Imagine this: picturesque river canyons over a thousand feet deep, an expansive ocean of sagebrush plateaus, rolling streams flowing through lush meadows, and verdant juniper woodlands. This describes only a handful of the Owyhee-Bruneau Canyonland's unique attributes. The Canyonlands is a high elevation desert speckled by rivers and rugged canyons. Located in the southwestern corner of Idaho where Nevada and Oregon join, the Owyhees boast breathtaking vistas and stunning canyons.
Here, large tracts of undeveloped land provide critical habitat for sage grouse, antelope, songbirds, and raptors. The deep canyons paired with desert plateaus are home to California bighorn sheep, spotted bats, ferruginous hawks, Columbia spotted frogs, and a plethora of other species that are important both ecologically and globally. Wetland areas intertwined with dry, volcanic soils are also important to the longevity of rare plant species in this region.
The large size and complexity of the landscape make the Owyhees an important ecological, scientific, cultural, and recreational area. The Owyhee Plateau is the largest intact sagebrush habitat in the Columbia Plateau ecosystem. It is the only place in the Interior Columbia Basin where sage grouse are expected to remain over the next 100 years. Facing a rapid decline of shrub and sagebrush habitat due to encroaching development in this region, protection of this area is even more vital.
While most of this region remains undeveloped, off-road vehicle use, the spread of invasive species, and poor soil and water systems are quickly degrading the Owyhees' remarkable landscape. Motorized vehicles have pushed their way farther into this landscape forming illegal trails that crush the native flora. This harmful activity facilitates the spread of invasive weeds that push out the ecologically important native plant species.
Fortunately, various grassroots efforts have been carried out in an attempt to forever protect this valuable habitat as wilderness. Ranchers, recreationists, conservationists, local officials, the Shoshone-Paiute Tribe, hunters, and members of the community have taken action to protect this unique landscape with the goal of designating this area as wilderness and preserving the local lifestyle and economy.
The Owyhee Initiative was convened by the Owyhee County Commission in 2001 to resolve some ongoing public land issues. The Owyhee Initiative is a local, community based effort that is focused on bringing people together. The Initiative stakeholders reached agreement on a land management proposal in 2006. Senator Crapo translated this agreement into the Owyhee Public Land Management Act, S.2833.
Wickahoney Creek Canyon; © John McCarthy
S.2833 aims to protect 517,000 acres of flatlands and moderate hills that provide ideal habitat for Sage grouse, Brewers sparrows and Pygmy rabbits. High desert sagebrush steppe habitat is underrepresented in the National Wilderness Preservation System, even though it plays a critical role in the overall well-being of the ecosystem.
The bill would also protect over 300 miles of vital riverbeds and steep-sided canyon walls as Wild and Scenic Rivers. If passed, it will be the largest single addition to the Wild and Scenic River system since 1992.
Additionally, the measure would preserve recreational activities like hunting, fishing, hiking, and rafting, as well as provide economic stability by continuing to permit established livestock grazing to continue.
The Owyhee Public Land Management Act of 2008 (S. 2833) had a positive hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests on April 22.
For more information on the Owyhee-Bruneau Canyonlands or the Owyhee Initiative, visit www.owyheeinitiative.org.
