U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT NEWS RELEASE
| Contacts: | Joe O’Neill (208) 962-3683 |
BLM Clarifies Permit Process for the Lower Salmon River
COTTONWOOD, ID – Recently, a letter to the editor was published regarding the lottery application process and approvals for float trips along the Salmon River. Because the letter may have caused confusion, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) would like to take this opportunity to clarify the permitting process along the 112 miles of river the BLM manages. The Lower Salmon River – a nationally known and sought after destination – is managed by the BLM and does not require a lottery permit system. The rivers in Idaho that do require an application process and selection through lottery are the Selway, Snake (Hell’s Canyon), the Main Salmon River and the Middle Fork of the Salmon. All of these river segments are managed by the US Forest Service.
"Recreationists can float at any time with no group size limitations from Vinegar Creek to Hammer Creek along the Lower Salmon," according to BLM Outdoor Recreation Planner Joe O'Neill. "The BLM does require a free, self-issue permit for private floaters from Hammer Creek to the Snake River for all overnight trips year-round. Group size along this segment is limited to 30 individuals. Free, self-issue permits for private floaters are also required for all trips conducted July 1 through Labor Day between Hammer Creek and the Snake River. These self-issue permits are available at the Hammer Creek and Pine Bar river access locations."
Currently, the BLM manages 48 commercial outfitters operating on different sections of the river through special recreation permits. Commercial outfitters operations are capped and regulated through commercial outfitter licenses issued by the Idaho Outfitter and Guides Licensing Board.
"The Lower Salmon is a unique and remarkable river," O'Neill said. "We encourage the public to enjoy all that the river and the canyon have to offer, but please abide by the motto, 'Love it and Leave it Clean', so everyone can benefit from the area."
For more information on the Lower Salmon River, contact Joe O’Neill of the BLM Cottonwood Field Office at (208) 962-3683, or visit BLM's website: http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/prog/recreation/what_do_you_want_to/rivers/lower_salmon_river.html.
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.