BLM, Forest Service sign wilderness plan for Jim McClure-Jerry Peak area
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CHALLIS, Idaho— The BLM Idaho Falls District and the U.S. Forest Service Salmon-Challis National Forest signed the Jim McClure-Jerry Peak Wilderness Plan and associated environmental assessment (EA) documents, marking the completion of a three-year planning effort. The clock started ticking when Congressman Mike Simpson’s legislation was signed into law in August 2015, creating three new wilderness areas in the heart of central Idaho.
“We are happy to have completed this project within three years,” said Mary D’Aversa, Idaho Falls District Manager. “This represents a monumental undertaking, with many individuals working long hours to meet with interested members of the public, groups and organizations to ensure their voices and opinions were heard.”
The Wilderness Act provides the overriding mandate to each agency to preserve wilderness character. Agency officials used those parameters, in addition to the legislation that created the wilderness areas, to develop a wilderness plan. “At the end of the day, we believe we have a product that meets the intent of the Wilderness Act and legislation, while providing considerations to the well-being of individuals who use the area for their livelihoods,” said Chuck Mark, Salmon-Challis National Forest Supervisor.
Areas of concern during the development of the plan included: pack goats and possible impacts to bighorn sheep; group and stock size limitations; fire management practices and protocols; trail management and; access and maintenance issues associated with BLM’s Upper Lake Creek Campground. Commercial activities associated with local outfitters and guides should remain the same.
The two agencies worked concurrently to develop the plans and EA documents, but are following their own regulations associated with the release of the decisions. The Forest Service concluded its objection-resolution period in July and its final decision is available online at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/
The Jim McClure-Jerry Peak Wilderness is the easternmost of the three wilderness areas created under Rep. Simpson’s legislation. Of the 116,898 acres, the BLM manages approximately 22,000 acres of the wilderness. Since the area includes BLM-managed lands as well as Salmon-Challis National Forest lands, the wilderness plan was developed jointly by the BLM and the Forest Service. The two other wilderness areas fall almost entirely within the Sawtooth National Forest and its Sawtooth National Recreation Area, and will be managed under a single, separate plan to be developed by the Sawtooth National Forest with assistance from the BLM.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.