Editor’s Note: The BlueRibbon Coalition sent over this note today regarding the Hemingway-Boulders & White Clouds Wilderness Management Plan in Idaho. See the details below.

The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are announcing the availability of the proposed wilderness management plan for the Hemingway-Boulders and White Clouds Wilderness areas. A wilderness management plan guides the preservation, management, and use of wilderness to ensure it is unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as wilderness. The draft wilderness management plan provides direction for managing the resources and uses within wilderness: recreation, search and rescue, research, wildlife, vegetation, while preserving wilderness character.

To access the draft plan, or for more information on the planning process, the wilderness areas, and interactive maps, please visit the interagency project website at: http://usfs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=5693f6ff6783482da33cb7c2bf9f12d2

You may also request hard copies or CDs containing the document by contacting the Sawtooth National Forest Office at 208-737-3200.

The BLM and USFS will also offer three public open-house meetings during the scoping period:

Challis, Idaho: December 5th, 5-7 p.m. at the Forest Service Office, 311 N. US Hwy 93.
Stanley, Idaho: December 6th, Noon-2 p.m. at the Stanley Community Center, Hwy 21.
Ketchum, Idaho: December 6th, 5-7 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 220 Cottonwood Street.

Comments concerning this action will be most useful if received by January 5, 2016, through one of the following methods:

Send an email to: comments-intermtn-sawtooth-nra@usda.gov
Send a hardcopy letter to Sawtooth National Forest, 2647 Kimberly Road East, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301.

For more information, contact Julie Thomas at 208-737-3262 or jathomas@fs.fed.us.