Boating, Swimming, and Salmon River Corridor Use Prohibitions

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FOREST SERVICE
SAWTOOTH NATIONAL FOREST 
SAWTOOTH NATIONAL RECREATION AREA

Boating, Swimming, and Salmon River Corridor Use Prohibitions

PROHIBITIONS

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50 (a) and (b), the following are prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) lands and water in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA), located within the Sawtooth National Forest, described below and shown on the attached maps incorporated into this Order as Exhibits B-F (the “Described Area”):

Boating and Swimming Restrictions:

1. Entering or being in a body of water within 50 feet of a public boat dock used for the purpose of loading or unloading motor boats.  36 CFR 261.58(k)
2. Possessing or operating a motorboat on the surface of the Salmon River upstream from the Torrey’s Boat Ramp, or on the surface of Little Redfish, Yellow Belly, and Perkins Lakes.  36 CFR 261.58(n)
3. Operating a motorboat in a manner that would violate any county ordinance or state or federal law. 36 CFR 261.58(n) 
4. Operating a motorboat on Stanley Lake in excess of 5 MPH between the hours of 6:00 P.M. and 10:00 A.M.  36 CFR 261.58(n)
5. Possessing or using a parasail on Redfish Lake or Stanley Lake. CFR 261.56
6. Storing or leaving an unattended boat parked or tied to the shore or any place other than in a designated mooring area.  36 CFR 261.58(p)
7. Storing or leaving an unattended boat, at the same designated mooring area or within a thirty (30) mile radius of the same designated mooring area, for longer than 10 days, within a 30 day period. 36 CFR 261.58(p) 
8. Launching float boating equipment, or going into, or being upon an area adjacent to the Salmon River, including all boating put-ins or take-outs, with float boating equipment, or for any other water related activity when spawning is likely to begin, between August 15th and September 22nd as follows:

August 15th to September 2nd

1. Buckhorn Bridge to Valley Creek Bridge at Stanley
2. Mormon Bend Boat Launch to the confluence with the Yankee Fork
3. Torrey’s Hole boat launch to the eastern boundary of the Sawtooth NRA

August 29th to September 2nd

1. Lower O’Brien Campground to 1/2 mile downstream (mandatory portage)
2. Snyder Springs boat ramp to the eastern boundary of the Sawtooth NRA

September 3rd to September 22nd

1. Sawtooth Fish Hatchery to eastern boundary of the Sawtooth NRA. 36 CFR 261.53(a)
2. Going into or being upon a reach of the Salmon River designated as a Quiet Zone between August 15th and August 28th and causing unnecessary noise; striking the water or splashing except as necessary for paddling to navigate the deepest channel; getting out of the boat; grounding the boat; or engaging in any other water related activities. This constitutes molesting listed fish species and is a violation of 36 CFR 261.53(a) 
3. Launching or removing float boating equipment from the Salmon River at a location other than a designated river access site (put-ins and take-outs). 36 CFR 261.58(r) 
4. Launching float boating equipment or going into or being upon the Salmon River without a “Salmon River Self-Registration Permit” in possession of at least one member of the float group. 36 CFR 261.58(k)

EXEMPTIONS

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e) the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order or a written determination by a Forest Service authorized officer that a permit is not required under 36 C.F.R. § 251.50(e)(1) or (2). 
2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.

DESCRIBED AREA

The Described Area is all NFS lands and water within the SNRA, except for the Sawtooth, Cecil D. Andrus White Clouds, and Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness Areas, located within the Sawtooth National Forest in Custer, Blaine and Boise Counties, Idaho.

The Described Area is further described below and shown in Exhibits B-F:

Stanley Lake Complex (Exhibit B) – Area located approximately 5 miles west of Stanley, Idaho and accessed from State Highway 21 via Forest Road #455 and is further described as that area, including the lands and waters, within the Stanley Lake Creek drainage on the south side of State Highway 21 to approximately ¼ mile upstream of the inlet to Stanley Lake; including the area within ¼ mile of Stanley Lake and Forest roads #455, #638, #640, and #640A.  Located in Township 11 North, Range 12 East, S ½ Section 22, S ½ Section 23, E ½ Section 25, N ½ Section 26, Section 27, S ½ Section 28, Section 33, and N ½ Section 34, Boise Meridian, Custer County, Idaho.

Redfish Lake Complex (Exhibit C) – Area located approximately 5 miles south of Stanley, Idaho accessed from State Highway 75 via Forest Road #214 and further described as the lands and waters, within the Redfish Lake Creek drainage on the south side of State Highway 75 upstream of the inlet to the Sawtooth Wilderness Area boundary (approximately 6 miles); including the area within ¼ mile of Redfish Lake and Forest roads #213, #214, and #214A. Located in Township 9 North, Range 13 East in Section 2, 3, 9, 10, 15, 16, 21, 22 and Township 11 North, Range 12 East in Section 22, 26, 34, 35, Boise Meridian, Custer County, Idaho.

Salmon River Corridor (Exhibit D) - Salmon River, (aka Upper Main Salmon River) from Holman Creek at the eastern boundary of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, located within Township 11 North, Range 16 East, Section 25, upstream approximately 31 miles to about 1 mile upstream of the Buckhorn Roadside Rest stop (to the fish weir across the Salmon River at the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery), located within Township 10 North, Range 14 East, Section 36, Boise Meridian. The area described is within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Sawtooth National Forest, and Custer County, Idaho.

Salmon River Quiet Zones include reaches of the Salmon River referred to as “Indian Riffles” between Lower O’Brien Campground and .5 miles downstream at the designated put in for the mandatory portage; and “Torrey’s Hole” between Snyder Springs boat launch and Torrey’s Hole boat launch.

Pettit Lake Complex (Exhibit E) -  The Pettit Lake Complex Described Area is shown in Exhibit E and is all NFS lands located approximately 21 miles south of Stanley, Idaho accessed from State Highway 75 via Forest Road #208 and further described as the lands and waters, within the Pettit Lake Creek drainage on the west side of State Highway 75 upstream to the Sawtooth Wilderness Area boundary (approximately 3 miles); including the area within ¼ mile of Pettit Lake and Forest roads #208, and #361, and #362. Located in Township 7 North, Range 13 East in Section 36 and Township 7 North, Range 14 East in Sections 31, 32, Boise Meridian, Custer County, Idaho.

Alturas Lake Complex (Exhibit F) - The Alturas Lake Complex Described Area is shown in Exhibit F and is all NFS lands located approximately 24.5 miles south of Stanley, Idaho accessed from State Highway 75 via Forest Road #205 and further described as the lands and waters within 1/4 mile of Alturas Lake. Located in Township 7 North, Range 13 East in Sections 24, 25 and Township 7 North, Range 14 East in Sections 19, 20, 29, 30 Boise Meridian, Custer County, Idaho.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Order is to protect public health and safety and natural resources.

IMPLEMENTATION

1. This Order shall be in effect from July 1, 2026, at 0800 A.M. through December 31, 2031, at 0800 A.M. unless rescinded.
2. Maps identifying the Described Area are attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit B-F. For a digital version of this Order and Exhibits, go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/sawtooth/alerts.
3. Unless otherwise expressly defined in this Order, the terms used in this Order are defined by the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture, 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299. If there are terms in this Order that are not expressly defined in the Order or 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299, their meaning shall be determined by their plain language definitions. 
4. A violation of the above prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.
5. Contact the Sawtooth National Forest Supervisor’s Office, Jerome, ID, 208-423-7500, the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Headquarters, 208-727-5000, or the Stanley Ranger Station, Stanley, ID, 208-774-3000, for more information about this order.
6. This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same Described Area.

/Electronically signed/

CASEY JOHNSON
Forest Supervisor
Sawtooth National Forest