BLM Idaho

The Salmon Field Office is reviewing an application for the construction of a new communication site on Ramsey Mountain and is seeking public comments on the proposed project. The applicant is planning to construct a 140-foot free-standing lattice tower and a 15-by-27-foot communications building to house equipment southeast of the current facilities on the mountain. The comments received will be used by the BLM to identify potential issues related to the project as well as alternatives.

The Egin Lakes Campground will open at 8 a.m. on April 28 for the 2021 season. The campground is managed by the Bureau of Land Management’s Idaho Falls District Office and has 48 campsites with electric hookup, shelter, picnic table/fire ring, dump station and access to potable water. The campsites are first-come, first-served and provide OHV enthusiasts direct access to the St. Anthony Sand Dunes. Over 250,000 visitors come to the dunes each season. 

The Salmon Field Office will host virtual and in-person Earth Day volunteer events the week of April 19-25. The BLM has historically held an annual Earth Day cleanup on public lands near Salmon, and it’s that time again.  A trail maintenance project will take place at the Goldbug Trailhead at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 24. The BLM will provide all necessary personal protective equipment to volunteers and make sure social distancing is maintained. Most years, 10-20 people come out to volunteer, but last year the event had over 35 registered participants, with individuals and small groups performing trail maintenance and picking up loads of garbage on public lands. Instead of providing the normal brown bag lunch to volunteers, all registered participants were entered into a drawing for several gift cards to local businesses. The Salmon Field Office is keeping the same model this year.

On Saturday, April 17, youths representing eight different 4-H Clubs based in the Treasure Valley will compete in a trail challenge with wild horse yearlings gathered from the Saylor Creek Wild Horse Herd Management Area south of Glenns Ferry. The trail challenge includes navigating an obstacle course and loading and unloading from a stock trailer. Since February, these youths have poured countless hours into teaching their wild horses how to lead, pick up their feet and load into a horse trailer, all essential attributes to becoming a solid equine partner for a new adopter. When all is said and done, 35 4-H members will have had the opportunity to handle a young horse and hone their horsemanship skills.