Access more mistake than design

Snake River corridor availability exists largely because a 19th-century surveyor made an error

By MATTHEW EVANS
mattevans@postregister.com

BYou might not be aware, but a bungled survey is responsible for the vast amount of public access along the banks of the Snake River.

In the late 19th century, the federal government hired John B. David to survey the area and gauge its enormity. His study should have included all the land down to the Snake River banks, but he stopped measuring at the cottonwood stands hundreds of yards away.

It would be a vastly different place had David not shirked his duties.

"It definitely wouldn't be the primitive, wild experience; you wouldn't have the wildlife," said Karen Rice of the Bureau of Land Management's Upper Snake River District office in Idaho Falls. "There's quite a bit of open space that otherwise wouldn't have been there."

That's partly why the number of people who flock to the vast, 119-mile Snake River corridor to recreate has surged over the years -- nearly tenfold in some places.

It's also the main reason why the Bureau of Land Management is rethinking the way it manages one of the most diverse ecosystems in the country.

The BLM's Snake River Plan hasn't been altered since its inception in 1991, even though usage along the waterway has exploded, recreationists have become more unruly and untidy, and rare and endangered species and plants have been discovered, such as the Ute Ladies' Tresses Orchid and the yellow-billed cuckoo. More than 120 bird species live along the corridor, something BLM officials weren't aware of when they drafted their current management plan.

Therein lies the problem: The federal agency is charged with protecting these animals, plants and resources, but today's plan doesn't reflect the changes that have occurred in the decade-plus since its inception.

"We don't have any guide to help manage the resource," said Monica Zimmerman, outdoor recreation planner for the BLM's Upper Snake River District.

That's about to change.

Zimmerman and her colleagues plan to unveil a rough draft of the new Snake River management plan soon. Then they'll seek input through public meetings, mail and e-mail.

They've already gotten a smidgen of feedback. One hundred people responded to a survey (mailed to 1,600) asking questions about the way the corridor is managed -- what's off limits, etc.

"The general synopsis was to keep it the same," Zimmerman said. "They enjoy the primitive experience. They like what they see."

At least three things will stay the same: No new parking lots will be paved, there won't be a cap on the number of visitors allowed, and the conflict between jet boaters and drift boat users won't be addressed.

The latter is a big problem, said Wendy Reynolds, field manager for the BLM's Upper Snake River District, and it's one the agency frequently hears about.

But, she said, "we don't really have the (authority) to address that in this document. The state is responsible for the waterways."

That's about all that's set in stone, though.

Here's a glimpse at what's been considered while developing the plan over the past few years:

Winter access

Hunters and anglers are more prevalent in the area today because of changes in regulations made in 2003 and 2004, with the introduction of a spring turkey hunt and year-round fishing.

Designated camping areas

You can only camp in designated spots along the canyon stretch of the river between Conant and Lufkin Bottom.

Along the South Fork and the Henry's Fork, the BLM has allowed people to camp pretty much wherever they want, and that's caused problems, particularly with trash and the dumping of human waste in the Wolf Flats upriver from Heise and along the river corridor.

That could change under the new plan.

"The folks that look after the river are spending way, way too much time (dealing with it)," Reynolds said. "It's a huge problem. ... It's a poor use of the public's money to be picking up trash when we need to be managing the river."

Commercial and nonprofit uses

The BLM has long charged commercial outfitters for the right to float the river with a boat full of paying customers. It's considering expanding the pool of people charged for that privilege, though, as requests begin to pick up from other groups: nonprofit agencies, colleges and universities, city and county groups, and companies wanting to film along the scenic route.

Charging people will, in theory, cut down on the crowds.

Facilities and trails

Should the BLM further develop the six trails along the route? What about the five boat ramps along the Henry's Fork?

Overall oversight

What's the best approach for managing the river, which has seen an explosion in use, to maintain its "world class" appeal?

By the numbers: Snake River use

10

Number of developed boat access sites along the South Fork. Two of the most popular are Conant and Byington.

4,500

Number of visitors to Conant boat ramp in 1993.

32,218

Number of visitors to Conant in 2006.

8,000

Number of visitors to Byington put-in in 1993.

37,250

Number of visitors to Byington in 2006.