Backcountry Musings

Forest Service News Release
Boise National Forest

Contact: Mike Williamson, Public Affairs Officer, 208-373-4105, michael.williamson@usda.gov

Forest Service’s Sage Hen Road Temporarily Closed for Repairs

BOISE, Idaho, May 30, 2024 – The Boise National Forest will temporarily close Road 626, also known as Sage Hen Road, beginning June 3 at 7 a.m. through June 7 at 6 p.m. to allow for construction crews to replace culverts and install road stabilization structures. The closure will begin at the intersection with Forest Road 644, located about 1.5 miles west of Smiths Ferry and extend 16 miles to the intersection with Forest Road 653 about nine miles north of Ola.

This closure is part of a larger road improvement effort that will extend into the fall and to other nearby National Forest System roads in 2025. While no other closures are expected this year, the public may experience temporary delays throughout the summer as crews complete road resurfacing and other improvements.

“We understand this closure will be an inconvenience to those visiting the Sage Hen Reservoir area,” says Boise National Forest Engineering Staff Officer Brett Barry. “By closing the road for five days and allowing the contractor to complete the needed work, we avoid having staged closures stretched out over several weeks.”

During this road closure the Sage Hen Reservoir area can be accessed via Forest Road 653 beginning 13 miles north of Ola at the Third Fork Guard Station, easterly to Forest Road 609, then southward to the reservoir.

For more information contact the Emmett Ranger District at 208-365-7000

2024-05-30 Sage Hen Road 626 News Release

Sage Hen Road 626 Closure Map

Sage Hen Road 626 Closure Order

By Mindy Gould on Tuesday, May 28th, 2024
HARNEY COUNTY (Released by the Burns Interagency Fire Zone)-‘Tis the season! Effective last Friday, May 24, 2024, on all BLM-administered public lands in Oregon and Washington, the following are PROHIBITED:

Discharging or using fireworks or pyrotechnic devices. Discharging or using combustible or explosive composition or chemical devices, including but not limited to exploding targets. Discharging or using tracer, explosive, or incendiary ammunition. Discharging steel component (core or jacket) ammunition, except a person with a valid state hunting license actively engaged in the legal take/pursuit of Game/Non-Game species in accordance with the current hunting seasons. Releasing or causing to be released any sky lanterns, airborne paper lanterns, aerial luminaries and/or fire balloons. Shooting at any metallic object, including but not limited to using metal targets for target shooting.

Nearly 90% of wildfires are human-caused. Follow these restrictions and help keep our public lands and surrounding communities safe!

Those who violate the restrictions can be fined up to $1,000 and/or receive a prison term of up to one year. In addition, those found responsible for starting wildland fires on federal lands can be billed for the cost of fire suppression.

Local questions, contact your local dispatch center for more information.

Comment period is open until June 5 for the Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) affecting the future of Travel Management in the East Fork South Fork (EFSF) Salmon River portion of the Krassel Ranger District, Payette National Forest.

Proposals in the Draft range from no-change in motorized access, to adding up to about 26 miles of public road and trail access beyond the current inventory.

The Forest will issue a final Decision Notice and implement the plan estimated October 2024. The Decision will guide how motorized access is managed to this portion of the Forest going forward. No losses are expected, but gains are possible depending on the Forest’s final Decision.

Learn more about the Draft plan here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/payette/?project=60889

Comment submission form here: https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=60889

(Attaching a DOC or PDF of your comments is recommended; else, type or paste text into the form fields provided.)

The Forest presently manages motorized access in the EFSF area under the 2007 Payette Travel Management FEIS, the 2008 McCall/Krassel and 2010 Big Creek Yellow Pine TMP Records of Decision, and the 2024 Motor Vehicle Use Map.  A 2017 settlement to a lawsuit which challenged the 2007/2008/2010 TMPs requires this Plan to be completed. (Two of three Plans total required by the settlement were previously Decided and are in the process of being implemented: Big Creek and South Fork RAMPs.)

IDPR has submitted its commentary based on the themes summarized below. Additional requests are based on routes which stakeholders have for many years been asking the Forest to implement.

•  IDPR Supports Alternative D, plus proposed modifications:
•        Re-open Sugar Creek Road 51883 as a Trail for 70” and under OHVs (closed ~2016)
•        Re-open Crater Lake Road as a Trail for 70” and under OHVs (closed ~2016)
•        Re-open Parks Peak Trails 069 and 074 to 2-wheeled OHVs as-proposed in Alt D, and also re-open connecting Rainbow Ridge Trail 070 to create a loop (each closed ~2000)
•        Give greater consideration for the economic survival of the Yellow Pine community, which recreation visitation will ensure

Please inform fellow recreationists of this public process.