Rationale

This area is located approximately 4 miles east of Worland, Wyoming. This area is currently being used for off-road hill climbs used by both ATVs and motorcycles, dominantly motorcycles; as well as oil and gas extraction activities, ROW projects including radio signal towers, and grazing. Most of the visitors are from within the Worland area, as well as from other areas outside of the Worland area, most especially from Thermopolis, Wyoming. The area is heavily used by motorized use enthusiasts, and is mostly devoid of vegetation. The Rattlesnake Ridge area provides for exceptional motorized hill climbing opportunities ranging from novice riders to very challenging climbs for the experienced riders. In addition, the surrounding communities had identified this area as highly desirable for motorized recreational opportunities during the RMP Scoping meetings.

Management Objectives

Manage the Rattlesnake Ridge SRMA with a community recreation strategy for motorized recreationists to engage in ATV, motorbike, and other motorized hill climbing activities so that affected community residents report realizing a “moderate” level of recreation experience and benefit outcomes in these front to rural 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:

Rural Country.

The RMZ is surrounded by county roads, and displays tracks from heavy off-road use. The area is on or near primary highways, but still within a rural area.

Naturalness:

Rural Country.

The area’s natural setting from the intense off-road use as well as the industrial activities is culturally modified to the point that it is dominant to the sensitive travel route observer, Pedestrians or other slow moving observers are constantly within view of culturally changed landscape.

Facilities and Structures:

Rural Country.

Paved, improved, and/or primitive roads/highways dominate the landscape. Facilities and structures are readily apparent and may range from scattered to small dominant clusters.

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:

Rural Country.

On site controls and services are obvious and numerous. Largely harmonize with the man-made environment (dominantly from the oil and gas extraction activities and the ROW projects).

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 communites.

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

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 IV.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

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

Lands and Realty:

Open to all ROW (including alternative energy realty actions).

Pursue legal and physical access to maximize recreational opportunities.

Minerals:

Open to oil and gas, to mineral entry and, other mineral leasing subject to standard protection measures.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

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

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 Worland, Thermopolis, Manderson, Basin, and Greybull; Wyoming State Trails Program, surrounding land users and industry, NOHVCC, Sagehoppers, and other interested groups and OHV clubs.

Other administration:

Recreational target shooting is prohibited within SRMA.

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

Noise constraints are enforceable via 43 CFR 8343.1.

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 as a separate ERMA for motorized recreationists to engage in ATV, motorbike, and other motorized hill climbing activities so as to address public health and safety, use and user conflicts, and resource protection in these Front Country settings.

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 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 educational programs such as CORE and Take it Outside!

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with routine surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

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

User ethics and informational signs at trailheads and parking areas.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Manage visual resource objectives consistent with adjacent resource program prescriptions. Manage surface-disturbing activities so as to minimize visual contrasts.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

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

Lands and Realty:

Open the Basin Gardens Play area to new ROWs.

Minerals:

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

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

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

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

Open the Basin Gardens Play area to oil and gas and other mineral leasing subject to standard protection measures.

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 the ERMA.

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 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, and user safety.

Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character.

Make information available to the surrounding communities.

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

Monitoring

Monitor visitor use, visitor safety, and resource conditions through; BLM staff, volunteers and recreation-tourism partnerships (e.g., towns, outfitters, recreation organizations, etc.).

Vehicle counters with routine surveys, on-site patrols, and observation.

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 ERMA.

Interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Manage visual resource objectives consistent with adjacent resource program prescriptions. Manage surface-disturbing activities so as to minimize the degree of visual contrast.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

Motorized use is limited to existing roads and trails.

Lands and Realty:

Open the Basin Gardens area to new ROWs.

Open the Basin Gardens area to alternative energy realty actions (i.e., wind, solar, etc.).

Pursue legal and physical access to maximize recreational opportunities.

Minerals:

Do not pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within the Basin Gardens area.

Authorize mineral material sales and/or free use permits in the Basin Gardens area.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

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

Open the Basin Gardens Creek area to oil and gas and other mineral leasing subject to standard protection measures.

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.