Bear Den Butte Wilderness
The Study Area
The Bear
Den
The
Idaho
within
the
BLM
Road
WSA
Butte
WSA
--
JD-57-14
9700
includes
9700
acres
acres
located
boundary
The Bear
Den
older
an
broken
lava
contains
in
This
interspersed
WSA
included
in
alternatives
and
an
all
the
corner
to
according
and
studied
dry
wilderness
one
word
the
In
for
under
the
the
no
Moon
flow
the
Environmental
ElS
no
are
split
of
lava
The
deep
feet
the
on
west by
the
the east
by
BLM
Thumb Road
East
feet
younger
lava flow
flow
has
The
features
WSA
edges of the
Topography
WSA
northern
the
flat
is
lava
clinkery
in
Elevations
The
flow
are
to
composed
gently
overlies
the
rolling
rolling
and jagged surfaces
boundary
WSA
road
range from
of
and
separates
4500
feet
Den Butte
soil-covered
supports
Federal
older
almost
Land
alternative
alternative
655
no
Policy
Impact Statement
wilderness
road on
nonsystem
Carey
of
lands or inholdings
roads
dirt
Road 405 The
landforms
five
the
southeast
estate
section
and collapse
The
lava
of
up
to
center
Bear
at
by
distinct
hard on
ridges
feet
603
Counties 23 miles
There
BLM
state-owned
the
topography
Section
Final
in
of
The young
south
soils
lakes
5104
to
forbs
analyzed
the
by two
holes blisters pressure
Monument
were
on
around
from the main Craters
grasses
was
and
Blame
unnamed
by an
the north
by wind-deposited
the Hawaiian
southwest
varies
on
characterized
is
buttes
aa
of lava
WSAs
Vegetation
The
WSA
covered
variety of
thumb
the
Butte
flow
line
property
by occasional
topography
this
follows
and
lands
boundaries are formed by the following
Thumb Road
Road 3406 The Thumb Cross Road and
also
Minidoka
in
BLM-administered
WSAs
The
see Table
3407 The West
area
is
of
Study Area
lava
is
dominated
by
brush
with
vegetation
and
ElS
which
flow
is
Management
Wilderness
the
filed
Act
in
recommendation
FLPMA
July
of
1987
this
and
Two
report
Recommendation and
Rationale
recommended
acres
9700
for wilderness
recommended
acres
for
nonwilderness
The
recommendation
environmentally
environment
natural
minimize
All
The
of federal
acres
quality of
WSA
to
similar
is
theWSA
These
for
to
the
WSA
on
the
release
9700
all
alternative
recommendation
use
cause
all
The
nonwilderness uses
for
acres
would
It
would
recommended
are
Den
Bear
study they are
WSA
Butte
exhibit
any
Butte
due
are
the
least
change
means
practical
from
the
avoid
or
and
are
to
WSA
unique to the
to
merit
of
acres
and
WSA
land primarily
lack
human
of
for solitude
flows which
in
activity
does not offer outstanding
contained
Wilderness
Wilderness Preservation
Opportunity
lava
WSA
the
the National
in
to the National
diversity
of
designation
While
inclusion
or unusual features
remoteness
The
add
for wilderness
map
recommendation
the
in
not
significant
to the
nonsuitable
Proposal
not considered
would
by thousands
afforded
opportunities
values
intrinsic
any
those
The
to
is
was the key consideration
values
The Bear Den
and
wilderness
all
impacts
WSA
does not
WSA
term
land within
necessary
system
NWPS
System
the
values
is
long
Butte
wilderness
the wilderness
Preservation
Den
Bear
as the
the
environmental
adverse
9700
shown
alternative
over
Butte
the
Den
Bear
for the
preferable
in
adjacent
to
are
and are not due
the area
for
opportunities
available
and
primitive
unconfined recreation
aa
lava
The Great
similar to
reduced
in
flow
and
by 50 percent
due
burning of 1340
to
would
and
in
the area
of
on vehicle
greater
WSAs
The
to
In
range
use
and
wilderness
features
geologic
are
quality
of
young
recommended
for
WSAs
in
as wilderness
Great Rift
impact
less
continue
using
contrast
The no
and
than
on
lava
wilderness
represents
WSAs
does the Bear
Den
to
the
operations
inspect
and
would
within
would
Snake
provide
Butte
and
River
much
WSA
Bear
the
Den
existing
range
labor
costs
permittee
wilderness
preclude
vegetation
the
also
maintain
management
designated
recommendation
Wilderness designation
656
and
features
adequately
wilderness
within
flow
Ravens Eye
livestock
vehicles
under
developments
brush control
of
diversity
recreation
primitive
new fence
for
size
of these
result
allowed
inspection
to restrictions
acres
would
be
the vegetative
higher
Ravens Eye
NWPS
and
of
67110 acres WSAs contain ecosystems and geologic features
The Great Rift and Ravens Eye WSAs however have higher
large
the
for solitude
construct
repair
WSA
their
in
ecosystems
Permittees
developments
of
recommendation
wilderness
for construction
Ravens Eye
Butte
Recommendation
opportunities
WSA
Den
to study
features
geologic
Great Rift and
the
because
values
offers opportunities
and
acres and
Bear
the
influence
lava
quality
The no
within
355850
human
desert
higher
Butte
Rift
those
WSA
Butte
ecosystems
designation
wilderness
quality
Plain
similar
flow
wilderness
Den
Bear
the
Although
would
also allow
increase
prescribed
prescribed
burning
Table
Land Status and Acreage
--
Summary
of the
Study Area
BEAR DEN BUTTE WSA
Wilderness
Within
BLM
surface
Split
Estate
Inholdings
and
Study
Area
9700
subsurface
BLM
surface
state
only
private
9700
Total
Within
BLM
BLM
Recommended
Boundary
WSA
outside
Estate
within
Split
Estate
outside
Total
BLM
Land
WSA
WSA
Recommended
Wilderness
Inholdings
state
State
outside
land
private
WSA
Within
the Area
Not
Recommended
BLM
for
Wilderness
9700
Split
Estate
Total
BLM
for
Wilderness
WSA
within
Split
for
the
Land
Not
Recommended
Wilderness
Inholdings
state
9700
private
658
Criteria Considered in Developing
Wilderness
Recommendations
the Wilderness
Characteristics
Naturalness
The Bear Den
impact
100
mile
one
WSA
Butte
the area
eastern western and
developments
sounds
of
edges
natural
WSAs
of
but
appearance
trails
rehabilitation
reduce
the
on
in
vehicle
southern
slightly
traffic
fire
of
acres
natural
is
four
including
total
WSA
in
values
the
roads
boundary
of
and
seeding
the
there
length
are
two
several
Although
screened
older
flow
also
lava
slightly
of
and
WSA
the
natural
in
values
man
are
that
The
outside
older
on
located
the
the
topography
the
than
less
totaling
imprints
by vegetation
parts
impact
fences
These
water pond
stock
short
of
signs
site-specific
miles two
and
sights
flow
lava
Solitude
The
WSA
provides
remoteness
and
outstanding
proximity
to
The
for solitude
opportunities
Great Rift
the
WSA
combine
to
areas topographic
numerous
provide
variety
vegetation
outstanding
opportunities
for solitude
boundary
boundary
of
the
road surrounds the
road and
road
is
any
desert
terrain
Den
the
and
area
on
it
Vehicles
also
can
and Unconfined
use
lack
usually
WSA
Butte
environment
Recreational
WSA
on
this
be seen
road are
or heard
from
visible
the
WSA
higher
elevations
The
rugged
volcanic
the fringes of
WSAs
from the
impact
of
of
of
provides
WSA
WSA
the
the
is
Recreation
variety
provide
estimated
water or destination
occurs
in
the spring
and
of
recreation
outstanding
at
spots
less
than
probably
100
The
opportunities
for
camping
days
annually
opportunities
visitor
accounts
for the
low
hiking
visitor
Den
Butte
WSA
use
fall
does not contain
any unique or
659
significant
special
and
features
features
and
hunting
The combination
Special Features
The Bear
The
insignificant
Primitive
The Bear
traffic
figures
of
rugged
Visitation
to
in the
Diversity
Assessing
National
the
the
with
30245
as
of
Wilderness
National
acres
information
is
of Natural
Diversity
and Features
Wilderness designation
Wilderness
Represented
the
Bear
Den
Preservation
There
summarized
are
in
11
BLM
System
Systems
by Ecosystems
Butte
System
other
Preservation
WSA
would
NWPS
areas
in
add
This
the
an
ecosystem
ecosystem
state
under
is
not
presently
by one
represented
study
with
this
in
represented
area
designated
ecosystem
This
Table
TABLE
Ecosystem Representation
NWPS
Bailey-Kuchler
areas
classification
Intermountain
Other
Areas
acres
BLM
Studies
areas
acres
12
870403
11
646687
Sagebrush
Province
NATIONWIDE
Desert-Vegetation
Absent
Largely
30245
Ecosystem
IDAHO
Desert-Vegetation
Absent
Largely
30245
Ecosystem
NEVADA
Desert-Vegetation
Absent
Largely
223716
Ecosystem
660
Expanding
The Bear
and
Den
acreage
of
the
for Solitude
Opportunities
or Primitive
Days Driving Time Five Hours
within
Butte
WSA
designated
is
within
areas
and
five-hour
BLM
other
drive
study
from
of Major
Boise
areas
Centers
Population
Idaho
within
Recreation
Table
five-hour
summarizes
drive
of
the
the
number
population
Table
Wilderness
of
Opportunities
Major Population
NWPS
Population
Boise
Idaho
Centers
Areas
areas
16
acres
4741570
661
for
Residents
Centers
Other
areas
141
BLM
Studies
acres
5374250
center
the
Balancing
The Bear Den
NWPS
form
WSA
Butte
would
The NPS-administered
and
ecosystem
would
wilderness
of
ten miles
balance
help
contribute
Craters
located
is
not
not
the
of Wilderness
Distribution
Geographic
to
to the
the
balancing
Moon
the
geographic distribution
Wilderness
northeast
Areas
43243
acres
of
Designation
Bear
the
of opportunities
geographic distribution
of
areas
Den
Butte
attain
to
within
the
similar land
representing
diverse
WSA
as
wilderness
experiences
Manageability
The Bear Den
and
Butte
fire
on
frequency or
Contribution
of
deliver
Bear
the
and
and
area
sounds
of
WSA
and
mineral
mineral extraction
would
setting
WSA
Great Rift
to the
proximity
area
ORV
or
not
result
use
in
are
not
significant
expected
changes in
degree
minor wilderness
represents
in
WSA
June 15
to
in
related
from
October
and
use
would
fall
less
is
be
Den
Bear
near
used to
are
spring
vehicle
WSA
the entire
would
Butte
tow sheep camps
16
to
and
December 15
the
than
into
Butte
ten
degrade
opportunities
two bed
grounds
Although
feature
is
of
percent
the
of
visitor
particular
WSA
for
and
use
to
the
interest
Impacts on
solitude
negligible
Values
no
has
mineral
and
the
trails
trails
petroleum
BLM
data
further
Frederickson
and
study
WSA
the
Although
potential
1985
is
the
1983
The
WSA
WSA
to
mineral
Fernette
as prospectively
classified
indicates
has
has
low potential based
on
low potential for
minerals
saleable
in
the
or mineral
WSA
are
in
leases within
federal
the
ownership and
are
open
entry
There
are
no
WSA
Resources
on
following
considered
as
same manner and
the
in
two vehicle
occurs
Resource
and
estates
claims
Impacts
16
geothermal resources
evidence
locatable
such
WSA
the
manageable
area
Butte
The two
by sheep camp
Butte
on
vehicles
usually
recreation
Den
for
indirect
size of
create
wilderness
in
operations
recreation
and Minerals
valuable
Den
Bear
the
from April
Butte
affected
The Bear
The
in
primitive
primitive
mining
size
uses
activities
existing livestock
supplies
Den
Energy
The
and
sights
solitude
unauthorized
management
to
conflict
manageability
The
fire
The
wilderness
combine
centers
Management problems from
Restrictions
as
manageable
is
from population
distance
comparative impact table
including
designation
or
summarizes
nondesignation
the effects
of
the entire
662
on
pertinent
area
as
resources
wilderness
for
all
the alternatives
Table
Summary
Comparative
WSA
ISSUE TOPICS
of the
PROPOSED ACTION
on
Wilderness
Values
The
combination
ORV
ed
al
and
use
vehicle
values
and
areas
of
the
of
riphery
would
older
natur
for solitude
the
in
lava
All
relat
reduce
slightly
recreation
the
recreational
management
opportunities
primitive
ALL WILDERNESS
of existing
livestock
use
and
NO
flows
vegetated
the
along
pe
WSA
wilderness
term
would
values
of
the
camp
related
affect
by
vehicle
ORV
expanded
visitor
els
with
travel
slightly
use
is
Impacts
would
the
would
no
above
be
maintained
of
possibility
However
projected
be
limited
being
increase
current
lev
in
Den
vehicle
in
of
ORV
recreational
hance
wilderness
Sheep
would adverse
April
10%
vehicle
use
and
developments
range
9700
all
WSA
and
for solitude
from
than
less
Elimination
on
Butte
access
recreation
through
of the
WSA
access
to
elimination
of
for
would
use
long-
Wilderness
maintained
opportunities
primitive
trails
be
receive
approval
Bear
acres
ly
would
values
Congressional
mid-June
Low-use
ALTERNATIVE
ACTION
WILDERNESS/NO
Impacts
Impacts by Alternative
BEAR DEN BUTTE
ID-57-14
en
slightly
values
to existing
trails
Impacts
on
Livestock
Grazing
Operations
Existing
would
ment
of
0.6
sheep
grazing
Existing
range
practices
develop
would continue
maintenance
struction
as
and
cattle
continue
mile
of
fence
would
planned
Con
occur
Existing
would
construction
boundaries
Fire
Management
There would
be
no
impact
management
on
fire
Full
would
and
inspection
within
increase
mdnugement
suppression
trucks
663
repair
labor
the
by
practices
for
costs
of
WSA
50% due
to
on
ve
restrictions
use
hicle
on
grazing
Permittees
developments
range
wilderness
Impacts
and sheep
cattle
continue
and
including
helicopters
would
not
occur
would
not
be
Fire
use
within
size
significantly
and
of
the
pumper
WSA
frequency
affected
Local
and
Social
and
Social
economic
Economic
factors
not
were
Summary of WSA-Specific
Public
EIS
involvement
total
supporting
of
reasons
values proximity
The
to
U.S Department
Department
Department
of
of
comments
Great Rift
the
addressed
the
Bear
State
Den
WSA
of
Welfare
wilderness
Society
review
the
study
reasons
of
U.S
Agency
Lands
commented on
WSA
664
cited
Fish
the
public
review
Six of
these
areas wilderness
habitat
and
During
received
were
wildlife
vegetation
Protection
process
designation
Recreation
Department
in
Comments
supporting
native
Environmental
Historical
Butte
the
issue
significant
wilderness
with
Energy Bureau
of
Health and
and Idaho
Public
supporting
The two comments
Transportation
Resources
considered
occurred throughout
has
eight
Considerations
and
Wildlife
lack
of
the Draft
EIS
resource
National
Park
Draft
no
scenic
conflicts
Service
of Fish
Department
Department
None
comments
of their
the
opportunities
and the Idahos Department
Transportation
of
contained
and
of
U.S
Game
Water
specifically