Wood
Little
The Study Area
The
Wood
Little
administered
Both
are
Wood
River
lands
define
WSAs
The
WSA
ACEC
The
Little
is
and
WSA
Forest
Blame
825
of
land
state
is
the exception
RARE
short
Area
II
II
Area
section
of
are
and
state
Private
unnamed
within
the
Elk Mountain
Crucial
makes
up
approximately
55 percent
for the long-term
Elk Winter
protection
of
Range Area
lands
the public
of winter
habitat
of
Critical
within
for
the
zone which
includes
common
Elevations
was
in
with
cottonwoods
grasses
range from
studied
under
1989
of
this
5620
Section
Plan Amendments
September
recommendation
acres
and
BLM
of
3440 acres
or
state
by the
U.S
private
Little
Forest
jeep
Environmental
trail
Service
on
the
Two
and
As
feet
202
willows
to
of the
no
were
the
elevations
stands
Douglas-fir
The
elk
lined with
areas vegetation
and
quaking
the
Drainages include
aspen
is
dense
dominated
groves
by
big
become
feet
Federal
Land
Policy
and
Impact Statement
analyzed
wilderness
At lower
increase
7879
Environmental
alternatives
report and
and
elevations
Concern
ACEC
11887-acre
is
WSA
no
west
nonsystem
is
Proposed
4265
contains
There
on the east south
RARE
of
includes
acres the western parcel
bounded
Pioneer Mountains
the
with
WSA
The
County Idaho
contains
Pioneer Mountains
Service
parcel
by
WSA
in
parcel
Wood River WSA
characterized
terrain cut by steep
by mountainous
drainages
Wood River Chicken Creek Buck Creek and Brown Creek The Little Wood River
interspersed
filed
the
located
eastern
120-acre
of
primarily
sagebrush
the
U.S
on the north
Little
riparian
The
is
The
acres
boundary
managed
is
the
boundary
entirely
The
ID-53-4
WSA
the
WSA
the
eastern
ACEC
with
within
4265
--
two parcels
in
contiguous
inholdings
WSA
River
lands
Study Area
River Wilderness
in
the
alternative
799
ElS
Management Act
for
an
FLPMA
Small Wilderness Study
all
wilderness
alternative
and
included
Areas
Statewide
which
is
the
in
Recommendation and
4265
Rationale
recommended
acres
for
wilderness
recommended
acres
for
nonwilderness
The recommendation
preferable
wilderness
The
WSA
River
has
WSA
is
95911
extension
with
conjunction
wilderness
minimal
the
and
Wood
The
Little
two
constructed
of
low standard
The
of
edge
national
and
camps
in
wilderness
hunters
from
the
solitude
While
also
use
similar
the
of
The
Snake
River
dependent
WSA
upon
environment
for
shown
are
WSA
this
WSAs
are
the
on
be
could
small
are
parcels
National
Forests
The
The
suitable
wilderness
for the
as wilderness
managed
make
would
size
Forest
Both
in
to
difficult
it
Services
noncontroversial
have
Wood
Little
recommendation
suitable
both the U.S
relatively
Both
Challis
designation
contiguous
for designation
The
and
recommendation
the
However
designation
the
area
under
and
Plain
winter
no
permits
from
nearby Sun
use
BLM
proposed
contain
areas
surrounding
blue
wildlife
grouse
During
transitional
the
south
area
The
and
sage
the
is
U.S
essential
it
ecotone
Little
the
Wood
years
few infrequently
impact of grazing
of
of
or
limited
the
in
be
to
use
cattle
use
sheep
the
is
area
the
of
used
not
is
on
are
trails
are
primitive
and
to
trailing
use
noticeable
this
to
due
is
the
move
to
inside
improvements
range
from
stock
pack
most
to
extreme western
the
used but
heavily
proposed
WSA
the
operations
the
during
numbers
Forest
Most
in
humans
of
Both
the
fall
under
The
Service
of
these
Big
season with
hunting
controlled
area
local
Wood
unit
is
River
slowly
seem
users
Valley
One
be
seeking
the
outfitter
discovered
being
to
of
majority
regulations
by
reprieve
for
Opportunities
exceptional
grouse
spring
small
available
are
the
appear
sheep
Ketchum
opportunities
ACEC
WSA
planned
marks
only
the
rings
Most
no
in
are
sheep operators
concentrated
is
and
Valley
the
The
pristine
There
However
existing
available
is
the exception
the
are
on
affect
fire
by sheep
in
slopes
rock
small
All of
There
Most
tags are
is
area
by sheepherders over
wilderness
With
fall
unconfined recreation
and
to
have
left
iSOOs
late
the area
late
the south
more crowded
deer
is
the
of
Elk
are
sheep
of the
most
carving
designated
of
the
light
is
in
in
grazing
would
tree
since
summer and
deer
of
campsites
band
Several
but
mule
WSA
these
at
and
natural
suitable
upon
early
mule
nongame
time
environmentally
natural
recommended
are
the
wilderness
for
wilderness
Wilderness
for
examples
be
by elk during
primitive
of
generally
is
livestock
all
fishermen from
supports
the
designation
The Sawtooth
as suitable
Services
is
Service
contiguous
several
happen
the overlaying
variety
Forest
grazed by livestock
the area
in
and
hikers
WSA
within
designation
4-201
Area
II
recommended
area
recommendation
designation
pursuing
operates
U.S
facilities
only
use
Recreational
from
change
River
The
wilderness
as
from wilderness
benefit
Area
Forest
WSA
River
The
would
equipment
concentrated
and
and
which
they
forest
U.S
Area
the
WSA
River
WSA
the
II
suitable
been
has
unless
Wood
Little
wilderness
for
would
RARE II
the RARE
the
Wood
Little
without
trails
The
area
visitors
the
least
conflicts
resource
campsites
of
which
values
of
portion
contiguous
as wilderness
manage
wilderness
RARE
within
acres
the
cause
map
logical
Pioneer Mountains
land
4265
designate
would
It
recommended
Pioneer Mountains
for the
to
is
alternative
of federal
lands
acre
recommendation
WSA
River
wilderness
acres
4265
Proposal
large
recommended
Wood
Little
all
Federal
outstanding
the
to
adjacent
River
All
designation
Wood
Little
the
is
term
the long
over
for the
alternative
to
raptors
is
not
between
River
the
long-term
beaver
black
survival
bear
unusual to see elk antelope
the
flood
forest
800
forest
and
mountains
plain contains
an
400-head
of
mountain
lions
and
to
intact
the
mule
deer
north
lush
elk
trout
herd
and
all
and
cottonwood
the
WSA
large
at
the
the
same
desert
riparian
of the
The
Little
Wood
ecosystems
Forest
Idaho
its
Both
River
the
WSA
However
located
Forest
Province/Douglas-fir
associated
is
Intermountain
wilderness
biodiversity
in
Sagebrush
Ecosystem
designation
the
on
directly
National
for
top
of
the dividing
Province/Sagebrush
are
this
represented
WSA
in
provides
Wilderness Preservation
801
an
line
between
Steppe
Ecosystem
the National
opportunity
System
two Bailey-Kuchler
and
the
Rocky
Wilderness Preservation
to
include
transition
classified
Mountain
System
zone
along
in
with
R.20
RECOMMENDED
FOR WILDERNESS
Lull
RECOMMENDED
FOR
UhlIWIHI
LAND OUTSIDE WSA RECOMMENDED
R.21
llllJllIhIIIllhII
NONWILDERNESS
I____
Scale
LITTLE
WOOD
PROPOSAL
RIVER
ESTATE
STATE
PRIVATE
FOR WILDERNESS
D-53-4
SPLIT
in
Miles
Table
--
Land Status and Acreage
LI1TLE
Within
BLM
surface
Split
Estate
and
Wilderness
of the
Study Area
WSA
Study Area
4265
subsurface
BLM
surface
state
Inholdings
WOOD
Summary
RIVER
only
private
4265
Total
Within
BLM
BLM
within
outside
Recommended
Estate
within
Split
Estate
outside
Total
BLM
4265
WSA
WSA
Recommended
Land
4265
state
State
outside
land
private
WSA
Within
the Area
Not
Recommended
BLM
Estate
Total
for
Boundary
Wilderness
Inholdings
plit
Wilderness
WSA
WSA
Split
for
the
BLM
Land
Not
Recommended
Wilderness
Inholdings
state
private
803
for Wilderness
Considered
Criteria
Recommendations
the Wilderness
in Developing
Characteristics
Wilderness
Naturalness
The
Wood
Little
man
WSA
River
livestock
Although
dense riparian vegetation
closed
vehicle
end
to
appears
trail
low standard
in
feet
this
trail
in
the vegetation
mountain
the
along
sides
unaffected
appear
Wood
Little
River
drainage
by
the
works
the
of
canyons
appearance
into
has
WSA
the
the
along
to
revegetated
WSA
land/BLM
private
The rugged
appearance
affected
1500
1982
in
the
at
has
remains natural
extends
the closure
Following
natural
is
grazing
From
boundary
Wood
Little
single
that
River from the south
At the present
track
the
north
point
the
time
trails
boundary
two-track
appearance
is
jeep
that
trail
of
trail
pack
Solitude
The
WSA
riparian
the
outstanding
vegetation
combined
to
provides
with
along
WSAs
the
can
area
the
Primitive and
The
Wood
Little
River
and
photography
Roadless
sightseeing
WSA
makes up
Winter Range
area
and
is
winter
in
to
the
The
through
river
as
and
mountainous
rugged
and
Douglas-fir
quaking
numerous
provide
dense
topography
in
aspen
the higher
elevations
for solitude
opportunities
Visitors
WSA
of
within
for primitive
opportunities
hunters
diversity
WSA
ACEC
candidate
is
55
ACEC
the long-term
The
Raptors use the cottonwoods
the
the
outstanding
available
approximately
ACEC
essential
in
WSAs
Recreation
packers
Area
are
of
Many
recreational
the
visitors
and
opportunities
The
unconfined recreation
through the area
pass
including
on
their
way
camping
fishing
to
area
is
the
hunting
area
Features
Special
The
contains
horse
stands
Pioneer Mountains
the
Unconfined
WSA
and
River
anywhere
virtually
used by hikers backpackers
Pioneer Mountains
to
proximity
isolated
feel
Wood
The
for solitude
opportunities
Little
area
in
the
river
of
percent
managed
survival
large-volume
for wild
is
of
elk
pristine
designation
lands
public
primarily
an
also supports
canyon
the
herd
for the
of
up
year-round
bottoms
stream
under
for
nest
within
long-term
to
400
The
Wild
804
and
of
that
mule
section
of
organizations
Scenic
acre
11887
protection
animals
populations
sites
Environmental
the
the
Rivers
of
Elk
summer
in
deer blue
the
have
Act
Mountain
winter
Little
habitat
the
Crucial
for
Pioneer
grouse and
Wood
mentioned
River
this
elk
Elk
This
Mountains
sage grouse
which
section
flows
of
the
in the
Diversity
Assessing
National
the
Diversity
and Features
in
state
under
the
study
NWPS
with
this
of Natural
Represented
of the
Wilderness designation
represented
as
Wilderness
Wood
Little
by four
designated
ecosystem
This
Preservation
System
Systems
by Ecosystems
River
WSA
areas
with
information
would
76129
is
add
an ecosystem
acres
summarized
There
on
presently
are
eight
represented
other
BLM
in
study
Idaho
areas
Table
TABLE
Ecosystem
NWPS
Bailey-Kuchler
areas
classification
Rocky Mountain
Representation
Areas
Other
acres
BLM
Studies
areas
acres
23
247843
Forest
Province
NATIONWIDE
Sagebrush
Steppe
76129
Ecosystem
IDAHO
Sagebrush
Steppe
Ecosystem
162710
805
and
in
the
Expanding the Opportunities for Solitude or Primitive Recreation
Within
Days Driving Time Five Hours of Major Population Centers
The
Little
acreage
Wood
River
of designated
WSA
areas
is
and
within
other
drive
five-hour
BLM
study
areas
from
Boise
within
Idaho
five-hour
Table
drive
of
summarizes
the
the
population
number and
center
Table
Wilderness
of
Opportunities
Major Population
NWPS
Population
Boise
Idaho
Centers
Areas
for
Residents
Centers
Other
areas
acres
16
4741570
806
areas
141
BLM
Studies
acres
5374250
the
Balancing
The
Wood
Little
within
landforms and
the
Moon
would
not
Forest
Service-administered
similar
Wilderness
would
wilderness
wilderness
ecosystem
43243
not
20
is
acres
contribute
60 miles
is
balance
help
Rather
experiences
nearby
WSA
The U.S
River
NWPS
the
the
to
miles
Sawtooth
expand
of
opportunities
217008
Park
National
the
opportunities
to
attain
NWPS
acres
of
areas
currently
Wood
Little
similar
representing
Service-administered
of
the
in
geographic distribution
Designation
southeast
the
to
the
Wilderness
The
northwest
the
Areas
to balancing
significantly
geographic distribution
would
designation
of Wilderness
Distribution
Geographic
diverse
available
Craters
WSA
River
of
as
wilderness
within
only
these
two
areas
Manageability
The
Wood
Little
There
no
are
facilities
WSA
the
in
River
trail
There
are
two
the present
The
the
and
gate
lands
public
within
wilderness
proposed
known
in
included
and
Energy
The
WSA
Mineral
and
Based
on
the
The
the
and
steep
the
in
and
because
would
to
are
in
pack
along the
travel
be
not
There
area
mules
about
for
to
is
the
across
closed
Wood
the
the
not
be
one
trail
Both
viewed
protection
Wood
Little
October
ACEC
in
ORV
by
along
well
the
federal
that
of
use
his
Forest
use
Services
established
and
enthusiasts
Because
classification
provided
At
The
motorized
preventing
are
north
requested
The U.S
1982
closure
the
motorized
prevent
closures
to
the
ACEC
WSA
perimeter of the
Values
geothermal potential and
of
the
adjacent
mineral
to
the
potential
moderate
GRA
Pioneer Mountains
favorability
October
1983
for
silver
There
and
no
are
zinc
Geology Energy
mining claims
within
the
WSA
and
lack
of
locatable
mineral
activity
there
is
little
potential
for mineral
WSA
designation
no
sheep
boundary
landowner
private
to
successful
of these
new
as
is
The
Area
WSA
of the
ACEC
been
on
use
use
Roadless
south
land
have
by the overlaying
additional
mile
private
vehicle
motorized
would
Pioneer Mountains
surrounding
River
motorized
to
enhanced
boundary
and
trails
closed
comparative impact table
including
area
in the
present
operations
Resonrces
on
following
considered
claims
low leasable
within
development
Impacts
Evaluation
few mining
area
WSA
Resource
too
is
land
closure
Little
also
is
the
the
low oil gas and
Resource
WSA
of
beyond
private
main
the
were
north
WSA
the
on
motorized
Wilderness designation
Minerals
has
WSA
the
Overall the manageability
extends
of
signing
use
permitted
now
values
preserve
Operators use horses
the country
both of these
existing
to the
by the public
boundary
are located
for
to
existing livestock
current
only
sheep operations
to
access
provide
the
is
of
fords
deep
easements
holds
be
property
which
trails
Continuation
grazing
these
used because
are not
time the trailheads
government
land
with
as wilderness
managed
uses
Sheep
designation
numerous
requires
be reasonably
can
existing resource
associated
ATVs
Motorized
camps
All
with
by wilderness
impacted
his
WSA
River
conflicts
summarizes
or nondesignation
the
of
effects
the entire
807
on
pertinent
area
as
resources
wilderness
for
all
the alternatives
Table
Summary of
Comparative
WSA
Issue
Topics
ID-53-4
on
Values
Wilderness
Alt wilderness
special
No Wilderness
All
would
values
receive
protection
legislative
wilderness
WOOD RIVER
Alternative
Action
Wilderness/No
Impact
Impacts by Alternative
LITTLE
Action
Proposed
the
the
by
provided
No
or
the
in
predicted
would
area
designation
actions
surface-disturbing
pated
continue
to
antici
are
WSA
The
be managed
as
an
ACEC
Wilderness
would
the
and
naturalness
ties
and management
designation
maintain
and
opportuni
and
primitive
recreation
elk
crucial
the
WSAs
Impacts
on
Pioneer
Mountains
Roadless
Wilderness
Wood
Area
designation
WSA
River
and enhance
would
would
Impacts
on
Motorized
Recreation
The
of
be
the
The
help
in
on
Crucial
Elk
Winter
Range
The
elk
protected
primitive
and
special
values
of
the
proposed
would
Wilderness
not
affected
that
WSA
impact
would
ORV
on
re
use
motorized
The
Wood
Little
main
closed
There
would
to
River
WSA
be
no
would
be
would
ORV
recreational
on
impact
re
use
motorized
recreation
recreation
Impacts
be
and
no ac
WSA
the
the
for
maintain
outstanding
recreation
Mountain
ACEC
an
them
River
no
of
as
would
for solitude
wilderness
Pioneer
protect
that
ensuring
place
Little
values
to recreational
There would
features
area
range
naturalness
unconfined
maintained
wilderness
upon
Wood
closed
be
would
by
take
intrude
Little
main
the
Area
Roadless
tions
would
features
the
winter
opportunities
and
Special
of
Management
apparent
outstanding
for solitude
unconfined
areas
crucial
and
winter
range
maintained
would
be
lie
area
for the
range
808
protection
managed
of
elk
as
crucial
an
ACEC
winter
Local
Designation
of
Economic
and
Social
the
area
Considerations
would
as wilderness
Summary of WSA-Specific
involvement has occurred
Public
and
Idaho
During
with
review
public
nine
comments
nonwilderness
addressed
Idaho
Falls
of the
any objections
Environmental
the Draft
Draft
of
Protection
the
no
or
minimal
effects
on
the local
and
social
economic
situation
Comments
the wilderness
review
process
Public
hearings
were
held
in
Challis
Boise
February 1988
US
27
letters
two
specifically
recommendation
Interior
Agency
Bureau
were received
recommendation
suitable
with
to
Public
throughout
supporting
designation
The U.S Department
on
during
have
of
for
identifying
for
this
Reclamation
Idaho State Historical
the
Fifteen
the
supported wilderness
specifically
designations
Wood River WSA Six letters
Wood River WSA
None of their
Little
Little
supported
comments
WSA
Bureau
Society
EIS
809
of
and
Indian
Affairs
Department
of
U.S
Fish
Health and
and
Wildlife
Welfare
all
Service
the
commented