Boise District BLM
| Contacts: | Larry Ridenhour, 208-384-3334 |
BLM to Close Burned Areas to Motorized Vehicle Use
BOISE, ID – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Four Rivers Field Office will temporarily close nearly 1,920 acres of public land three miles northwest of Eagle, Idaho, and 6,900 acres 12 miles northeast of Mountain Home, Idaho, to all motorized vehicle use. The closures will be in effect for approximately 24 months. The two areas will remain open to non-motorized recreation access.
Both closures are the result of wildland fires. On July 28, 2010, the Big Fire ignited near the town of Eagle, Idaho, burning 4,675 acres, of which 1,880 acres are managed by the BLM. On August 27, the Hot Tea fire ignited 12 miles northeast of Mountain Home, Idaho, burning 5,409 acres of State, and private lands, of which 3,956 acres are BLM-managed.
The BLM is closing the two areas to provide native vegetation time to recover after the fires. If recently burned areas are regularly disturbed by off-road vehicles, native plants struggle to grow, allowing invasive weeds to establish and erosion to occur.
The BLM recently replanted native vegetation in the burned areas. Temporary closures will allow planted shrub, forb and grass species to become reestablished, and aid existing plants in recovering from the effects of the fire. Enabling the recently burned areas to rest will help ensure the long-term viability of habitat for wildlife populations, including elk, mule deer and sage-grouse.
Some fences will be constructed in burned areas, and temporary closure signs will be posted at key access points. Please comply with signs so that burned areas can recover and be reopened for future use.
Anyone violating the closure may be tried before a United States Magistrate and fined up to $1,000, imprisoned for up to 12 months, or both. Violators may also be subjected to additional fines.
Exempt from this closure are contractors hired by the BLM to work in the area; search and rescue personnel; Federal, State or local law enforcement officials; other employees in the performance of their official duties; and persons with written authorization from the BLM.
For more information, please contact BLM Outdoor Recreation Planner Larry Ridenhour of the Four Rivers Field Office at 208-384-3334.
View the closure maps:
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.