Little City of Rocks

Rocks Wilderness
Little City of
The
The
Little
of
acres
City
of
following
dirt
by County
state
parallel
WSA
The
line
bluffs
columns
The
Plains
dominant
shaded canyons
WSAs
northern
Several
species
The
WSA
included
Two
The
was
in
the
of
and
an
one
the
under
were
all
range
wilderness
in
contains
and
There
from 4458
the
EIS
an
WSAs
the
WSA
The
5875
includes
There
area
640
is
acre
boundaries are formed by the
Road
Burnt Willow
is
formed by three
and
on the north
materials
southern boundary
and
sites
follows
private
Hills
Sawtooth
the
WSA
gently
is
of
aggregation
Mountains
sloping
wind
to
Chokecherry
grasses
small
is
5758
to
plain
and
and
the north
with
the
several
water eroded
rhyolite
no wilderness
alternative
541
aspen
and
on
willows
are
the north-facing
found
in
of
slope
the
feet
Land
Environmental
of
grove
coyote birds of prey
603 of the Federal
Final
of
the
Rocks
sagebrush
elk deer
Valley
analyzed
is
of
boundary
between
of the
the
the
Mount Bennett
foothills
portion
within
of
portion
rolling
Rocks
Section
Shoshone/Sun
46
major portion
WSA
including
eastern
the
City
lands
Road 2412
within
Little
City of
Elevations
wildlife
studied
as the
estate
Idaho
County
Gooding
Portions
The
Highway
south-central
of the
Little
of
The
in
split
BLM
by
Road
five
belt
no
see Table
State
of
located
are
south
Cabin
south
known
edge
alternatives
report
the
vegetation
of
is
WSAs
collectively
and
to
Hills are
to
WSA
the
acres
is
There
the west
right-of-way
River
rhyolite
within
on
the Crist
The Mount Bennett
Snake
ID-54-5
lands
Road 2401
line
property
land
roads
5875
--
WSA
Rocks
of
BLM-administered
inholding
power
Area
Study
Study Area
and
Policy
upland game are found
and
Management Act
Impact Statement
alternative
which
Wilderness
is
the
in
the
FLPMA
filed
in
WSA
and
1986
April
recommendation
of
this
Recommendation and
Rationale
recommended
acres
for
wilderness
5875
recommended
acres
for
nonwilderness
The recommendation
The
for the
environmentally
from
minimize
or
recommended
The
nonsuitable
quality of
contained
adverse
Rocks
City of
Little
the
the
National
Wilderness
or
of
coins mushroom
formations
entire
The
the
the
in
Little
of
freezing
Little
areas naturalness
Department
of
edge
WSA
welded
Little
allow
view
the
City
this
and
of
type
City of
Gooding
The
flat
and
primitive
basalt
segment
of
for solitude
diminishes
or
the
the
is
are
WSA
overall
Little
all
change
means
to
WSA are
Rocks
WSA on
the
of
City
uses
least
practical
within
WSA
to
the
higher
one
in
These
WSAs
formations
that
formations
formations
much
12000
the
in
drainage
and
tuff
the
stacks
like
those
The welded
found
in
rock
tuff
larger than
acres an area
of
2000
approximately
similar to
area
WSAs
West
appear
cover
are
smaller
cover
soft
nor
are
are
and
major
bands of hard and
The
There
quality
East
the
in
or habitats
species
Rocks
WSA
the
inclusion
designation
of
City of
concentrated
cover
While
merit
wildlife
values
unusual rock
the
West
recommendation
significant
wilderness
hoodoos
but
and
the
from wilderness
alternating
Rocks
East
due
rock
is
and
in
access
from
the
to
The
between
pit
WSA
also
of
Flat
Top
WSA
but
Highway
State
Gooding
continue
the
primarily
the
focal
County
and
Butte
south-central
impacts on
and
46
Highway
the northeast
State
Motorized
but
and
recreation
mountain
bike
The recommendation
recreationists
similar
seeking
driving
46
Highway
would
have
nonmotorized
the
among
part
for the primitive
point
day hiking pleasure
by road from
Those
WSA
the
into
WSA
the
for the pit
are
consists
extend
trails
outside
the
gravel
of the
parts
use
formations
rock
of
boundary
formations
vehicle
sounds
right-of-way
accessible
easily
and
sights
has
available
Two
natural
to
materials
an
riding
would
to
opportunity
could
opportunities
visit
area
comprise most
that
because
between
primitive
cause the
use
land
considered
no
are
formations
WSAs
the eastern
The
areas
plateau
as the
nearby Gooding
called
of
essentially
excavates
Rocks
recreation
the
Rocks
run along
recreation
appreciate
the
rock
pillars
City
existing recreation
Rocks
of
within
West
in
not
benefit
thawing created
Little
The Department
Most
opportunities
The
There
would
that
similar geologic
and
primarily
formations
rock
tuff
the
WSA
for solitude
Opportunities
and
fins
City of
occasionally
the
shown
would
would
of federal
nonwilderness
for
acres
It
WSA
are
line
transmission
power
area
the unusual
East and
Rocks
Rocks
of
City
of
acres
are
they are
study
Drainages dissecting
arches
Gooding
of
City
from
Rocks
City of
Gooding
and
NWPS
System
the
However
WSA
about 34 percent
acres
5875
All
key consideration
for
designation
the
caps
the
necessary
in
area
derived
is
part
was
values
values
the
weathering processes
.the
designation
Preservation
in
5875
all
alternative
map
for wilderness
The areas name
south-central
for wilderness
values
educational
features
geologic
impacts
wilderness
scientific
release
to
is
wilderness
all
term The recommendation
the long
over
the
is
environmental
Proposal
wilderness
recommended
alternative
environment
the natural
avoid
WSA
Rocks
City of
Little
preferable
of
the lack
the
edge
recreation
In
quality of
of
of
the
addition
opportunities
of
the
WSA
topographic
plateau
the
and
State
relatively
for solitude
542
provide
screening
and
lower quality opportunities
and
Highway
small
size
primitive
interesting
46
of
offers
the
recreation
no
virtually
Little
City
of
for
The
scenery
solitude
eastern
opportunities
Rocks
WSA
The
Little
Sagebrush
values
the
in
and
At the present
others
in
found
in
special
time
the
the
WSA
WSA
West
National
three
Park
only
it
This
was
than
is
little
would
threat
to
Therefore
even
expected
without
to
East
System
better
natural
NWPS
Idaho
in
would
add
the
diversity
in
to
of
the
Little
the existing naturalness
no
wilderness
known
preserve
examples
ecosystem
the Craters
designation
change
543
of
landforms
19350
the
of
the
is
of the
the
of
Moon
potential
the quality
in
of
and
NWPS
the
Gooding
wilderness
primitive
WSA
Rocks
area
the
to
acres
types
for solitude
City
mineral
in
of
designation
opportunity
values opportunities
designation
significantly
all
are
classification
NPS
WSAs
potential
West WSAs
and
Bailey-Kuchler
determined that
represents
minor geothermal
are not
Rocks
of
Service
Rocks
City of
process
WSAs
features
there
City
Ecosystem
Bennett Hills landforms
the
activities
the
study
and
East
Gooding
Steppe
of the
wilderness
found
projected
and
Wilderness Preservation
by
any one
of
Rocks
recreation
WSA
National
administered
Designation
City of
Rocks
the
in
represented
Wilderness
Through
of
City
Province/Sagebrush
There
and
and
are
no
level
no
valid
of
known
rights
values
or
of
now
224
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15
15
RECOMMENDED
FOR WI LDE RNESS
RECOMMENDED
FOR
IlUllIffilIlIll
-iJ
NONWILDERNESS
SPLIT
Fl
16
ESTATE
STATE
PRIVATE
LAND OUTSIDE WSA RECOMMENDED
FOR WILDERNESS
Scale
in
Miles
D-54-5
LITTLE
CITY OF ROCKS
PROPOSAL
MARCH
1988
Table
Land Status and Acreage Summary of
LI1TLE CITY OF ROCKS WSA
--
Within
BLM
surface
Split
Estate
and
Study
Study Area
Area
5875
subsurface
BLM
surface
state
Inholdings
Wilderness
the
only
640
private
6515
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
5875
Split
Estate
Total
BLM
for
Wilderness
WSA
WSA
Split
for
the
Land
Not
Recommended
Wilderness
Inholdings
state
5875
640
private
545
Considered
Criteria
Wilderness
the Wilderness
in Developing
Recommendations
Characteristics
Naturalness
The
miles both receive
would
trails
Two
from
of
Highway
the
area
between
the
by
adjacent
to
46 parallels
the
the sights
screens
the bluffs
and
of
the
presence
the
and
the
have
of
the
boundary
Outside
gravel
pit
be
can
extend
trails
seen
within
are widely
imprints
of
not
highway
from
into
WSA
the
WSA
the
for
These
and
scattered
WSAs
bluff
high
most
WSA
of the
of the
percent
southeast
being used
naturalness
Although
15
approximately
the
is
WSA
the
of
on perceptions
affect
slight
boundary
sounds
eastern
use
These
vehicle
do
1.4
vehicle
not
detract
WSA
WSA
eastern
bike
trail
curtailed
were
of the
the
from
tracks
use
highway
At present
developed
vehicle
naturalness
the
developments
State
if
Two
essentially natural
appears
Several
use
light
revegetate
appreciably
WSA
Rocks
City of
Little
total
screens
along
WSA
pit
from
of
is
the
area
edge
area
affected
slightly
been
has
pit
gravel
the
the
the eastern
the portion
circular
corner
Topography
within
most
of the
WSA
Solitude
In
of
portions
the
and
configuration
to
visitors
avoid
eroded
tall
each
the
other
in
over
and
sagebrush
the
canyons
photography
offers
camping
high-quality
features
are
Rocks
other
surrounded
plain
tuff
The
Topography
outstanding
to
an
provide
within
visitors
the
by basalt bluffs
rock
The sagebrush
Unconfmed
WSA
and
offers
nature
opportunities
common
of
are
combine
and
and
formations
WSA
lower
plain provides
Topography
canyons
basalt
the
for
opportunity
bluffs
boundary
limited
number
with
visitors
solitude
of
two major
includes
rimmed
allow
quality of
WSAs
aggregations
to
since
disperse
visitors
study
for
destination
Recreation
diversity of
Although
day or overnight
point
for
primitive
the
size
hikes
both motorized
546
recreation
of
the
The
and
WSA
opportunities
limits
extensive
areas unusual
nonmotorized
easily
Among
them
are
the
WSA
hiking
accessible
recreationists
and
can
distance
greater
City of
Little
screening
sounds
of volcanic
Primitive and
The
for solitude
opportunities
vegetative
sights
columns
seclusion
enjoy
some
rolling
types
of
WSA
geologic
see
Special
In
the
Little
hoodoos
Features
City of
arches
are picturesque
and
and
Rocks
WSA
monoliths
spectacular
These
landforms occur
landforms
display
unusual
547
within
single
weathering processes
drainage
and
and
include
structural
columns
anomalies that
in the
Diversity
Assessing
National
the Diversity
and Features
Wilderness
other
designation
of
the
Little
BLM
study
areas
in
the
state
City of
System
under
Preservation
of Natural
as Represented
Wilderness Preservation
National
Wilderness
Systems
by Ecosystems
Rocks
NWPS
study
System
WSA
would
by one
with
this
add
an
ecosystem
presently
designated
area
with
ecosystem
This
information
30245
is
in
represented
acres
There
summarized
are
the
11
on
Table
TABLE
Ecosystem Representation
NWPS
Bailey-Kuchier
areas
classification
Intermountain
Areas
Other
acres
areas
BLM
Studies
acres
Sagebrush
Province
NATIONWIDE
Desert-Vegetation
Absent
Largely
30245
Ecosystem
12
870403
11
646687
IDAHO
Desert-Vegetation
Absent
Largely
30245
Ecosystem
NEVADA
Desert-Vegetation
Absent
223716
Largely
Ecosystem
548
Expanding
Within
The
Little
summarizes
of
City
the
the
for Solitude
Opportunities
or Primitive Recreation
Days Driving Time Five Hours
of
Rocks
WSA
number and
the population
is
within
acreage
five-hour
of designated
drive
of
areas
and
of
two
Major Population
centers
major population
other
BLM
study
Centers
areas
within
Table
five-hour
center
Table
Wilderness
of
Opportunities
Major Population
NWPS
Population
Boise
Centers
Idaho/Salt
Lake
Residents
Centers
Areas
areas
acres
16
4741570
City
for
Other
BLM
areas
141
Utah1
Salt
Lake
City Utah
and
vicinity
includes
the
cities
of
549
Provo Orem
and Ogden Utah
Studies
acres
5374250
drive
the
Balancing
The
Little
would
The NPS-administered
ecosystem
landform
WSA
Rocks
of
City
NWPS
the
two-hour
is
to
drive
NWPS
the
that
to
is
not
contribute
Craters
of
to
The
from
different
Areas
geographic distribution
Wilderness
43243
the
in
represented
of areas
would
however
Craters
of
add
Moon
the
within
similar
acres representing
WSA
Rocks
City of
Little
that
the
balancing
Moon
the
the northeast
very
of Wilderness
Distribution
Geographic
Wilderness
Manageability
The
Little
grazing
can
be
managed
and
with
other
resources
Based
on
the mineral
Little
City of
Conflicts
solely for
WSA
Rocks
of
City
area
the
as wilderness
reasonably
uses
are
resources
minimal
The
no
analysis
to
mineral
now
values
preserve
land
state
on
development
the
in
inholding
this
in
present
area
parcel
used
is
is
anticipated
The
vehicle
potential
to
and
hike
route
the wilderness
on
and
Except
for the
on
leasable
state
to
activity
Building
stone
interest
exists
similar building
the
Little
Impacts
The
WSAs
the
used
southern
by recreationists
management would
the
patrolling
to
area
boundary
require
prevent
use
Rocks
City of
Little
of
blockage
physical
vehicle
minor
present
the
to
going
in the
the
canyon
all
Little
and
surface
City of
mineral
WSA
Rocks
This
WSA
the
in
estates
are
in
ownership and
federal
low potential for oil gas and
has
classification
U.S Geologic Survey
based on
is
coal
and
studies
on
are
in
no
are
Rocks
no
limited
sales
stone
environment
geologic
are
The
mineral
This
leases
quantities
stone
available
in
the
classification
mining claims
is
in
within
limited
other
WSA
the
in
based
is
classified
on
the
low potential
as having
WSA
The
is
geology
classified
and
other
for
having low potential
as
absence
of
mining claims
and
WSA
the
the
in
is
WSA
City of
Little
quantity
is
There
locations
Rocks
no
are
WSA
This
inaccessible
relatively
other
known
material
and
has
produced
sources
adequate
saleable
minerals
of
within
WSA
Resources
on
following
considered
no
City of
is
Values
The
resources
There
and
route
and
geothermal energy
There
mineral
historic
little
for
on
Canyon
Wilderness
signing
inholding
unfavorable
minerals
for locatable
formations
Resource
entry
Rocks
vehicle
west
the
the
This
boundary
land
mineral
potential
WSAs
Based
Minerals
to
open
moderate
the
conflict
view the rock
to
Energy
are
to the
route
manageability
comparative impact table summarizes
including
designation
or nondesignation
the
of
effects
the entire
550
on
pertinent
area
as
resources
wilderness
for
all
the
alternatives
Table
Comparative
WSA
ISSUE
Summary
ID-54-5
NO
PROPOSED ACTION
TOPICS
on
CITY OF
LITTLE
ACTION
NESS/NO
Impacts
the Impacts by Alternative
of
Wilderness
WSAs
The
Values
areas
of
ties
would
naturalness
use
WILDER-
ALL WILDERNESS
ORV
would
be
lost
in
use Recrea
reduce
opportuni
for solitude
All
wilderness
term
on
Recreational
ORV
Use
There
al
would
ORV
be
values
derness
and
uralness
no
impact
on
recreation
days
of
this
on Development
of
Mineral
Resources
Potential
mineral
available
for
moderate
perature
would
Impacts
and
on
Grazing
Construction
Facility
Maintenance
potential
no
would
This
for low
resources
to
impact
be
tem
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development
sources
use
foregone
use
of
for solitude
to
of
visitor
1500
annually
other
potential
would be
moderate
perature
Nat
maintained
be
Impacts
lands
public
negligible
Development
includes
wil
to
high
re
mineral
foregone
This
potential
for low
geothermal
includes
tem
resources
of
resources
There would
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geothermal
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mineral
to
resources
development
long-
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slightly
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Impacts
would
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receive
protection
opportunities
improve
Recrealional
use
would
values
Congressional
would
Impacts
ALTERNATIVE
ALTERNATIVE
concentrated
ORV
tional
ROCKS
be
maintenance
no
impact
and
551
on
grazing
construction
fa
There would
cility
be no
maintenance
impact
and
on
grazing
construction
fa
Local
and
Social
and
Social
economic
Economic
were
factors
not
Summary of WSA-Specific
involvement has
Public
ETS
contained
areas
wilderness
wildlife
the
designate
Five
best
suited
of
and
Agency
letters
opposing
Camas County
Welfare
is
National
no
not
of
review
of the
Little
conflicts
in
in
study
the
process
and
manageability
and
the
NWPS
the
with
designation
wilderness
designation
reasons
Hills
of the
area
stated
that
The
resources
of these
the area
the
size
including
opportunity
and
contained
looks
of
the
comments addressed
Six
areas small
Two
addressed
reasons
wilderness
values
Seven
received
were
supporting
specific
review of the Draft
public
WSA
comments addressed
Nine
Mount Bennett
supporting
During
Rocks
areas preservation
wilderness
with
the
City of
Comments
their position
like
easy
Water
Park
WSA-specific
Quality
Service
no supporting
the
rest
wilderness
in Idaho
The Idaho
any more
and Office of the Attorney General the U.S
Bureau
comments
552
of
Reclamation
and
the
to
access
of
Idaho
unique
Commissioners opposed
Department
Service
contained
complex
Comments
or
the wilderness
diversity
in
issue
Comments
cultural resources
supporting
uses
significant
designation
for
resource
expanding
received
for other
Wildlife
of
wilderness
for their position
Health and
Fish
to
as reasons
comments were
The Board
of
given
reasons
and
scenery
significant
also
reasons
is
values lack
contributing
Public
wilderness
supporting
recreation
area
were
no
considered
occurred throughout
26 comments supporting
these
Considerations
Environmental
Department
Department
Protection