Bridger-Teton National Forest Wild & Scenic Rivers Process Evaluation Criteria

Outstandingly Remarkable Values (ORVs) are • river-related features in a river corridor (within ¼ mile of either side of the river) • contribute substantially to the functioning of the river ecosystem and/or • owes its location or existence to the presence of the river • are unique, rare, or exemplary to each ORV’s Region of Comparison (comparative at a regional to national scale).

ORV Forest Service Handbook ORV Bridger-Teton National Forest ORV Criteria Region of Comparison Data Sources Outstandingly Criteria Wild & Scenic River Eligibility Evaluation Remarkable FSH 1909.12 Recommendations for Criteria Values Eligibility Evaluation Criteria Scenic The landscape elements of landform, The landscape elements of landform, Physiographic Regions Apps: Flickr (ISU Study), vegetation, water, color, and related vegetation, water, color, and related factors 1. Wind River Range Instagram, Facebook factors result in notable or exemplary result in notable or exemplary scenic (East) visual features or attractions. features and/or attractions. Additional 2. Teton and Gros Postcards of FS landscapes Additional factors, such as seasonal factors such as seasonal variations in Ventre Ranges variations in vegetation, scale of vegetation,. Scenery and attractiveness are (North) FS Dispersed Campsites cultural modifications, and the length of time negative intrusions are viewed, distinctive for the majority of the river 3. Wyoming and Salt may be considered. Scenery and visual segment. Range attractions may be highly diverse over (West) different parts of the river or river Viewsheds, variety classes, scenic quality, segment. Outstandingly remarkable topography, frequently photographed areas scenic features may occupy only a small (waterfalls) portion of a river corridor.

Recreational Recreational opportunities are high Recreation opportunities are high quality Physiographic Regions Apps: Strava, Instagram, quality and attract or have the and unique enough to attract visitors from combined with the Facebook, Flickr, AllTrails, Trail potential to attract visitors from outside region of comparison. River-related Intermountain Region Forks, American White Water throughout or beyond the region of opportunities may include, boating, fishing, 1. Wind River Range comparison; or the recreational floating, camping, sightseeing, photography, (East) opportunities are unique or rare within the region. River-related opportunities wildlife observation, hiking, gathering, and 2. Teton and Gros Water Sports: paddleboards & include, but are not limited to, hunting. Ventre Ranges packrafting websites, forums, sightseeing, interpretation, wildlife (North) Facebook groups observation, camping, photography, Winter Recreation – snowmobiles, ice 3. Wyoming Range hiking, fishing, hunting, and boating. fishing, ice skating (West) Chamber of Commerce The river may provide settings for Blue Ribbon Trout Streams State Game & Fish angler national or regional use or competitive events. Golden Trout Streams surveys Outfitter & Guides: Hunting, Fishing, NOLS routes

Retail Stores: outdoor gear, angling, rafting

Winter: snowmobiles trails, grooming, maps, winter patrollers Fisheries Fish values may be judged on the Fish values are judged on the relative merits 5 Watersheds on the WY Game & Fish: relative merits of either fish of fish populations or habitat. Consideration BTNF Important/Critical Stream List, populations or habitat, or a is given to potential as well as existing 1. Snake/Columbia Spawning Data combination of these river-related values, such as the presence of species of River Watershed Fish Barrier Data conditions. conservation concern ( including listed 2. Green/Colorado Temperature Data Populations. The river is nationally or threatened and endangered species). The River Watershed regionally an important producer of resident and/or anadromous fish number and variety of native species 3. Bear River/Great Trout Unlimited Data: Climate species. Of particular significance are a present compared to invasive species. Basin Watershed Data diversity of fish species or the presence 4. Yellowstone/ of wild stocks and/or Federal or State Examples of important habitats includes Missouri River Basin Advisory Group listed, or candidate threatened, spawning areas, rearing areas, adult Watershed endangered, or species of conservation habitats, and viable connectivity among 5. North Platte/ Water Development concern. these life stages, plus rare or threatened Missouri River Commission (snowpack, Habitat. The river provides uniquely stream temperature regimes, like cold Watershed snowfall) diverse or high quality habitat for fish water refugia. species indigenous to the region of

comparison. Of particular significance is exemplary habitat for wild stocks Balance of grazing & fisheries, and/or Federal or State listed, or Subspecies in Lake Alice candidate threatened, endangered, or Three Waters Mountain species of conservation. Consider also rare and unique habitats within the corridor.

Wildlife & Wildlife values may be judged on the Wildlife and ecological values are judged on Connected Forests Citizen Inventories (GYC) Ecological relative merits of either terrestrial or the relative merits of key populations, 1. Bridger-Teton aquatic wildlife populations or habitat, habitat, or a combination of these factors. National Forest WY + Idaho Game & Fish: or a combination of these conditions. Consideration is given to the presence of 2. Caribou-Targhee Action Plan, Watershed Health Habitat. The river, or area within the nationally or regionally important National Forest Framework, Migration Data river corridor, provides uniquely populations of native wildlife and plant 3. Shoshone National diverse or high quality habitat for wildlife of national or regional species associated with and/or dependent Forest Department of Interior significance, and/or may provide on the river environment. 4. National Parks Species of Conservation unique habitat or a critical link in Examples of important habitats (and 5. BLM Concern (River Related) habitat conditions for Federal or State linkages) include winter range, summer listed, or candidate threatened, 6. Fish & Wildlife range, transition zones, migration corridors, endangered species, or species of Service IGBC : Grizzly Bear Info calving areas, the number and variety of conservation concern. Contiguous native species present, and the rarity of habitat conditions are such that the Landscape Conservation these species. biological needs of the species are met. Initiative Populations. The river, or area within Geographic bottlenecks (migration related) the river corridor, contains nationally or Climate change (refugia for: cutthroat, regionally important populations of Nature Mapping (Jackson indigenous wildlife species. Of moose, beavers, osprey, river otter, and Hole) particular significance are species dippers). diversity, species considered to be Path of the Pronghorn (upstream migration unique, and/or populations of Federal routes) or State listed, or candidate threatened or endangered species, or species of conservation concern.

Geologic The river corridor contains one or more The river or its corridor contains an example Physiographic Regions Special Use Research Permits examples of a geologic feature, of a geologic or hydrologic feature, process, 1. Wind River Range process, or phenomenon that is or phenomenon that is rare or unique in the (East) Potential Landmarks in Forest unique, rare or exemplary within the region, or an outstanding example of a 2. Teton and Gros Plan region of comparison. The feature(s) commonly occurring feature. Geological Ventre Ranges may be in an unusually active stage of features may be exemplary examples of (North) Jackson Hole Geologists development, represent a “textbook” example, and/or represent a unique or erosion, landslides, channel braiding, glacial, 3. Wyoming Range rare combination of geologic features geothermal, springs, waterfalls or other (West) GYC work on glaciers & climate (erosional, volcanic, glacial, or other geologic structures. change

geologic structures). Paleontological, fault lines (Snake River), Landslide data sets rock glaciers, glacial fed systems, big

springs, sinks/rise (Fish Bowl), gorges, Glacial Fed Systems (GYCC) unique canyon (features), travertine falls, exceptionally long river segments Historical & Historical The river, or area within the corridor, Physiographic Regions Priority Heritage Assets Cultural The river, or area within the river contains a site or sites where there is 1. Wind River Range Native American Tribes corridor, contains important evidence evidence of occupation or use by Native (East) of occupation or use by humans. Sites Americans, a significant historic event, 2. Teton and Gros Local Newspapers & Archives may have national or regional important person, or a rare cultural activity Ventre Ranges importance for interpreting history or of the past. (North) Latter Day Saints archives prehistory. History. Site(s) or feature(s) associated 3. Wyoming and Salt (Mormon Trail & early settlers) with a significant event, an important The Drift, Mormon Trail, Lander Trail, Native Range person, or a cultural activity of the past American Trail (West) Local Historical Societies that was rare or one-of-a-kind in the Railroad Float Streams/Rivers region. A historic site or feature, in Mines *May vary based on Lander Trail Museum most cases, is 50 years old or older. Quarries (Native American) the nature and age of Pre-history. Sites may have unique or Passes or cutoffs: Lander, Sublette, the resources. rare characteristics or exemplary McDougal human interest value; represent an area where a culture or cultural period was first identified and described; may have been used concurrently by two or more cultural groups or may have been used for rare sacred purposes. Cultural Cultural values are combined with historical values in the recommended criteria.

Free Flowing Do the following qualify as free flowing? Data Sets Impoundments National Hydrologic Data Set Weirs (remove ephemeral streams) Irrigation State Engineer (permitted dams) Basin Advisory Groups Local Water Diversions Documented Water Rights