Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas

In 1976, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act extended wilderness study and management authority to BLM. That Act set in motion a 15-year study of lands found, through an extensive inventory, to possess wilderness characteristics as defined in the 1964 Wilderness Act. Such areas were designated as Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs). These WSAs were studied through a land use planning process resulting in final recommendations regarding their suitability for wilderness area designation and addition to the National Wilderness Preservation System. Final recommendations on most of the WSAs and five Instant Study Areas in Oregon were transmitted by the President to Congress in July 1992.

Congress has designated four wilderness areas on BLM-administered lands in Oregon (totaling 185,553 acres), and one wilderness area on BLM-administered lands in Washington (7,110 acres). In addition, Oregon has 90 wilderness study areas (including five instant study areas) totaling 2.7 million acres and Washington has one wilderness study area totaling 5,699 acres.

In Oregon, a total of 1.2 million acres fall within areas recommended as suitable for wilderness designation and 1.5 million acres are recommended as not suitable for designation. The single WSA in Washington totals 5,699 acres; it was recommended not suitable for wilderness designation during a previous year. Two WSAs in the Prineville District have been recognized since the statewide Wilderness Inventory, but have not yet received wilderness recommendations. They are Sutton Mountain (OR-5-84, 28,906 acres) and Pat’s Cabin (OR-5-85, 9,782 acres). One offshore wilderness area and several small islands managed as BLM WSAs were legislatively transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1996, and two entire WSAs in the Steens Mountain area were designated as Wilderness in 2000.

Final decisions on each WSA will be made by Congress via legislation. There is no time limit for Congressional action. Wilderness values in all WSAs are protected by BLM until final decisions are rendered by Congress.