Wilderness planning meetings set on Salmon-Challis Forest

As its wilderness management plan moves forward, the Salmon-Challis National Forest is looking for public input.

The Forest is working to identify what lands, if any, should be recommended for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Only Congress can designate wilderness under the Wilderness Act of 1964, but the forest’s planning process can help determine which lands are considered.

The forest is currently working on its draft wilderness evaluation and has scheduled a number of public meetings.

A public meeting is set Wednesday, December 12, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Forest Supervisor’s Office at 1206 Challis Street in Salmon and Thursday, December 13, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Challis-Yankee Fork Ranger Station in Challis.

“During our public workshops in November, some participants were particularly interested in discussing how the Forest Service determines what, if any, lands should be recommended for wilderness as part of a forest plan revision. We decided to hold these meetings to discuss the process in more detail and hear from stakeholders,” said Josh Milligan, team leader for the forest plan revision effort.

Once feedback is reviewed, areas in the final wilderness evaluation will be analyzed in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement. That document will offer another opportunity for public comment.

You can find more information here.