The Jim Sage Mountains are located east and southeast of the Albion Mountain Division. The Jim Sage Mountains are directly south of the Cotterel Mountains. The Raft River Valley is on the east side. Malta, Idaho is to the east, the small towns of Elba and Almo are on the west. The Jim Sage Mountains are divided from the Cotterel Mountains by Cassia Creek. See Figure M-1. The Raft River runs past the south end of the range, and the Raft River Mountains are further south, across the Idaho/Utah state line. Most of the mountain region is BLM land; some state and private lands are included within the range.

The Jim Sage Mountains and adjacent lands are part of the Western Basin and Range ecosystem subregion (Ecoregions of the United Sates, USDA Forest Service, 1994). At one time the Jim Sage Mountains and Cotterel Mountains were collectively known as the Malta Range, named by Alfred Anderson in 1931. Elevations range from less than 5,000 feet to over 8,000 feet. Red Rock Mountain near the center of the range is 6,382 feet. Sheep Mountain rising to 5,764 feet is a prominent lone feature at the east edge of the range. Like the Cotterel Mountains, the Jim Sage Mountains are composed mainly of quartz latite volcanic rocks (Geology and Mineral Resources of Eastern Cassia County, Anderson, 1931).

Average annual precipitation for the Jim Sage Mountains and adjacent lands is less than 12 inches per year (Geology and Mineral Resources of Eastern Cassia County, Anderson, 1931). Average annual temperatures range from daytime highs of 31 ⁰F or less in January to 90 ⁰F or more in July. Higher elevations are generally inaccessible from the end of December through the middle of May.

The recreational values and uses of the Jim Sage Mountains are mainly hunting, prospecting, hiking, birding, and other related outdoor activities. Public access is limited; most upper roads are accessible only by high-clearance or 4-wheel drive vehicles. Access to much of the west and north portions is difficult due to road conditions and large sections of private land. Good access for most vehicles (in dry weather) can be obtained to the Womack and Jim Sage Canyon areas located at the southwest corner of the mountains. There are no improved camping facilities.

The Jim Sage Mountains and adjacent lands support a variety of plant communities. Much of the southern end of the mountains supports a combination of Sagebrush-Grass and Juniper/Pinyon communities. The upper reaches support small groves of aspen at historic spring sites, along drainages, and in other moist locations. A Shrub-Mountain Mahogany community is also present at upper elevations. A variety of native shrubs, forbs (herbaceous plants), and grasses are present at higher elevations of the range, including the sensitive plant Simpson's Hedgehog Cactus (Pediocactus simpsonii).

Native vegetation has been altered in much of the southern and lower elevational regions through past activities including prescribed bums and Crested Wheat-grass seedings. Rangelands to the west, south, and east have been heavily invaded by Cheat Grass (Bromus tectoum) in recent years. This is particularly evident in burned areas such as Keg Hollow and the Savage Hollow regions. Cheat Grass competes with perennial native grasses, and is common on overgrazed or disturbed rangelands (Weeds of the West, Whitson et al, 1999).

There are large portions of exposed volcanic ash soils in the southern region of the Jim Sage Mountains. This is the soil type that hosts the rare Idaho Penstemon (Penstemon idahoensis). Known populations of this rare plant are located in the Goose Creek Watershed region to the west (CDC Database, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 1999). Most areas of the state have not yet been fully inventoried for rare plant populations and the potential exists for additional rare or endemic species. Many rare species such as the Idaho Penstemon and other plant species occur solely on limited soil types (Northwest Penstemons, Strickler, 1997).

Watershed values of the Jim Sage Mountains and adjacent public lands are limited by the available precipitation. Surface water is lacking throughout much of the region. Surface run-off is limited in much of the range to snowmelt and summer precipitation events. Many drainage courses show little sign of run-off activity; while others are ephemeral streams that run occasionally during wet years or after heavy precipitation events. Remnant riparian vegetation in drainages and at dry spring sites indicates that more surface water may have been available in the past.

Aspen groves are a valuable watershed component (Aspen Community Types of the Intermountain Region, Mueggler, 1988) but are present only in limited areas. There are a few intermittent streams and springs that flow year-round at higher elevations and during wetter seasons. Wells have been drilled at some lower elevations to provide water sources for livestock. Historic springs in the region have been developed for livestock use and many no longer provide surface water at their original sites. As a result, the existing riparian zones and spring sites in the Jim Sage Mountains are extremely valuable resources.

The Jim Sage Mountains and adjacent lands support a wide variety of wildlife species, including both game and non-game wildlife. Perennial streams in the region are historic habitat for Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout (Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 2000).

The region supports Mule Deer, Elk, and many other mammals including Snowshoe Hares and bats. The rock cliffs and towers in the many canyons are important bat roosting sites and many locations are being actively used by a variety of species (Bat Sites of Southeastern Idaho, Austin, 2000). The Jim Sage Mountains contain suitable habitat for other Idaho sensitive species including the Cliff Chipmunk, whose known Idaho range is limited to portions of Cassia County (Atlas of Idaho's Wildlife, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 1997).

A re-introduction of Big-horned Sheep to the north end of the Jim Sage Mountains was initiated in the early spring of 2000. Although Mountain Lion predation and other factors have caused a set-back to the original numbers released, those sheep still present are reproducing and adjusting to the new habitat (Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 2000).

The Jim Sage Mountains provide foraging and nesting habitat for many species of raptors such as the Western Burrowing Owl, Prairie Falcon, Golden Eagle, and Ferruginous Hawk. The Ferruginous Hawk is a state sensitive species, with active nest locations along the north edges of the Jim Sage Mountains and along the adjoining Cotterel Mountains.

Western Burrowing Owls, also a state sensitive species, are successfully nesting at lower elevations of the range and along the foothills that extend out into the Raft River Valley (CDC Data Base, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 2000). The Jim Sage Mountains also contain suitable habitat for other Idaho sensitive bird species such as the Loggerhead Shrike and Least Goldfinch. The rocky cliffs and canyons of the west and north-central Jim Sage Mountains are suitable habitat for the White-Throated Swift. Many other species of birds also rely on the habitats provided by the Jim Sage Mountains, including the Vesper Sparrow, Brewer's Sparrow, and Sage Grouse; all sagebrush obligates (Atlas of Idaho's Wildlife, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 1997). Sage Grouse are actively using the upper shrub-steppe regions of the southern Jim Sage Mountains for fall and summer range (Committee for Idaho's High Desert, Fite, 2000).

The Jim Sage Mountains provide habitat for a number of reptile and amphibian species. Amphibians, both frogs and toads, may be present at moist or riparian sites. The Jim Sage Mountains are within the range for Idaho reptiles such as the Rubber Boa and Striped Whipsnake. The Jim Sage Mountains, like the Cotterel Mountains, contain suitable locations that may have been historical habitat for the uncommon or rare Longnose Snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei) as well as possible historical habitat for the Ringneck Snake (Idaho's Amphibians and Reptiles, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 1994). Unconfirmed reports of Longnose Snakes exist for the Goose Creek Watershed region, located further to the west.

Habitat conditions have profound short and long-term effects on which species are able to successfully use a location. Mammal and bird observations were recorded during the surveys performed at a variety of riparian locations in the Jim Sage Mountains. This data is included in Appendix F for the benefit of interested land managers or members of the public. The presence or non-presence of species, presence of habitat-generalists, and other clues provided by the frequency observations can aid in determining the health of a riparian system or identifying needed changes. Although short-term data is not definitive for these locations, it is indicative and has been made available as a management resource.

The Jim Sage Mountains are currently being used for livestock grazing purposes. The very limited amount of riparian habitat and water sources in the Jim Sage Mountains increases the value of existing sites. Livestock utilization of riparian habitat can lead to adverse impacts of vegetation, watershed, and wildlife values if proper guidelines and standards are not applied. A survey has been performed of representative seeps, springs, and riparian zones in the Jim Sage Mountains in order to determine the condition of riparian habitats following the 1999 grazing season.

Each of the following summaries contains a short description of impacts, recommendations for action, and photographic documentation. The recommendations reflect current (year 2000) riparian recovery times recommended by the USDA Forest Service Intermountain Region and Rocky Mountain Research Station scientists.