AAbsaroka Mountain Foothills SRMA (Destination)

Rationale

This SRMA is necessary to accommodate semi-primitive to middle country recreational experiences in a recreational resource rich environment. The Absaroka Mountain Foothills area is a very popular destination for both local residents and out-or-region visitors. The area is abundant in a wide variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, major access into the Shoshone National Forest and the Washakie Wilderness, and dramatic scenery.

Management Objectives

Manage the Absaroka Mountain Foothills as a destination SRMA for non-motorized recreationists to engage in hiking, hunting, wildlife viewing, and nature viewing so that they realize a “moderate” level of the targeted experience and benefit outcomes in these Back Country and Middle Country settings.

Desired Outcomes

Primary Activities

Wildlife viewing, nature viewing, hiking, hunting.

Experiences

Savoring the total sensory – sight, sound, and smell – experience of a natural landscape.

Feeling good about solitude, being isolated, and independent.

Learning more about things here.

Benefits

Greater sensitivity to/awareness of outdoor aesthetics, nature’s art and its elegance.

Improved mental well-being and physical fitness and health maintenance.

Heightened sense of satisfaction with our area as a place to live.

Positive contributions to local-regional economic stability.

Maintenance of community’s distinctive recreation/tourism market niche or character.

Desired Recreation Setting Character Condition

Physical

Remoteness:

Back Country.

Implement / maintain road closures to maintain back country settings.

Naturalness:

Back Country.

Manage for back country and middle country settings where natural setting may have subtle modifications that would be noticed but not draw the attention of the casual observer wandering through the area.

Facilities and Structures:

Back Country.

Allow for primitive motorized routes and non-motorized trails to exist. Facilities and structures are rare and often accessible via unimproved routes. Horse and hiking trailheads will be constructed at major key access points.

Social

Contacts and Group size:

Back Country.

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Middle / Front Country.

Main access roads are crowned and ditched gravel roads accessed by 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs, dirt bikes, or snowmobiles in addition to non-motorized mechanized use. Roads within the LU Sheep Company area are closed, but available for public access during hunting season. Trails for non-motorized use will be constructed so as to access public lands.

Management Controls and Visitor Services:

Middle Country.

Signs present at key access points. Patrolled periodically by law enforcement officer, and other BLM employees. Spike in BLM presence during hunting season. Some use restrictions, limit motorized travel to designated roads and trails, and seasonal closures within the LU Sheep Company area.

Implementing (Support) Actions

Marketing

(Information and Education,[inc. promotion & interpretation])

Develop interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas on history, user ethics, geology, and wildlife resources.

Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character.

Provide for a map with designated roads and trails, trailheads, camp sites, and information regarding the LU Ranch cooperative agreement.

Make available for special outdoor educational programs such as CORE and Take it Outside!

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with routine surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

If trends show that use is over acceptable limits, additional action may be considered, such as encouraging use on other trails.

Management

Signs present at key access points, but limited within the SRMA.

Interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas.

Develop trailheads for foot and horse travel. Potential locations will include the Blue Creek Trail, and sites along the North and South forks of the Owl Creek and Rock Creek areas. Additional sites may be identified throughout the life of the plan.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Class I within Owl Creek WSA, Class II for the remainder of SRMA.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

All motorized use (including over-snow travel) limited to designated roads and trails.

Close Owl Creek WSA to motorized and mechanized use.

Lands and Realty:

ROW exclusion area.

Alternative energy exclusion area for realty actions.

Minerals:

Pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within Absaroka Mountain Foothills SRMA.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Closed to surface-disturbing activities such as geophysical exploration, salable minerals exploration and developments, and construction activities (except those related to development of recreation facilities or wildlife habitat).

An NSO stipulation will be applied.

Special Recreation Permits:

SRPs will be issued as a discretionary action. Issue SRPs for a wide variety of uses, that are consistent with resource/program objectives, and within budgetary/workload constraints.

Cost recovery procedures for issuing SRPs would be applied where appropriate.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on available SRPs may be developed and implemented.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on SRP group numbers may be developed and implemented.

To assist in the determination of whether an organized group activity or event would require an SRP, factors such as the following may be considered: resource concerns, user conflicts, need for monitoring, health and safety concerns, risk of damage to federal facilities or property. The following guidelines will be used in determining SRP status:

1-15 participants–No SRP required, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

16-30 participants –Letter of Agreement, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

Over 30 participants –SRP required.

Agreements:

Maintain cooperative agreement with Wyoming State Land Board, Wyoming State Game and Fish, and LU Sheep Company.

Partners:

Surrounding private land owners, Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming State Land Board, Wyoming State Trails Program, Wyoming Game and Fish, Back Country Horsemen, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and other sports groups.

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls.

Pack goats are prohibited.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in or around developed recreation sites (i.e., trailheads, trails, cabins, etc.).

Rationale

This RMZ is contained within the Badlands SRMA, which is popular for motorized touring to explore the scenic desert basin. Natural recreational resources within the SRMA contain wildlife, open spaces, wild horses, and an erratic landscape which offers outstanding scenic quality..

Management Objectives

Manage the Tour de Badlands RMZ for motorized recreationists to engage in motorized sightseeing touring, hunting, wildlife viewing, and nature viewing so that affected community residents report realizing a “moderate” level of recreation experience and benefit outcomes in these Middle Country and Front Country settings.

Desired Outcomes

Primary Activities

Driving for pleasure, hunting, wildlife viewing, nature viewing, sightseeing.

Experiences

Enjoy having easy access to natural landscapes. Enjoy having access to close-to-home outdoor amenities. Savoring the total sensory – sight, sound, and smell – experience of a natural landscape.

Benefits

Improved mental well-being. Greater sensitivity to/awareness of outdoor aesthetics, nature’s art and its elegance. Heightened sense of satisfaction with our area as a place to live. Greater community involvement in recreation and other land use decisions. Greater family bonding. Positive contributions to local-regional economic stability. Increased desirability as a place to live or retire.

Desired Recreation Setting Character Condition

Physical

Remoteness:

Middle Country / Front Country.

On or near 4-wheeled drive and improved roads. Maintain main access roads through the area for 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive access into the Badlands area.

Naturalness:

Middle Country.

Natural setting may have moderately dominant alterations but would not draw the attention of the observers on trails and primitive roads within the area.

Facilities and Structures:

Front Country.

Primitive and improved routes/trails may exist. Facilities and structures are scattered.

Social

Contacts and Group Size:

Back Country.

Usually 3-6 encounters/day off travel routes and campsites, and 7-15 encounters/day on travel routes. Usually group size is small.

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Front Country.

2-wheel drive vehicles predominant, but also 4-wheel drive vehicles and non-motorized mechanized use. On site controls and services present but subtle.

Management Controls and Visitor Services:

Middle Country.

On site controls and services present but subtle. Signs present at key access points. Patrolled periodically by law enforcement officer, and other BLM employees. Spike in BLM monitoring presence during hunting season. Some use restrictions, limit motorized travel to designated roads and trails.

Implementing (Support) Actions

Marketing

(Information and Education,[inc. promotion & interpretation])

Develop interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas on history, user ethics, geology, wildlife, and wild horses resources. Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character. Provide for a map with designated roads and trails, trailheads, camp sites, and information regarding the wild horse program, and surrounding WSAs. Make available for special outdoor educational programs such as CORE and Take it Outside! Maintain a strong sign program so as to keep the access routes within the RMZ well marked..

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

If trends show that use is over acceptable limits, additional action may be considered, such as encouraging use on other trails.

Management

Develop one or more scenic interpretive sites and driving loops for motorized and mechanized travel in the Tour de Badlands area within the Badlands SRMA to highlight the area’s scenic values. These could involve the Fifteenmile Creek and Dorsey Creek roads and The Murphy Draw Road with overlooks at the Painted Canyon of Elk Creek and at Bobcat Draw. Identify routes to close and reclaim, construct new routes, and identify routes to remain open. Develop trailheads for ATV unloading stations. Interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas. Additional sites may be identified throughout the life of the plan. Signs present at key access points, but limited within the RMZ..

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Class II.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

Limited to designated roads and trails..

Lands and Realty:

ROW exclusion area.

Alternative energy exclusion area for realty actions.

Minerals:

Pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within the Tour de Badlands RMZ.

Oil and Gas Leasing, and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Closed to surface-disturbing activities such as geophysical exploration, salable minerals exploration and developments, and construction activities (except those related to development of recreation facilities or wildlife habitat).

NSO will be applied.

Special Recreation Permits:

SRPs will be issued as a discretionary action. Issue SRPs for a wide variety of uses, that are consistent with resource/program objectives, and within budgetary/workload constraints.

Cost recovery procedures for issuing SRPs would be applied where appropriate.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on available SRPs may be developed and implemented.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on SRP group numbers may be developed and implemented.

To assist in the determination of whether an organized group activity or event would require an SRP, factors such as the following may be considered: resource concerns, user conflicts, need for monitoring, health and safety concerns, risk of damage to federal facilities or property. The following guidelines will be used in determining SRP status:

1-15 participants–No SRP required, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

16-30 participants –Letter of Agreement, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

Over 30 participants –SRP required.

Partners:

Private landowners, Wyoming Department of Transportation, Wyoming State Land Board, Wyoming State Trails Program, Wyoming Game and Fish, Back Country Horsemen, IMBA, community ATV organizations, and other clubs/organizations.

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in or around developed recreation sites (i.e., trailheads, trails, cabins, etc.).

Rationale

This RMZ is within the Badlands SRMA. This RMZ is rich in natural recreational resources such as erratic and dramatic landscapes, management to maintain the primitive to semi-primitive setting characteristics, wilderness characteristics, three WSAs, wildlife, and wild horses which caters to primitive and semi-primitive recreational experiences.

Management Objectives

Manage the Wild Badlands RMZ exclusively for non‐-motorized recreationists to engage in hiking, hunting, wildlife viewing, and nature viewing so that affected community residents report realizing a “moderate” level of recreation experience and benefit outcomes in these Back Country settings.

Desired Outcomes

Primary Activities

Hiking, hunting, wildlife viewing, nature viewing, sightseeing.

Experiences

Savoring the total sensory – sight, sound, and smell – experience of a natural landscape.

Feeling good about solitude, being isolated, and independent.

Enjoy having easy access to natural landscapes.

Benefits

Greater sensitivity to/awareness of outdoor aesthetics, nature’s art and its elegance.

Closer relationship with the natural world.

Improved mental well-being.

Heightened sense of satisfaction with our area as a place to live.

Greater community involvement in recreation and other land use decisions.

Increased desirability as a place to live or retire.

Desired Recreation Setting Character Condition

Physical

Remoteness:

Back Country.

Maintain road closures to maintain back country settings.

Naturalness:

Back Country.

Manage the natural setting so that they may have subtle modifications that would be noticed but not draw the attention of the casual observer wandering through the area.

Facilities and Structures:

Primitive and Back Country.

Trails may exist but do not exceed standard to carry expected use. Facilities and structures are extremely rare and developed only in occasions where necessary to protect the back country settings.

Social

Contacts and Group Size:

Back Country.

Manage for a season average of fewer than 6 encounters/day on and off travel routes.

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Primitive.

Non-motorized and non-mechanized (foot and horseback) travel only.

Management Controls and Visitor Services:

Back Country.

On site controls and services present at key access points, but subtle.

Patrolled periodically by law enforcement officer, and other BLM employees. Spike in BLM monitoring presence during hunting season.

Minimum amount of BLM facilitating outputs necessary to achieve planning objectives.

Marketing

(Information and Education,[inc. promotion & interpretation])

Develop educational signs at trailheads and parking areas on user ethics, geology, wild horses, and wilderness characteristics.

Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character.

Provide for a map with WSAs, access points, information regarding the wilderness program, and outdoor ethics messages such as Leave No Trace!

Make available for special outdoor educational programs such as CORE and Take it Outside!

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

If trends show that use is over acceptable limits, additional action may be considered, such as encouraging use on other trails.

Management

Identify routes to close and reclaim. Modify identified routes into non-motorized and non-mechanized trails..

Develop primitive trailheads at key access points.

Install kiosks and signs at trailheads and parking areas.

Signs present at key access points, but very limited within the RMZ.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

ClassII.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

Closed to motorized and non-mechanized travel..

Lands and Realty:

ROW exclusion area. Alternative energy exclusion area for realty actions..

Minerals, Oil and Gas Leasing, and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Mineral uses, Oil and Gas and Geothermal leasing, exploration, and development will be guided by the Interim Management Policy for Lands under Wilderness Review (IMP)..

Special Recreation Permits:

SRPs will be issued as a discretionary action. Issue SRPs for a wide variety of uses, that are consistent with resource/program objectives, and within budgetary/workload constraints.

Cost recovery procedures for issuing SRPs would be applied where appropriate.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on available SRPs may be developed and implemented.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on SRP group numbers may be developed and implemented.

To assist in the determination of whether an organized group activity or event would require an SRP, factors such as the following may be considered: resource concerns, user conflicts, need for monitoring, health and safety concerns, risk of damage to federal facilities or property. The following guidelines will be used in determining SRP status:

1-15 participants–No SRP required, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

16-30 participants –Letter of Agreement, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

Over 30 participants –SRP required.

Partners:

Including, but not limited to: Wyoming State Land Board, Wyoming State Trails Program, Wyoming Game and Fish, Back Country Horsemen, Sierra Club, Wyoming Wilderness Association.

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in or around trailheads, trails, and parking areas.

Rationale

This RMZ is within the Badlands SRMA. Much like the Wild Badlands RMZ, this RMZ is rich in natural recreational resources such as erratic and dramatic landscapes, dominant mountainous environment, and current management to maintain the primitive to semi-primitive setting characteristics, wildlife, and wild horses which caters to primitive and semi-primitive recreational experiences. The RMZ is located to the west of Sheep Mountain WSA and provides for exceptional wildlife resource opportunities, access, motorized and primitive forms of touring, and high scenic quality. .

Management Objectives

Manage the Tatman Mountain RMZ for nonmotorized recreationists to engage in muscle-powered activities such as hiking, hunting, mountain biking, and horseback riding so that affected community residents report realizing a “moderate” level of recreation experience and benefit outcomes in these Back country to Middle country settings..

Desired Outcomes

Primary Activities

Hiking, hunting, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, nature viewing, sightseeing..

Experiences

Savoring the total sensory – sight, sound, and smell – experience of a natural landscape. Feeling good about solitude, being isolated, and independent. Enjoy having easy access to natural landscapes..

Benefits

Greater sensitivity to/awareness of outdoor aesthetics, nature’s art and its elegance. Closer relationship with the natural world. Improved mental well-being. Heightened sense of satisfaction with our area as a place to live. Greater community involvement in recreation and other land use decisions. Increased desirability as a place to live or retire.

Desired Recreation Setting Character Condition

Physical

Remoteness:

Middle Country.

On or near 4-wheel drive roads, but at least 0.5 mile from all improved roads, though they may be in sight.

Naturalness:

Back Country.

Manage the natural setting so that they may have subtle modifications that would be noticed but not draw the attention of the casual observer wandering through the area.

Facilities and Structures:

Back Country.

Trails may exist but do not exceed standard to carry expected use. Facilities and structures are extremely rare and developed only in occasions where necessary to protect the back country settings.

Social

Contacts and Group Size:

Back Country.

Manage for a season average of fewer than 6 encounters/day on and off travel routes. In issuing SRPs, allow for a group size less than 5 participants..

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Back / Middle Country.

Middle country for the access routes acting as main portals into the RMZ. Manage for back country settings (non-motorized travel) outside of those corridors.

Management Controls and Visitor Services:

Back / Middle Country.

On site controls and services present at key access points, but subtle.

Patrolled periodically by law enforcement officer, and other BLM employees. Spike in BLM monitoring presence during hunting season.

Minimum amount of BLM facilitating outputs necessary to achieve planning objectives.

Marketing

(Information and Education,[inc. promotion & interpretation])

Develop educational signs at trailheads and parking areas on user ethics, geology, wild horses, and wilderness characteristics.

Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character.

Provide for a map with WSAs, access points, information regarding the wilderness program, and outdoor ethics messages such as Leave No Trace!

Make available for special outdoor educational programs such as CORE and Take it Outside!

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

If trends show that use is over acceptable limits, additional action may be considered, such as encouraging use on other trails.

Management

Identify routes to maintain as open to motorized use. Reclaim routes identified as closed. Maintain open routes so as to sustain motorized use. Modify identified closed routes into non-motorized and mechanized trails for muscle-powered recreational activities. Develop primitive trailheads at key access points. Install kiosks and signs at trailheads and parking areas. Signs present at key access points, but very limited within the RMZ.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

ClassII.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

Motorized use is limited to designated roads and trails..

Lands and Realty:

ROW avoidance area. Alternative energy avoidance area for realty actions..

Minerals, Oil and Gas Leasing, and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Pursue withdrawal from all forms of appropriation under all laws pertaining to mineral leasing, location, and sale and closed to leasing within the Tatman Mountain RMZ..

Special Recreation Permits:

SRPs will be issued as a discretionary action. Issue SRPs for a wide variety of uses, that are consistent with resource/program objectives, and within budgetary/workload constraints.

Cost recovery procedures for issuing SRPs would be applied where appropriate.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on available SRPs may be developed and implemented.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on SRP group numbers may be developed and implemented.

To assist in the determination of whether an organized group activity or event would require an SRP, factors such as the following may be considered: resource concerns, user conflicts, need for monitoring, health and safety concerns, risk of damage to federal facilities or property. The following guidelines will be used in determining SRP status:

1-15 participants–No SRP required, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

16-30 participants –Letter of Agreement, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

Over 30 participants –SRP required.

Partners:

Including, but not limited to: Wyoming State Land Board, Wyoming State Trails Program, Wyoming Game and Fish, Back Country Horsemen, Sierra Club, Wyoming Wilderness Association.

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in or around trailheads, trails, and parking areas.

Rationale

The west slope of the Bighorn mountains attracts visitors from the surrounding communities and from outside the region due to the spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife, and exposed geologic formations. Nearby attractions which also draw visitors to the area include the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, and the Medicine Wheel on the Bighorn National Forest. Also, some visitors traveling to or from Yellowstone National Park spend time in the area. The SRMA includes the Little Mountain, Five Springs, and Brown/Howe Dinosaur Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs), several creeks found eligible for possible inclusion into the Wild and Scenic River system, and significant cave and karst resources. The Five Springs Falls Campground and the Cottonwood Creek Trailhead are BLM-managed sites within the SRMA. The west slope of the Bighorns provides important wildlife habitat and access into the Bighorn National Forest. These resources provide for excellent semi-primitive non-motorized recreation to motorized (touring) recreation.

Management Objectives

Manage the West Slope of the Bighorns SRMA for motorized and non‐motorized recreationists to engage in hunting, hiking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, sightseeing, fishing, and driving for pleasure so that they report realizing a “moderate” level of recreation experience and benefit outcomes in these Back, Middle, and Front Country settings.

Desired Outcomes

Primary Activities

Hunting, wildlife viewing, hiking, photography, sightseeing, driving for pleasure.

Experiences

Savoring the total sensory – sight, sound, and smell – experience of a natural landscape.

Developing skills and abilities.

Enjoy going exploring on my/our own.

Enjoying the closeness of family.

Benefits

Improved mental well-being and physical fitness and health maintenance.

Greater sensitivity to/awareness of outdoor aesthetics, nature’s art and its elegance.

Increased appreciation of area’s cultural history.

Heightened sense of satisfaction with our area as a place to live.

Positive contributions to local-regional economic stability.

Maintenance of community’s distinctive recreation/tourism market niche or character.

Increased desirability as a place to live or retire.

Desired Recreation Setting Character Condition

Physical

Remoteness:

Middle Country.

Maintain Middle Country settings on much of the SRMA where lands are on or near 4-wheel drive roads, but at least .5 mile from all improved roads, though they may be in sight.

Back Country.

Maintain back country settings where lands are more than .5 mile from any road, but not as distant as 3 miles, and no road is in sight.

Naturalness:

Back Country and Middle Country where natural setting may have subtle to moderately dominant modifications that would be noticed but not draw the attention of the casual observer wandering through the area and primitive motorized routes and non-motorized trails may exist.

Facilities and Structures:

Facilities and structures are rare and often accessible via unimproved routes.

Social

Social Contacts and Group Size:

Back Country.

Usually 3-6 encounters/day off travel routes and campsites, and 7-15 encounters/day on travel routes. Usually group size is small.

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Middle Country.

Maintain Middle Country settings where 4-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs, dirt bikes, or snowmobiles in addition to non-motorized mechanized use are acceptable.

Management Controls and Visitor Services:

Middle Country.

Signs present at key access points. Patrolled periodically by law enforcement officer, and other BLM employees. Spike in BLM presence during hunting season.

Some use restrictions, limit motorized travel to designated roads and trails.

Implementing (Support) Actions

Marketing

(Information and Education,[inc. promotion & interpretation])

Develop interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas on history, user ethics, geology, and wildlife resources.

Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character.

Provide for a map with designated roads and trails, trailheads, and camp sites.

Make available for special outdoor educational programs such as CORE and Take it Outside!

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with routine surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

If trends show that use is over acceptable limits, additional action may be considered, such as encouraging use on other trails.

Management

Signs present at key access points, but limited within the SRMA.

Interpretive signs at trailheads, campgrounds, and parking areas.

Do not develop a recreation site at Rainbow Canyon.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Class I within wild segments of several creeks eligible for possible inclusion into the Wild and Scenic River System, Class II for the remainder of the SRMA.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

All motorized use (including over-snow travel) is limited to designated roads and trails.

Lands and Realty:

ROW exclusion area.

Alternative energy avoidance area for realty actions.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Prohibit surface-disturbing activities such as geophysical exploration (except casual use), salable minerals exploration and development, and construction activities (except those related to development of recreation facilities or wildlife habitat).

Special Recreation Permits:

SRPs will be issued as a discretionary action. Issue SRPs for a wide variety of uses, that are consistent with resource/program objectives, and within budgetary/workload constraints.

Cost recovery procedures for issuing SRPs would be applied where appropriate.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on available SRPs may be developed and implemented.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on SRP group numbers may be developed and implemented.

To assist in the determination of whether an organized group activity or event would require an SRP, factors such as the following may be considered: resource concerns, user conflicts, need for monitoring, health and safety concerns, risk of damage to federal facilities or property. The following guidelines will be used in determining SRP status:

1-15 participants –No SRP required, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

16-30 participants –Letter of Agreement, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

Over 30 participants –SRP required.

Partners:

Big Horn National Forest, Wyoming State Land Board, Wyoming State Trails Program, Wyoming Game and Fish, private land owners, Back Country Horsemen, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and other sports groups.

Other administration:

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in or around developed recreation sites (i.e., trailheads, trails, cabins, etc.).

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls.

Rationale

This RMZ is contained within the West Slope of the Bighorns SRMA. The Paint Rock RMZ attracts visitors from the surrounding communities to outside the region. The Medicine Lodge State Park attracts many visitors who enjoy exploring the slope of the Bighorns. Such resources include the Medicine Lodge WSA, Paint Rock Canyon, the Hyattville Logging Road, the Red Gulch / Alkali Road Backcountry Byway, prominent wildlife habitat management areas, abundant wildlife and fishing, and access into the Bighorn National Forest. These resources provide for excellent semi-primitive non-motorized recreation to motorized (touring) recreation.

Management Objectives

Manage the Paint Rock RMZ as a zone within the West Slope of the Bighorns SRMA for motorized and non‐motorized recreationists to engage in hiking, wildlife viewing, hunting, fishing, nature viewing, and driving for pleasure so that they report realizing a “moderate” level of recreation experience and benefit outcomes in these Back Country and Middle Country settings.

Desired Outcomes

Primary Activities

Wildlife viewing, fishing, nature viewing, hiking, photography, sightseeing, hunting.

Experiences

Savoring the total sensory – sight, sound, and smell – experience of a natural landscape.

Developing skills and abilities.

Enjoy going exploring on my/our own.

Enjoying the closeness of family.

Benefits

Improved mental well-being and physical fitness and health maintenance.

Greater sensitivity to/awareness of outdoor aesthetics, nature’s art and its elegance.

Increased appreciation of area’s cultural history.

Heightened sense of satisfaction with our area as a place to live.

Positive contributions to local-regional economic stability.

Maintenance of community’s distinctive recreation/tourism market niche or character.

Increased desirability as a place to live or retire.

Desired Recreation Setting Character Condition

Physical

Remoteness:

Middle / Back Country.

On land surrounding the Red Gulch/Alkali Road Back Country Byway, Cold Springs Road, and the Black Butte road, maintain middle country settings on or near 4-wheel drive roads, but at least .5 mile from all improved roads, though they may be in sight. Maintain back country settings within the WSA.

Naturalness:

Middle / Back Country.

Natural setting may have subtle modifications that would be noticed but not draw the attention of the casual observer wandering through the area and primitive motorized routes and non-motorized trails may exist. Maintain primitive naturalness settings for the WSA where lands are essentially an unmodified natural environment. Evidence of humans is unnoticed by an observer wandering through the area.

Facilities and Structures:

Primitive and Back Country. Facilities and structures are rare and often accessible via unimproved routes. Maintain primitive settings in the WSA where trails may exist but do not exceed standard to carry expected use. Facilities and structures are extremely rare.

Social

Contacts and Group Size:

Back Country.Usually 3-6 encounters/day off travel routes and campsites, and 7-15 encounters/day on travel routes. Usually group size is small.

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Middle / Back Country.

Maintain Middle country settings along the Cold Springs Road, Black Butte Road, and the Red Gulch/Alkali Road Back Country Byway where 4-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs, dirt bikes, or snowmobiles in addition to non-motorized mechanized use are acceptable.

Management Controls and Visitor Services:

Middle / Back Country.

Signs present at key access points.

Patrolled periodically by law enforcement officer, and other BLM employees. Spike in BLM presence during hunting season.Some use restrictions, limit motorized travel to designated roads and trails outside WSA. Within the Medicine Lodge WSA, motorized and mechanized use is prohibited.

Implementing (Support) Actions

Marketing

Information and Education,[inc. promotion & interpretation])

Develop interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas on history, user ethics, geology, and wildlife resources.

Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character.

Provide for a map with designated roads and trails, trailheads, camp sites, and information regarding the Red Gulch/Alkali Road Back Country Byway, Medicine Lodge Wildlife Habitat Area, and the Medicine Lodge WSA.

Make available for special outdoor educational programs such as CORE and Take it Outside!

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with routine surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

If trends show that use is over acceptable limits, additional action may be considered, such as encouraging use on other trails.

Management

Signs present at key access points, but limited within the SRMA.

Interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas.

Develop new and maintain trailheads for foot and horse travel. Potential locations will include the Wapiti Ridge Trail, Lone Tree Trail and trailhead, Black Butte, and along the Red Gulch/Alkali Road Back Country Byway. Additional sites may be identified throughout the life of the plan.

Upgrade access route to the Lone Tree trailhead and upgrade the Lone Tree Trail.

Develop hiking trails in the Wet and Dry Medicine Lodge Canyons.

Maintain the off-highway vehicle (OHV) route between the Medicine Lodge State Park and Cold Springs Road.

Designate motorized touring loops connecting with the Bighorn National Forest, the Trapper Creek RMZ, and the Brokenback/Logging Road RMZ, which may include new construction.

Develop campgrounds if needed.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Class I within the Medicine Lodge WSA, Class II for the remainder of SRMA.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

All motorized use (including over-snow travel) is limited to designated roads and trails.

Close Medicine Lodge WSA to motorized and mechanized use.

Lands and Realty:

ROW exclusion area.

Alternative energy exclusion area for realty actions.

Minerals:

Pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within the Paint Rock RMZ.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Closed to surface-disturbing activities such as geophysical exploration, salable minerals exploration and developments, and construction activities (except those related to development of recreation facilities or wildlife habitat).

An NSO will be applied.

Special Recreation Permits:

SRPs will be issued as a discretionary action. Issue SRPs for a wide variety of uses, that are consistent with resource/program objectives, and within budgetary/workload constraints.

Cost recovery procedures for issuing SRPs would be applied where appropriate.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on available SRPs may be developed and implemented.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on SRP group numbers may be developed and implemented.

To assist in the determination of whether an organized group activity or event would require an SRP, factors such as the following may be considered: resource concerns, user conflicts, need for monitoring, health and safety concerns, risk of damage to federal facilities or property. The following guidelines will be used in determining SRP status:

1-15 participants –No SRP required, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

16-30 participants –Letter of Agreement, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

Over 30 participants –SRP required.

Agreements:

Maintain cooperative agreement with Wyoming State Land Board, and Wyoming State Game and Fish.

Partners:

Big Horn National Forest, Wyoming State Land Board, Wyoming State Trails Program, Wyoming Game and Fish, private land owners, Back Country Horsemen, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and other sports groups.

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in or around developed recreation sites (i.e., trailheads, trails, cabins, etc.).

Rationale

This RMZ contains natural recreational resources which support recreational activities including hunting, sightseeing, and fishing. This areas contains the Trapper Creek WSA, two waterway segments identified as eligible and suitable for inclusion into the Wild and Scenic River System, Spanish Point ACEC, significant cave and karst resources, the Red Gulch/Alkali Road Backcountry Byway, the Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite and the Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite ACEC, and highly rated scenic quality. This area attracts visitors from within and outside the region to enjoy the resources in these semi-primitive setting to a middle country settings.

Management Objectives

Manage the Trapper Creek RMZ as a zone within the West Slope of the Bighorns SRMA for motorized and non‐motorized recreationists to engage in hiking, hunting, wildlife viewing, nature viewing, and driving for pleasure so that they report realizing a “moderate” level of recreation experience and benefit outcomes in these Back Country, Middle Country, and Front Country settings.

Desired Outcomes

Primary Activities

Hunting, wildlife viewing, nature viewing, hiking, sightseeing, photography.

Experiences

Savoring the total sensory – sight, sound, and smell – experience of a natural landscape.

Enjoy going exploring on my/our own.

Enjoy having easy access to natural landscapes.

Enjoying the closeness of family.

Benefits

Improved mental well-being.

Greater sensitivity to/awareness of outdoor aesthetics, nature’s art and its elegance.

Heightened sense of satisfaction with our area as a place to live.

Greater community involvement in recreation and other land use decisions.

Greater family bonding.

Increased desirability as a place to live or retire.

Maintenance of community’s distinctive recreation/tourism market niche or character.

Desired Recreation Setting Character Condition

Physical

Remoteness:

Front / Back Country.

On land surrounding the Red Gulch/Alkali Road Back Country Byway, maintain front country settings on or near improved county roads, but at least .5 mile from any highway. Maintain back country settings within the Trapper Creek and Alkali Creek WSAs where lands are more than .5 mile from any road, but not as distant as 3 miles, and no road is in sight.

Naturalness:

Back Country / Primitive.

Manage for a Back Country setting where natural setting may have subtle modifications that would be noticed but not draw the attention of the casual observer wandering through the area.

Maintain primitive naturalness settings for the WSAs where lands are essentially an unmodified natural environment. Evidence of humans is unnoticed by an observer wandering through the area.

Facilities and Structures:

Front Country / Primitive.

For lands within the Back Country Byway, maintain the front country settings where primitive and improved routes/trails may exist. Facilities and structures are scattered.

Social

Contacts and Group Size:

Middle Country / Back County / Primitive.

For lands along the Byway, maintain middle country settings where usually 7-14 encounters/day off travel routes and campsites, and 15-29 encounters/day on travel routes. Usually group size is small to moderate.

Manage for back country settings for remainder of SRMA not including WSAs. Manage for 3-6 encounters/day off travel routes, and 7-15 encounters/day on travel routes. Usually group size is small. Manage for primitive settings for WSAs. Usually fewer than 3 encounters/day at campsites and fewer than 6 encounters/day on travel routes. Usually group size is small in relation to surrounding areas.

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Front Country / Primitive.

Maintain front country settings along the Red Gulch/Alkali Road Back Country Byway where 2-wheel drive vehicles predominant, but also 4-wheel drive vehicles and non-motorized mechanized are appropriate.

Manage for primitive settings for the WSAs where there is no mechanized or motorized travel whatsoever.

Management Controls and Visitor Services:

Middle / Back Country.

Manage for middle country settings where on site controls and services are present but subtle.

Signs present at key access points.

Patrolled periodically by law enforcement officer, and other BLM employees. Spike in BLM presence during hunting season. Some use restrictions, limit motorized travel to designated roads and trails outside WSAs. Within the Trapper and Alkali Creek WSAs, motorized and mechanized use is prohibited.

Implementing (Support) Actions

Marketing

(Information and Education, [inc. promotion & interpretation])

Develop interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas on history, user ethics, geology, and wildlife resources.

Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character.

Provide for a map with designated roads and trails, trailheads, camp sites, and information regarding the Red Gulch/Alkali Road Back Country Byway, Trapper Creek and Alkali Creek WSAs, the Madison Recharge zone, and caving ethics.

Maintain the Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite.

Make available for special outdoor educational programs such as CORE and Take it Outside!

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with routine surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

If trends show that use is over acceptable limits, additional action may be considered, such as encouraging use on other trails.

Management

Signs present at key access points, but limited within the SRMA.

Interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas.

Develop new and maintain trailheads for foot and horse travel. Potential locations will include the Webber Canyon area, White Creek, and Black Mountain areas. Additional sites may be identified throughout the life of the plan.

Construct trailheads to accommodate mountain bike users.

Construct pull‐offs along the Red Gulch/Alkali Road.

Back Country Byway.

Designate motorized touring loops within the Trapper Creek RMZ, as well as connecting with the Paint Rock RMZ, and the Bighorn National Forest, which may include new construction.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Class I within the Trapper Creek and Alkali Creek WSAs, and the White Creek and Trapper Creek WSRs. Class II for the remainder of SRMA.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

All motorized use (including over-snow travel) is limited to designated roads and trails.

Close WSAs and Spanish Point Karst ACEC to motorized and mechanized use.

Lands and Realty:

ROW exclusion area.

Alternative energy exclusion area for realty actions.

Consider the acquisition of legal and/or physical access for hunting, fishing, and camping.

Consider acquiring areas such as Horse Mountain, Trapper Creek, and White Creek.

Minerals:

Pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within the Trapper Creek RMZ.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Closed to surface-disturbing activities such as geophysical exploration, salable minerals exploration and developments, and construction activities (except those related to development of recreation facilities or wildlife habitat).

An NSO will be applied.

Special Recreation Permits:

SRPs will be issued as a discretionary action. Issue SRPs for a wide variety of uses, that are consistent with resource/program objectives, and within budgetary/workload constraints.

Cost recovery procedures for issuing SRPs would be applied where appropriate.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on available SRPs may be developed and implemented.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on SRP group numbers may be developed and implemented.

To assist in the determination of whether an organized group activity or event would require an SRP, factors such as the following may be considered: resource concerns, user conflicts, need for monitoring, health and safety concerns, risk of damage to federal facilities or property. The following guidelines will be used in determining SRP status:

1-15 participants –No SRP required, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

16-30 participants –Letter of Agreement, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

Over 30 participants –SRP required.

Agreements:

Maintain cooperative agreements with the Big Horn National Forest.

Partners:

Big Horn National Forest, Wyoming State Land Board, Wyoming State Trails Program, Wyoming Game and Fish, private land owners, IMBA, Back Country Horsemen, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and other sports groups.

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in or around developed recreation sites (i.e., trailheads, trails, cabins, etc.).

Rationale

This area exhibits exceptional scenic quality, wildlife resources, and exposed geologic formations. The Hyattville Logging Road is within this area and is proposed to be a backcountry byway for Alternative B. The Logging Road is a popular access point into the Bighorn Mountains. Two other routes, the North and South Brokenback Roads act as very popular access points into the RMZ, as well as the Bighorn National Forest, especially during the big game hunting seasons. Access into this area is in part due to a coordinated agreement between the Wyoming Game and Fish and surrounding private land holders, as well as a foot/horse trail developed by the BLM so as to access more of this area. This area is a very popular hunting area for both local and visiting hunters.

Management Objectives

Manage the Brokenback/Logging Road RMZ as a zone within the West Slope of the Bighorns SRMA for motorized and non‐motorized recreationists to engage in hiking, hunting, wildlife viewing, nature viewing, and driving for pleasure so that they report realizing a “moderate” level of recreation experience and benefit outcomes in these Back Country and Middle Country settings.

Desired Outcomes

Primary Activities

Hunting, hiking, wildlife viewing, nature viewing, driving for pleasure.

Experiences

Enjoy going exploring on my/our own.

Enjoy having easy access to natural landscapes.

Savoring the total sensory – sight, sound, and smell – experience of a natural landscape.

Enjoying the closeness of family.

Benefits

Greater sensitivity to/awareness of outdoor aesthetics, nature’s art and its elegance.

Stronger ties with my family and friends.

Greater awareness that the Bighorn Basin is special.

Heightened sense of satisfaction with our area as a place to live.

Greater community involvement in recreation and other land use decisions.

Greater family bonding.

Increased desirability as a place to live or retire.

Maintenance of community’s distinctive recreation/tourism market niche or character.

Desired Recreation Setting Character Condition

Physical

Remoteness:

Middle Country Settings.

On or near 4-wheel drive roads, but at least .5 mile from all improved roads, though they may be in sight.

Front Country settings along the Hyattville Logging Road.

On or near improved country roads, but at least .5 mile from any highway.

Naturalness:

Back Country Settings.

Natural setting may have subtle modifications but not draw the attention of the casual observer wandering through the area.

Facilities and Structures:

Front Country settings for lands along the South and North Brokenback Roads, and along the Hyattville Logging Road.

Primitive and improved routes/trails may exist. Facilities and structures are back country settings where they are rare and isolated.

Remainder of RMZ is Middle Country. Primitive motorized and non-motorized trails may exist.

Social

Contacts and Group Size:

Back Country. Usually up to 6 encounters/day off travel routes, and up to 15 encounters/day on trails. Usually group size is small.

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Middle Country.

4-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs, dirt bikes, or snowmobiles in addition to non-motorized mechanized use.

Management Controls and Visitor Services:

Back Country.

On site controls and services present but subtle. Minimum amount necessary to achieve planning objectives.

Personnel periodic. Rules clearly posted with some restrictions. Periodic enforcement, with an increase in BLM presence during big game hunting season.

Implementing Actions

Marketing

Develop interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas on history, user ethics, geology, and wildlife resources.

Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character.

Provide for a map with designated roads and trails, trailheads, camp sites, and information regarding the Hyattville / Logging Road Back Country Byway, Carter Access area, and Wyoming Game and Fish Wildlife Habitat Management Areas.

Make available for special outdoor educational programs such as CORE and Take it Outside!

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with routine surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

If trends show that use is over acceptable limits, additional action may be considered, such as encouraging use on other trails.

Management

Develop facilities to enhance recreation and visitor services for the following areas:

Designate motorized touring loops within the Brokenback/Logging road RMZ as well as connecting with the Paint Rock RMZ and the Bighorn National Forest, which may include new construction.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Class II.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

All motorized use (including over-snow travel) is limited to designated roads and trails.

Continue to implement current South Broken Back Travel Management Plan.

Lands and Realty:

ROW exclusion area.

Alternative energy exclusion area for realty actions.

Consider the acquisition of legal and/or physical access for hunting, fishing, and camping for areas including but not limited to North and South Brokenback roads, Luman Creek Road, Military Creek Road, Dorn Draw Road.

Lengthen public access duration for the North and South Brokenback roads to yearlong access.

Minerals:

Pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within the Brokenback/Logging Road RMZ.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Closed to surface-disturbing activities such as geophysical exploration, salable minerals exploration and developments, and construction activities (except those related to development of recreation facilities or wildlife habitat).

An NSO will be applied.

Special Recreation Permits:

SRPs will be issued as a discretionary action. Issue SRPs for a wide variety of uses, that are consistent with resource/program objectives, and within budgetary/workload constraints.

Cost recovery procedures for issuing SRPs would be applied where appropriate.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on available SRPs may be developed and implemented.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on SRP group numbers may be developed and implemented.

To assist in the determination of whether an organized group activity or event would require an SRP, factors such as the following may be considered: resource concerns, user conflicts, need for monitoring, health and safety concerns, risk of damage to federal facilities or property. The following guidelines will be used in determining SRP status:

1-15 participants –No SRP required, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

16-30 participants –Letter of Agreement, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

Over 30 participants –SRP required.

Agreements:

Pursue additional access agreement in the South Brokenback, and North Brokenback areas.

Partners:

Big Horn National Forest, Wyoming State Land Board, Wyoming State Trails Program, Wyoming Game and Fish, private land owners, Back Country Horsemen, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and other sports groups.

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in or around developed recreation sites (i.e., trailheads, trails, cabins, etc.).

Rationale

The southern Bighorns are popular for visitors to explore, hike, and especially hunt. Outfitters and tour guides enjoy guiding clients here due to the impressive and exceptional scenic qualities, abundant wildlife, and alternative access points onto 33-Mile Road (Hazelton Road) which exhibits exceptional viewing opportunities of the surrounding mountain landscape, the Cloud Peak Wilderness, the Bighorn Basin, and the Powder River Basin to the east; as well as access into the Hole-in-the-Wall region, the Middle Fork of the Powder River, Casper, and the Bighorn National Forest. The South Bighorns contain a rich history including cattle and sheep operations, mining, and infamous outlaws including Billy the Kid. Currently, impressive coordinated travel management efforts between the BLM, Wyoming State Game and Fish, Wyoming State Land Board, and the Orchard Ranch are improving access into the area as well as improving resource management. BLM manages a campground along the Middle Fork of the Powder River which is a destination area for visitors from within and outside the region. The Middle Fork of the Powder River is managed as a blue ribbon trout fishery, as well as identified as eligible and draft suitable for inclusion into the Wild and Scenic River System. The Buffalo Field Office had also identified the Middle Fork of the Powder River within their jurisdiction as eligible for inclusion into the Wild and Scenic River System. The impressive Deep Creek is another waterway segment identified as eligible and draft suitable for inclusion into the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, as well as a sought-after fishery for exceptional fishing and sightseeing opportunities. This area has received significant managerial support from both the Worland and Buffalo Field Offices in improving access into the area to support a variety of recreational activities such as hunting and fishing.

Management Objectives

Manage the South Bighorns RMZ as a zone within the West Slope of the Bighorns SRMA for motorized and non‐motorized recreationists to engage in hiking, hunting, wildlife viewing, nature viewing, and driving for pleasure so that they report realizing a “moderate” level of recreation experience and benefit outcomes in these Back Country and Middle Country settings.

Desired Outcomes

Primary Activities

Hunting, fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, nature viewing, driving for pleasure.

Experiences

Enjoy going exploring on my/our own.

Enjoy having easy access to natural landscapes.

Savoring the total sensory – sight, sound, and smell – experience of a natural landscape.

Enjoying the closeness of family.

Benefits

Greater sensitivity to/awareness of outdoor aesthetics, nature’s art and its elegance.

Stronger ties with my family and friends.

Greater awareness that the Bighorn Basin is special.

Heightened sense of satisfaction with our area as a place to live.

Greater community involvement in recreation and other land use decisions.

Greater family bonding.

Increased desirability as a place to live or retire.

Maintenance of community’s distinctive recreation/tourism market niche or character.

Desired Recreation Setting Character Condition

Physical

Remoteness:

Middle Country Settings.

On or near 4-wheel drive roads, but at least .5 mile from all improved roads, though they may be in sight.

Front Country settings along Rome Hill Road, Dry Farm Road, and Hazelton Road.

On or near improved country roads, but at least .5 mile from any highway.

Naturalness:

Back Country Settings.

Natural setting may have subtle modifications but not draw the attention of the casual observer wandering through the area.

Middle Country Settings for lands within the Middle Fork of the Powder River Campground.

Natural setting may have moderately dominant alterations but would not draw the attention of the observers on trail and primitive roads within the area.

Facilities and Structures:

Middle Country.

Primitive motorized and non-motorized trails may exist. Facilities and structures are rare and often accessible via unimproved routes.Manage the Middle Fork of the Powder River Campground as Front Country.

Social

Contacts and Group Size:

Back Country settings.

Usually up to 6 encounters/day off travel routes, and up to 15 encounters/day on trails. Usually group size is small.

Rural settings along Upper Nowood Road. People seem to be everywhere, but human contact remains intermittent.

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Front / Middle Country.

Front Country along Cherry Creek Road, Dry Farm Road, Spring Creek Road, Rome Hill Road, and Hazelton Road.

2-wheel drive vehicles predominant, but also 4-wheel drive vehicles and non-motorized mechanized use.

Middle Country for remainder of RMZ. 4-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs, dirt bikes, or snowmobiles in addition to non-motorized mechanized use.

Management Controls and Visitor Services:

Back Country.

On site controls and services are present but subtle. Personnel periodic. Rules clearly posted with some restrictions. Periodic enforcement, with an increase in BLM presence during big game hunting season.

Implementing (Support) Actions

Marketing

(Information and Education,[inc. promotion & interpretation])

Develop interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas on history, user ethics, geology, and wildlife resources.

Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character.

Provide for a map with designated roads and trails, trailheads, camp sites, and information regarding the Hazelton Road Back Country Byway, and the Upper Nowood Travel Management Plan.

Make available for special outdoor educational programs such as CORE and Take it Outside!

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with routine surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

If trends show that use is over acceptable limits, additional action may be considered, such as encouraging use on other trails.

Management

Develop facilities necessary to maximize recreational opportunities at the Middle Fork camping area, the Cherry Creek stock driveway crossing of Deep Creek, Otter Creek.

Develop trailheads for Middle Fork Campground, Mahogany Butte, Deep Creek, Upper Nowood areas, and in other areas on a case‐by‐case basis.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Class II. Class I within the Deep Creek WSR.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

All motorized use (including over-snow travel) is limited to designated roads and trails.

Continue to implement current Upper Nowood Travel Management Plan.

Lands and Realty:

ROW exclusion area.

Alternative energy exclusion area for realty actions.

Consider the acquisition of legal and/or physical access for hunting, fishing, boating, and camping. Areas to be considered for acquisition include Otter Creek, Deep Creek, Little Canyon Creek, public land tracts along the Nowood River area, Cherry Creek Road to Hazelton Road, Lysite Mountain, land parcels within Spring Creek, and Spring Creek Road to Rome Hill Road.

Minerals:

Pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within the South Bighorns RMZ.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Closed to surface-disturbing activities such as geophysical exploration, salable minerals exploration and developments, and construction activities (except those related to development of recreation facilities or wildlife habitat).

An NSO stipulation will be applied.

Special Recreation Permits:

SRPs will be issued as a discretionary action. Issue SRPs for a wide variety of uses, that are consistent with resource/program objectives, and within budgetary/workload constraints.

Cost recovery procedures for issuing SRPs would be applied where appropriate.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on available SRPs may be developed and implemented.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on SRP group numbers may be developed and implemented.

To assist in the determination of whether an organized group activity or event would require an SRP, factors such as the following may be considered: resource concerns, user conflicts, need for monitoring, health and safety concerns, risk of damage to federal facilities or property. The following guidelines will be used in determining SRP status:

1-15 participants –No SRP required, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

16-30 participants –Letter of Agreement, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

Over 30 participants –SRP required.

Agreements:

Maintain cooperative agreement with Double-H Ranch, Wyoming State Land Board, and Wyoming Game and Fish.

Partners:

Big Horn National Forest, Wyoming State Land Board, Wyoming State Trails Program, Wyoming Game and Fish, private land owners, Orchard Ranch, Back Country Horsemen, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and other sports groups.

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in or around developed recreation sites (i.e., trailheads, trails, cabins, etc.).

Rationale

Canyon Creek area is located within the southern Bighorns just south of Highway 16, which is a very popular highway over the Bighorn Mountains as well as a popular route to Yellowstone National Park. Canyon Creek exhibits exceptionally high scenic qualities from the exposed dolomite and Ten Sleep formation observed through the impressive canyon complemented by the perennial Canyon Creek which supports a blue-ribbon fishery and a healthy riparian zone through the canyon. A subdivision (Canyon Creek Village) is growing south of the area in which residents enjoy exploring, hiking, hunting, and fishing Canyon Creek. Canyon Valley Resort is located within the area which provides recreational opportunities such as guiding services for visitors, big game outfitting, and golfing opportunities. The scenic qualities as well as the wildlife resources establish the foundation for the tourism market in this area. Smilo Road provides access into BLM-administered public lands east of Canyon Creek as well as the Bighorn National Forest.

Objectives Management

Manage the Canyon Creek SRMA for non‐motorized recreationists to engage in hiking, hunting, fishing, nature viewing, and wildlife viewing so that they report realizing a “moderate” level of recreation experience and benefit outcomes in these Back Country settings.

Desired Outcomes

Primary Activities

Fishing, hunting, hiking, nature viewing, wildlife viewing.

Experiences

Savoring the total sensory – sight, sound, and smell – experience of a natural landscape.

Develop skills and abilities.

Enjoy going exploring on my/our own.

Enjoy having easy access to natural landscapes.

Enjoying getting some needed physical exercise.

Benefits

Improved mental well-being.

Improved physical fitness and health maintenance.

Heightened sense of satisfaction with our area as a place to live.

Greater community involvement in recreation and other land use decisions.

Greater family bonding.

Increased desirability as a place to live or retire.

Maintenance of community’s distinctive recreation/tourism market niche or character.

Desired Recreation Setting Character Condition

Physical

Physical Remoteness:

Back Country.

More than .5 mile from any road, but not as distant as 3 miles, and no road is in sight. Smilo Road, the access route to the Canyon Creek fishing access parking area, and few other two-tracks are observed along the edges of the area.

Naturalness:

Back Country.

Natural setting may have subtle modifications but not draw the attention of the casual observer wandering through the area.

Facilities and Structures:

Back Country.

Trails may exist but do not exceed standard to carry expected use. Facilities and structures are rare and isolated.

Social

Contacts and Group Size:

Back Country settings.Usually up to 6 encounters/day off travel routes, and up to 15 encounters/day on trails. Usually group size is small.

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Back Country.

Mountain bikes perhaps other mechanize use but all is non-motorized. Smilo Road will remain open to motorized access into area.

Management Controls and Visitor Services:

Back Country.

On site controls and services are present but subtle. Personnel periodic. Rules clearly posted with some restrictions. Periodic enforcement, with an increase in BLM presence during big game hunting season.

Implementing (Support) Actions

Marketing

(Information and Education,[inc. promotion & interpretation])

Develop interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas on history, user ethics, non-native invasive weed species found within the area, geology, and other current resource programs.

Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character.

Provide for a map with designated roads, trailheads, trails, and camp sites.

Make available for special outdoor educational programs such as CORE and Take it Outside!

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with routine surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

If trends show that use is over acceptable limits, additional action may be considered, such as encouraging use on other trails.

Management

Develop looping hiking trails in Canyon Creek, and off of Smilo Road.

Develop trailheads at Canyon Creek and Smilo Road.

Signs present at key access points, but limited within the SRMA.

Interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Class II.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

All motorized use (including over-snow travel) is limited to designated roads and trails.

Lands and Realty:

ROW exclusion area.

Alternative energy exclusion area for realty actions.

Acquire legal and physical access to maximize recreational opportunities.

Minerals:

Pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within the Canyon Creek SRMA.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Closed to surface-disturbing activities such as geophysical exploration, salable minerals exploration and developments, and construction activities (except those related to development of recreation facilities or wildlife habitat).

An NSO will be applied.

Special Recreation Permits:

SRPs will be issued as a discretionary action. Issue SRPs for a wide variety of uses, that are consistent with resource/program objectives, and within budgetary/workload constraints.

Cost recovery procedures for issuing SRPs would be applied where appropriate.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on available SRPs may be developed and implemented.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on SRP group numbers may be developed and implemented.

To assist in the determination of whether an organized group activity or event would require an SRP, factors such as the following may be considered: resource concerns, user conflicts, need for monitoring, health and safety concerns, risk of damage to federal facilities or property. The following guidelines will be used in determining SRP status:

1-15 participants –No SRP required, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

16-30 participants –Letter of Agreement, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

Over 30 participants –SRP required.

Agreements:

Pursue a cooperative agreement with the Canyon Creek Estates.

Partners:

Big Horn National Forest, Wyoming State Land Board, Wyoming State Trails Program, Wyoming Game and Fish, private land owners, Canyon Creek Estates, Back Country Horsemen, and other interested groups.

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in or around developed recreation sites (i.e., trailheads, trails, cabins, etc.).

Rationale

Red Canyon Creek is located along the slopes of the Owl Creek Mountains outside the community of Thermopolis. This area exhibits high scenic qualities, wildlife resources, and opportunities for primitive-type recreation. A subdivision is growing on the north side of the area, which the adjacent BLM-administered public lands provides for easy-to-access public lands for the local residents. The community of Thermopolis has been marketing its natural recreational resources (most especially its thermal resources located within the very popular Hot Springs State Park), as well as prioritizing primitive-type recreational opportunities such as hiking, and horseback riding within the State Park.

Management Objectives

Manage the Red Canyon Creek SRMA for motorized and non‐motorized recreationists to engage in hunting, hiking, wildlife viewing, and nature viewing so that they report realizing a “moderate” level of recreation experience and benefit outcomes in these Middle Country settings.

Desired Outcomes

Primary Activities

Hiking, wildlife viewing, hunting, nature viewing.

Experiences

Savoring the total sensory – sight, sound, and smell – experience of a natural landscape.

Develop skills and abilities.

Enjoy going exploring on my/our own.

Enjoy having easy access to natural landscapes.

Enjoying getting some needed physical exercise.

Benefits

Improved mental well-being.

Improved physical fitness and health maintenance.

Heightened sense of satisfaction with our area as a place to live.

Greater community involvement in recreation and other land use decisions.

Greater family bonding.

Increased desirability as a place to live or retire.

Maintenance of community’s distinctive recreation/tourism market niche or character.

Desired Recreation Setting Character Condition

Physical

Remoteness:

Back Country.

Most of the SRMA is more than 0.5 mile from any road, but not as distant as 3 miles, and no road is in sight. Access routes (two-tracks and improved route) exist along the fringe of the SRMA, as well as within parcels of private lands within the area.

Naturalness:

Back Country.

Natural setting may have subtle modifications but not draw the attention of the casual observer wandering through the area.

Facilities and Structures:

Back Country.

Primitive motorized routes and non-motorized trails may exist. Facilities and structures are rare and often accessible via unimproved routes.

Social

Contacts and Group Size:

Back Country settings.

Usually up to 6 encounters/day off travel routes, and up to 15 encounters/day on trails. Usually group size is small.

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Back Country.

Manage the SRMA for mountain bikes perhaps other mechanized use but all is non-motorized. The fringes will be managed for 4-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs, dirt bikes, or snowmobiles in addition to non-motorized mechanized use so as to maintain current land uses.

Management Controls and Visitor Services:

Back Country.

On site controls and services are present but subtle.Personnel periodic. Rules clearly posted with some restrictions. Periodic enforcement, with an increase in BLM presence during big game hunting season.

Implementing (Support) Actions

Marketing

(Information and Education,[inc. promotion & interpretation])

Develop interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas on user ethics, non-native invasive weed species found within the area, geology, and other current resource programs.

Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character.

Provide for a map with designated roads, trailheads, trails, and camp sites.

Make available for special outdoor educational programs such as CORE and Take it Outside!

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with routine surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

If trends show that use is over acceptable limits, additional action may be considered, such as encouraging use on other trails.

Management

Develop hiking trail to Red Canyon Creek.

Develop trailheads at northern access point.

Signs present at key access points, but limited within the SRMA.

Interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Class II.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

All motorized use (including over-snow travel) is limited to designated roads and trails.

Lands and Realty:

ROW exclusion area.

Alternative energy exclusion area for realty actions.

Pursue legal and physical access to maximize recreational opportunities.

Minerals:

Pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within the Red Canyon Creek SRMA.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Closed to surface-disturbing activities such as geophysical exploration, salable minerals exploration and developments, and construction activities (except those related to development of recreation facilities or wildlife habitat).

An NSO will be applied.

Special Recreation Permits:

SRPs will be issued as a discretionary action. Issue SRPs for a wide variety of uses, that are consistent with resource/program objectives, and within budgetary/workload constraints.

Cost recovery procedures for issuing SRPs would be applied where appropriate.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on available SRPs may be developed and implemented.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on SRP group numbers may be developed and implemented.

To assist in the determination of whether an organized group activity or event would require an SRP, factors such as the following may be considered: resource concerns, user conflicts, need for monitoring, health and safety concerns, risk of damage to federal facilities or property. The following guidelines will be used in determining SRP status:

1-15 participants –No SRP required, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

16-30 participants –Letter of Agreement, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

Over 30 participants –SRP required.

Partners:

Community of Thermopolis, Hot Springs State Park, Wyoming State Land Board, Wyoming State Trails Program, Wyoming Game and Fish, private land owners, Back Country Horsemen, and other interested groups.

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in or around developed recreation sites (i.e., trailheads, trails, cabins, etc.).

Rationale

The Rivers destination SRMA is made up of BLM-managed public lands on the North and South Forks of the Shoshone River, the main stem of the Shoshone River, and the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River. These rivers are very popular for fishing, floating, sightseeing, and hunting and are used by local residents as well as visitors from throughout the nation and from foreign countries. Many visitors traveling to or from Yellowstone National Park spend time in Cody. Several companies offer commercial fishing or floating trips on these rivers. BLM and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) have an agreement which recognizes the high recreational value of various tracts of land along these rivers and provides for cooperative efforts to develop access and manage the sites. Many sites have been developed over the years. Several of the river access sites also serve as trailheads for hiking and horseback access to the Shoshone National Forest. In addition, there are access sites which have been developed by other parties. The North Fork of the Shoshone River and portions of the Shoshone River are considered blue-ribbon trout fisheries.

Management Objectives

Manage The Rivers SRMA for motorized and non-motorized recreation opportunities such as fishing, floating, photography, hunting, hiking, and nature viewing so that recreationists report realizing a “moderate” level of recreation experience and benefit outcomes in these rural, front, and middle country settings.

Desired Outcomes

Primary Activities

Fishing, floating, sightseeing, hunting, photography, and nature viewing.

Experiences

Enjoy going exploring on my/our own.

Enjoy the closeness of family.

Experiencing a greater sense of independence.

Testing endurance.

Enjoy risk taking adventure.

Benefits

Improved mental well-being.

Closer relationship with the natural world.

Enhanced sense of personal freedom.

Improved physical fitness and health maintenance.

Improved skills for outdoor enjoyment.

Heightened sense of satisfaction with our area as a place to live.

Greater community involvement in recreation and other land use decisions.

Greater family bonding.

Increased desirability as a place to live or retire.

Increased local job opportunities.

Increased local tourism revenue.

Improved local economic stability.

Desired Recreation Setting Character Condition

Physical

Remoteness:

Rural Country.

On or near primary highways, but still within a rural area.

Front Country.

On or near improved county roads, but at least 0.5 mile from any highway.

Middle Country.

On or near 4-wheel drive roads, but at least ½ mile from all improved roads, though they may be in sight.

Naturalness:

Rural, Front, and Middle Country.

Natural setting is culturally modified to the point that it is dominant to the sensitive travel route observer in some locations. In other locations, natural setting may have moderately dominant alterations but would not draw the attention of the observers on trails and primitive roads within the area.

Facilities and Structures:

Rural and Front Country.

Primitive and improved routes/trails may exist. Facilities and structures are readily apparent and may range from scattered to small dominant clusters.

Social

Contacts and Group Size:

Front Country setting.

Usually up to 29 encounters/day off travel routes and 30 or more encounters/day en route.

Group size varies from small to large.Visitor encounters can be high during peak use periods at the major boat ramps

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Front Country.

Manage the majority of the river tracts for a Front Country setting where 2-wheel drive vehicles predominant, but also 4-wheel drive vehicles and non-motorized mechanized use.

Management Controls and Visitor Services:

Front Country. On site controls and services are present but harmonize with the natural environment. Personnel periodic.

Implementing (Support) Actions

Marketing

(Information and Education,[inc. promotion & interpretation])

Develop interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas on user ethics, non-native invasive weed species found within the area, history, hunting, and other current resource programs. Use information and interpretation to lessen visitor conflicts, resource impacts, and to increase visitor awareness of wildlife habitat and wetland management.

Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character.

Provide for a map with designated roads, boat ramps, hazards, and BLM-administered public land tracts.

Make available for special outdoor educational programs such as CORE and Take it Outside!

Work closely with the gateway communities of Cody, Powell, Thermopolis, Worland, Basin, Lovell, and Greybull, and other partners in the region in marketing and outreach.

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with routine surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

If trends show that use is over acceptable limits, additional action may be considered, such as encouraging use on other river segments, institute fee areas, or limit river use.

Management

Continue to provide for experiences and associated facilities with an emphasis on maintaining rural to front country recreation settings.

Continue to provide opportunities that contribute to meeting recreation demand while protecting resources.

In cooperation with WGFD and other partners, provide and maintain visitor facilities, services, signing, and programs.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Class II.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

Motorized use is limited to designated roads and trails for the North and South Forks of the Shoshone River and the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River and is limited to existing roads and trails for the Shoshone River area.

Lands and Realty:

Manage lands within one mile of the Shoshone, Greybull, and Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone Rivers as avoidance areas for construction of above ground power lines. Alternative energy avoidance area for realty actions.

Retain recreational access to the North and South Forks of the Shoshone, the Shoshone, and the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone Rivers.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Closed to surface-disturbing activities such as geophysical exploration (except casual use), salable minerals exploration and development, and construction activities (except those related to development of recreation facilities or wildlife habitat).

Apply NSO to some lands within the Rivers SRMA (WGFD/BLM access areas on the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone and the North and South Forks of the Shoshone River).

Special Recreation Permits:

SRPs will be issued as a discretionary action. Issue SRPs for a wide variety of uses, that are consistent with resource/program objectives, and within budgetary/workload constraints.

Cost recovery procedures for issuing SRPs would be applied where appropriate.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on available SRPs may be developed and implemented.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on SRP group numbers may be developed and implemented.

To assist in the determination of whether an organized group activity or event would require an SRP, factors such as the following may be considered: resource concerns, user conflicts, need for monitoring, health and safety concerns, risk of damage to federal facilities or property. The following guidelines will be used in determining SRP status:

1-15 participants –No SRP required, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

16-30 participants –Letter of Agreement, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

Over 30 participants –SRP required.

Partners:

Communities of Cody, Powell, Lovell, Wyoming Game and Fish, Trout Unlimited, Shoshone Back Country Horsemen, Shoshone National Forest, Park County Recreation Board, and other interested groups.

Other administration:

On site controls and services are present but harmonize with the natural environment.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in the SRMA.

Rationale

The McCullough Peaks SRMA lies east of Cody and north of U.S. Highway 14/16/20. This scenic, popular area is used by residents of Cody, Powell, Park and Big Horn Counties for uses such as viewing wild horses, sightseeing, hunting, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, photography, driving for pleasure (including ATVs and motorcycles), and wildlife viewing. Colorful badlands provide excellent photographic opportunities. Tourists traveling to or from Yellowstone National Park also use the area. Several commercial permittees provide wild horse viewing tours or interpretive tours in the area. The McCullough Peaks WSA lies within the SRMA as does the McCullough Peaks Wild Horse Herd Management Area (HMA).

Management Objectives

Manage the McCullough Peaks SRMA for motorized and non-motorized recreation opportunities such as wildlife and wild horse viewing, nature viewing, horseback riding, hunting, and hiking so that recreationists report realizing a “moderate” level of recreation experience and benefit outcomes in these rural, front, middle and back country settings.

Desired Outcomes

Primary Activities

Viewing wild horses and wildlife, sightseeing, hunting, mountain biking, hiking, photography, driving for pleasure, horseback riding.

Experiences

Enjoy going exploring on my/our own.

Learn.

Savoring the total sensory – sight, sound, and smell – experience of a natural landscape.

Enjoy the closeness of family.

Learning more about things here.

Enjoy having easy access to natural landscapes.

Benefits

Enhanced awareness and understanding of nature.

Greater sensitivity to/awareness of outdoor aesthetics, nature’s art and its elegance.

Increased appreciation of area’s cultural history.

Improved mental well-being.

Heightened sense of satisfaction with our area as a place to live.

Greater community involvement in recreation and other land use decisions.

Increased desirability as a place to live or retire.

Maintenance of community’s distinctive recreation/tourism market niche or character.

Desired Recreation Setting Character Condition

Physical

Remoteness:

Rural, Front, Middle, and Back Country.

The eastern and southern boundaries lie along major highways. There are several BLM roads and numerous two-tracks and ATV trails in the SRMA area.

Naturalness:

Front and Middle Country.

Natural setting may have modifications which range from being easily noticed to strongly dominant to observers within the area but not draw the attention of observers on trails and primitive routes.

Back Country.

Natural setting may have subtle modifications that would be noticed but not draw the attention of the casual observer wandering through the area.

Facilities and Structures:

Rural and Front Country.

Primitive and improved motorized routes and non-motorized trails may exist. Facilities and structures are readily apparent and may range from scattered to small dominant clusters.

Middle Country. Primitive motorized routes and non-motorized trails may exist. Facilities and structures are rare and often accessible via unimproved routes.

Social

Contacts and Group Size:

Back Country settings.

Usually up to 6 encounters/day off travel routes and up to 15 encounters/day on travel routes. Usually group size is small.

Middle Country settings. Usually up to 14 encounters/day off travel routes, and up to 29 encounters/day en route. Usually group size is small. Most of the time, social settings will reflect back country definition.

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Front and Middle Country.

Manage the SRMA for 2-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs, dirt bikes and non-motorized mechanized use.

Management Controls and Visitor Services:

Middle Country.

On site controls and services are present but subtle. Personnel periodic. Rules clearly posted with some restrictions. Periodic enforcement, with an increase in BLM presence during big game hunting season

Implementing (Support) Actions

Marketing

(Information and Education,[inc. promotion & interpretation])

Develop interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas on user ethics, non-native invasive weed species found within the area, history, hunting, and other current resource programs.

Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character.

Provide for a map with designated roads, trailheads, trails.

Make available for special outdoor educational programs such as CORE and Take it Outside!

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with routine surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

If trends show that use is over acceptable limits, additional action may be considered, such as encouraging use on other trails.

Management

Work with partners and other interested publics to determine road and trail maintenance and construction needs, signing needs, and access points.

Work with volunteers to develop and maintain limited facilities, as needed, in the area.

Signs present at key access points and to identify such items as travel routes, the WSA boundary, and the herd area boundary.

Interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas, where appropriate.

Provide opportunities for the public to view wild horses in the McCullough Peaks HMA.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Class I in the McCullough Peaks WSA and Class II elsewhere in the SRMA.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

Motorized vehicle use is limited to designated roads and trails in the entire SRMA.

Lands and Realty:

ROW avoidance area.

Alternative energy avoidance area for realty actions.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Closed to surface-disturbing activities such as geophysical exploration (except casual use), salable minerals exploration and development, and construction activities (except those related to development of recreation facilities or wildlife habitat).

No leasing within the McCullough Peaks WSA and NSO elsewhere in the SRMA.

Special Recreation Permits:

SRPs will be issued as a discretionary action. Issue SRPs for a wide variety of uses, that are consistent with resource/program objectives, and within budgetary/workload constraints.

Cost recovery procedures for issuing SRPs would be applied where appropriate.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on available SRPs may be developed and implemented.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on SRP group numbers may be developed and implemented.

To assist in the determination of whether an organized group activity or event would require an SRP, factors such as the following may be considered: resource concerns, user conflicts, need for monitoring, health and safety concerns, risk of damage to federal facilities or property. The following guidelines will be used in determining SRP status:

1-15 participants –No SRP required, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

16-30 participants –Letter of Agreement, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

Over 30 participants –SRP required.

Prohibit organized SRPs using domestic horses in the McCullough Peaks HMA.

Partners:

City of Cody; Park County Recreation Board; private landowners; local mountain biking, hiking, equestrian, and motorized groups, FOAL, Wyoming State Trails Program, and other interested groups.

Other administration:

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in or around developed recreation sites (i.e., trailheads, trails, cabins, etc.).

Rationale

This area is located between the Communities of Greybull and Basin, Wyoming. This area is currently being used for off-road hill climbs used by both ATVs and motorcycles, dominantly motorcycles. Visitors are from within the communities, as well as from outside the area, particularly Billings, Montana. The area is composed of bentonite and mostly devoid of vegetation. The Basin Gardens area provides for exceptional motorized hill climbing opportunities ranging from novice riders to very challenging climbs for the experienced riders. The communities from RMP Scoping opportunities had identified this area as highly desired for motorized recreational opportunities.

Management Objectives

Manage the Basin Gardens Play Area RMZ for motorized recreationists to engage in ATV, motorbike, and other motorized hill climbing activities so that visitors report realizing a “moderate” level of recreation experience and benefit outcomes in these Front Country settings.

Desired Outcomes

Primary Activities

Driving for pleasure, motorcycle hill climbing.

Experiences

Developing skills and abilities.

Enjoying risk-taking adventure.

Being around people I know and enjoy.

Benefits

Improved physical fitness and health maintenance.

Improved outdoor recreation skills.

Enhanced sense of personal freedom.

More well-rounded childhood development.

Heightened sense of satisfaction with our area as a place to live.

Increased desirability as a place to live or retire.

Improved local economic stability.

Increased local tourism revenue.

Maintenance of community’s distinctive recreation/tourism market niche or character.

Desired Recreation Setting Character Condition

Physical

Remoteness:

Front Country.

The RMZ is surrounded by county roads, and displays tracks from heavy off-road use.

Naturalness:

Front Country.

The area’s natural setting from the intense off-road use may have modifications which range from being easily noticed to strongly dominant to observers within the area. These alterations would remain unnoticed or visually subordinate from sensitive travel routes (Highway 16, 20) and use areas.

Facilities and Structures:

Front Country.Primitive and improved routes/trails may exist. Facilities and structures are scattered.

Social

Contacts and Group Size:

Middle Country settings.

Usually 7-14 encounters/day off travel routes (e.g., staging areas), and 15-29 encounters/day en route. Usually group size is small to moderate.

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Middle Country.

4-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs, dirt bikes, in addition to non-motorized mechanized use.

Management Controls and Visitor Services:

Front Country.

On site controls and services are present but harmonize with the natural environment.

Implementing (Support) Actions

Marketing

(Information and Education,[inc. promotion & interpretation])

Develop interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas on user ethics, non-native invasive weed species found within the area, and user safety.

Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character.

Provide for a map with designated routes, trailheads, docking stations, designated areas tailored for different degrees of riding experience (novice areas to experienced areas).

Make information available to the surrounding communities.

Make available for special outdoor educational programs such as CORE and Take it Outside!

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with routine surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

If trends show that use is over acceptable limits, additional action may be considered, such as encouraging use on other trails.

Management

Develop areas for novice riders to highly experienced riders.

Develop trailheads containing loading dock stations, kiosks, comfort stations, and adequate parking.

Signs present at key access points, but limited within the SRMA.

Interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Class III.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

Motorized use open to off-road / cross-country use.

Lands and Realty:

ROW avoidance area.

Alternative energy avoidance area for realty actions.

Pursue legal and physical access to maximize recreational opportunities.

Minerals:

Pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within the Basin Gardens Play RMZ.

Prohibit mineral material sales and/or free use permits in the Basin Gardens Play Area.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Closed to surface-disturbing activities such as geophysical exploration, salable minerals exploration and developments, and construction activities (except those related to development of recreation facilities or wildlife habitat).

An NSO will be applied.

Special Recreation Permits:

SRPs will be issued as a discretionary action. Issue SRPs for a wide variety of uses, that are consistent with resource/program objectives, and within budgetary/workload constraints.

Cost recovery procedures for issuing SRPs would be applied where appropriate.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on available SRPs may be developed and implemented.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on SRP group numbers may be developed and implemented.

To assist in the determination of whether an organized group activity or event would require an SRP, factors such as the following may be considered: resource concerns, user conflicts, need for monitoring, health and safety concerns, risk of damage to federal facilities or property. The following guidelines will be used in determining SRP status:

1-15 participants –No SRP required, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

16-30 participants –Letter of Agreement, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

Over 30 participants –SRP required.

Partners:

Surrounding communities including but not limited to Greybull, Basin, Manderson, and Worland, Wyoming State Trails Program, surrounding private land owners, NOHVCC, Sagehoppers, and other interested groups and OHV clubs.

Other administration:

Recreational target shooting is prohibited within RMZ.

No glass containers and pallets (burning, etc.) allowed.

Noise constraints are enforceable via 43 CFR 8343.1.

Rationale

The Basin Gardens RMZ area was identified through public scoping as a desirable area to enjoy motorized and non-motorized opportunities on BLM-administered public lands that are located close to the communities. Non-motorized opportunities, most especially mountain biking was identified as a highly popular activity. The area is located outside of Greybull, Wyoming. The hills west of the area is very popular for motorized hill climbing activities, as well as some identified mountain biking activities. Management focus for this RMZ will be for non-motorized recreation that would potentially be displaced by the motorized activities that dominate the adjoining RMZ.

Management Objectives

Manage the Basin Gardens RMZ for motorized and non‐motorized recreationists to engage in hiking, hunting, nature viewing, and wildlife viewing so that they report realizing a “moderate” level of recreation experience and benefit outcomes in these back to middle country settings.

Desired Outcomes

Primary Activities

Hiking, hunting, nature viewing, wildlife viewing, mountain biking.

Experiences

Savoring the total sensory – sight, sound, and smell – experience of a natural landscape.

Developing skills and abilities.

Benefits

Improved physical fitness and health maintenance.

Improved capacity for outdoor physical activity.

Greater community involvement in recreation and other land use decisions.

Heightened sense of satisfaction with our area as a place to live.

Increased desirability as a place to live or retire.

Desired Recreation Setting Character Condition

Physical

Remoteness:

Middle Country.

On or near 4-wheel drive roads, but at least 0.5 mile from all improved roads, though they may be in sight.

Naturalness:

Back Country.

Natural settings may have subtle modifications that would be noticed but not draw the attention of the casual observer wandering through the area.

Facilities and Structures:

Back Country.

Trails may exist but do not exceed standard to carry expected use. Facilities and structures are rare and isolated.

Social

Contacts and Group Size:

Back Country.

Usually 3-6 encounters/day off travel routes and 7-15 encounters/day on travel routes. Usually group size is small.

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Middle Country.

4-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs, dirt bikes, in addition to non-motorized mechanized use.

Management Controls and Visitor Services:

Back Country.On site controls and services present but subtle. Minimum amount necessary to achieve planning objectives.

Implementing (Support) Actions

Marketing

(Information and Education,[inc. promotion & interpretation])

Develop interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas on user ethics, non-native invasive weed species found within the area, user safety, and designated travel routes.

Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character.

Make information available to the surrounding communites.

Make available for special outdoor educational programs such as CORE and Take it Outside!

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with routine surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

If trends show that use is over acceptable limits, additional action may be considered, such as encouraging use on other trails.

Management

Develop mountain biking trailheads and mountain biking routes.

Develop trailheads containing loading dock stations, kiosks, comfort stations, and adequate parking.

Signs present at key access points, but limited within the SRMA.

Interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Class III.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

All motorized use (including over-snow travel) is limited to designated routes and trails.

Lands and Realty:

ROW avoidance area.

Alternative energy avoidance area for realty actions.

Pursue legal and physical access to maximize recreational opportunities.

Minerals:

Pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within the Basin Gardens RMZ.

Prohibit mineral material sales and/or free use permits in the Basin Gardens RMZ.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Closed to surface-disturbing activities such as geophysical exploration, salable minerals exploration and developments, and construction activities (except those related to development of recreation facilities or wildlife habitat).

An NSO will be applied.

Special Recreation Permits:

SRPs will be issued as a discretionary action. Issue SRPs for a wide variety of uses, that are consistent with resource/program objectives, and within budgetary/workload constraints.

Cost recovery procedures for issuing SRPs would be applied where appropriate.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on available SRPs may be developed and implemented.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on SRP group numbers may be developed and implemented.

To assist in the determination of whether an organized group activity or event would require an SRP, factors such as the following may be considered: resource concerns, user conflicts, need for monitoring, health and safety concerns, risk of damage to federal facilities or property. The following guidelines will be used in determining SRP status:

1-15 participants –No SRP required, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

16-30 participants –Letter of Agreement, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

Over 30 participants –SRP required.

Partners:

Surrounding communities including but not limited to Greybull, Basin, Manderson, and Worland, Wyoming State Trails Program, surrounding private land owners, IMBA, Backcountry Horsemen, and other interested groups.

Rationale

The Horse Pasture SRMA is 100 acres of BLM-administered public land nestled along the foothills of Rattlesnake Ridge and surrounded by agriculture uses. This area was once used as an oil and gas staging area, complete with residential buildings. Currently, in coordination with Devon Energy Corporation, the BLM is in the process of reclaiming the area to pre-development landscape. The area is used by the community of Worland for uses such as walking, hunting (bird and big game), and nature viewing.

Management Objectives

Manage the Horse Pasture SRMA for non-motorized recreationists to engage in photography, hunting, nature viewing, and sightseeing so that they report realizing a “moderate” level of recreation experience and benefit outcomes in these middle country settings.

Desired Outcomes

Primary Activities

Hiking, wildlife viewing, nature viewing, photography, hunting (bird and big game), dog interaction (walking, training, hunting, etc.).

Experiences

Enjoy going exploring on my/our own.

Learn.

Savoring the total sensory – sight, sound, and smell – experience of a natural landscape.

Enjoy the closeness of family.

Learning more about things here.

Enjoy having easy access to natural landscapes.

Benefits

Enhanced awareness and understanding of nature.

Greater sensitivity to/awareness of outdoor aesthetics, nature’s art and its elegance.

Increased appreciation of area’s cultural history.

Improved mental well-being.

Heightened sense of satisfaction with our area as a place to live.

Greater community involvement in recreation and other land use decisions.

Increased desirability as a place to live or retire.

Maintenance of community’s distinctive recreation/tourism market niche or character.

Desired Recreation Setting Character Condition

Physical

Remoteness:

Front Country.

The south boundary is along an improved road used for agricultural purpose. Some primitive routes exist within the area from past management. Within the SRMA, the desired remoteness setting will be middle country, the edge will, by default, be front country.

Naturalness:

Back Country.

Natural setting may have subtle modifications but not draw the attention of the casual observer wandering through the area.

Facilities and Structures:

Back Country.Primitive motorized routes and non-motorized trails may exist. Facilities and structures are rare and often accessible via unimproved routes.

Social

Contacts and Group Size:

Back Country settings.

Usually up to 6 encounters/day off travel routes, and up to 15 encounters/day on trails. Usually group size is small. Most of the time, social settings will reflect primitive definition.

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Back Country.

Manage the SRMA for mountain bikes perhaps other mechanized use but all is non-motorized. The fringes will be managed for 4-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs, dirt bikes, or snowmobiles in addition to non-motorized mechanized use so as to maintain current land uses.

Management Controls and Visitor Services:

Back Country.

On site controls and services are present but subtle.

Personnel periodic. Rules clearly posted with some restrictions. Periodic enforcement, with an increase in BLM presence during big game hunting season.

Implementing (Support) Actions

Marketing

(Information and Education,[inc. promotion & interpretation])

Develop interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas on user ethics, non-native invasive weed species found within the area, history, hunting, and other current resource programs.

Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character.

Provide for a map with designated roads, trailheads, trails.

Make available for special outdoor educational programs such as CORE and Take it Outside!

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with routine surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

If trends show that use is over acceptable limits, additional action may be considered, such as encouraging use on other trails.

Management

Develop interpretive/historic nature trail within the Horse Pasture.

Develop trailhead at western edge of SRMA.

Signs present at key access points, but limited within the SRMA, with exception to nature trail.

Interpretive signs at trailhead, and along trail.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Class II.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

The area is closed to motorized use.

Lands and Realty:

ROW avoidance area.

Alternative energy avoidance area for realty actions.

Minerals:

Pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within the Horse Pasture SRMA.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Closed to surface-disturbing activities such as geophysical exploration, salable minerals exploration and developments, and construction activities (except those related to development of recreation facilities or wildlife habitat).

An NSO stipulation will be applied.

Special Recreation Permits:

SRPs will be issued as a discretionary action. Issue SRPs for a wide variety of uses, that are consistent with resource/program objectives, and within budgetary/workload constraints.

Cost recovery procedures for issuing SRPs would be applied where appropriate.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on available SRPs may be developed and implemented.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on SRP group numbers may be developed and implemented.

To assist in the determination of whether an organized group activity or event would require an SRP, factors such as the following may be considered: resource concerns, user conflicts, need for monitoring, health and safety concerns, risk of damage to federal facilities or property. The following guidelines will be used in determining SRP status:

1-15 participants –No SRP required, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

16-30 participants –Letter of Agreement, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

Over 30 participants –SRP required.

Partners:

Community of Worland, Wyoming State Trails Program, Wyoming Game and Fish, Devon Energy, and other interested groups.

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in or around developed recreation sites (i.e., trailheads, trails, cabins, etc.).

Rationale

The Bighorn River has been a very popular area known for river recreation such as boating/floating, fishing, hunting, and motor boating. The southern river segments (from Wedding of the Waters to Skelton Bridge) are managed as a blue-ribbon fishery with many Wyoming Game and Fish managed put-in and take-outs. The river contains BLM-administered islands, as well as other scattered tracts of land that provide for river access. Recently, the BLM acquired the Eggert tract which has enhanced user access to the river, as well as extended float trips from boaters putting-in upstream of the tract. From Greybull north to Bighorn Lake, there are three public access locations: Railroad, Greybull Bridge, and ML Dike Ramp. The Bighorn River tracts are currently managed under the Bighorn River Habitat Management Plan and Recreation Area Management Plan (2/23/1989). The HMP/RAMP prescribes management for other resources such as wildlife, vegetation, fisheries, and invasive and noxious weed management.

Management Objectives

Manage the Bighorn River SRMA for river recreation use for visitors to engage in sightseeing, hunting, photography, fishing, and floating so that they report realizing a “moderate” level of recreation experience and benefit outcomes in back to middle country settings.

Desired Outcomes

Primary Activities

Sightseeing, hunting, photography, fishing, and floating.

Experiences

Enjoy going exploring on my/our own.

Enjoy the closeness of family.

Experiencing a greater sense of independence.

Testing endurance.

Enjoy risk taking adventure.

Benefits

Improved mental well-being.

Closer relationship with the natural world.

Enhanced sense of personal freedom.

Improved physical fitness and health maintenance.

Improved skills for outdoor enjoyment.

Heightened sense of satisfaction with our area as a place to live.

Greater community involvement in recreation and other land use decisions.

Greater family bonding.

Increased desirability as a place to live or retire.

Increased local job opportunities.

Increased local tourism revenue.

Improved local economic stability.

Desired Recreation Setting Character Condition

Physical

Remoteness:

Front Country.

The tracts provide for main access points to the Bighorn River, which are on or near improved county roads, but at least 0.5 mile from any highway.

Naturalness:

Back Country.

Natural setting may have subtle modifications but not draw the attention of the casual observer wandering through the area. Some tracts along the Bighorn River (Durkee Boat Ramp) are Front Country due to adjacent land uses.

Facilities and Structures:

Front Country.

Primitive and improved routes/trails may exist. Facilities and structures are scattered.

Social

Contacts and Group Size:

Back Country settings.

Most of the Bighorn River Tracts are usually up to 6 encounters/day off travel routes, and up to 15 encounters/day on travel routes. Usually group size is small. Most of the time, social settings will reflect primitive definition.

Visitor encounters can be high during peak use periods at the boat ramp. Encounters diminish the further downstream (north).

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Front Country.

Manage the majority of the river tracts for a Front Country setting where 2-wheel drive vehicles predominant, but also 4-wheel drive vehicles and non-motorized mechanized use.

Management Controls and Visitor Services:

Back Country. On site controls and services are present but subtle. Personnel periodic. Minimum amount necessary to achieve planning objectives.

Implementing (Support) Actions

Marketing

(Information and Education,[inc. promotion & interpretation])

Develop interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas on user ethics, non-native invasive weed species found within the area, history, hunting, and other current resource programs. Use information and interpretation to lessen visitor conflicts, resource impacts, and to increase visitor awareness of wildlife habitat and wetland management.

Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character.

Provide for a map with designated roads, boat ramps, hazards, and BLM-administered public land tracts.

Make available for special outdoor educational programs such as CORE and Take it Outside!

Work closely with the gateway communities of Thermopolis, Worland, Basin, Lovell, and Greybull, and other partners in the region in marketing and outreach.

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with routine surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

If trends show that use is over acceptable limits, additional action may be considered, such as encouraging use on other river segments, institute fee areas, or limit river use.

Management

Continue to provide for a day use experience and associated facilities with an emphasis on maintaining a middle country recreation setting.

Continue to provide opportunities that contribute to meeting recreation demand while protecting resources.

Provide and maintain visitor facilities, services, signing, and programs.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Class II.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

Motorized use is limited to designated roads and trails.

Lands and Realty:

ROW exclusion area.

Alternative energy exclusion area for realty actions.

Pursue legal and physical access to maximize recreational opportunities.

Minerals:

Do not pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within the Bighorn River SRMA.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Closed to surface-disturbing activities such as geophysical exploration (except casual use), salable minerals exploration and developments, and construction activities (except those related to development of recreation facilities or wildlife habitat).

An NSO stipulation will be applied.

Special Recreation Permits:

SRPs will be issued as a discretionary action. Issue SRPs for a wide variety of uses, that are consistent with resource/program objectives, and within budgetary/workload constraints.

Cost recovery procedures for issuing SRPs would be applied where appropriate.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on available SRPs may be developed and implemented.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on SRP group numbers may be developed and implemented.

To assist in the determination of whether an organized group activity or event would require an SRP, factors such as the following may be considered: resource concerns, user conflicts, need for monitoring, health and safety concerns, risk of damage to federal facilities or property. The following guidelines will be used in determining SRP status:

1-15 participants –No SRP required, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

16-30 participants –Letter of Agreement, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

Over 30 participants –SRP required.

Partners:

Communities of Thermopolis, Worland, Basin, Lovell, and Greybull, Wyoming Game and Fish, National Park Service, Friends of Bighorn Lake, and other interested groups.

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in the SRMA.

Rationale

The Beck Lake Area SRMA contains about 6,478 acres of BLM-administered public land south of Beck Lake. The area is used by residents of Cody and Park County for uses such as mountain biking, hiking, hunting, driving for pleasure, and wildlife viewing. The City of Cody is seeking a Recreation and Public Purpose (R&PP) lease for land in the northern portion of the SRMA. That land would complement the recreation facilities the City manages at Beck Lake Park. Management of the R&PP area would be governed by agreement(s) and operating plan(s) associated with its R&PP status.

Management Objectives

Manage the Beck Lake Area community SRMA for non-motorized recreationists to engage in mountain biking, hiking, photography, wildlife viewing, and sightseeing so that they report realizing a “moderate” level of recreation experience and benefit outcomes in these rural and front country settings.

Desired Outcomes

Primary Activities

Mountain biking, hiking, wildlife viewing, nature viewing, photography, hunting, dog interaction (walking, training, hunting, etc.).

Experiences

Enjoy going exploring on my/our own.

Learn.

Enjoy the closeness of family.

Learning more about things here.

Benefits

Enhanced awareness and understanding of nature.

Greater sensitivity to/awareness of outdoor aesthetics, nature’s art and its elegance.

Increased appreciation of area’s cultural history.

Improved mental well-being.

Heightened sense of satisfaction with our area as a place to live.

Greater community involvement in recreation and other land use decisions.

Increased desirability as a place to live or retire.

Maintenance of community’s distinctive recreation/tourism market niche or character.

Desired Recreation Setting Character Condition

Physical

Remoteness:

Rural and Front Country.

A major highway lies along the eastern boundary of the SRMA. Numerous primitive and developed roads lie within the area.

Naturalness:

Rural to Front Country.

Natural setting may have modifications which range from being easily noticed to strongly dominant to observers within the area.

Facilities and Structures:

Rural and Front Country. Primitive and improved motorized routes and non-motorized trails may exist. Facilities and structures are readily apparent and may range from scattered to small dominant clusters.

Social

Contacts and Group Size:

Middle Country settings.

Usually up to 14 encounters/day off travel routes, and up to 29 encounters/day en route. Usually group size is small.

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Back Country.

Manage the SRMA for mountain bikes perhaps other mechanized use but all is non-motorized.

Management Controls and Visitor Services:

Middle Country.

On site controls and services are present but subtle.

Personnel periodic. Rules clearly posted with some restrictions. Periodic enforcement, with an increase in BLM presence during big game hunting season.

Implementing (Support) Actions

Marketing

(Information and Education,[inc. promotion & interpretation])

Develop interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas on user ethics, non-native invasive weed species found within the area, history, hunting, and other current resource programs.

Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character.

Provide for a map with access, trailheads, trails.

Make available for special outdoor educational programs such as CORE and Take it Outside!

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with routine surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

If trends show that use is over acceptable limits, additional action may be considered, such as encouraging use on other trails.

Management

Work with partners and other interested publics to determine trail maintenance and construction needs, signing needs, and access points.

Work with volunteers to develop and maintain limited facilities, as needed, in the area.

Signs present at key access points, but limited within the SRMA.

Interpretive signs at trailhead.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Class II.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

The area is closed to motorized use.

Lands and Realty:

ROW avoidance area.

Alternative energy avoidance area for realty actions.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Closed to surface-disturbing activities such as geophysical exploration, salable minerals exploration and development, and construction activities (except those related to development of recreation facilities or wildlife habitat).

NSO.

Special Recreation Permits:

SRPs will be issued as a discretionary action. Issue SRPs for a wide variety of uses, that are consistent with resource/program objectives, and within budgetary/workload constraints.

Cost recovery procedures for issuing SRPs would be applied where appropriate.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on available SRPs may be developed and implemented.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on SRP group numbers may be developed and implemented.

To assist in the determination of whether an organized group activity or event would require an SRP, factors such as the following may be considered: resource concerns, user conflicts, need for monitoring, health and safety concerns, risk of damage to federal facilities or property. The following guidelines will be used in determining SRP status:

1-15 participants –No SRP required, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

16-30 participants –Letter of Agreement, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

Over 30 participants –SRP required.

Partners:

City of Cody, Park County Recreation Board, private landowners, local mountain biking and hiking groups, Wyoming State Trails Program, and other interested groups.

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in or around developed recreation sites (i.e., trailheads, trails, cabins, etc.).

Rationale

The Newton Lake Ridge SRMA contains about 2,295 acres of BLM-administered public land north of Newton Lakes. The area is used by residents of Cody and Park County for uses such as mountain biking, hiking, hunting, and wildlife viewing. The Cody Shooting Complex lies within the SRMA and is a R&PP area. Management of the complex is governed by agreement(s) and operating plan(s) associated with its R&PP status.

Management Objectives

Manage the Newton Lake Ridge SRMA for non-motorized recreationists to engage in mountain biking, hiking, photography, hunting, wildlife viewing, and sightseeing so that they report realizing a “moderate” level of recreation experience and benefit outcomes in these rural, front, and middle country settings.

Desired Outcomes

Primary Activities

Mountain biking, hiking, wildlife viewing, nature viewing, photography, hunting.

Experiences

Enjoy going exploring on my/our own.

Learn.

Savoring the total sensory – sight, sound, and smell – experience of a natural landscape.

Enjoy the closeness of family.

Learning more about things here.

Enjoy having easy access to natural landscapes.

Benefits

Enhanced awareness and understanding of nature.

Greater sensitivity to/awareness of outdoor aesthetics, nature’s art and its elegance.

Increased appreciation of area’s cultural history.

Improved mental well-being.

Heightened sense of satisfaction with our area as a place to live.

Greater community involvement in recreation and other land use decisions.

Increased desirability as a place to live or retire.

Maintenance of community’s distinctive recreation/tourism market niche or character.

Desired Recreation Setting Character Condition

Physical

Remoteness:

Rural, Front, and Middle Country.

The northeastern boundary is along a major highway. Several short, primitive routes occur within the SRMA.

Naturalness:

Front and Middle Country.

Natural setting may have modifications which range from being easily noticed to strongly dominant to observers within the area but not draw the attention of observers on trails and primitive routes.

Facilities and Structures:

Rural and Front Country.

Primitive and improved motorized routes and non-motorized trails may exist. Facilities and structures are readily apparent and may range from scattered to small dominant clusters.

Social

Contacts and Group Size:

Back Country settings.

Usually up to 6 encounters/day off travel routes, and up to 15 encounters/day on trails. Usually group size is small. Most of the time, social settings will reflect primitive definition.

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Back Country.

Manage the SRMA for mountain bikes perhaps other mechanized use but all is non-motorized.

Management Controls and Visitor Services:

Middle Country.

On site controls and services are present but subtle.

Personnel periodic. Rules clearly posted with some restrictions. Periodic enforcement, with an increase in BLM presence during big game hunting season.

Implementing (Support) Actions

Marketing

(Information and Education,[inc. promotion & interpretation])

Develop interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas on user ethics, non-native invasive weed species found within the area, history, hunting, and other current resource programs.

Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character.

Provide for a map with designated roads, trailheads, trails.

Make available for special outdoor educational programs such as CORE and Take it Outside!

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with routine surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

If trends show that use is over acceptable limits, additional action may be considered, such as encouraging use on other trails.

Management

Work with partners and other interested publics to determine trail maintenance and construction needs, signing needs, and access points.

Work with volunteers to develop and maintain limited facilities, as needed, in the area.

Signs present at key access points, but limited within the SRMA.

Interpretive signs at trailhead.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Class II.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

The area is closed to motorized use.

Lands and Realty:

ROW avoidance area.

Alternative energy avoidance area for realty actions.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Closed to surface-disturbing activities such as geophysical exploration, salable minerals exploration and developments, and construction activities (except those related to development of recreation facilities or wildlife habitat).

NSO.

Special Recreation Permits:

SRPs will be issued as a discretionary action. Issue SRPs for a wide variety of uses, that are consistent with resource/program objectives, and within budgetary/workload constraints.

Cost recovery procedures for issuing SRPs would be applied where appropriate.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on available SRPs may be developed and implemented.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on SRP group numbers may be developed and implemented.

To assist in the determination of whether an organized group activity or event would require an SRP, factors such as the following may be considered: resource concerns, user conflicts, need for monitoring, health and safety concerns, risk of damage to federal facilities or property. The following guidelines will be used in determining SRP status:

1-15 participants –No SRP required, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

16-30 participants –Letter of Agreement, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

Over 30 participants –SRP required.

Partners:

City of Cody, Park County Recreation Board, private landowners, local mountain biking and hiking groups, Wyoming State Trails Program, and other interested groups.

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in or around developed recreation sites (i.e., trailheads, trails, cabins, etc.).

Rationale

This ERMA is within the entire Bighorn Basin Planning Area and will guide recreation management for the known and for newly discovered cave and karst systems for both the Worland and the Cody Field Offices. A cave is defined as any naturally occurring void, cavity, recess, or system of interconnected passages occurring beneath the surface of the Earth or within a cliff or ledge large enough to permit an individual to enter, whether or not the entrance is naturally formed or man. In the planning area, solution caves are, by far the most common type of cave. They are found in limestone and dolomite strata and are formed by the dissolving of rock along and adjacent to joints (fractures), faults, and bedding planes in the rock. Caves were often used by Native Americans as temporary living quarters, storage areas, shelter, and game traps. Cave resources are fragile due to their association with other resources such as groundwater hydrologic systems and biological communities. They may also be considered non-renewable resources due to paleontological and archaeological deposits, speleothems (formations inside caves), and biological resources.

The known cave and karst resources throughout the planning area are very popular for recreational activities. Spirit Mountain, in the Cody Field Office, is an example of observed high recreation use. Caves provide for very unique opportunities and experiences and nearly every caving experience results in desired beneficial outcomes for the visitor. Managing the cave resources as a separate ERMA will enable to focus more recreation management to be more proactive in adequately managing the cave resources, as well as providing for desired cave and karst activities, experiences, and beneficial outcomes.

Management Objectives

Guidelines to be considered in addressing resource demands include, but are not limited to: a regulation of surface disturbance in regard to future renewable energy developments, the avoidance of future ROW actions through any cave areas deemed to be significant, attempts to acquire resources through exchange, implementing fire suppression restrictions and geophysical exploration restrictions to comply with OHV restrictions, and management under Visual Resource Management (VRM) Class II, III, and IV guidelines as identified for each cave unit. Cave resources could be monitored for degradation. Managers may evaluate the desirability and practicality of various monitoring strategies including, but are not limited to, photo monitoring, water quality monitoring, and a periodic census of indicator species. Management policies and guidelines should be established for cave resources specific to the planning area identifying how to manage the land around the resources including policies related to travel management, gates or barricades, erosion, appropriate recreation use, and resource protection.

Desired Recreation Setting Character Condition

Physical

Remoteness:

Maintain primitive and pristine environment in the cave and karst systems.

Naturalness:

Manage the natural setting so that they may have subtle modifications that would be noticed but not draw the attention of the casual observer wandering through the area.

Facilities and Structures:

Facilities and structures are extremely rare and developed only in occasions where necessary to protect the cave and karst environment.

Social

Contacts and Group Size:

Manage for a season average of fewer than 6 encounters/day on and off travel routes.

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Manage for both non-motorized and motorized travel above ground over cave and karst passages.

Within cave and karst passages, foot traffic only.

Management Controls and Visitor Services:

On site controls and services present at key access points, but subtle.

Patrolled periodically by law enforcement officer, and other BLM employees. Spike in BLM monitoring presence during spike in caving use, usually during the summer.

Minimum amount of BLM facilitating outputs necessary to achieve planning objectives.

Implementing (Support) Actions

Marketing

(Information and Education,[inc. promotion & interpretation])

Develop educational signs at trailheads and parking areas on user ethics, geology, and wilderness.

Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character.

Make available for special outdoor educational programs such as Boy Scouts, CORE, and Take it Outside!

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with surveys and observation.

Visitor registers and cave register to observe crowding issues.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

If trends show that use is over acceptable limits, additional action may be considered.

Management

Cave and Karst management will be guided from the Worland Caves Management Plan.

Develop primitive trailheads at key access points.

Install kiosks and signs at trailheads and parking areas.

Signs present at key access points, but very limited within the ERMA.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Manage consistent with underlying resource VRM prescriptions.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

Motorized use is limited to designated roads and trails in areas over important caves or cave passages.

Lands and Realty:

Manage Lands and Realty actions consistent with underlying management prescriptions.

Minerals, Oil and Gas Leasing, and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Cave and karst areas are closed to mineral material disposals, withdrawn from locatable entry, and administratively unavailable for mineral leasing. These same restrictions apply to important caves or cave passages and karst resources as they are identified.

Special Recreation Permits:

SRPs will be issued as a discretionary action. Issue SRPs for a wide variety of uses, that are consistent with resource/program objectives, and within budgetary/workload constraints.

Cost recovery procedures for issuing SRPs would be applied where appropriate.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on available SRPs may be developed and implemented.

If circumstances warrant, limitations on SRP group numbers may be developed and implemented.

To assist in the determination of whether an organized group activity or event would require an SRP, factors such as the following may be considered: resource concerns, user conflicts, need for monitoring, health and safety concerns, risk of damage to federal facilities or property. The following guidelines will be used in determining SRP status:

1-15 participants –No SRP required, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

16-30 participants –Letter of Agreement, unless otherwise determined that an SRP will be needed.

Over 30 participants –SRP required.

Partners:

Including, but not limited to: Wyoming State Land Board, Wyoming Game and Fish, Back Country Horsemen, Sierra Club, Wyoming Wilderness Association, NOLS, NSS, and local grotto clubs.

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited inside cave and karst areas.