Owyhee Canyonlands Plan Made Public

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Federal authorities have made public the final management plan for six wilderness areas and 16 wild and scenic river segments in southwestern Idaho.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management on Monday published on the Federal Register the Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Management Plan. The process allows for appeals to be made within 30 days concerning the state's newest wilderness areas that include about 518,000 acres and 325 miles of wild and scenic river in Owyhee County.

The six rugged areas became federally protected preserves in 2009 after Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho cobbled together a coalition of ranchers, wilderness advocates, outdoor enthusiasts and others in an effort called the Owyhee Initiative. The 99-page federal document contains rules ranging from floating rivers to grazing livestock.