Study Area
Selkirk Crest Wilderness
The Study Area
The
Selkirk
Crest
Idaho
It
has
been
not
WSA
remaining
ID-61-1
720
contains
of
acres
recommended
boundaries with
720
--
acres
located
is
public
for wilderness
the
in
Westside
Boundary
County
see Table
land
designation
County
18
miles
Kaniksu
Road
northwest
National
borders the unit on
the
west
to
the
unit
running adjacent
Bonners
of
RARE
Forest
Private
II
Ferry
Area
for .25 mile
at
that
form
lands
the
the
north
end
The
WSA
feet
to
is
and
steep
almost 4500
uniform
The
WSA
was
included
Statement
alternative
of
slopes
was
the
studied
in
filed
the
in
which
heavily
feet
at
WSA
under
the
areas
Section
North Idaho
September
is
while
wide variety of species
with
vegetated
the national
forest
of
202
bare rock
of the
and
Federal
small
brush cover
are
Land
Management Framework
1986
Two
recommendation
alternatives
of
this
were
report and
678
Elevation
Numerous
boundary
Policy
and
ranges
found
on
the
an
all
in
the
EIS
wilderness
no
reaches
FLPMA
and
Impact
action/no
alternative
1800
up the otherwise
upper
Management Act
Plan Amendment/Environmental
analyzed
from near
break
drainages
wilderness
Recommendation and
Rationale
recommended
acres
for
wilderness
720
acres
recommended
for
nonwilderness
The recommendation
environmentally
natural
the
minimize
This
the
small
very
RARE
isolated
small
adjacent
This
was
WSA
the
studied
and
that
acres
the
of
current
wilderness
is
of
narrow
simply
this
for possible
too
the area
the area
alternative
of
acres
Selkirk
wilderness
should
RARE
its
II
use
within
the
because
least
WSA
from
change
to
avoid
or
recommended
are
Area
be
this
U.S
borders
it
management
designation
the
practical means
all
The
than wilderness
map
Proposal
alternative
for wilderness
cause
land
designation
wilderness
all
other
would
It
would
federal
Crest
for uses
of
as
designated
adjacent
this
WSA
WSA
Forest
would
wilderness
Since
likewise
is
Service
become
the
not
designation
WSA
and
its
U.S
Forest
of
level
are
small
to
very
the
configuration
values
720
the
on
release
The recommendation
All
Under the
acres
U.S Forest Service
for wilderness
43500
current
of
location
size
projected
to
WSA
shown
as
to
is
wilderness
all
term
impacts
does not recommend
plan
recommended
The
designation
Area 43500
II
responsibility
forest
its
environmental
adverse
the
is
the long
over
WSA
Crest
alternative
preferable
environment
nonwilderness
for
for the Selkirk
stand
use
over
expected
on
has
lands
Service
minimal
its
topography make
steep
area
in
outstanding
There
this
the long
own
as
are
WSA
no
will
679
values
conflicting
area
in
incidental
only
resource
remain constant
term
wilderness
any use
solitude
and
in
uses
no
nature
conjunction
of
this
additional
Due
to
with
the
WSA
It
impacts
is
65
64
64
63
Table
Land Status and Acreage
Summary of
SELKIRK CREST WSA
--
Within
BLM
surface
Split
Estate
and
BLM
Study
Study Area
Area
720
subsurface
surface
state
Inholdings
Wilderness
the
only
private
720
Total
Within
Recommended
within
BLM
outside
Split
Estate
within
Split
Estate
outside
Total
BLM
Boundary
Land
WSA
WSA
Recommended
Wilderness
private
lnholdings
state
State
outside
land
WSA
Within
the
Area Not
Recommended
BLM
for Wilderness
720
Split
Estate
Total
BLM
for
Wilderness
WSA
WSA
BLM
for
the
Land
Not
Recommended
Wilderness
Inholdings
state
720
private
681
Considered
Criteria
Recommendations
the Wilderness
in Developing
Characteristics
Wilderness
Naturalness
The
Selkirk
vegetation
Crest
WSA
There
are
area
be
to
appears
an
in
no
human
imprints
to
provide
outstanding
essentially natural
the
in
present
with
state
rugged
and
topography
dense
area
Solitude
The
of
ability
the
adjoining
RARE
the small
size
When
the
solitude
Area
of the
screen
many
43500
combined
Human
activities
in
the
with
Primitive and
The
of
ability
can be
opportunities
WSA
the
assessed
diversity
When
RARE
the
in
the
addition
of
and
the
Special
The
and
WSA
and
that
the
WSA
and
would
be
opportunities
to the
It
the
is
very
from
if
WSA
the
the
visitor
WSA
the
in
and
distant
WSA
for
because
easier
by
in
spot
the
itself
WSA
stem
--
to
adequate
The
impacts
east
drainages
secluded
considered
the
to
opportunities
made
is
find
to
is
is
the
to
numerous
in the area
below Human
Valley
with
due
primarily
outstanding
Unit and
almost anywhere
farmhouses
fields
provides
with
conjunction
200 yards
than
less
vegetation
II
in
only
for solitude
mountainous
for
easy
exist
lies
from
on
farming
roads
Recreation
with
the
prominent
are
for primitive
opportunities
adjoining
RARE
The
recreation
feature
combined
considered
into
in
the
features
682
Area
presence
unit
of
II
and
By
unconfined types of recreation
itself
only
the
subtle
there
Area
is
WSA
not
only
limited
and
opportunity
the opportunity
the opportunities
would
offers
topographic
any outstanding
However
RARE
area
II
precludes
one
outstanding
for recreation
any special
The
RARE
the
Features
does not contain
--
area
other
River
outstanding
WSA
each
seen
plowed
of any
of
between
be
unconfined
the lack
Area
II
activities
WSA
to provide
conjunction
the area
considered
Kootenai
can
Unconfined
for primitive
vegetative
recreation
in
only
are
agricultural
basically nonexistent
is
panoramic
include
operations
boundary
opportunity
which
the Valley
opportunities
active
avoid
Movement
boundary
the
II
can
offers very limited
topography
to
visitors
common
this
outside
activity
mountainside
steep
for
diverse
another
area although
RARE
of
The
2.9-mile
to
proximity
acres
opportunities
have
areas
its
reasons
from one
visitors
two
By
for solitude
opportunities
the area
itself
and
unit
adjoining
for several
provides
the
area
II
for
still
variety of
would
be increased
not
with
change
the
in the
Diversity
National
the
Assessing
and Features
Wilderness designation
Preservation
There
is
summarized
on
of
ELM
other
as
of Natural
Represented
the Selkirk
NWPS
System
one
Diversity
Wilderness
study
Crest
System
Systems
by Ecosystems
WSA
This
ecosystem
area
in
the
Preservation
state
is
would
not
add
by
represented
under
study
with
new ecosystem
five
designated
this
ecosystem
the
to
areas
This
Wilderness
National
with
337369
information
acres
is
Table
TABLE
Ecosystem Representation
NWPS
Bailey-Kuchler
Columbia
Forest
Areas
areas
Classification
Other
areas
acres
BLM
Studies
acres
Province
NATIONWIDE
Western
Ponderosa
Forest
720
337369
Ecosystem
IDAHO
Western
Ponderosa
Ecosystem
Forest
250822
683
720
Expanding
Within
The
Selkirk
acreage
of
Crest
the
Days
WSA
designated
is
areas
Opportunities
and
five-hour
drive
from
Boise
BLM
study
areas
within
other
Recreation
or Primitive
Time Five Hours
Driving
within
for Solitude
of Major Population
Idaho
Table
five-hour
Centers
summarizes
drive
of
the
the population
number and
centers
Table
Wilderness
of
Opportunities
Major Population
NWPS
Population
Boise
Idaho
Centers
for Residents
areas
16
Areas
acres
4741570
684
Centers
Other
areas
141
BLM
Studies
acres
5374250
the
Balancing
Inclusion
the Selkirk
of
The Northern
wilderness
WSA
Crest
Rocky Mountain
within
areas
the
within
region
of Wilderness
Distribution
Geographic
the
NWPS
contains
not
will
of
one
the
serve
to
Areas
further
the objective
largest concentrations
of
of
this
and
designated
factor
proposed
country
Manageability
This
RARE
of
cannot
area
Area
II
land
public
be
This
to the
According
there
assessment
the
identified
Impacts
The
to
managed
WSA
within
WSA
as
small
to
alone
and
BLM
mineral
analysis
known
energy
resources
WSA
of
subeconomic
and
on
totally
The
stand
Values
Reserves
is
wilderness
Resource
no
are
too
It
adjoining
dependent
of
value
as
manageable
lands
U.S
the joint
or mineral
saleable
values
materials
There
the
are
such
no
the
upon
WSA
is
wilderness
mining
locatable
sand and
claims
Service
cohesive
unit
area
of
Survey/Bureau
for either
peat
Forest
more
providing
Geological
as
U.S
adjacent
in
in
the
or
Mines
leasable
have
gravel
initial
minerals
been
WSA
Resources
on
following
considered
is
internal
the
wilderness
as
manageable
and Minerals
Energy
within
be
comparative impact table
including
designation
summarizes
or nondesignation
the effects
of the
685
entire
on
pertinent
area
resources
as wilderness
for
all
the alternatives
Table
Comparative
Summary
WSA
ISSUE TOPICS
ID-61-1
ALL WILDERNESS
the
of
Impacts by Alternative
SELKIRK CREST
ALTERNATIVE
PROPOSED ACTION
NO
ACTION
ALTERNATIVE
Values
Impacts
on
Impacts
on Development
Wilderness
of
Protected
Withdrawn
Mineral
Slight
from
mineral
loss
Potential
entry
of solitude
from
for exploration
ORV
use
and development
Resources
on Timber
Impacts
and
Industry
Local
Economy
Potential
Harvest
Potential
Jobs
on
Impacts
MMBF
Topic was
ORV
Recreational
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
No Impact
Use
Topic
was
Current
not
an
10 annual
issue
visitor
for
this
days
alternative
would
be
unchanged
Soil
on
Impacts
Loss
tons/b
Loss
of
years
current
BLM-EIS
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
tons/
Topic was
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
Topic
was
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
years
Topic was
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
Topic was
not
an
issue
for
this
alternative
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
on Water
Impacts
Quality
Sediment
Yield
Increase
Sediment
Yield
Increase
yields
Water
Yield
Increase
Impacts
on Water
Impacts
on Fish
10
years
of current
EIS area
in
Sediment
tons/b
acre/ft/year
Supply
Reaching
Fish
Habitat
years
on Vegetation
Impacts
Eliminate
Productivity
Modification
of
acres/b
Succession
acres/b
years
on
Impacts
Loss
of
Mammals and Birds
Habitat
Capability
head/b
years
Topic
Elk
Deer
Impacts
on
Archaeological
Impacts
on
Scenic
Quality
Rources
No change
No change
686
Local
Social
and Economic
Social
and
economic
factors
Considerations
were not considered
Summary of WSA-Specific
Public
and
involvement has
formal public
supported
wilderness
wilderness
review
noted
throughout
development
of
the Draft
designation
No
designation
of
the
study
of
the Selkirk
WSA
Crest
Comments
the wilderness
ElS
the Final
review
No
process starting with
one
commented on
this
the inventory
area
phase
the
during
one
if
US
28 respondents
the adjoining
commented on
mentioned
specifically
RARE II Area
WSA at any of the
USFS
this
was
this
so designated
three
public
WSA
and
Of these
four
24
opposed
meetings or the formal
hearing
The Federal Highway
could
Public
in
phase
inventory
public
the
through
continuing
During
occurred
issue
significant
affect
its
the
highway
opposition
enhancement
Administration
to
on
responded
the eastern
wilderness
portion
designation
to
of
the
the
Draft
WSA
of federal
projects
687
lands
EIS
and
in
this
concern
expressed
The Idaho
area
Department
due
to
its
of
over
Fish
proposed
actions
and
big
which
Game
game