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Marsing, Idaho – The BLM continues to encourage the public to stay out of the Soda Fire burn area in southwest Idaho/eastern Oregon to avoid impacting ongoing stabilization and rehabilitation efforts and for public safety. Activities are currently underway in the Owyhee Field Office’s Wilson Creek recreation area and the BLM is restricting access to the upper parking lot in that area during air operations. We request that the public park in the lower parking lots. 

“Fall rains as well as recent freeze and thaw events, in the burn area, have increased the possibility of damage to roads, particularly where recent road maintenance has occurred,” said Michele McDaniel, Soda Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Lead. “While we haven’t officially closed any of the areas surrounding the Soda fire burn area, human health and safety as well as resource damage is still a concern, and we are encouraging the public to avoid the burn area in Owyhee County throughout the winter and spring months. We also ask that the public stay out of the area while stabilization and rehabilitation efforts are underway, particularly while air operations are taking place." 

Rehabilitated fire suppression lines signed as closed are still being used by motorized recreationists. Resource damage has occurred as new routes have been created by people traveling cross country throughout the burn. Recreation and motorized use in the burn area may delay aerial seeding work, damage recovering vegetation and negatively impact newly seeded areas design to promote soil stability. 

Recreationists desiring to use the area during the voluntary closure are requested to limit use to the identified designated and existing routes. Cross country travel is prohibited throughout Owyhee County. 

Continued inappropriate use may result in closure of certain areas for one to four years while rehabilitation work is completed and the area recovers. 

“At this point it’s up to the users to keep this area open,” said Ryan Homan, Recreation Planner for the Owyhee Field Office. “A closure is definitely not something we want to see for this widely popular area. There is a huge, ongoing public investment to ensure recovery of the burned areas and rehabilitated fire suppression lines. If you’re going to continue to use the trails, know the rules of the area you are traveling, read the signage, avoid riding on muddy roads and trails, and always stay on the trail. We ask users for help. Let other riders know where to ride and where not to ride and let us know if you see misconduct.” 

The BLM, Shoshone-Paiute Tribes and Owyhee County will continue to patrol and monitor the burned areas this winter for natural resource damage caused by off highway vehicles before making a determination on the need for additional restrictions. 

Efforts to stabilize and rehabilitate the nearly 280,000 acres – more than 400 square miles – of federal, state and private lands area affected by the Aug. 10 Soda fire began in late September and are ongoing. The fire had a devastating impact to ranchers and homeowners who lost livestock and other property on federal, state and private lands. The fire also greatly impacted the sagebrush-steppe landscape that supports native wildlife, wild horses, outdoor recreation, and other important values. Almost all of the burned area is habitat for the greater sage-grouse, with more than 50,000 acres designated as priority habitat for the species. 

For more information about the Soda ESR Plan visit bit.ly/SodaFireRehab.