Table Of Content

VBLM LIBRARY 88049898 CREEK RANCH BILLY LOWER SALMON RIVER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT IDAHO STATE OFFICE 752 .S35 B555 1993 OCTOBER 1993 S0^ sYIvy? TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary 1 Location Map 3 Project Description 5 Background 7 Resource Values 9 Vegetation 13 Terrestrial Wildlife 13 Acquatic Wildlife 13 Recreation 14 Cultural Resources 17 Support, Economics, and Public Opinion 19 Management Objectives 21 Appendix 23 Vicinity Map 25 *, SUMMARY EXECUTIVE The Billy Creek Ranch extends along the south side of the Lower Salmon River for 20 miles, with seven miles ofactual river frontage. The ranch varies nearly 4,000 feet in elevation from the river to the top ofJoseph Plains. Acquisition of this 19,663 acre ranch will tie together BLM and state lands to create a 35,000 acre manageable block of public land. The ranch contains a tremendous quantity and diversity of resources. Many ofthese resource values will be in jeopardy or irretrievably lost if the ranch is subdivided and developed. Because of its location and character, the Billy Creek Ranch riverfront is highly desirable for development. A new hunting and fishing lodge (commercial outfitter business) that was built this year on less desirable property directly across the Salmon River has already marred the Lower Salmon River viewshed. Some of the outstanding features of the Billy Creek Ranch include: • Threatened and Endangered Species: Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon Snake River Sockeye Salmon Bald Eagle Multiple candidate and sensitive species of both plants and animals • Nez Perce National Historic Trail • Listed on the National Register of Historic Places • Pending Legislation for Wild and Scenic River Designation • Outstanding Recreation Values (hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, Whitewater boating) • Critical Year-Round Big Game Habitat (Bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, white tail deer, black bear, and cougar) • Within confines of Lower Salmon River Area ofCritical Environmental Concern (ACEC) LEGEND <$ S»*«ccapital _.Mnltratitihigh-ay K- • Countyseat .~uShighway Xo CSicthye.dtuolwend.v»iflvlii|ci».aoirfnloorctality -; -,s|t|ahttelhp.rignhcwiapyalroads i*ijdw al_ ^-^^5TTIt70-XT~rT?TrT. \ IBu>ltupareaihownlortown*o*e<S.000population Pun.Jf** «ti«.n*. '.iKiunddy -(_ Jn,iI-»i.iItiw«-.(gMSSland d^LEME DIS 'C jN.it-irA.ilttateporh •C DIndianrelaxation —^f "C 3NWaitldiomnamlwWiilldldiefrene<sestuge ^ /•< ; I IBLMLands JStale DepartmentolLands I INationalForestLands INaAtdimoinnailsGtrearsesdlbayndUsS/DBAankheadJonesLandUseLands I IBankhead-JonesLandUseLandsAdministeredbyOOI IIP i INationalParks.MonumentsandRecreationAreas I I IMilitaryReservationsandCorpsotEngineers I 1NationalWildlifeReluges I IIndianReservations r . .]DepartmentolEnergy P.'.",'|.,.iv y. " I|—--HIPSrtiavtaetePaLraknsds Bolt*" ""TtiNC PR KHisliic Trait. NEZPERCE 3V-J|E —tBiuurcti*auii,ruv» .P'Wi I .-jfiwom. t#%a JyVALLCtWA vr k - „ J .WWI. •,^»,. ! •ar H'ML "LJ Point A L O ro j. p*r ! ,: v< / c-^r «•: -V « 4=5- \n * t'; I1 e»*-'n«» .<.»,;•,!• m ir TTOCtrw.or—x-.h^W jA V E STANDDAAfAtD rnrMnky., A L NFogOrR ; no. EPF "=S ./I -N £ 3m» - ?rf-o- pfi D i T-yaim. a UWfirk. - J3i S-^V k L a. IflWtBund.rtK.lt Tte^v^ ^s ^ ipi.'-11 «"-R. STATE OF IDAHO Scale 1.1.000.000 su. 1InchequalsApproximately16miles H Kl 1 i r . I I ""U N G ('• ,J T7 r i a J PROJECT DESCRIPTION PROJECT NAME Billy Creek Ranch STATE, COUNTY Idaho, Idaho BLM DISTRICT BLM RESOURCE AREA Coeur dAlene Distict Office Cottonwood Resource Area Fritz Rennebaum, District Manager Lanny O. Wilson, Area Manager 1803 North Third Street Route 3, Box 181 Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814 Cottonwood, Idaho 83522 FTS/COM (208) 769-5000 FTS/COM (208) 962-3245 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT District One, Honorable Larry LaRocco (D) LOCATION Lower Salmon River CURRENT OWNERSHIP Shroyer Ranches, Inc. 24799 Grange Hall Road OR Philomath, 97370 (503) 929-2694 LEGAL DESCRIPTION Township 30 & 31 North, Range 2 & 3 West, B.M. ACRES 19,622.84 deeded, 15,760 leased ESTIMATED VALUE $4-5,000,000