some
Sand
Butte
old
growth
high
Management
Wilderness
which
of
is
filed
the
Act
in
FLPMA
July 1987
recommendation
and
Three
of
this
Recommendation and
Rationale
22543
recommended
acres
for
wilderness
recommended
acres
for
nonwilderness
The recommendation
preferable
environment
the
is
the
over
long
recommended
but
of
the
of
the
part
manageability
The
entire
An
20792
With
wilderness
as
acres
additional
that
of
acres
land
wilderness
within
of
Sand
the
federal
lands
the
acres
natural
WSA
Butte
are
WSA
the
to
adjacent
because
22543
environmentally
from
change
least
designation
total
addition
the
of the
The
wilderness
as
cause
federal
1751
for
acres
22543
would
It
recommended
also
are
to designate
is
alternative
designation
WSA
area
WSA
Butte
wilderness
all
term
for wilderness
not
Sand
for the
alternative
enhance
they
the
recommended
are
for
wilderness
The
The
of
recommended
lands
Sand
Butte
and
would
add
recommended
The 22543
vehicle
aerially
in
1975
wildfires
The areas
also
camping
Crater
Sand
the
is
Butte
sided
in
The
identified
WSA
to the
adjacent
exchange
for acquisition
shown on
are
exhibits special
and
NWPS
features
geological
suitable
adjacent
System
federal
lands
The
Idaho
in
Human
natural
apparently
crested
of
non-native
wheatgrass
non-native
Cheatgrass
for
for
point
bowl
is
visitors
the
an
other
many
excellent
relief
topographic
primitive
imprints
area
the area
in
seeded
species
plant
that
species
by
provided
invades
after
nature
The
study
of
variety
Recreation
recreation
and
spelunking
the
to
the
and
solitude
photography
sightseeing
destination
with
combination
in
opportunities
crater
and
WSA
Preservation
WSA
the
values
Butte
are
designation
of
part
Sand
WSA
the
Craters
of
maar
crater
of
by the
of the
Moon
ecosystem
adjacent
parcel
In
Craters
lava
opportunities
scenic
Sand
Butte
Plain
The
steep-
area
volcanic
of
example
cones
on
maar
crater
the
1751
creates
unauthorized off-road
Idaho
of
the
the
this
Moon
acre
more
Butte
of
parcel
easily
vehicle
use
in
of the
area
federal
recognized
Bailey-Kuchler
Wilderness
many
the Craters
Sand
3130-49
Steppe Ecosystem
Wilderness includes
However
of
Designation
of the
the
wilderness
as
NWPS
the
lava flow
Designation
Province/Sagebrush
Sagebrush
desert
inadvertent
northern
hunting
recommended
and
addition
and
been
Snake
River
As such
it
of
is
scientific
and
interest
represented
NPS
acres have
WSA
or
through purchase
acquired
wilderness
as
Small pockets
remoteness
deep symmetrical
area
the
wilderness
the
Wilderness
for wilderness
fence
in
of
be managed
unique formation among
The Intermountain
the
the
could
outstanding
hiking
primary
is
educational
National
the
and
size
offer
within
outstanding
Designation
and
in
present
large
formations
include
trails
has
to
diversity
occur
acreage
1280
totaling
designation
value
recommended
acres
six
is
for wilderness
for designation
include
any inholding
inholdings
wilderness
for
educational
landform
apply to
1nd
state
map
Proposal
recommended
area
scientific
also
will
Two
willing landowners
Federal
the
recommendation
wilderness
with
administered
excellent
Moon
would
land
add
examples
landform
as wilderness
624
area
ecosystem
ecosystem
Snake
of
would
to
the
enhance
thereby
is
Park
already
Service
River plain volcanism
not include
diversity
in
represented
by the National
Wilderness does
southern boundary
the designated
the
is
classification
good
NWPS
in
example
Idaho
manageability
reducing
the potential
The
for
Conflicts
in
the
with
for solitude
affected
and
over
The enhanced
development
of
existing resource
recommended
proposed
area
primitive
limited
pipeline
uses
period
alternative
and
levels
project
are limited
continue
recreation
time
wilderness
projects
would
However
would
have
use
the
Sand
Butte
camp
related
because
less
April through
of grazing
stock
in
Sheep
WSA
vehicle
than
mid-June every
an adverse
Existing
use
ten percent
year
grazing
on ways
the
of
the designated
impact on the implementation
and
access
625
road
activities
impact opportunities
impact would
Wilderness management restrictions would
water well
management
would
of
be
area
would
be
negligible
proposed
preclude
rangeland
construction
Table
Land Status and Acreage
--
Summary
of the
Study Area
SAND BUTTE WSA
Wilderness
Within
BLM
surface
Split
Estate
Inholdings
and
Study
Area
20792
subsurface
BLM
surface
state
only
1280
private
22072
Total
Within
BLM
BLM
Recommended
Boundary
20792
WSA
outside
within
Split
Estate
outside
Total
BLM
Land
1751
WSA
Split
WSA
Recommended
22543
Wilderness
Inholdings
state
State
outside
land
1280
private
WSA
Within
the Area
Not
Recommended
BLM
Split
Estate
Total
BLM
for
Wilderness
WSA
within
Estate
for
the
Land
Not
Recommended
Wilderness
Inholdings
state
private
627
for
Wilderness
Considered
Criteria
Wilderness
Recommendations
the Wilderness
in Developing
Characteristics
Naturalness
The Sand
vehicle
aerial
that
small
within
in
of
crested
so visual
located
wheatgrass
160
totaling
the
WSA
within
after
also
wildfires
The
the naturalness
affects
and
post
steel
barbed-wire
by human
unaffected
is
WSA
the
The
trails
impacts
two-track
are
Six
with
minimal
are
impacts
of
majority
miles are
7.5
approximately
middle
The
appearance
on
exist
acres
WSAs
the
have irregular edges and blend well with surrounding vegetation
WSA
the
natural
the
in
pockets
seedings
invades
is
totaling
growing
vegetation
Several
WSA
Butte
trails
WSA
of the
fence
visible
is
6.75-mile
to
up
100
fence
non-native
the
is
third
species
development
some places
in
yards
The
southern boundary
Cheatgrass
Solitude
WSA
The
provides
outstanding
and proximity
size
remoteness
WSA
Ravens Eye
The
solitude
for
opportunities
the
to
combine
to
areas
provide
topographic
vegetation
variety
numerous
outstanding
from
fringe
opportunities
for solitude
road surrounds
boundary
road and
boundary
road
is
its
in
insignificant
Primitive
The Sand
of
photography
the
low
area
use
nature
of
recreation
outstanding
from
visible
WSAs
the
rugged
to
types of
terrain
the
area
The
opportunities
the
of
WSA
the
The
elevations
higher
and
recreation
lack
usually
of
uses
volcanic
rugged
camping
for
opportunities
These
study
Visitation
figures
road are
this
The
impact of the
Recreation
variety of
provide
and
The combination
visitor
on
whole
as
provides
WSA
the
spelunking
annually
days
the
Vehicles
can also be seen or heard
and Unconfined
WSA
Butte
environment
WSA
the
traffic
occurs
ins
hunting
hiking
are estimated
water or designation
at
spots
and
the spring
and
features
sightseeing
than
less
desert
100
visitor
accounts
probably
for
fall
Special Features
The
area
which
It
is
one
feature
notable
provides
was
of
good
opportunities
formed from the rapid
the
The
few maar
crater
landmark
has
because
craters
for geologic
on
the entire
surrounding
of
its
of
generation
study
River
Snake
rim constructed
prominence
and
Sand
steam when
of
Butte
Plain
and
material
unique appearance
628
is
ground
an outstanding
perhaps
ejected
relative
example
contacted
water was
the best
from the
to
the
maar
of
by erupting
of
example
crater
The
surrounding
this
crater
magma
type
crater
landscape
is
of
in the
Diversity
National
the
Assessing
Diversity
and Features
Wilderness designation
Wilderness Preservation
are 11
other
BLM
areas
as
of
of Natural
Represented
the
the
WSA
NWPS
This
state
Preservation
System
Systems
by Ecosystems
Butte
Sand
System
in
Wilderness
would
add
ecosystem
under study with
this
an ecosystem
is
represented
ecosystem
This
presently
by one
represented
with
area
information
is
the
in
National
There
acres
30245
summarized
in
Table
TABLE
Ecosystem
NWPS
Bailey-Kuchler
classification
Intermountain
Representation
Areas
areas
Other
acres
BLM
Studies
areas
acres
12
870403
11
646687
Sagebrush
Province
NATIONWIDE
Desert-Vegetation
Absent
Largely
Ecosystem
0245
IDAHO
Desert-Vegetation
Absent
Largely
Ecosystem
30245
NEVADA
Desert-Vegetation
Absent
Largely
223716
Ecosystem
629
Expanding
Within
The
Sand
acreage
of
Butte
the
Days
WSA
designated
is
for Solitude
Opportunities
Driving
within
areas
and
or Primitive
Time Five Hours
five-hour
other
BLM
of
drive
from
Boise
study
areas
within
Recreation
Centers
Major Population
Idaho
Table
five-hour
summarizes
drive
of the
the
number and
population
centers
Table
Wilderness
of
Opportunities
Major Population
NWPS
Population
Boise
Idaho
Centers
for
areas
16
Areas
acres
4741570
630
Residents
Centers
Other
areas
141
BLM
Studies
acres
5374250
the
Balancing
The Sand
WSA
Butte
would
The NPS-administered
flow
wilderness
Sand
values
WSA
Butte
within
with
the
in
opportunity
not
Craters
the
the
to
Moon
the
Craters
Moon
the
the
maar
include
the
balancing
Wilderness
of
of
exception
to
region
contribute
of
of Wilderness
Distribution
Geographic
acres
the wilderness
in
in
maar
of
example
of
20 miles
is
Wilderness are superior
excellent
crater
distribution
geographic
43243
Areas
to
within
areas
every
Sand
crater
The
those
to
respect
NWPS
the
northwest
the
Butte
is
lava
of
the
the
best
system
Manageability
The
Sand
with
and
two
are
state
There
grazing
is
WSA
acre
The
designation
conform
The
to
has
and
The Sand
claims
or
Impacts
to
1751
WSA
use
has
in
zero
BLM
in
of
the
the
area
the
in
present
the
of
the
not
significant
Sand
non-WSA
of
WSA
Butte
non-WSA
of
features
to
also
is
land
Off-road
parcel
the
and
Sand
could
road
for
for
This
wilderness
the
manageability
WSA
stray across
would
road
identified
for
minor
wilderness
designated
solely for
WSA
into
easily
limited
reports
by
suitable
Butte
protrudes
well-signed
used
been
WSA
Butte
for
mineral
have
another
presents
that
vehicles
into
well-defined
Mines
recommended
the
for solitude
WSA
are presently
parcels
from the Sand
and
of the
of
USGS/Bureau
The two
anticipated
values
the
sections
the
the manageability
parcel
boundary
than ten percent
The two
manageability
impact opportunities
less
north separated
enhances
acre
on
not
is
is
minor
represents
would
would
does
the
not
WSA
enhance
reduce the potential
wilderness
designated
Values
petroleum potential
1985
WSA
now
values
preserve
WSA
WSA
the
Based
wilderness
topographic
Inclusion
mineral leases within
on
and
boundary
the
Resource
resources
are
the
and
in
has
Miller
1983
is
classified
low potential for locatable
federal
ownership and
are
open
and
to
as not prospectively
saleable
mineral
valuable
for
minerals
entry
There
are
no mining
WSA
Resources
following
considered
of
the southern
vehicle
estates
state
affect
impact
in
acres
the
WSA
southern
area
Minerals
The mineral
this
recognizable
Moving
Butte
geothermal
the
easily
unauthorized
adjacent
of
proximity
so the
the
in
would
use
sections
similar high-quality
of
this
manageability
Energy
lies
1280
state
with
to
manner and degree
trails
the parcels
to
the
on
same
the
mid-June
totaling
as wilderness
vehicle
the vehicle
access
exchange
boundary
any
in
boundary
The
vehicle
WSA
configuration
problem
for
inholdings
in
on
use
April through
no
managed
limited
operations
However
through an
The Ravens Eye
67110
are
vehicle
area mineral development
acquisition
The
uses
related
recreation
be
reasonably
existing livestock
camp
the year
during
There
the
of
Sheep
primitive
time
can
existing resource
Continuation
conflict
WSA
Butte
Conflicts
comparative impact table
including
designation
summarizes
or nondesignation
the
of
effects
the
631
entire
on
pertinent
area
resources
as wilderness
for
all
the alternatives
Table
Summary of
Comparative
WSA
PROPOSED
HANC ED
ISSUE TOPICS
ACTION
the
Impacts by Alternative
SAND BUTTE
ID-57-8
WILDERNESS
NO
EN-
WILDERNESS
ALTERNATIVE
WILDERNESS
ALL
ALTERNATIVE
ALTERNATIVE
Impacts
on
Wilderness
Values
All
wilderness
ceive
able
for designation
ness
values
ly
from
1200
benefit
the elimination
ORV
ational
use
of
acres
would enhance
ues
and
cle
Sheep
for
and
April
of
in
than
less
could
result
the
increasing
wildfires
larger
ORV
vehicle
be
ORV
by
use
and
levels
confined
impacts
fire
Recreational
ORV
Use
than
visitor
500
foregone
Vehicle
on
Operations
Livestock
Grazing
continued
page
next
practices
Restrictions
could
trails
and
The
overall
of
level
ing
preference
422
AUMs
water
be
boundaries
mended
active
would
well
and
of
the
graz
no
on
impact
and
hunting
500
than
graz
access
area
would
overall
decrease
Vehicle
road
boundary
the
recom
101
use
and
and
access
use
to
AUMS
or
and
inspect
allotment
ORV
visitor
with
pipeline
livestock
road
water
would be
this
well
built
The
be
pub
negligible
would
for hunters
access
be
impacts
other
to
use
less
would
be allowed
and sheep
cattle
Existing
would
practices
overall
15.8%
or
horseback
stock
water
would be
be
on
foot
motorized
with
or
vehi
1.75-
troughs
and
well
access
and
road
the
WSA
including
use
outside
built
of
boundary
for repairs
support
404
decrease
Inspection
with
mile pipeline
The
grazing
allotment
would
fence
active
would
preference
grazing
continue
of
level
AUMs
cle
of
use
days
would
lands
6.75-mile
would continue
fence
1.75-mile
troughs
suitable
The
grazing
6.75-mile
maintain
grazing
continue
of
level
would
3.9%
and sheep
cattle
for the
cheatgrass
annually
Vehicle
Existing
wildfires
larger
potential
Recreational
foregone
practices
and
outside
built
of
management
fire
in
the
increasing
lic
1.75-
troughs
on
result
of shifting
decrease
15.2%
or
pipeline with
stock
be
ORV
use
continue
10%
suppres
would
sheep
through
approximately
moderately
negligible
would
primitive
WSA
would
not
cattle
ing
would
would
recreational
and
April
naturalness
apparent
There
opportu
in
pub
to other
be
be
access
affect
from
above
allowed
Existing
mile
use
less
impacts
for hunters
access
be
not
this
of
would
The
would
lands
lic
use
days
annually
of shifting
Impacts
ORV
Recreational
would
op
vehicle
for solitude
in
and
Sheep
related
mid-June
would
solitude
adversely
recreation
acres
1280
values
for
the
ORV
inholdings
natural
portunities
camp
values
of recreational
of
all
Butte
from
slightly
land
enhance
Sand
the
Acquisition
state
of the
expand
to the existing
activities
degrade
on
use
spread
sion
Hunting
with
travel
projected
is
be
increase
However
slightly
would
being
Surface-disturbing
Impacts
elimination
of
on
wilderness
benefit
would
values
of cheatgrass
spread
and
fall
would
use
trails
possibility of
current
for the
potential
and
of
All
would
values
maintained
acres
nities
Low-use
visitor
management
sheep
primitive
spring
wilderness
all
and
opportuni
and
the
in
WSA
service
solitude
Recreational
the
fire
in
for
natural
be
re
Congressional
Wilderness
protection
20792
would
values
long-term
road
inspect
degrade
wilderness
would
developments
and
haul
recreation
ed
on
Restrictions
to
range
to
of
apparent
camps would
1.75
troughs
use
maintained
WSA
the
degrade
degrade
from
mid-June
through
vehi
solitude
recreation
primitive
and
ceive
miles
1.8
Vehicle
ness
All
range
WSA
the
in
pipeline
and
well
ties
affect
adversely
for
opportunities
val
soli
related
camp
would
of
natural
of
maintain
inhold
opportunities
access
10%
of recre
land
miles
would
slight
Acquisition
state
ings
tude
wilder
All
would
of
construction
developments
all
suit
recommended
acres
22543
on
associated
new
disturbance
Surface
with
values
maintained
be
re
Congressional
Wilderness
protection
would
would
values
long-term
boundaries
Impacts
on
Fire
Management
Full
of
and
suppression
bulldozers
would
not
including
trucks
pumper
use
within
the
There
fire
helicopters
area
would
be
management
no
impact
on
Full
of
and
suppression
bulldozers
would
occur
632
trucks
pumper
not
within
occur
helicopters
the
WSA
Local
Summary
of
as wilderness
Considerations
would
reasons
review
comments
these
cited
wilderness
the
have
WSA-Speciflc Public
involvement occurred throughout
During public
of
Economic
of the area
Designation
Public
and
Social
of the Draft
contained
EIS
no
thirteen
were
natural
supporting
for
wilderness
of
Game
Water
specifically
of
Department
Resources
addressed
and
social
and
economic
situation
values
diversity
and
were received
designation
four
comments
No
manageability
with
Nine
supporting
comments
opposing
received
Health and
Idaho
the
The
their position
The U.S Department
of Energy Bureau
of Reclamation
U.S Fish and
U.S Department
of Transportation
Environmental Protection
Agency
and
local
review process
comments
reasons
supporting
on the
effect
Comments
the wilderness
areas unique opportunities
designation
no or minimal
Sand
State
Butte
Welfare
Historical
Department
Society
of
Lands
commented on
WSA
633
Wildlife
the State
Service
of
Transportation
the
Draft
National
Idahos
ElS
Park
Department
Service
of Fish
Department Department
None
of
their
comments