Appendix II - 7 Buffalo Hump and Sand Dunes WSAs Information and Recommendations
Map 7 Existing Situation Buffalo Hump and Sand Dunes WSAs WY040-2011-062 Buffalo Hump WSA Sand Dunes WSA Original BLM WSA Lands with Wilderness Characteristics (LWCs)
Map 7 (R) Recommendation
Map 7 (CsWk) Recommendation - Crosswalk to Existing Situation WY040-2011-062 Buffalo Hump WSA Sand Dunes WSA Original BLM WSA Lands with Wilderness Characteristics (LWCs)
Map 7 (O&G) Recommendation - Oil and Gas Resource Authorized O&G Leases as of April 14, 2014! H E! [ " / k j! C O&G Well Producing or Permited Other Active Wells CoalBed Methane Wells O&G Wells Shut In Expired Permit Permanently Abandoned O&G Wells
Map 7 (BG) Recommendation - Big Game Crucial Range Big Game Crucial Ranges
Map 7 (SB) Recommendation - High Priority Sagebrush Habitat High Priority Sagebrush Habitat
From BLM website: Buffalo Hump WSA Location: Sweetwater County Nearest Town: Rock Springs (30 miles) BLM Acreage: 10,300 acres Recommended for Wilderness: 6,080 acres Primitive & Unconfined Recreation: Most of the primitive and unconfined recreation opportunities are found in the eastern and southern portions of the unit. These activities include hiking, backpacking, camping, bird watching, wildlife photography, horseback riding and hunting. The outstanding scenic quality of this WSA enhances the recreational values. The moving sand dunes provide for a dynamic rather than static viewshed. Features: The Buffalo Hump WSA encompasses 10,300 acres of BLM-administered land with no private or state inholdings. This is a sand dune area of many sand valleys, blowouts, dunes and hills. The northern and western part of the area contains ponds, grass-covered marshes and playas. The southern and eastern part includes active dunes and meadows. This area and the adjacent Sand Dunes WSA are part of the range of the only herd of desert elk in Wyoming. Naturalness: The Buffalo Hump WSA is essentially in a natural condition exhibiting an undisturbed sagebrushgrassland ecosystem intermingled with active sand dunes. There are some two-track trails, seismograph lines, livestock pit reservoirs, and a segment of sand fence. However, these intrusions do not detract from the overall integrity and naturalness of the area. The eastern portion of the WSA consists primarily of moving and stabilized sand dunes that match the dunes in the Sand Dunes WSA. The two WSAs are only separated by an abandoned railroad bed. The western side of the WSA consists of rolling stabilized sand dunes covered with sagebrush and grasses. Solitude: Due to the topographic relief in the southern and eastern portions of the WSA, the remoteness of the area provides outstanding solitude. Few roads exist outside the WSA; therefore, outside sights and sounds are practically non-existent. The numerous sand hills and overhangs accompanied by fresh water ponds provide scores of opportunities for solitude. Special Features: The Buffalo Hump WSA lies within a mile of two very important archaeological sites. These are the Finley site and the Eden-Farson site, where a distinctive projectile point gave evidence of one of man s earliest inhabited sites in North America. Therefore, it is highly probable that other significant sites may be located within the WSA.
The area attracts wild horses, mule deer, the unique herd of desert elk and large numbers of pronghorn antelope. Raptors and coyotes are frequent visitors to the area, plus reports of cougar use have been received in the recent past. Part of the Buffalo Hump WSA lies within the Greater Sand Dunes Recreation Area of Critical Environmental Concern. The ACEC management plan provides wildlife and cultural resource protection and promotes appropriate recreation use. The greatest special feature of the WSA is the dunes themselves. Pure white sand changes the landscape with every wind storm, building 100-foot drifts and hiding all imprints of man s visits.
Sand Dunes WSA Location: Sweetwater County Nearest Town: Farson (13 miles) BLM Acreage: 27,109 acres Recommended for Wilderness: 21,304 acres Primitive & Unconfined Recreation: Outstanding opportunities for primitive unconfined recreation are readily available. Hiking in the dunes is strenuous but can be a rewarding experience. Other activities include bird-watching, hunting, sightseeing and photography. Birds, including waterfowl, shorebirds and killdeer, are relatively abundant in parts of the area. This provides an unusual opportunity for viewing and photography in nearby areas of the high desert. The outstanding scenic quality of this WSA enhances the recreational values. The moving sand dunes provide for a dynamic rather than static viewshed. Features: The Sand Dunes WSA encompasses 27,109 acres, including 600 acres of split estate land, 640 acres of state land and 160 acres of private land. The study area comprises a large part of the Killpecker Sand Dunes. There are large areas of barren active dunes with superb draws and valleys, wet meadows and interspersed greasewood, sagebrush and rabbitbrush communities. Naturalness: The WSA is essentially in a natural condition. The intrusions found in the WSA are considered minor and do not detract from the apparent naturalness of the WSA. These intrusions include three producing wells in the eastern part of the WSA, two abandoned well sites within 509 feet of the WSA boundary, an old corral in the southwestern part, and a deteriorating barbed wire fence in the northern part of the WSA. There are also intrusions due to motorized vehicles in the northern part of the WSA. The large dunes in parts of the WSA make it possible for a visitor to experience the naturalness of the area because man-caused disturbances are not apparent. The constantly changing nature of the dunes adds to this feeling. The rails of the abandoned U.S. Steel railroad were removed from the railroad bed at the western boundary of the WSA. The bed is about 3 feet above the rest of the original right-of-way. Currently the railroad bed is used by four-wheel drive and some two-wheel drive vehicles. Drifting sands have already obliterated some portions of the railroad bed. Solitude: Many wind-blown basins exist within the WSA. The draws, valleys and ridges in the northern and eastern sections also provide outstanding opportunities for solitude due to the screening effect they offer. The size of the WSA and the large amount of active sand dunes create further opportunities for solitude. The variety of dunes, from active to stabilized, adds to the uniqueness of the area.
Special Features: Ecologically, the most unique feature of the Sand Dunes WSA is the eolian ice cells that feed pools at the base of many large dunes. These are formed as snow and ice accumulate on the leeward side of the dunes and then are covered by blowing sand. These pools range in depth from a few inches to 10 feet deep. Some are crystal clear and almost devoid of life, while others are muddy, murky and alive with tadpoles, salamanders, insects, waterfowl and various grasses and algae. The dunes help support the only desert elk herd in Wyoming. The Sand Dunes WSA lies within a short distance of two very important archaeological sites. These are the Finley site and the Eden-Farson site where a distinctive projectile point gave evidence of one of man s earliest inhabited sites in North America. Therefore, it is highly probable that other significant sites may be located within the WSA. The area is home to wild horses, mule deer, elk and large numbers of pronghorn antelope. Raptors and coyotes frequent the area, and there are reports of cougar use. Part of the Sand Dunes WSA lies within the Greater Sand Dunes Recreation Area of Critical Environmental Concern. The ACEC management plan provides wildlife and cultural resource protections and promotes appropriate recreation use. The greatest special feature of the WSA is the dunes themselves. White sands change the landscape with every wind storm, building 100-foot drifts and hiding all imprints of man s visits. Buffalo Hump and Sand Dunes Recommendations Table Name Specific Recommendation Recommendation Acres Comments (Note: These individual acres provided here are only estimates) Buffalo Hump-Sand Dunes Wilderness 38,775 Includes: 28,397 acres of Sand Dunes WSA 9,504 acres of Buffalo Hump WSA 640 acres of State Land inholding 240 acres of private land inholding