Owyhee Highlights

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Owyhee County is Idaho's First to Develop Comprehensive Energy Plan and Host Energy Summit
On December 14 and 15, an Energy Summit was hosted as part of an Energy Plan recently adopted by the Owyhee County Board of Commissioners.  The Owyhee County is the first county in Idaho to pass a planning document outlining an energy policy.  The purpose of the summit is to provide officials and citizens valuable input to help establish priorities and policies to help implement the 29-page energy plan.  Topics at the summit to be discussed include nuclear, wind, geothermal solar energies, biofuels, biomass and anaerobic digestion.  Nationally known experts in geothermal, wind and alternative renewable energy forms will be giving presentations.  During the summit, Jack Peterson, BLM’s western field project manager, spoke about Power Transmission issues.  Click here for the Summit Agenda / Download the Energy Plan 

BLM Implements Wilson Creek Travel Management Plan
In Owyhee County, the BLM Owyhee FO is continuing implementation of the Hemingway Butte OHV Play Area in accordance with the Environmental Assessment (EA) that was completed in 2006. Work is also progressing on the Wilson Creek Travel Management Plan in accordance with the EA that was completed this year. Accomplishments include construction of three new recreation sites along the Wilson Creek Road, located within the Wilson Creek Travel Management Area (TMA). The three new sites are the Wilson Creek Trail Head, the Wilson Creek Overflow Parking area and the Wilson Creek Way-Side, which is an informational pull-out area. Hemingway Butte efforts include construction of parking areas at the Chalky Butte, Kane Springs and Black Mountain sites in the Reynolds Creek area. Eleven additional information kiosks are being installed at various points around these three sites. A restroom was installed at the Wilson Creek Trailhead, and two restrooms were installed at Hemingway Butte, with another at Rabbit Creek Trailhead. Gravel and boulders will be delivered and placed at the three Wilson Creek sites in early October. The Owyhee FO is working to complete a trail map for the kiosks and handouts to the public by the winter of 2008. Additional efforts are being carried out to install trail marker posts for the Wilson Creek Trail System.

For more information, please contact MJ Byrne (208) 384-3393.