Federal Land Management

In response to congressional concerns about the alleged degradation of areas being considered for possible inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System, this report provides information on the types and effects of activities in these areas, which are managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service. GAO discusses (1) the legislative guidance and the agency policies governing wilderness study area management, (2) various activities and uses occurring in the agencies' study areas, (3) ways these activities affect the areas, and (4) agency actions to monitor and restrict these uses and to repair resulting damage. Congress has allowed many different uses, such as primitive recreation and grazing, to occur in these areas. In the locations GAO visited, the effects and damage seemed to be concentrated in relatively small and accessible areas. Because people have various views on "wilderness," they will also have different opinions about the severity of "man's imprint" on potential and designated wilderness. The final decision about an area's suitability for wilderness ultimately rests with Congress.

GAO found that; (1) wilderness study areas are areas that are identified, either by Congress or agency officials, as having certain characteristics that qualify them as wilderness; (2) BLM and the Forest Service have implemented policies designated to protect wilderness study areas; (3) motor vehicles and mechanized equipment are generally prohibited in wilderness areas; (4) Congress has allowed for certain types of recreation in wilderness study areas such as riding all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and mountain bikes; (5) surface disturbance or damage by motorized vehicle use is a concern of the managing agencies, as well as environmental groups; and (6) agency managers have several mechanisms for managing wilderness study areas and mitigating resource damage such as monitoring uses in study areas, restricting uses if necessary, and repairing any ensuing damage.