Existing Land Use Plans Final Biological Assessment (for existing land use plans and amendments in the Cottonwood Field Office) (January 2006)

This report is a Biological Assessment that evaluates the effects of the BLM's overall management direction in the Cottonwood Field Office on animals and plants listed under the Endangered Species Act and on species that are candidates for listing. It considers management direction contained in all existing land use plans and amendments in the Cottonwood Field Office to date; it does not include any draft management measures in the Cottonwood Resource Management Plan that is currently under development (and is the subject of this Web site). In addition, this report includes the BLM's Conservation Agreement with US Fish and Wildlife Service, which states that the BLM will follow agreed-to conservation measures and related implementation actions described in the Biological Assessment. The conservation measures and implementation actions provide interim management direction that BLM will follow for ongoing and new BLM actions until the new Cottonwood Resource Management Plan is completed (which will include new consultation with US Fish and Wildlife Service on the management measures in the RMP). Click here for an Adobe Acrobat file of the full report (4 megabytes).

Socioeconomic Report (March 2005)

This report documents the economic conditions of the RMP planning area and provides an overview of how current BLM management activities contribute to the regional economy.

Socioeconomic Report (full report with all figures) (12 mb)

Cover and Text (body) of Socioeconomic Report (with links to figures)  (1mb)
Figure 1-1 - Planning Area  (800 kb)
Figure 2-2 - Reliance on Timber Harvest on BLM or US Forest Service Lands  (4mb)
Figure 2-3 - Major Mineral Producing Areas in Idaho  (300 kb)
Figure 2-4 - Mineral Resources  (2 mb)
Figure 2-5 - P otential Mineral Resources  (1 mb)
Figure 2-7 - Grazing Allotments  (1 mb)
Figure 2-8 - Reliance on Forage on BLM or US Forest Service Lands  (2.5 mb)

Relevance and Importance Evaluations of Area of Critical Environmental Concern Nominations (Report) (February 2005)

This reports documents the evaluation of 15 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) nominations that were reviewed as part of the Cottonwood RMP. These areas will be considered further as alternatives are developed for the RMP. These areas include existing and new nominations for ACEC designation. To be considered further, areas must be located on public land administered by the BLM and meet both the relevance and importance criteria described in the BLM Manual 1613 - Areas of Critical Environmental Concern . The evaluation does not designate any of the areas as ACECs. Potential ACECs are proposed for designation if the analysis in the RMP/EIS shows that special management is required to protect the relevant and important values. Designation of proposed ACECs occurs when the Record of Decision is signed and the RMP/EIS is approved.

Cover and Text (body) of Report (with links to maps)  (400 kb)

Map 1 - Existing Captain John Creek and Wapshilla Ridge RNAs/ACECs (4 mb)
Map 2 - Existing Cottonwood Islands RNA/ACEC (4 mb)
Map 3 - Existing Long Gulch and Skookumchuck RNAs/ACECs (150 kb)
Map 4 - Existing Lucille Caves RNA/ACEC (15 mb)
Map 5 - Proposed Craig Mountain ACEC (400 kb)
Map 6 - Existing Elk City/American Hill Lake ACEC (1 mb)
Map 7 - Proposed Lolo Creek ACEC (300 kb)
Map 8 - Proposed Lower Salmon River ACEC (300 kb)
Map 9 - Proposed Partridge/Elkhorn ACEC (15 mb)
Map 10 - Proposed Little Salmon River ACEC (16 mb)
Map 11 - Proposed Upper Salmon River ACEC (200 kb)
Map 12 - Proposed American River Historic Sites District (5 mb)

Idaho County Economic Profile (February 2005)

This report summarizes the economic profile for Idaho County. It is a written version of a presentation given to leaders and residents of Idaho County in Grangeville, Idaho, on November 9, 2004, as part of a Community Economic Profile Workshop sponsored by the BLM. The workshop was an informal effort by the BLM to initiate a dialogue around local economic development and the role public lands could play. The report describes the local economic and demographic situation in Idaho County . Click here for an Adobe Acrobat file of the report (400 kb).

Scoping Report (February 2005)

This report summarizes all written comments received during the scoping period (September 3 to November 15, 2004). It includes the planning issues and planning criteria (also listed on this page; see below). Click here for an Adobe Acrobat file of the full scoping report ( 2 megabytes).

Mineral Report (February 2005)

The mineral report evaluates mineral resource potential in the Cottonwnood Field Office (RMP planning area). The leasable, acquired lands leasable, locatable, and salable commodities, including fuel and nonfuel varieties, are assessed. The report includes sections on the geology, mineral resources, and mineral resource potential and recommendations. A summary of the geology and geological conditions that are important for the formation of mineral resources in the region is presented. The description of the mineral resources includes the documentation of mines, prospects, and occurrences that are present within the planning area. The following are the Adobe Acrobat files of the report:

Cover, Table of Contents, and Executive Summary  (450kb)
Chapter 1 (2mb)
Chapter 2 (3mb)
Chapter 3 (7mb)
Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7  (5mb)
Appendix A - Oil and Gas Leases in Idaho (6mb)
Appendix B - Acquired Lands Mineral Leases (1mb)
Appendix C - Minerals Materials Contracts (350kb)
Appendix D - Right-of-way Contract/Material Sites (1.5mb)
Appendix E - Mineral Commodity Maps of Idaho (3mb)
Appendix F - Industrial Mineral Map of Idaho (1mb)
Appendix G - Sand Gravel and Crushed Stone in Idaho, District 2 (600kb)

Planning Issues (February 2005)

A planning issue is defined as a matter of controversy, dispute, or general concern over resource management activities, the environment, or land uses. While planning issues become "drivers" of the RMP, many other basic environmental and management issues are also addressed to provide comprehensive management guidance for all resources and to satisfy legal requirements. The BLM has identified the following nine  Planning Issues:

1. How will the problem of invasive plant species be addressed?

2. How will forest vegetation be managed to attain desired stand structure and/or meet the range of natural variability?
3. How will special status species and their habitats be managed?
4. How will priority watersheds or areas be determined for conservation and/or restoration strategies?
5. How will motorized and nonmotorized travel be managed to provide access, while minimizing impacts to natural and cultural resources?
6. At what levels will commercial uses (minerals, forest products, livestock grazing, and recreation) be authorized?
7. Where and what types of fuels reduction will be implemented to reduce risk to the public, firefighters, property, and natural and cultural resources?
8. How will public land resources be managed in scattered and/or isolated parcels, given varied resource values and priorities?
9. How will existing and future demand for recreation on public lands be addressed?

Summary of the Analysis Management Situation (January 2005)

This document is a summary of the planning area's current conditions, resource trends, uses/activities, and how public lands are currently being managed. It describes the status or present characteristics and condition of BLM-administered lands, including physical and biological processes and social and economic conditions. It also establishes indicators or criteria that will be used in evaluating the effects of different management alternatives that will be prepared in the future and considered in the RMP. Click here for an Adobe Acrobat file of the summary.

Planning Criteria (November 2004)

Planning criteria identify the legal, policy, and regulatory constraints that direct or limit BLM's ability to resolve issues. They also help guide the development of alternatives. The BLM has identified the following Planning Criteria, w hich may be further refined or expanded through future public participation:

1. The plan will comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and current policies. This includes local, state, tribal, and federal air quality standards; as well as water quality standards from the Idaho Non-Point Source Management Program Plans.
2. The RMP planning effort will be collaborative and multi-jurisdictional in nature. The BLM will strive to ensure that its management decisions are complimentary to other planning jurisdictions and adjoining properties, within the boundaries described by law and federal regulations.
3. The planning process will establish new guidance and identify existing guidance upon which the BLM will rely to manage public lands within the planning area for the next 15 years.
4. The planning area is defined as the Cottonwood Field Office.
5. All previously established Wilderness Study Areas will continue to be managed for wilderness values and character until Congress designates them as wilderness areas, or releases them for multiple use management.
6. The RMP will recognize all valid existing rights.
7. As part of this RMP process, BLM will analyze areas for potential designation as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) in accordance with 43 CFR 1610-7-2, and river corridors for recommendation and designation under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

Community Economic Profile Workshop Results (November 2004)

The public was invited to participate in a community economic profile workshop for the Cottonwood RMP in Grangeville, Idaho, on November 9, 2004. Twenty-five people, including county commissioners, US Forest Service personnel, utility and lumber company representatives, and others, attended the workshop. The workshop objectives included:

• Helping local community leaders better understand their economy & community;
• Qualitatively assessing the area's potential for different types of economic development;
• Discussing local visions for a desired future;
• Brainstorming how the BLM can support community efforts to achieve the desired future; and
• Helping local leaders understand the BLM planning process and recent changes in the role that BLM can play in community economic development.

You may download the Microsoft PowerPoint presentation made at the workshop, which summarized the economic profile for Idaho County. An Adobe Acrobat version of the presentation also is available for downloading.