Upper Snake Field Office
| Contacts: | Sarah Wheeler | , 208-524-7550 |
Stinking Springs Area Closure Starts December 1st
IDAHO FALLS, ID – The Stinking Springs area near the popular South Fork of the Snake River will be closed to all motorized vehicles and human entry starting Saturday, December 1, 2012. The closure will remain in effect through sunrise May 1, 2013, depending on weather conditions.
“Increasing human activity in the Stinking Springs area creates additional stress on the fragile mule deer population that winters in the area, requiring the mule deer to use up their supply of stored winter fat more quickly than normal,” said Monica Zimmerman, BLM Upper Snake outdoor recreation planner. “We appreciate the public’s help in staying away from the closure area to help protect these sensitive animals.”
The closure also applies to other BLM lands in the vicinity of Stinking Springs. The U.S. Forest Service also has winter closures on National Forest lands in the area. It is advisable to check with agency offices before planning travel on these lands.
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. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. In Fiscal Year 2012, activities on public lands generated $4.6 billion in revenue, much of which was shared with the States where the activities occurred. In addition, public lands contributed more than $112 billion to the U.S. economy and helped support more than 500,000 jobs.