Rationale

This SRMA is necessary to accommodate back 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 due to the openness, and naturalness of the area. 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 an undeveloped 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 listed below in these Back Country and Middle Country settings.

Desired Outcomes

Primary Activities

Wildlife viewing, nature viewing, hiking, hunting, horseback riding.

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.

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:

Back to Middle 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.

Visitor surveys will be available in register boxes at trailheads.

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 South fork of the Owl Creek. Additional sites may be identified throughout the life of the plan.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Class II.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

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

Lands and Realty:

ROW avoidance area.

Alternative energy avoidance area for realty actions.

Minerals:

Do not pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within the Absaroka Mountain Foothills SRMA.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

For lands within the Absaroka Front Management Area, oil and gas leasing is subject to those management actions.

Outside of the Absaroka Front Management Area, allow surface-disturbing activities in the Absaroka Mountain Foothills SRMA such as geophysical exploration, salable minerals exploration and development, and construction activities (except those related to development of recreation facilities or wildlife habitat) on a case-by-case basis.

A CSU will be stipulated within 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.

Agreements:

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

Seek other agreements and partnerships as appropriate.

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, LU Sheep Company, and other sports groups.

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls unless and until monitoring supports an increase in education, signing, or enforcement to meet public recreation objectives for the area.

Pack goats are prohibited.

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

Rationale

This separate ERMA is necessary to accommodate back 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 due to the openness, and naturalness of the area. 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. However, despite the natural recreational resources, access is very challenging due to the scattered parcels of BLM-administered public land which can result in user conflicts.

Management Objectives

Manage the Absaroka Foothills as an ERMA for non-motorized recreationists to engage in hiking, hunting, wildlife viewing, and nature viewing these Back Country and Middle Country settings. Recreation management will focus on addressing resource protection, minimizing use and user conflicts, and public health and safety.

Desired Recreation Setting Character Condition

Physical

Remoteness:

Middle Country.

Implement a Travel Management Plan so as to maintain the back to middle country settings. Maintain Back Country settings within the South Owl Creek Canyon.

Naturalness:

Back Country.

Manage for back 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:

Middle 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. Maintain primitive setting within the South Owl Creek canyons 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:

Back to Middle 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. 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.

Implementing (Support) Actions

Marketing

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

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 and trails, easements, trailheads, and surface ownership.

Make available for special outdoor 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 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 trails.

Management

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

Interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas.

Develop recreational facilities so as to address resource protection, use and user conflicts, and public health and safety.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Manage VRM consistent with other resource objectives.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

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

Lands and Realty:

ROW avoidance area.

Alternative energy avoidance area for realty actions.

Minerals:

Do not pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within the Absaroka ERMA.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

For lands within the Absaroka Front Management Area, oil and gas leasing is subject to those management actions.

Outside of the Absaroka Front Management Area, allow surface-disturbing activities in the Absaroka ERMA such as geophysical exploration, salable minerals exploration and development, and construction activities (except those related to development of recreation facilities or wildlife habitat) on a case-by-case basis.

A CSU will be stipulated within the ERMA.

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 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 and stakeholders.

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls unless and until monitoring supports an increase in education, signing, or enforcement to meet public recreation objectives for the area.

Pack goats are prohibited.

Rationale

The Bighorn River is a popular area known for river recreation such as boating/floating, fishing, hunting, and motor boating. The river contains scattered tracts of BLM-administered lands that provide for river access. From Greybull north to Bighorn Lake, there are three public access locations: Railroad, Greybull Bridge, and ML Dike Ramp. There may be opportunities in the future to provide additional access. 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, middle, and front 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 are Front or Middle 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 ramps. 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 avoidance area.

Alternative energy avoidance 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:

Avoid 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) on a case-by-case basis.

An NSO stipulation will be applied to 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.

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 unless and until monitoring supports an increase in education, signing, or enforcement to meet public recreation objectives for the area.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in the SRMA.

Rationale

The Bighorn River has been a very popular area known for river recreation such as boating/floating, diverse fishery, hunting, and even 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 extend float trips from boaters putting-in upstream of the tract. 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 from other resources such as wildlife, vegetation, fisheries, and invasive and noxious weed management. Most river access is via the Wyoming Game and Fish access points. Readily accessible BLM-administered public lands are located outside of the “blue-ribbon” section of the Bighorn River, and the tracts are scattered. Primary objectives for these tracts are to enhance wildlife habitat.

Management Objectives

Manage access to the Bighorn River ERMA for river recreation use for visitors to engage in sightseeing, hunting, photography, fishing, and floating. Manage recreation use for enhanced recreational opportunities, as well as to manage for resource protection, and to minimize use and user conflicts, and public health and safety consistent with the HMP/RAMP.

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 ramps located in the southern sections of the Bighorn River (Wedding of the Waters to Skelton Bridge). 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, and Greybull, and other partners in the region in marketing and outreach.

Monitoring

Vehicle counters at access points with routine surveys and observation.

Solicit partnerships and cooperative agreements to: Monitor recreation setting condition through on-site patrols. Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

Visitor reports of crowding. 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:

Manage visual resources consistent with adjacent resource prescriptions.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

Manage trails and travel management consistent with adjacent resource prescriptions.

Lands and Realty:

Lands within the Bighorn River ERMA are ROW avoidance areas. ROWs are collocated whenever possible.

The Bighorn River ERMA is an alternative energy avoidance area for 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 Bighorn River ERMA.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Apply an NSO restriction on lands within the Bighorn River ERMA.

Avoid surface-disturbing activities within the Bighorn River ERMA 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) on a case-by-case basis.

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, and Greybull, Wyoming Game and Fish, and other interested groups.

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls unless and until monitoring supports an increase in education, signing, or enforcement to meet public recreation objectives for the area.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in the ERMA.

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 / 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 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 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:

Manage VRM consistent with other resource management objectives.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

Limited to designated roads and trails.

Lands and Realty:

ROW exclusion area.

Alternative energy avoidance area for realty actions.

Minerals:

Do not pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within the Tour de Badlands area.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Review mineral leases on a case‐by‐case basis and apply mitigation through activity level planning.

Allow surface-disturbing activities in the Tour de Badlands RMZ such as geophysical exploration (except casual use), saleable minerals exploration and development, and construction activities (except those related to development of recreation facilities or wildlife habitat) on a case-by-case basis.

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 unless and until monitoring supports an increase in education, signing, or enforcement to meet public recreation objectives for the area.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 along perimeter of WSAs.

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:

Class I.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

Closed to motorized and non-mechanized travel.

Lands and Realty:

ROW avoidance 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 unless and until monitoring supports an increase in education, signing, or enforcement to meet public recreation objectives for the area.

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:

Middle / Back 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:

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.

Implementing (Support) Actions

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 designated routes and trails, key access points, private lands, and outdoor ethics messages such as Tread Lightly and 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:

Manage VRM consistent with other resource management objectives.

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

Acquire legal and physical access to maximize recreational opportunities..

Minerals:

Do not pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within the Tatman Mountain RMZ.

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

A CSU is stipulated within this zone.

Allow 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) on a case‐-by‐-case basis.

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 contained within the West Slope of the Bighorns SRMA. The Canyon RMZ attracts visitors from both 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 and Dry Medicine Lodge canyons, Paint Rock Canyon, Trapper Creek and White Creek canyons, Spanish Point ACEC, Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite and the Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite ACEC, the Hyattville Logging Road, the Red Gulch / Alkali Road Backcountry Byway, prominent wildlife habitat management areas, abundant wildlife and fishing, significant cave and karst resources, highly rated scenic quality and access into the Bighorn National Forest. These resources provide for excellent primitive non-motorized recreation to motorized (touring) recreation..

Management Objectives

Manage the Canyons 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 listed below in these Back Country and Middle Country settings.

Desired Outcomes

Primary Activities

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

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.

Enjoy having easy access to natural landscapes.

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:

Back to Middle Country.

On land surrounding the Red Gulch/Alkali Road Back Country Byway, Cold Springs Road, Hyattville Logging 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 WSAs and canyons.

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 WSAs and canyons where lands are essentially an unmodified natural environment. Evidence of humans is unnoticed by an observer wandering through the area.

Facilities and Structures:

Primitive / Back Country.

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

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 for the majority of the zone. Usually group size is small. Areas such as Dry Medicine Lodge Canyon, Cold Springs Road, Hyattville Logging Road, and Paint Rock Canyon are middle country where 7-14 encounters/day off travel routes, and 15-29 encounters/day en route. Usually group size is small to moderate.

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Middle / Back Country.

Maintain Middle country settings along the Cold Springs Road, Black Butte Road, Hyattville Logging 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. Maintain Back Country settings within the Spanish Point ACEC where mountain bikes perhaps other mechanized use is allowed, but all travel is non-motorized.

Management Controls and Visitor Services:

Middle / Front 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 the Spanish Point ACEC. Motorized use within the ACEC is strictly prohibited.

Implementing (Support) Actions

Marketing

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

Utilize adaptive management techniques to provide identified recreation opportunities (activities, experiences, and benefits) and reach desired future setting conditions.

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; Trapper Creek, Medicine Lodge, 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

Solicit partnerships and cooperative agreements to: Monitor outcome attainment and preferences through customer assessments (focus group interviews or visitor studies), Monitor recreation setting condition through on-site patrols throughout the year.

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, Black Mountain area, 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.

Construct Trailheads to accommodate mountain bike users.

Construct Pull‐-offs along the Red Gulch/Alkali Road. Back Country Byway.

Maintain the OHV route between the Medicine Lodge State Park and Cold Springs Road.

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

Develop campgrounds if needed.

Work with local spelunking community and adjacent land management agencies to maintain cave and karst areas.

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.

All motorized travel is prohibited within the Spanish Point ACEC..

Lands and Realty:

ROW avoidance area.

Alternative energy avoidance 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:

Do not pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within the Canyons RMZ.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Avoid 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).

Apply CSU restriction for this zone.

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. Seek other agreements and partnerships as appropriate.

Partners:

Big Horn National Forest, Wyoming State Land Board, Wyoming State Trails Program, Wyoming Game and Fish, Medicine Lodge State Park, IMBA, surrounding 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 unless and until monitoring supports an increase in education, signing, or enforcement to meet public recreation objectives for the area..

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 / Middle Country.

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 Canyons 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 avoidance area.

Alternative energy avoidance 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:

Do not 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:

Avoid 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). Apply a CSU for this zone.

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.Maintain current easement agreement with local land owners in this zone.

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 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 / Middle Country.

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:

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

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.

Develop a recreation site at Rainbow Canyon.

Additional recreational developments may be done throughout the life of the plan, if warranted.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Class II and III for the SRMA..

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

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

Lands and Realty:

Open to ROWs.

Open to renewable energy development.

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 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:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls unless and until monitoring supports an increase in education, signing, or enforcement to meet public recreation objectives for the area. 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, an impressive coordinated travel management effort improving access into the area as well as improving resource management exists between the BLM, Wyoming State Game and Fish, Wyoming State Land Board, and the Orchard Ranch. A coordinated resource effort once existed between the BLM, Wyoming State Land Board, and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, which accomplished recreation, wildlife, and weed management goals. The impressive Deep Creek is a 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. Due to the amount of and the spatial location of private lands within the Southern Bighorns, the most appropriate recreation management strategy of the area would be under a separate ERMA.

Management Objectives

Manage the South Bighorns as an ERMA for motorized and non‐motorized recreationists to engage in hiking, wildlife viewing, nature viewing, hunting, fishing, and driving for pleasure in these Back Country and Middle Country settings.

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.

Facilities and Structures:

Middle Country.

Primitive motorized 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.

Rural settings along Upper Nowood Road where 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 ERMA. 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])

Some onsite visitor orientation (kiosk and trail markers) will be developed, which may include interpretive signs at trailheads and parking areas on history, user ethics, wildlife resources, etc.

Provide stewardship information to help preserve the special landscape character. Work with partners to provide additional interpretation of the historic events and buildings, ranches, and other remnants.

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, on-site patrols, 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 areas such as, but not limited to the Cherry Creek stock driveway crossing of Deep Creek, Otter Creek, and Split Rock.

Develop trailheads for Mahogany Butte, Deep Creek, Upper Nowood areas, and in other areas on a case‐by‐case basis so as to sustain recreational opportunities, as well as to address use and user conflicts, public health and safety, and to address resource protection.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Manage VRM consistent with other resource management objectives.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

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

Continue to implement Upper Nowood Travel Management Plan.

Lands and Realty:

ROW avoidance area.

Open to alternative energy development. Co-locate renewable energy ROW authorizations whenever possible.

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:

Do not pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within the South Bighorns ERMA.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Allow surface-disturbing activities.

Review mineral leases on a case‐by‐case basis and apply mitigation through activity level planning.

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

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

Seek other agreements and partnerships as appropriate.

Partners:

Including, but not limited to the Big Horn National Forest, Wyoming State Land Board, Wyoming State Trails Program, Wyoming Game and Fish, private land owners, Orchard Ranch, Double-H Ranch, Back Country Horsemen, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ten Sleep, and other sports groups.

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls unless and until monitoring supports an increase in education, signing, or enforcement to meet public recreation objectives for the area.

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

Rationale

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. This area has received significant managerial support from both the Worland and Buffalo Field Offices in coordination with the Wyoming State Game and Fish in improving access into the area to support a variety of recreational activities, dominantly hunting and fishing.

Management Objectives

Manage the Middle Fork of the Powder River as a SRMA with a destination strategy for motorized and non‐motorized recreationists to engage in fishing, hunting, hiking, 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

Fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, photography, nature viewing, general dispersed recreation, Driving for pleasure, snowmobiling, snowshoeing.

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.

Feeling good about solitude, being isolated, and independent.

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.

Greater spiritual growth.

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

Lifestyle improvement or maintenance

Greater family bonding.

More well-rounded childhood development.

Increased desirability as a place to live or retire.

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 Hazelton Road and the Middle Fork of the Powder River Campground.

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.

Middle country settings along Hazelton Road and Middle Fork of the Powder River Campground. Usually 7-14 encounters/day off travel routes (e.g., staging areas and campgrounds), and 15-29 encounters/day en route. Usually group size is small to moderate.

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Front Country along Hazelton Road.

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

Middle Country for remainder of SRMA. 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])

Some onsite visitor orientation (kiosk and trail markers) will be developed. This may include orientation methods such as interpretive signs at trailheads and Middle Fork of the Powder River Campground on history, user ethics, and fish 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.

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

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with routine surveys, on-site patrols, 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 or other campgrounds, reevaluating fee structure, etc.

Management

Maintain and improve the Middle Fork of the Powder River campground and associated so as to maximize identified beneficial outcomes.

Develop additional trailheads, campgrounds, or other recreational facilities on a case-by-case basis so as to meet identified beneficial outcomes, recreational setting character conditions, and resource maintenance.

Develop trailhead at the Middle Fork Campground, and in other areas on a case‐by‐case basis.

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 avoidance area.

Alternative energy avoidance area for realty actions.

Consider the acquisition of legal and/or physical access for recreation related opportunities. Areas to be considered for acquisition include public land tracts along the Cherry Creek Road to Hazelton Road, and along Hazelton Road.

Minerals:

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

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Apply a CSU stipulation for the Middle Fork Powder River SRMA.

Avoid 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.

Agreements:

Pursue MOUs with surrounding land owners, Wyoming State Land Board, Wyoming Game and Fish, and the Buffalo and Casper BLM Field Offices.

Seek other agreements and partnerships as appropriate.

Partners:

Wyoming State Land Board, Wyoming State Trails Program, Wyoming Game and Fish, Buffalo and Casper BLM Field Offices, 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 unless and until monitoring supports an increase in education, signing, or enforcement to meet public recreation objectives for the area.

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 (BLM Road 1416) provides access into BLM-administered public lands east of Canyon Creek as well as the Bighorn National Forest.

Management Objectives

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

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

Solicit partnerships and cooperative agreements to: Monitor outcome attainment and preferences through customer assessments (focus group interviews or visitor studies), Monitor recreation setting condition through on-site patrols.

Vehicle counters with routine surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

Management

Utilize adaptive management techniques to provide identified recreation opportunities (activities, experiences, and benefits) and reach desired future setting conditions.

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

Develop trailheads at Canyon Creek and Smilo Road.

Some onsite visitor orientation (kiosk and trail markers) will be developed.

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 avoidance area.

Alternative energy avoidance area for realty actions.

Acquire legal and physical access to maximize recreational opportunities.

Minerals:

Do not pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within the Canyon Creek SRMA.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Avoid 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).

Apply a CSU stipulation.

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.

Seek other agreements and partnerships as appropriate.

Partners:

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

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls unless and until monitoring supports an increase in education, signing, or enforcement to meet public recreation objectives for the area.

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. Other uses exist within and around the area such as livestock grazing, and mineral development. Legal public access into the area is questionable, and there are private surface land parcels within the area.

Management Objectives

Manage the Red Canyon Creek ERMA to maintain a back country setting, to address public health and safety, use and user conflicts, and resource protection. In addition, recreation management within the ERMA will manage for motorized and non‐motorized recreationists to engage in hiking, hunting, wildlife viewing, and nature viewing.

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.

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 visitor orientation signs at trailheads and parking areas on user ethics, designated motorized routes, trails, 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.

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

Monitoring

Vehicle counters with routine surveys and on-site patrols.

Monitor for resource degradation, user conflicts, health and safety, and prescribed settings.

Management

Develop hiking trail to Red Canyon Creek.

Develop trailheads at northern access point.

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

Interpretive signs and visitor orientation materials at trailheads and parking areas.

Engage local community, businesses, and other partners in the development and distribution of a brochure and/or area guide book.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Manage VRM consistent with other resource management objectives.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

All motorized use (including over-snow travel) is limited to designated roads 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:

Do not pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within the Red Canyon Creek ERMA.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

On a case‐by‐case basis, allow 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).

Review mineral leases on a case‐by‐case basis, open Red Canyon Creek area to appropriations under the mining laws, and authorize mineral material sales and/or free use permits; apply mitigation through activity level planning.

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 unless and until monitoring supports an increase in education, signing, or enforcement to meet public recreation objectives for the area.

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 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 lease 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 and Class III.

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 and Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone Rivers as avoidance areas for construction of above ground power lines except in designated utility corridors.

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 plus increase emphasis on float access and facilities where appropriate.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Avoid 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) within campgrounds, trailheads, day use areas, river access sites, and similar recreational sites and trails within The Rivers SRMA.

Apply an NSO restriction on areas within ¼ mile of campgrounds, trailheads, day use areas, river access sites, and similar recreational sites within The Rivers 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.

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:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls unless and until monitoring supports an increase in education, signing, or enforcement to meet public recreation objectives for the area.

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

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in the SRMA.

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 SRMA 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])

Ensure targeted experiences and benefits is included and explained in all visitor information.

Engage local sporting good businesses and other partners in the development and distribution of a brochure and/or area guide book.

Some onsite visitor orientation (kiosk and trail markers) will be developed. Orientation materials will include a map with designated routes/areas, trailheads, docking stations, and designated areas tailored for different degrees of riding experience (novice areas to experienced areas).

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

Monitoring

Solicit partnerships and cooperative agreements to: Monitor outcome attainment and preferences through customer assessments (focus group interviews or visitor studies).

Monitor recreation setting condition through on-site patrols.

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 trails or areas or limiting carrying capacity at trailheads.

Management

Utilize adaptive management techniques to provide identified recreation opportunities (activities, experiences, and benefits) and reach desired future setting conditions.

Develop areas for novice riders to highly experienced riders.

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

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Manage visual resource objectives according to adjacent resource program prescriptions.

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:

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

Avoid mineral material disposals in the Basin Gardens Play Area SRMA.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Avoid 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).

Apply a CSU restriction for the Basin Gardens Play Area 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.

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:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls unless and until monitoring supports an increase in education, signing, or enforcement to meet public recreation objectives for the area.

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 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. The other uses within the area expose visitors to potential health risks from elements such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and active oil and gas extraction activities. Conflicts between users have been an issue and interim management between the oil and gas companies and recreationists has been established in this area, but without significant BLM management guidance.

Management Objectives

Manage the Rattlesnake Ridge ERMA for motorized recreationists to safely engage in ATV, motorbike, and other motorized hill climbing activities with a priority in addressing use and user conflicts, public health and safety, resource protection, and to maintain these front country to rural settings.

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 visitor orientation signs at trailheads and parking areas on user ethics, non-native invasive weed species found within the area, other important land uses 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 available for special educational programs such as CORE and Take it Outside!

Monitoring

Solicit partnerships and cooperative agreements to: Monitor outcome attainment and preferences through customer assessments (focus group interviews or visitor studies).

Monitor recreation setting condition through on-site patrols.

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 trails or areas or limiting carrying capacity at trailheads.

Management

Develop areas for novice riders to highly experienced riders with coordinated effort through other entities such as local OHV groups, and onsite oil and gas companies.

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

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

Visitor orientation materials (kiosks and signs) at trailheads and parking areas.

Administrative

Visual Resource Management:

Manage visual resources according to other adjacent resource program prescriptions.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

Motorized use limited to existing roads and trails.

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 industries, NOHVCC, Sagehoppers, and other interested groups and OHV clubs.

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls unless and until monitoring supports an increase in education, signing, or enforcement to meet public recreation objectives for the area.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited within ERMA.

Glass containers and pallets are prohibited.

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 back to 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.

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 and visitor orientation materials 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

Solicit partnerships and cooperative agreements to: Monitor outcome attainment and preferences through customer assessments (focus group interviews or visitor studies), Monitor recreation setting condition through on-site patrols.

Vehicle counters with routine surveys and observation.

Visitor reports of crowding.

Informal visitor surveys and formal focus groups as funding allow.

Management

Utilize adaptive management techniques to provide identified recreation opportunities (activities, experiences, and benefits) and reach desired future setting conditions.

If need arrives, develop interpretive/historic nature trail within the Horse Pasture.

Develop trailhead at western edge of SRMA. Facilities will include, but not limited to visitor orientation materials, adequate parking, comfort station, and other necessary facilities identified throughout the life of the plan.

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:

Motorized use within the SRMA is limited to designated roads and trails.

Lands and Realty:

ROW avoidance area.

Alternative energy avoidance area for realty actions.

Minerals:

Do not pursue withdraw from appropriation under the mining laws for lands within the Horse Pasture SRMA.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Avoid 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).

Apply a CSU stipulation for the Horse Pasture 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.

Partners:

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

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls unless and until monitoring supports an increase in education, signing, or enforcement to meet public recreation objectives for the area.

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

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 an 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 and motorized recreationists to engage in mountain biking, hiking, photography, wildlife viewing, driving for pleasure, 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, driving for pleasure, 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:

Middle Country.

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

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 routes, 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:

Manage VRM consistent with other resource objectives.

Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management:

Motorized vehicle use is limited to designated roads and trails.

Lands and Realty:

Open to ROWs.

Alternative energy avoidance area for realty actions.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Allow surface-disturbing activities such as geophysical exploration, salable minerals exploration and development, and construction activities on a case-by-case basis.

Open to oil and gas leasing with a CSU restriction.

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, local motorized groups, Wyoming State Trails Program, and other interested groups.

Other administration:

Limit the use of signing or other administrative controls unless and until monitoring supports an increase in education, signing, or enforcement to meet public recreation objectives for the area.

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 and 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:

Middle Country settings.

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

Operational

Mechanized Use:

Middle Country.

Manage the SRMA for 4-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs, and dirt bikes in addition to 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 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:

Motorized vehicle use is limited to designated roads and trails.

Lands and Realty:

Open to ROWs.

Alternative energy avoidance area for realty actions.

Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-Disturbing Activities:

Allow surface-disturbing activities such as geophysical exploration, salable minerals exploration and development, and construction activities on a case-by-case basis.

Open to oil and gas leasing with a CSU restriction.

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 unless and until monitoring supports an increase in education, signing, or enforcement to meet public recreation objectives for the area.

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