Wilderness Study Areas

In 2009, Congress designated as Wilderness more than 517,000 acres of public lands in Owyhee County.  Certain lands from 12 former wilderness study areas (WSAs) in the Bruneau and Owyhee Field Offices are now part of the Big Jacks Creek Wilderness, the Little Jacks Creek Wilderness or the Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness. 

WSA lands not designated Wilderness were released for multiple use.  All lands previously part of the Upper Deep Creek, and Sheep Creek East and Sheep Creek West WSAs, along with lands from the other 12 WSAs not included in the wilderness designations were released.

Released lands  in the Bruneau Field Office are now managed in accord with the Bruneau Management Framework Plan (MFP).  The BLM is developing specific plans for managing the newly designated Wilderness areas, according to guidelines in the Wilderness Act of 1972.  Travel management planning for routes in non-Wilderness lands in Owyhee County is also underway.