BLM opening seasonally closed areas
Organization
Media Contact:
SHOSHONE, Idaho – Spring has officially arrived and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is reopening areas affected by seasonal motorized closures in the Wood River Valley put in place each year to minimize impacts to wintering herds of deer and elk. To help with soil stabilization and regrowth, the Shoshone Field Office is asking the public to be aware of how they tread on the land.
The areas to be reopened include: Martin/ Big Dry Canyon, Croy Creek to south of Townsend Gulch, Big and Little Beaver Drainages, south slopes above East Fork, Elk Mountain area and portions of Picabo Hills.
“It’s the time of year to enjoy taking in all that spring offers on public lands in the Wood River Valley,” said Shoshone Field Manager Codie Martin. “With that, we want to remind users that motorized vehicles need to stay on roads and trails.”
Some roads—such as Slaughterhouse Gulch—are buried under avalanche debris and will be for some time. It is important to turn around when reaching these locations as driving around them can damage the soil and vegetation.
“We are concerned that people may be tempted to drive cross country in the Sharps fire burned area now that the shrubs are gone,” said Martin. ‘This is a practice that is no longer allowed on public land managed by BLM for resource protection, and one that will also jeopardize the success of the vegetation regrowth.”
During the winter of 2018-19, BLM, private landowners and other partner organizations implemented a number of rehabilitation and stabilization projects in the area. The BLM—along with Idaho Department of Lands, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Idaho Department of Fish and Game—seeded over 13,000 acres with sagebrush, grass and forbs.
“We had a unique opportunity to approach our rehabilitation efforts in a way that crossed land ownership boundaries,” said Shoshone Fire Ecologist Danelle Nance. “By using the similar native seed mixes on public, private and state land parcels, we can seamlessly stabilize soils and reduce the invasion of noxious weeds on a landscape level.”
For more information, including free maps, contact the BLM Shoshone Field Office at 208-732-7200.
**Photos attached reflect snow and debris blocking Slaughterhouse Gulch road
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.