Appendix II-2 Alkali Basin/East Sand Dunes and Red Lake WSAs

Appendix II-2
Alkali Basin/East Sand Dunes and Red Lake WSAs
Information and Recommendations
Map 2
Existing Situation
WY040-2011-074
Alkali Basin-East Sand Dunes and Red Lake WSAs
South Pinnacles WSA
Red Lake WSA
Alkali Basin/East Sand Dunes WSA
Legend
Original BLM WSA
Lands with Wilderness Characteristics
County Roads
Map 2(R)
Recommendation
Red Lake Wilderness
Alkali Basin-East Sand Dunes WSA Release
Alkali Draw-South Pinnacles Wilderness
Red Lake Wilderness
Alkali Basin/East Sand Dunes WSA
Legend
Red Lake Wilderness
Alkali Basin-East Sand Dunes WSA Release
Red Desert NCA
Alkali Draw-South Pinnacles Wilderness
County Roads
Map 2 (CsWk)
Recommendation - Crosswalk to Existing Situation
Red Lake Wilderness
Alkali Basin-East Sand Dunes WSA Release
WY040-2011-074
Alkali Draw-South Pinnacles Wilderness
South Pinnacles WSA
Alkali Basin/East Sand Dunes WSA
Alkali Basin/East Sand Dunes WSA
Red Lake Wilderness
Red Lake WSA
Legend
Red Lake Wilderness
Alkali Basin-East Sand Dunes WSA Release
Original BLM WSA
Lands with Wilderness Characteristics (LWCs)
Red Desert NCA
Alkali Draw-South Pinnacles Wilderness
County Roads
Map 2(OG)
Recommendation - Oil and Gas Resource
Red Lake Wilderness
Alkali Basin-East Sand Dunes WSA Release
Alkali Draw-South Pinnacles Wilderness
Red Lake Wilderness
Alkali Basin/East Sand Dunes WSA
Legend
Red Lake Wilderness
Alkali Basin-East Sand Dunes WSA Release
Red Desert NCA
Alkali Draw-South Pinnacles Wilderness
Authorized O&G Leases as of April 14, 2014
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O&G Well Producing or Permited
Other Active Wells
CoalBed Methane Wells
O&G Wells Shut In
Expired Permit
Permanently Abandoned O&G Wells
County Roads
Map 2(BG)
Recommendation - Big Game Crucial Ranges
Red Lake Wilderness
Alkali Basin-East Sand Dunes WSA Release
Alkali Draw-South Pinnacles Wilderness
Red Lake Wilderness
Alkali Basin/East Sand Dunes WSA
Legend
Red Lake Wilderness
Alkali Basin-East Sand Dunes WSA Release
Big Game Crucial Ranges
Red Desert NCA
Alkali Draw-South Pinnacles Wilderness
County Roads
From BLM website:
Alkali Basin/East Sand Dunes WSA
Location: Sweetwater County
Nearest Town: about 21 miles northeast of Point-of-Rocks
BLM Acreage: 12,800 acres
Recommended for Wilderness: 0 acres
Primitive & Unconfined Recreation:
This area is conducive to unconfined recreation such as horseback riding, hiking, backpacking, nature
study and wildlife photography. Hunting in the Alkali Basin/East Sand Dunes WSA is mostly for
pronghorn antelope and sage grouse.
Features:
The Alkali Basin/East Sand Dunes WSA encompasses 12,800 acres of BLM-administered land with no
private or state inholdings. The study area includes a portion of the Killpecker Sand Dunes. The dunes
present a rolling topography with the draws and ridges of Alkali Creek providing topographic relief.
Sagebrush and bunchgrass are the principle vegetative species.
Description:
The study area is adjacent to the Red Lake area on the eastern boundary, accessed by County Road 421 on the east. The East Sand Dunes are part of the largest active sand dune region in Wyoming and
contain beautiful scenery of the Killpecker Sand Dunes as well as lakes formed by ice-fed ponds.
Conflicts:
The area has potential for natural gas production.
Naturalness:
The Alkali Basin – East Sand Dunes WSA is essentially a natural condition. There are some minor
intrusions including three abandoned well sites, a shut-in gas well and two two-track trails. At the time
of the intensive inventory, the two-track trails, one of the abandoned well sites and the shut-in gas
well were insignificant to the overall natural character. The other two abandoned well sites were
temporary disturbances allowed under BLM Interim Management Policy.
Solitude:
There is opportunity for solitude in the southern portion of the WSA but it is not outstanding. Many
large sand dunes, draws and ridges in this area provide natural screening from sights and sounds of
others. Opportunities for solitude in other portions of the WSA are marginal since there is little natural
screening provided by topography and vegetation.
Special Features:
The Killpecker Dunes, the largest active sand dune region in Wyoming, traverse the WSA. This WSA
includes a remnant of the Red Desert area of the Great Divide Basin. The region may be of scientific
value for the study of active sand dunes, their movements and how they are stabilized. Valuable
pronghorn antelope habitat is found within the WSA, and the Sands elk herd occasionally inhabits the
WSA during the winter months.
From BLM website:
Red Lake WSA
Location: Sweetwater County
Nearest Town: Point of Rocks (21 miles)
BLM Acreage: 9,515 acres
Recommended for Wilderness: 0 acres
Primitive & Unconfined Recreation:
According to the intensive inventory, this area is conducive to primitive and unconfined recreation.
Raptors, wild horses, antelope, coyotes and a variety of small mammals challenge the wildlife
photographer. Hiking, backpacking, camping, horseback riding, hunting and sightseeing for botanical,
zoological, geological and archaeological features are other experiences available to the visitor.
However, because the area mainly consists of a large sand dune, campsite and water are limited and
thus limit the scope and quality of these opportunities.
Features:
The Red Lake WSA encompasses 9,515 acres of BLM-administered land with no private or state
inholdings. Rolling brush covered hills and stabilized dunes border the flat dry lake bed of Red Lake in
the northern part of the area. The wide open character of the landscape gives a sense of immensity
and isolation.
Naturalness:
The Red Lake WSA is in near-natural condition. Intrusions in the WSA include a minor two-track trail
from the western boundary road, a well and accompanying water trough just inside the northern
boundary road, and a few random tracks from off-road vehicles.
Solitude:
Opportunities for solitude in the WSA are excellent. The WSA is relatively open but has topographic
relief and vegetation that provides screening.
The use of motorized vehicles in connection with range management activities would be infrequent
and would not affect wilderness values except for the short period of time when the activities are
taking place. These activities would probably not be necessary every year. Solitude would be the only
wilderness value adversely affected by these activities.
Special Features:
The Killpecker Sand Dunes traverse the WSA from west to east. The WSA includes a remnant of the
Red Desert area of the Great Divide Basin. This region may be of significant scientific value for the
study of active sand dunes, their movement and how they are stabilized.
Alkali Basin and Red Lake WSAs Recommendations Table
Name
Specific
Recommendation
Recommendation
Acres
Alkali Basin/East
Sand Dunes
Release
12,804
Red Lake
Wilderness
9,572
Comments
(These individual acres provided here are
only estimates)
Includes:
9,572 acre Red Lake WSA