Lower Salmon
The Study Area
The Lower Salmon
Boundaries
while
The
the
are the
WSA
consists
fish
above
5000
desert
WSA
in
on
was
of
long
and
the
under
of
1989
this
line
rim near
canyon
Section
Two
lava
southern
202
of
for
an
all
is
canyon
plain
the Federal
is
feet
were
northern
along
Land
Policy
analyzed
in
the
alternative
735
and
Areas
EIS
private
Falls
and
slopes
and
is
600
miles
southwest
Twin
of
inholdings
the
generally
Creek This
feet
bottom
of
the
other
at
Lilly
Grade Road
Statewide
its
canyon
filed
wilderness
deep
vertical-walled
It
are
variety of
supports
northern
boundary
dominated
to
just
by northern
riparian vegetation
Management Act
no
40
or state
Dam
creek
by juniper willow
no
boundary
Falls
300
the
talus
are
Salmon
between
The
approximately
There
carries
Small Wilderness Study
wilderness
County
Salmon
of
that
and
boundary
dominated
Falls
The
north
range from 3660
alternatives
report and
miles
wide
its
Twin
west sides
1.25
Pocket
bottom
ElS
in
see Table
land
.5-mile
Antelope
Elevations
the
located
is
BLM
of
both the east and
section
Impact Statement
September
recommendation
the
acres
on
species
top
studied
is
Study Area
acres
ID-17-10
3500
rim on
16-mile
while
species
WSA
Creek
dissects
wildlife
feet
Environmental
Agency
of
3500
--
contains
canyon
canyon
and
plants
The
Falls
WSA
southern boundary
meandering
high
The
Idaho
Falls
Creek Wilderness
Falls
FLPMA
with
the
alternative
and
was
included
Environmental
which
is
the
in
the
Protection
Recommendation and
Rationale
recommended
acres
for
wilderness
3500
recommended
acres
for
nonwilderness
The recommendation
3500
least
will
The
from
change
use
the
WSA
to avoid
and
NWPS
Also manageability
influences
causing
The
create
natural
in
flow
from
quality
from
use
slopes
the
the
of
of the
The narrow
access
would
Campers
Management
the
poor and
the
of
routes
have
to
the
area
User
canyon
of
and
into
use
due
That
area
as
as
an
outstanding
an
natural
of
wilderness
and
size
The
factors
create
to
release
would
It
the
cause the
which
manner
in
implemented
characteristics
of naturalness
Wilderness Preservation
narrow
Canal
limited
System
and
configuration
and
the
outside
and
narrow
areas
site-specific
reservoir
steep
are
not
Also the water
compaction
the
manages
into
routes
these
erosion
soil
which
Company
access
that
perception
losses
vegetation
River
quality of
steep
terrain
located
miles
two
the
would
same
be
be
recommendation
set
puts
on
access
to the
control
has
limited
is
needed
over
narrow
visitor
of
the
WSAs
other
configuration
interaction
users
the
small
narrow
creating
Vegetative
Sights
Critical
to
of
and
of
corridor
of
the side
on
screening
sounds
better
each
routes
access
The
outside
activities
the
areas canyon
terrain
for
of
the
bottom
WSA
limits
unconfined camping
other
narrow configuration
the
through
to
steep
opportunities
the wilderness
and
WSA
and
limited
supplemental
That
access
values
could cause
routes
within
risk
to
into
the
visitors
low or no water releases
continue
management
Environmental
or primitive
of
opportunities
size
water flow
supplemental values
and
number
provide
to protect
opportunity
of
the
distance
hearing
the
to
water releases and
high
for solitude
for
sounds
or
immediately
Area/Area
emphasis
and
size
unconfined recreation
be within
up
provides
Natural
for
due
difficult
would
opportunities
or
small
potential
sights
WSA
of the
More
site
out
the
solitude
of opportunities
canyon
WSAs
the
increases
does not screen
the
Outstanding
ONA/ACEC
be
will
the National
in
areas small
and
visible
overuse
to
also
the
quality
restrictions
wilderness
canyon
of
signs
In addition
BLM does not have
canyon
and resource
protection
problems during
The no
because
by different
are
by the Salmon
diminished
routes
diminish
configuration
diminishing
additional
also
is
is
also
alternative
impacts
inclusion
to the
and
as wilderness
area
wilderness
all
boundary
access
canyon
WSA
narrow
thereby
solitude
limited
its
WSA
that
areas
show
areas
due
arise
the
in
use
controlled
is
WSA
the
diminished
is
merit
the
recommendation
environmental
designation
to
the
designate
is
problems
protection
These
canyon
considered
problems would
concentrated
highly
character
through
upstream
The
resource
of naturalness
quality
canyon
are not
term The
adverse
for wilderness
nonsuitable
solitude
the long
over
not
to
is
alternative
preferable
minimize
or
WSA
Creek
Falls
environmentally
environment
natural
recommended
is
recreation
primitive
The
means
practical
all
Lower Salmon
for the
uses
for other
acres
rather
recreation
736
Concern
than
the
of the
area
and
ONA/ACEC
marginal
wilderness
an additional
The
designation
characteristic
14
miles
of the
values
11
12
12
13
13
14
IIIIIIffHI
RECOMMENDED
FOR WILDERNESS
RECOMMENDED
FOR
LAND OUTSIDE WSA
IllIlIlIllIllIll
NONWILDERNESS
PRIVATE
FOR WILDERNESS
Scale
LOWER SALMON FALLS CREEK
PROPOSAL
ESTATE
STATE
RECOMMENDED
ID-17-1O
SPLIT
in
Miles
Table
Land Status and Acreage
--
LOWER SALMON
Wilderness
Within
BLM
surface
Split
Estate
and
of the
Study Area
WSA
Study Area
3500
subsurface
BLM
surface
state
Inholdings
Summary
FALLS CREEK
only
private
3500
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
3500
Split
Estate
Total
BLM
for
Wilderness
WSA
within
Split
for
the
Land
Not
Recommended
Wilderness
Inholdings
state
3500
private
738
Considered
Criteria
Wilderness
Recommendations
the Wilderness
in Developing
Characteristics
Naturalness
The Lower Salmon
consist
track
of
now
used as
foot
trail
essentially natural
is
dumps
garbage/litter
illegal
way
below
WSA
Creek
Falls
located
below
just
on
located
with
the
upper rim of the canyon for one-half mile inside the
and are located in the canyons steep draws
These
undeveloped
the
and
steepness
and
soil
lack
of
compaction
The narrowness
visible
Also the
of the
use
visitor
on some
of
design
in
more
the
WSA
The few
trails
located
WSA
of the
campsites
that
The impacts on
WSA
that
soil
along
of the area
an abandoned
wide
along
and
show
the creek
naturalness
also
is
go down
do
type of
There
north
travels
trails
some
show
all
of the
into the
bench
canyon
losses
vegetative
two-
area
due
to
minor vegetative
signs of
just
are mostly
their
losses
problems
and
canyon
concentrated
highly
Also the few indiscriminately
end
the north
end
the southwest
human imprints
limited
rim on
use
the
has
canyon
easily
limited
its
areas
This
access
routes
creates
increased
trails
afforded
by the
perception
by 23
and
accessed
to the
percent
bottom tends
that
over
these
the
campsites
groups into the same area
user
areas
site-specific
are
not
natural
two years from 3000 to 3700
last
from points
to funnel
outside
visits
creating
in character
creating
an
impact
WSA
the
Solitude
The
topographic
in
screening
screening
the
narrow corridor
on
screening
to
the
as
Solitude
just
from
the
rim
WSA
and
the
In
two miles
the
along
developments
heard
bottom
as
far
outside
and
of use
the sideslopes
canyon
others
bottom
canyon
is
limited
of the
some
access
canyon
some canyon
character
meandering
routes
into
of
the
canyon which
is
poor and does not screen
areas sounds can be heard
the
out
sights
more
with
good-to-excellent
the quality of solitude
the
increases
for
combined
canyon
However
for solitude
opportunities
potential for
sounds
or
than
mile
of
visitor
both
vegetative
diminished
interaction
trails
and
directions
due
to the
Vegetative
using different
visitors
in
is
users
leading
can
see
away
diminished
boundary
power
steep
offers
line
by the
These
corridors
road grades
at
On
Salmon
the
sounds of human
and
sights
and
activities
rim
Dam
developments
at
and
the southern
Lilly
Grade
739
activities
include
and
dry
northern
and
and
developments
irrigated
ends of the
on the
farming
WSA
flat
lava
livestock
vehicle
traffic
plain located
grazing
noise
range
can be
and Unconfined
Primitive
for primitive
Opportunities
and
nature
use
WSA
where
of access
The
routes
steep
which
terrain
for
of
canyon
special
features
than
miles
1.5
limits
and
the
at
canyon
site
the
quality
number
and
fishing
rim or near
of
camping
few undeveloped
the
two
backpacking
unconfined recreation
or passages
is
would
attract
large
number
into
diminished by the small
of
additional
access
routes
into
the
are
or within
due
diminished
hearing
to
distance
the
of
limited
number
others
Features
that
hiking sightseeing
the
Trail
canyon
ends of the Lower Salmon Falls Creek
trails
number
canyon
to
provide
better
activities
opportunities
same
hunting
of very
narrow corridor
in
recreation
the
The
away
location
waterfowl
consist
paralleling
visitors
primitive
groups to camp
upland and
routes
access
to concentrate
WSA
of
into the
unconfined recreation
and
causes
Special
No
the
less
unconimed
the primitive
which
tends
consist
routes
near the vehicle
major roads are
opportunities
Both
found
basically
is
recreation
Access
photography
Recreation
of
visitors
740
to
the
area
are
found
in
the
WSA
of campsites
in the steep
in the
Diversity
National
the Diversity
Assessing
and Features
Wilderness designation
add
three
vegetation
designated
information
is
Wilderness
and
as
of
of Natural
Represented
the
Lower Salmon
landform not presently
areas
with
summarized
76699
on
acres
Preservation
System
Systems
by Ecosystems
Falls
Creek
represented
There
are
WSA
in
35 other
the
would
not
Sagebrush
BLM
study
add
new ecosystem
Steppe
areas
in
the
state
to
the
NWPS
however
This ecosystem
Ecosystem
under
study
with
is
this
ecosystem
Table
TABLE
Ecosystem Representation
Bailey-Kuchier
Dry Domain/I
Sagebrush
NWPS
Areas
areas
Classification
acres
Other
areas
BLM
Studies
acres
ntermountain
Province
NATIONWIDE
Sagebrush
Steppe
76699
Ecosystem
136
4359340
IDAHO
Sagebrush
Steppe
12997
Ecosystem
35
949916
NEVADA
Sagebrush
Steppe
32407
Ecosystem
29
1273919
CALIFORNIA
Sagebrush
Steppe
152431
Ecosystem
OREGON
Sagebrush
Steppe
67
Ecosystem
741
it
would
represented
1983074
by
This
Expanding
Within
acreage
Falls
designated
for Solitude
Opportunities
Days
The Lower Salmon
of
the
Time Five Hours of Major Population
Driving
Creek
areas
and
or Primitive Recreation
WSA
is
other
within
BLM
five-hour
areas
study
drive
from
within
Boise
five-hour
Idaho
drive
of
Centers
Table
summarizes
the population
the
center
Table
Wilderness
of
Opportunities
Major Population
NWPS
Population
Boise
Idaho
Centers
Areas
areas
acres
16
4741570
742
for
Residents
Centers
Other
areas
141
BLM
Studies
acres
5374250
number and
the Geographic
Balancing
The Lower Salmon
within
to
help
balance
WSA would not contribute significantly
WSA would add
desert
canyon
Creek
Falls
NWPS
the
of Wilderness
Distribution
the
Regionally
attain diverse
to
opportunities
wilderness
Areas
to
the
balancing
found
not
system
geographic distribution
in
of
areas
and
wilderness
designated
would
experiences
Manageability
The Lower Salmon
Falls
management would
be
resource
With
access
and
points
the wilderness
and
managed
to
wilderness
its
preserve
because of the areas small
and
size
character
narrow
in
the
term
long
configuration
However
in
problems
creating
environmental
into
routes
from
values
be
could
difficult
both human
protection
limited
protect
WSA
Creek
extremely
the
restrictions
user
canyon
saturation
visitor
that
could
high
due
into
diminish
the
would
canyon
the naturalness
be
set
up
immediately
and
recreation
solitude
to
supplemental
values
Overall
wilderness
resource
damage
In
because
addition
and
from
resource
too
Energy
expenditures
or
little
and
Geologic
the
and
1983
Conclusions
WSA
has
resources
rims
area
There
are
no
canyon
Interest
Falls
The
on
following
including
and
oil
four
personnel
in
the
release
water
of
releases
to
enforce
visitor
use
limitations
repair
WSA
from
water
the
the
Preserving
visitor
reservoir
upstream
safety
bottoms
natural
and
TERRADATA
canyon
ecosystem
was
report
WSA
the
for
prepared
1982
in
1983
are
The
resources
diatomite
for
metallic
geothermal
gas
and
oil
At
acres
an
gas
leases within
area
metals
less
than
hydroelectric
outside
what
using
of current
plants
nor
is
not
shale
oil
just
development
boundary
restricted
favorable
and
lines
north
has
mineral
that
and
been
activity
cross
south
inside
of
with
two
from surface
can be
equipment
locatable
power
mile
the
WSA
the
the lessees are
time
this
area
hydroelectric
rim or cross
both areas
of
for
any other
GEM
uranium and
sands
tar
metals
within
for future
Dam
the
hiring
values
problem
assessment
may be conducted
not
the
the
Impacts
is
within
over
high
be
the report
low favorability
are
Exploration
WSA
The
GEM
from
other
500
approximately
control
during
also
to
supplemental
Values
includes
and
there
Currently
protect
problem
Mineral
only
This
coal
thorium
extremely
does not have
be
Resource
Energy
The
and
water releases would
no
Minerals
Corporation
be
trails
Bureau
would
protection
would
new
construct
carried
and
the
there
WSA
the north
concentrated
in
north
and
of
of
the leases
covering
occupancy
between
on
horseback
foot
are
or
no existing mining claims
Power
lines
south
WSA
Lilly
canyon
Grade
exist
that
parallel
boundaries
and
near
Salmon
WSA
Resources
comparative impact table
designation
or
nondesignation
summari7es
of
the entire
the
effects
area
as
on
pertinent
wilderness
743
resources
fnr
all
the
alternatives
considered
Table
Comparative
WSA
RESOURCE TOPIC
Summary of
ID-17-1O
the
Impacts by Alternative
LOWER SALMON
PROPOSED ACTION
NO
ACTION
FALLS
CREEK
ALL
WILDERNESS
ALTERNATIVE
ALTERNATIVE
Impacts
on
Wilderness
Impacts
on
Hydroelectric
Impacts
on
Oil
and
Values
Development
Gas Development
No Impact
No impact
No Impact
No Impact
No Impact
to explore
Opportunity
would
be
foregone
development
Impacts
on
Cultural
Resources
Impacts
on
Bighorn
Sheep
Impacts
on
Motorized
Introduction
Recreation
No Impact
No Impact
No
Impact
No Impact
No
Impact
No Impact
744
No
in
the
impact
canyon
on
Local
and
Social
Designation
of
economic
values
3500
Economic
acres
There
Lower Salmon
the
of
are
no
social
or
involvement
and
process
ultimate
the
of
WSA
as
and
features
County
for the
the
outstanding
Lower Salmon
though
the
wilderness
did
agencies
The
used
were
have
review
to
the
would
of
study
not
have
this
impact on
no
the
local
or
social
WSA
the
Certain
size
public
issues
received
and
during
various
the
inventory
alternatives
comment overwhelmingly supported
for
criteria
wilderness
an unconfined recreation
for solitude
comments
study
significant
for the
values
wilderness
meet
process
develop
recommendation
inventory
it
opportunities
Falls
commented on
protects
Wildlife
Society
even
Draft
to
with
Commission
recommended
comments
Supporting
At
to continue
that
the
time
the
Twin
inclusion
Falls
Outstanding Natural
of
the
noted
the
areas
County
Board
Area
ONA
area
wilderness
designation
and
the
found
as wilderness
identified
Comments
preparation
lands
those
of
throughout
EIS
the
review of the Draft
During the formal
mentioned
Federal
of
WSA
Creek
issues
Commissioners and Planning and Zoning
designation
favoring
of
formal review
area
inventory
occurred
early stages
management
During
special
has
Falls
economic
Public
Summary of WSA-Specific
Public
Considerations
the
agencies
its
41
Idaho
solitude
the Draft
State
took no
agencies
position
written
WSA
areas unique values
commented on
Service
EJS
Creek
and
oral
supported wilderness
and
supplemental values
Most
comments
ElS included
providing
on wilderness
the
were
Bureau
comments
Of
comments were received
16
were
designation
745
two opposed
Those
of
Reclamation
the
designation
opposing
from residents
Department
the
of
20
comments
and
designation
which
specifically
two took no stand
that
the
Affairs
and
felt
Those
ONA/ACEC
Idaho
Bureau
of
of Indian
Health and
Welfare and
the
U.S
Fish
the Historical