Study Area
Black Canyon Wilderness
The Study Area
The Black
Canyon
BLM-administered
land
on
within
Road
belt
of
Most
of
edge
The
feet
along
some
Several
The
species
found
1986
this
in
WSA
included
in
Two
report
flat
is
the
of
the
was
the
WSA
wildlife
in
and
prairie
WSAs
has
Mountains
rises
to
is
five
the north
mile
composed
formations
and
of
areas
Crist
the
WSA
There
includes
640
is
WSAs
and
within
the
In
Snake
the
acre
other
of
rolling
hills
are
roads
dirt
east
BLM
by
The
western boundary
portion
of
WSA
the
range
of
pockets
rolling
south
by canyons
Elevations
Hills
to the
narrow
leaving
some
the
strip
of
of state
inholding
on
Plains
broken
acres
10371
Mount Bennett
River
rhyolite
There
and
the
central
each
weathered
of
the
of
grasses
Road
Cabin
remainder
north
the
to
one-third
sagebrush
is
one of
to
half
rock
is
the
forms
line
gently
within
northern
unusual
vegetation
cat
the
boundaries are formed by the following
Road 2401
WSA
The
which
come
old
within
WSAs
the
County
An
lines
of
lands
The
County Idaho
Gooding
estate
split
Road
intermittent
of
Black
prairie
in
varying
size
from 4360 to
willow
and
shrubs
drainages
including
elk deer antelope
coyotes
birds of
prey upland game birds and black
bears
WSA
studied
under
Shoshone/Sun
alternatives
and
BLM
Sawtooth
The
located
no
Portions
Canyon
dominant
of the
is
are
section
the
them
west
by
Willow
East Black
between
5484
north
between
WSA
the
and
There
follows
boundary
of
JD-54-6
see Table
Burnt
the
top
table
are
the
foothills
Canyon
The
and
2412
southern
WSA
the
west
the
WSA
lands
acres
10371
--
an
all
were
Section
603
Valley
Final
analyzed
wilderness
in
of
the
the
Federal
Environmental
EIS
no
Land
wilderness
alternative
553
Policy
and
Impact Statement
alternative
Management
EIS
which
Act
Wilderness
is
the
FLPMA
filed
in
recommendation
and
April
of
Recommendation and
Rationale
recommended
acres
10371
for wilderness
recommended
acres
for
nonwilderness
The
environmentally
minimize
for wilderness
the
is
impacts
and
designation
to
is
release
wilderness
all
The
term
long
environmental
adverse
nonsuitable
the
over
WSA
Canyon
alternative
preferable
environment
natural
Black
for the
recommendation
10371
all
alternative
recommendation
would
All
10371
acres
of
federal
are
shown
as the
Black
for
acres
would
It
use
land
all
means
WSA
the
change
least
practical
within
WSA
Canyon
the
to
from
the
avoid
or
recommended
are
on the Black
The
uses
nonwilderness
cause
Canyon
Proposal
map
The
of
quality
the
Wilderness
Preservation
educational
values
area
the
Rock
and
caps
of
arches
Rocks
and
formations
found
are
because
Moon
the
Designation
of the
of
in
the
types
Gooding
NWPS
At
the
present
projected
WSA
are
not
and
time
Therefore
expected
there
no
activities
even
to
special
is
known
without
change
in
WSA
areas
also
little
threat
mineral
several
These
WSA
and
wilderness
scattered
the
Gooding
in
in
wilderness
for
center
on
WSA
the
Gooding
in
the
of
City
Gooding
WSA
Canyon
welded
these
tuff
for solitude
Opportunities
signs
boundary
mushroom
coins
Black
for recreationists
visiting
the
human
imprints
area
of
City
welded
it
volcanic
Rocks
landforms
would
designation
existing
designation
the
significantly
554
Idaho
WSAs
West
East and
In
this
are
Bailey-Kuchler
NWPS
System
tuff
formations
more
would
of the
naturalness
quality
and
opportunity
significant
natural
values opportunities
Black
the
in
Craters
add diversity
of
area
the
level
of
no
There
valid
values
of
to
for
in
acres
19350
the
preserve
and
solitude
WSA
Canyon
geothermal potential and
little
area
was determined the designation
represents
Hills
Existing
the
NPS
Service
Park
man
throughout
3130-49
Ecosystem
study process
the
found
point
Wilderness Preservation
the
containing
to
site-specific
are
Steppe
the National
potential
features
canyons
are
than
focal
of
entire
WSA
Bennett
features
the
stacks
formations
Canyon
West WSAs
and
the
rock
Canyon
the wilderness
East
found
those
tuff
the Black
by the National
WSAs
the four
Rocks
values
recreation
in
represented
similar to
larger then
the
or
scientific
geologic
of the
edge
like
the Black
there
Rocks
look
of
are
WSA
the
the National
habitats
are
recommended
in
and
in
WSAs
The welded
an area
values
Province/Sagebrush
Through
City of
but
are
or
There
quality are
formations
area
While
inclusion
species
the west-central
along
The
merit
one-third
developments
administered
of
any one
acres
These
City of
Little
is
12000
formations
natural
Sagebrush
of wilderness
primitive
rock
impact range
Wilderness
landforms to the
WSA
the
the
appears
ecosystem
classification
of
of
WSA
Canyon
examples
of
parts
smaller
wildlife
West
formations
much
comprise about
areas
scenery
the
The Black
all
these
the
cover
found
to
designation
of higher
and
East
recommendation
the
considered
significant
values
are
The
not
wilderness
Canyon
quality wilderness
highest
These
cover
no
are
from
tuffs
Willow
hoodoos
but
they are
Rocks
of
City
volcanic
WSAs
West
There
benefit
in
consideration
key
study
wilderness
Burnt
called
WSAs
and
WSA generally
WSA are low
The
in
in
of
and
pillars
West
East
welded
of
Canyon
The most unusual and
rock
would
nearby Gooding
composed
fins
Rocks
City of
the
East and
for
NWPS
that
area
the
was
necessary
System
the
Black
of
parts
values
similar geologic-based
within
formations
in
in
However
designation
values
wilderness
the wilderness
contained
are
rights of
now found
no
known
others
in
the
in
or
the
WSA
14
RECOMMENDED
FOR WILDERNESS
LIIIIIIII
RECOMMENDED
FOR
IifflhI1fl
LAND OUTSIDE WSA RECOMMENDED
15
IIIIIIflIFFPPPII
SPLIT
ESTATE
STATE
NONWILDERNESS
PRIVATE
FOR WILDERNESS
LI
Scale
in
Miles
D-54-6
BLACK CANYON
PROPOSAL
MARCH
1988
Table
--
Land Status and Acreage
Summary
of the
Study Area
BLACK CANYON WSA
Wilderness
Within
BLM
surface
Split
Estate
Inholdings
and
Study Area
10371
subsurface
BLM
surface
state
only
640
private
Total
11011
Within
the
BLM
within
outside
Split
Estate
within
Split
Estate
outside
Total
BLM
Boundary
WSA
Land
WSA
WSA
Recommended
Wilderness
Inholdings
state
State
outside
land
private
WSA
Within
the Area
Not
Recommended
BLM
for Wilderness
10371
Split
Estate
Total
BLM
for
Wilderness
WSA
BLM
for
Recommended
Land
Not
Recommended
Wilderness
Inholdings
state
10371
640
private
556
Considered
Criteria
Recommendations
the Wilderness
in Developing
Characteristics
Wilderness
Naturalness
The Black
Canyon
wire
barbed
WSA
fence
generally
are scattered
developments
natural
appears
chemical brush control
old
WSA
the
throughout
but
there
treatment
and
are
several
areas
have
developed
spring
overall
impact on
little
and
man
of
signs
site-specific
including
The
reservoir
dirt
naturalness
Solitude
Outstanding
numerous
for solitude
opportunities
side
provide
canyons
one
opportunities
for solitude
WSA
because
remoteness
Overall
of
and
these
the
lack
These
but
human
of
City of
of
Black
area
choose
study
The
motorized
to
visit
WSA
and
are located
WSA
Canyon
East
Rocks
Primitive and
The
the
also
quality of
in
and
offers
area
West
some
and
are
WSA
no
of
offers opportunities
significant
special
many
The
if
not
due
and
to
of
any
WSA
visitors
of
The
to
the
be
WSA
were
visitors
values
intrinsic
lower
that
in
quality than
without
the area
also
provides
to
unique
the
the
the
to
found
those
of
portion
due
are
opportunities
towers and
rock
in
in
WSA
the
WSAs
land
and
are
patterns
do
not
Rocks
recreation
WSAs
visible
detract
from
many
portions
from
significantly
for hunting
opportunities
The
big
vehicles
has
less
screening
numerous
Special Features
The
be
several
the majority
occupies
would
the
in
canyons
allow
of
feeling
the
WSA
of solitude
Recreation
primitive
City
and
vegetative
less
distance
Unconfined
Gooding
the
community
at
plain that
or
are
two main
visitors
solitude
topographic
activity
the
between
sloping
for solitude
agricultural
developments
the
of
scarcity
opportunities
nearby Gooding
Outside sights
The broad
another
encountering
within
exist
screening
features
557
although
include
opportunities
game
Most
of
the
most
visitors
to the
hiking camping
hunters
however
and
use
general
nature
in the
Diversity
Assessing
National
the
Diversity
and Features
Wilderness
National
BLM
designation
as
of
the
in
the
state
under
of Natural
Represented
Black
Wilderness Preservation
areas
Wilderness
Canyon
System
study
with
System
Systems
by Ecosystems
WSA
NWPS
this
Preservation
would
by
add
three
ecosystem
an
areas
This
ecosystem
with
presently
76699
information
is
acres
in
represented
There
summarized
are 35
in
the
other
Table
TABLE
Ecosystem Representation
NWPS
Bailey-Kuchler
classification
areas
Areas
Other
acres
areas
BLM
Studies
acres
Dry Domain/Intermountain
Sagebrush
Province
NATIONWIDE
Sagebrush
Steppe
76699
Ecosystem
136
4359340
35
949916
IDAHO
Sagebrush
Steppe
12997
Ecosystem
NEVADA
Sagebrush
Steppe
29
32407
Ecosystem
1273919
CALIFORNIA
Sagebrush
Steppe
Ecosystem
152431
OREGON
Sagebrush
Steppe
67
Ecosystem
558
1983074
Expanding
within
The Black
acreage
of
Canyon
the
for Solitude
Opportunities
WSA
designated
is
areas
within
and
five-hour
other
BLM
drive
study
of Major Population
from Boise
areas
Recreation
or Primitive
Days Driving Time Five Hours
within
Idaho
Table
five-hour
Centers
summarizes
drive
of
the
the population
number and
center
Table
Wilderness
of
Opportunities
Major Population
NWPS
Population
Boise
Idaho
Centers
Areas
areas
acres
16
4741570
559
for
Residents
Centers
Other
areas
141
BLM
Studies
acres
5374250
the
Balancing
The
Black
WSA
Canyon
would
not
of Wilderness
Distribution
Geographic
contribute
to
the
balancing
Areas
geographic distribution
of
areas
within
the
NWPS
Manageability
The
Black
Conflicts
Based
Canyon
Rocks
City of
with
on
Vehicle
East
other
the
use
However
the
of
would
and Minerals
Except
for the
are
for
potential
studies
The
WSA
geothermal
mineral resources
locatable
activity
stone
Building
interest
and
no
building
stone
Canyon
WSA
Impacts
The
no
exists
in
known
are
are
the
to
proximity
Gooding
The
could
operators
approximately
per
would
recreation
primitive
would
roads
ten times
parcel
is
to
year
be
be
for
grazing
anticipated
wilderness
complicate
slightly
The
only
this
used solely
is
inholding
on
development
WSA
the
land
state
closed
management
other
all
to
fence
maintain
users
Therefore
limited
and
surface
all
Canyon
These
mineral
WSA
classifications
estates
in
the
low potential for
has
based
are
on
WSA
are
and
oil
geology and
in
and
coal
gas
U.S
ownership and
federal
moderate
Survey
Geological
west
low potential
mineral
This
no
leases
in
It
at
for other
the
classification
mining claims
limited
sales
available
and
within
quantities
is
limited
other
is
in
in
The
based on
the
the
based on
minerals
WSA
is
geology
classified
and
as
the unfavorable
geologic
low potential for
having
absence of mining
claims
and
WSA
Black
the
and
quantity
locations
leasable
WSA
There
are
WSA
Canyon
This material
relatively
inaccessible
no
known
other
has
Adequate
saleable
minerals
produced
sources
within
of
the
little
similar
Black
Resources
on
following
considered
There
WSA
of the
size
Values
energy
are
into
and
The Black
as having
There
mineral
roads
inholding
the
to
classified
is
environment
historic
WSAs
the
on
land
state
mineral entry
to
open
Resource
minimal
no
roads
the
use
are
livestock
to
for solitude
opportunities
Energy
analysis
limited
The
areas manageability
uses
cherry-stem
be
operators
on
impacts
and
resource
two
could
the
enhances
wilderness
as
manageable
is
resources
mineral
use
Livestock
WSA
WSA
comparative impact table
including
designation
summarizes
or nondesignation
the
of
effects
the entire
560
on
pertinent
area
resources
as wilderness
for
all
the
alternatives
Table
Comparative
Summary
WSA
of the
BLACK CANYON
ID-54-6
on
Wilderness
Values
In
the
term
long
reservoir
would
the
western
ly
in
The
WSA
naturalness
would
be
ALL
WILDERNESS
the
addition
reduce
of
portion
of
of
the
slight
WSA
remainder
the
All
dirt
naturalness
of
wilderness
term
derness
the
retained
values
There would
the
areas
naturalness
tion
Recreational
ORV
Use
There would
al
ORV
be
no
on
impact
recreation
be
would
Impacts
on Development
of
Mineral
Resources
Potential
mineral
available
for
moderate
sources
Impacts
and
on
Grazing
Construction
Facility
Maintenance
of mineral
There would
be
maintenance
This
no
no
be
561
impact
ORV
use
would
re
moderate
on
resources
reduce
the western
por
use
of
200
annually
to other
visitor days
Impacts
of
lands
public
negligible
Development
sources
devel
range
would
of
potential
mineral
be foregone
This
potential
re
includes
for geothermal
resources
impact
and
be
includes
for geothermal
potential
There would
development
cility
would
resources
development
be
in
in
opportunities
additional
foregone
this
shifting
and
WSA
of the
would
improvement
reservoir
slightly
long-
wil
All
maintained
be
slight
An
Recreational
use
would
be
dirt
receive
protection
naturalness
opment
on
would
values
Congressional
for solitude
Impacts
ALTERNATIVE
ACTION
WILDERNESS/NO
Impacts
NO
PROPOSED ACTION
ISSUE TOPICS
Impacts by Alternative
on
grazing
construction
fa
There would be no
cility
maintenance
impact
and
on
grazing
construction
fa
Local
Social
and
Social
and
economic
Economic
factors
not
were
Considerations
considered
Summary of WSA-Specific
involvement
Public
of these
the
contained
including
addressed
the
comments were
reasons
other
the
of
and
values
recreation
uses
Board
Health
of
and
area
the area
received
for
Welfare
of Fish
and
Agency
commented on
Wildlife
of
Idaho
wilderness
with
Park
the Draft
Water
Service
EIS
None
area
of
their
of
complex
in
the
Mount Bennett
not
Three
of
the area
Reclamation
WSA
562
these
value
comments
Hills
contained
is
better
no
suited
for
unique
of the
comments
Eleven
stated
any more wilderness
Quality Office
Bureau
is
Seven
wilderness
specific
NWPS
area
the
addressed
areas preservation
the
the
reasons
of
received
reasons
supporting
manageability
and
were
in
supporting
or the
with
review
public
WSA
diversity
of the
designation
During
Canyon
resources
expanding
Commissioners opposed
of
study
process
the Black
conflicts
cultural
to
Comments
of
the
Comments
resource
and
wilderness
rest
Department
National
lack
review
of
position
significant
position
the
their
geologic
designate
like
Camas County
the
designation
contributing
opposing
their
looks
quality
wildlife
to
for
reasons
supporting
opportunity
supporting
the wilderness
wilderness
supporting
in
Comments
Public
occurred throughout
comments addressed
Seven
The
no
areas wilderness
resources
Six
has
ElS 48 comments
Draft
issue
significant
in
Attorney
and
specifically
the
Idaho
General
The Idaho
the
U.S Environmental
addressed
the
Department
U.S Department
Black
Protection
Canyon