Snowhole Rapids Wilderness
The
The Snowhole
the
Cottonwood
WSA
walls
Only
WSA
walls
drainages
The
feet
in
Most
these
The
WSA
was
included
no
the
the
is
found
is
studied
the
in
filed
the
in
action/no
WSA
in
WSA
under
Lewis
Counties eight
miles
miles
in
canyon
feet
wilderness
of
averages
The
extends
only
.5
mile
the
mile
of
the
does the
area
one
of
portions
majority
the
through
highly
the terrain
small
south
in
width
WSA
WSA
of
Rice
of
border
the
is
Creek
both ends of
at
Within
between
extend
river
this
those
any
In
contrast
downstream
miles
1.5
but
2.5 miles
Approximately
form
walls
boundary
and
are steep
length
midway
the
WSA
broken
Elevation
due
erosion
to
ranges
from
1200
Numerous
feet
at
more uniform
However
the drainages
Mahoney
than
scattered
Creek
that
the
topography
locations
flow
into
support
the
Grasses
trees
the
Salmon
dominate
shrubs
River
and
perennial
and
Salmon
River
the
to
landscape
herbaceous
The most
species
extensively
drainage
Land Policy and Management Act FLPMA and
Framework
Plan Amendment/Environmental
Management
Impact
1986
Two alternatives were analyzed in the EIS an all wilderness alternative
Section
603
of
the Federal
North Idaho
September
southwest
drainage
is
along
the
330
the
roads
steep
There
diversify
present
surface
approximately
Creek
are
its
of
majority
20
and
river
further
locations
was
Statement
and
soil
area
vegetated
within
within
adequate
of
Creek
from
Mahoney
the
vegetation
where
River
narrows to approximately
intermittent
the
approximately
Mahoney
at
The canyon
3800
is
Salmon
distance
appreciable
the
the
is
and
Idaho
in
5068 acres
Road natural
Creek
WSA
The
configuration
acres
located
is
The
forms the border around
land
Road and
5068
--
WSA ID-62-1
WSA contains
Rapids
Idaho
Cottonwood
Private
Area
Study
Study Area
alternative
which
is
the
recommendation
711
in
this
report
Recommendation and
Rationale
recommended
acres
for
wilderness
5068
recommended
acres
for
nonwilderness
The recommendation
the
the
cause
means
practical
the
This
WSA
WSA
to
avoid
minimize
the
and
River
by
days
This
from
trend
WSA
has
and
The
will
to
allowable
of
use
narrow
disperse
the
of
both
river
boats
power
WSA
of
are
and
and
WSA
this
as
to
that
of
degrade
visible
Salmon
the
8500 annual user
almost
about
averages
minimize
is
of
of
since
isolate
the
all
one-half
users
indirect
direct
or
user encounters
visitor
downstream
which
lands
use
over
such
concentration
upstream
all
map
Proposal
of
all
land within
The management
1975
to
insufficient
is
use
the
use
term
long
area
which
corridor
this
the
over
for solitude
screening
visitor
Rapids
perceptions
Since
area
river
of
would
It
would
of federal
non-BLM
recreation
as
this
opportunities
compounded by
is
increase
reduce
vegetative
release
alternative
management
user
annual user days
characteristics
designed
This
unmanaged segments
the
and
physical
techniques
from 2800
in
topographic
be practical
nonconforming
opportunities
increased
acres
Snowhole
the
adjacent
reduces
will
in
5068
long-term
on
and
management
and
as wilderness
wilderness
two major factors
activity
WSA
the
intrusions
for
recreation
concentrated
is
another
not
visual
value
high
ranching
on
on
area
all
The recommendation
All
shown
because
based
term
impacts
designation
is
the
is
long
as
in
points
continuing
where
management
river
has
is
and
These
the
designation
conclusion
other
solitude
promote
width
one
would
This
recreationists
this
in
to
is
objective
mile
wilderness
for
many
corridor
river
of
and
river
naturalness
The
for nonwilderness
feasible
over
the
designate
alternative
environmental
adverse
homesite development
Increasing
from
be
not
not
to
is
preferable
environment
natural
recommended
not
is
would
use
the
or
WSA
Rapids
environmentally
recommended
are
wilderness
The
from
change
least
Snowhole
for the
uses
for other
area
along the
use
of the
WSA
and
the
for
opportunities
solitude
The
unique natural
Lower Salmon
values
Management Plan
formal withdrawal
ORV
use
features
level
The
of
occurs
of
299
this
at
presently
River
and
and
it
is
the
unlikely
within
Canyon
all
there
and
occur
the
the
Lower Salmon
be
WSA
in
WSA
the
no
impacts
would
near
Livestock
be open
future
due
simply
be
laws
mining
use
to
the
No
land-based
rugged
maintained
by
or
exploration
ORV
to
would
use
the
mineral
the
Resource
Cultural
under
from
of
implementation
River
forms of appropriation
will
entire
to
the continuing
through
protected
Plan
from
As such
recommendation
values
WSA
the
of
WSA
sightseeing
accommodate
this
provides
WSA
are
nationally
area
8500 annual user days
hunting
withdrawn
1986
and
be
topographic
the current
at
AUMs
of
percentage
would
Management
is
in
the
Salmon
the
recreational
through
enacted
WSA
this
WSA
The
Under
development
of
Recreation
River
to
the
Recreation
recognized
total
river
activities
The recommendation
increased
The Lower Salmon
outstanding
whitewater
corridor
will
protect
use
712
21
with
and
use
river
within
running
enhance
the
the
miles
Based
rafting opportunities
recreation
associated
River
WSA
include
is
of
upon
pass
the
currently
fishing
recreational
which
estimated
camping
values
of
this
hiking
WSA
31
31
30
30
R.2W
Lillill
1t1111111h1111
RECOMMENDED
FOR WILDERNESS
RECOMMENDED
FOR
LAND OUTSIDE WSA
R.1W
ff11111111111111
SPLIT
ESTATE
NONWILDERNESS
STATE
RECOMMENDED
PRIVATE
FOR WILDERNESS
Scale
in
Miles
ID-62-
SNOWHOLE
RAPIDS
PROPOSAL
JANUARY
1988
Table
Land Status and Acreage
--
SNOWHOLE
Wilderness
Within
BLM
surface
Split
Estate
Inholdings
and
Summary
of the
Study Area
RAPIDS
Study
Area
5068
subsurface
BLM
surface
state
only
private
5068
Total
Within
BLM
BLM
Recommended
Boundary
WSA
outside
Estate
within
Split
Estate
outside
Total
BLM
Land
WSA
WSA
Recommended
Wilderness
lnholdings
state
State
outside
land
private
WSA
Within
the Area
Not
Recommended
BLM
for
Wilderness
5068
Split
Estate
Total
BLM
for
Wilderness
WSA
within
Split
for
the
Land
Not
Recommended
Wilderness
Inholdings
state
5068
private
714
Considered
Criteria
Recommendations
the Wilderness
in Developing
Characteristics
Wilderness
Naturalness
The
in
the wilderness
of
quality
WSA
Rapids
human
human
activity
Within
the
is
intrusions
there
Visitor
use
certain
locations
within
adjacent
adjacent
lands
could
An
old
the
WSA
have
are widely
and
had
pack
scattered
small
impacts
impair
the
there
piles
Several
down
and
the
of
several
Evidence
being
cabins
on
river
inclusion
are
of
grazing
old
rock
small
merit
locally
the feeling
WSA
extends
tailing
natural
but
Snowhole
the
to
domestic livestock
use
occurs
beyond
rim of the canyon
the
the
area
within
this
in
natural
are
along
bank
the south
They
structures
are
increases
the
From
corridor
narrow
be seen
can
However
of naturalness
impact user perceptions
adversely
could
While
considered
naturalness
impact
within
Infrequent
along
appears
mining and
trail
not
1880
users within
on
affect
little
and
1860
banks
its
outside
impacts
as
only
between
river
the river
which
which
impacts
of the
are
they
generally
largely from
of
most
suitable
road
activity
the
on
along
WSA
the
to
concentrations
recommendation
the
in
study
WSA
The
developments
WSA
the
for
necessary
System
Bar contains
mining
centered
is
no
key consideration
values
rangeland
throughout
are
river
Chinese
of
result
primarily
Whitehouse
both sides of the
the
signs
present
WSA
environment
Other
the
was
wilderness
Wilderness Preservation
the National
site-specific
values
the
contained
on
Activities
in
land
on
activity
WSA
Solitude
use
Primary
The
river
limited
of
the
to
narrow
area
grows
The
outstanding
distributed
continuation
WSA
where
banks
Use on
trend
this
river
rafting
River
may
are
the
for solitude
lower
will
in
and Unconfined
is
widely
include
recognized
fishing
on
power
used for campsites
can
be maintained
River
diminished
has
or
other
encountering
Salmon
result
centered
activity
only
for
chances
corridor
Primitive
The Salmon
recreational
opportunity
use
of
is
suitable
more
for
users
only
than
opportunities
and
short
float
Since
are increasing
under
tripled
for
conditions
within
on
boating
stops
Salmon
the
use
visitor
as recreational
of
low and
the past
five
is
River
generally
use
of
this
evenly
years
and
solitude
Recreation
as
sightseeing
an outstanding
and
hiking
715
whitewater
rafting
river
Activities
associated
with
Special Features
The Salmon
sites
have
humans
Register
River
been
for over
of
Canyon
located
10000
Historic
is
of great
throughout
years
Places
and
The
is
archaeological
the
Snowhole
entire
known
river
as the
and
Rapids
corridor
Lower
within
Salmon
716
Numerous
importance
historical
WSA
Artifacts
this
WSA
River
indicate
has
been
Archaeological
archaeological
continuous
placed
on
District
habitation
the
by
National
in the National
Diversity
the
Assessing
designation
Wilderness
Preservation
acres
There
summarized
is
one
of Natural
Diversity
and Features
Wilderness
Wilderness
as
of
Represented
the
Snowhole
System
other
BLM
study
area
System
Systems
by Ecosystems
Raipds
NWPS
Preservation
This
in
WSA
would
ecosystem
the
state
is
not
add
new ecosystem
represented
under
study
with
to
by two designated
this
ecosystem
the
National
areas
with
55925
This information
is
on Table
TABLE
Ecosystem Representation
NWPS
Bailey-Kuchler
Classification
Palouse
Grassland
Areas
areas
Other
acres
areas
BLM
Studies
acres
Province
NATIONWIDE
Wheatgrass-Bluegrass
55925
Ecosystem
5068
IDAHO
Wheatgrass-Bluegrass
5068
Ecosystem
717
Expanding
Within
The Snowhole
and
acreage
of
the
Opportunities
Days
Rapids
designated
is
areas
within
and
or Primitive Recreation
Time Five Hours
Driving
WSA
for Solitude
five-hour
other
BLM
of
Major Population
drive
from Boise
study
areas
within
Idaho
five
Table
Centers
summarizes
hours of the population
the
number
center
Table
Wilderness Opportunities
of
NWPS
Population
Boise
Idaho
Centers
for
Major Population
areas
16
Areas
acres
4741570
718
Residents
Centers
Other
areas
141
BLM
Studies
acres
5374250
the
Balancing
Inclusion
areas
of
Snowhole
the
within
NWPS
the
and
designated
WSA
Rapids
The Northern
proposed
wilderness
of Wilderness
Distribution
Geographic
would
not contribute
Rocky
Mountain
areas
within
the
to
Areas
the
balancing
contains
region
one
distribution
geographic
of
the
of
largest concentrations
of
country
Manageability
management
Long-term
and
on
ranching
of
use
WSA
this
in
this
would
as wilderness
non-BLM
Salmon
the
minimize
to
Techniques
of
of
of naturalness
perceptions
increased
adjacent
lands
area
would
reduce
be
not
feasible
for solitude
Opportunities
are
homesite development
Increased
for primitive
opportunities
and
recreation
being reduced
due
significantly
to
the
River
and
encounters
visitor
would
interaction
be
not
practical
for
this
WSA
for
number
reasons
The
river
this
WSA
vegetative
basically
river
Energy
to
pending
withdrawal
Impacts
The
an established
is
this
major
in
insufficient
nonconforming
Values
BLM
analysis
in
and
energy or mineral
for leasable
currently
enacted
withdrawn
WSA
concentrates
the high-use
and
the
that
intrudes
U.S
joint
values
exist
Use
of the
in
Geological
this
WSA
and
Topographic
of
WSA
upon
Use of
narrow corridor
in
rafting
corridor
downstream
use
users
and
boating
activity
this
boat
Survey/Bureau
are
use
is
of the
for solitude
opportunities
There
river
navigable
Power
no
of
Mines
mining
initial
claims leases or
minerals
from
all
forms of appropriation
under
the
mining laws
by
formal
1986
Resources
on
following
considered
one
Resource
significant
applications
WSA
is
screening
the internal
no
assessment
on
unmanaged both upstream
and Minerals
According
This
is
centered
is
of
configuration
canyon
comparative impact table
including
designation
or
summarizes
nondesignation
the
of
effects
the entire
719
on pertinent
area
resources
as wilderness
for
all
the
alternatives
Table
Comparative
WSA
Summary
of the
SNOWHOLE RAPIDS
ID-62-1
ALL WILDERNESS
ISSUE TOPICS
Impacts by Alternative
ALTERNATIVE
PROPOSED ACTION NO
ACTION
WILDERNESS/NO
Values
Wilderness
on
Impacts
Solitude
power
of
on Development
Impacts
Mineral
would
boat
continue
to
be
degraded by
Solitude
degraded
by power
boat
use
use
Continued
withdrawal
Topic was
not
of
5068
acres
Continued
alternative
Topic
withdrawal
of
5068
acres
Resources
on Timber
Impacts
Industry
and
Local
onomy
Potential
Harvest
Potential
Jobs
MBF
on
Recreational
Impacts
on
Soil
Loss
tons/b
Impacts
Loss
ORV
BLM-EIS
issue
for
this
No impact
Use
years
of current
an
No
was
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
impact
Topic was
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
Topic was
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
Topic was
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
Topic was
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
Topic was
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
Topic was
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
Topic was
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
Topic was
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
Topic was
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
Topic was
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
Topic was
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
Topic
was
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
Topic was
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
Topic
was
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
Topic was
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
Topic
was
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
area
totals
Impacts
on Water
Quality
Sediment
Yield
Increase
Sediment
Yield
Increase
in
yields
Water
Increase
Impacts
on Water
Impacts
on
Habitat
tons/b
Impacts
on
Modification
years
of current
EIS area
Yield
Eliminate
tons/lU
acre/ft/year
Supply
Fish Sediment
Reaching
Fish
years
Vegetation
Productivity
of
acres/b
Succession
years
acres/b
years
Mammals and Birds
Impacts
on
Habitat
Capability
head/lU
Loss
of
years
Elk
Deer
Impacts
on
Archaeological
Impacts
on
Scenic
Quality
Resources
720
Local
and
Social
Neither
of
economic
the
Economic
alternatives
for
considered
involvement
continuing
During
Of
the inventory
river
the
31
that
one
rather
than
wilderness
wilderness
had
WSA
Rapids
would
cause
any
social
significant
or
all
rights
commented on
Game
commented
to the waters
WSA
at
BLM
cited
and
the recreational
have
to
efforts
support
commented on
while
of
regardless
and
starting with
process
phase and
the inventory
the
values
archaeological
river
designated
as
of the
wild
and
area
specifically
of Fish
agencies
commenters
of
review
EJS
the Final
asked that
designation
designations
this
of
Many
Comments
the wilderness
throughout
wilderness
respondents who
government
it
Snowhole
Public
the majority
corridor
The Idaho Department
other
occurred
phase
River
orally 19 favor
further
has
through the development
Lower Salmon
scenic
the
effects
Summary of WSA-Speciflc
Public
Considerations
of the
12
prefer
submitted
Salmon
the
during
for
this
ETS
area
phase
Six
either
in
commenters
writing
or
oppose
any
WSA
No
area
the
letter
about
specifically
the formal
WSA
this
no wilderness
River
public
and
hearing
721
supporting
this
that
WSA
this
the
The
WSA
recommendation
Nez
should
Perce
Indian
be returned
for
this
Tribe
commented
to
control
its
No