Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009

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Title I, Subtitle F of Public Law 111-11 (P.L. 111-11) - the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009, signed into law on March 30, 2009 - contains Wilderness and Wild & Scenic River designations that originated in a collaborative effort known as the Owyhee Initiative.

The Act protects as wilderness 517,000 acres in the Owyhee Canyonlands, releases 199,000 acres of Wilderness Study Areas to multiple use, designates 316 miles of waterways under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, provides for protection of cultural resources particularly important to the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes, and maintains access for hunting and other recreational activities.  It also recognizes a long-time advocate for the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area by adding Morley Nelson’s name to the area's name, and conveys four parcels of public land to the city of Twin Falls to support enhancement of water quality and wildlife habitat improvements, among other public purposes. 

Landscapes within the designated wilderness range from river canyons over a thousand feet deep to vast expanses of sagebrush and grassland plateaus that provide habitat for sage-grouse, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, songbirds, raptors, and numerous rare plant species.  This high desert, sagebrush steppe habitat was generally underrepresented in the National Wilderness Preservation System.

The river canyons in Owyhee County are considered the largest concentration of sheer-walled volcanic rhyolite and basalt canyons in the western United States. Some are nearly twice the height of the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington DC.  River enthusiasts come from around the country to challenge the famous white water rapids of these rivers.

Maps

These unofficial maps are formatted for printing on standard desktop printers and can be downloaded significantly faster than the official maps linked at the bottom of the list.  As with all maps, they cannot be made fully accessible under Section 508.  Users requiring special accessibility should contact the BLM Idaho State Office by phone at (208) 373-3826.

Little Jacks Creek Wilderness and Big Jacks Creek Wilderness  (legislative map)
Big Jacks/Little Jack Creek Wilderness (District map)
The Big Jacks Creek Wilderness encompasses 52,826 acres previously part of the Big Jacks Creek and Duncan Creek WSAs.  The Little Jacks Creek Wilderness is comprised of 50,929 acres, previously identified as part of a WSA of the same name.

Bruneau-Jarbidge Wilderness (legislative map)
Bruneau/Jarbidge Wilderness (District maps)
Bruneau/Jarbidge Wilderness North
Bruneau/Jarbidge Wilderness South
The Wilderness is comprised of approximately 90,000 acres previously inventoried in the Bruneau River-Sheep Creek and Jarbidge River WSAs.

North Fork Owyhee Wilderness and Pole Creek Wilderness (legislative map)
North Fork Owyhee Wilderness (District maps)
Pole Creek Wilderness
The Act designates 43,413 acres previously inventoried as the North Fork Owyhee WSA and 12,533 acres included in the Pole Creek WSA as Wilderness.

Owyhee River Wilderness (legislative map)
Owyhee River Wilderness (District map)
This 267,328-acre Wilderness combines lands previously inventoried as the Owyhee River Canyon, Owyhee-River Deep Creek, Battle Creek, Yatahoney Creek, Juniper Creek, Lookout Butte, Little Owyhee River, and South Fork Owyhee River WSAs.

Official Legislative Maps (Large Format)