In 1984, the United States Congress designated 120 miles (190 km) of the river as Owyhee Wild and Scenic River under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 to preserve the river in its free-flowing condition.
Part of the designation includes the section of the river downstream from the Owyhee Dam, where the river flows through a remote section of deeply incised canyons surrounded by high canyon rims that are habitat for mountain lion, bobcat, Mule Deer, California Bighorn Sheep, and a large variety of raptors.

The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 designated 323,274 acres (130,824 ha) on and around the Owyhee River in Idaho as wilderness.
 The bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 30, 2009.
 The new wilderness areas are:
North Fork Owyhee Wilderness - 43,413 acres (17,569 ha)
Owyhee River Wilderness  - 267,328 acres (108,184 ha)
Pole Creek Wilderness - 12,533 acres (5,072 ha)
After negotiations involving Oregon senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, the Owyhee Act introduced in November 2019.
It would preserve 1 million acres (400 thousand hectares) of Owyhee canyonlands as wilderness, while calling for improvements to loop roads to bring in visitors.
It also designated 14.7 miles (23.7 km) of the river for protection under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
It was supported by both ranchers and conservationists, as well as the Northwest Sport Fishing Association.
In 1984, the United States Congress designated 120 miles (190 km) of the river as Owyhee Wild and Scenic River under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 to preserve the river in its free-flowing condition. Part of the designation includes the section of the river downstream from the Owyhee Dam, where the river flows through a remote section of deeply incised canyons surrounded by high canyon rims that are habitat for mountain lion, bobcat, Mule Deer, California Bighorn Sheep, and a large variety of raptors.
The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 designated 323,274 acres (130,824 ha) on and around the Owyhee River in Idaho as wilderness.  The bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 30, 2009.  The new wilderness areas are:
North Fork Owyhee Wilderness - 43,413 acres (17,569 ha)
Owyhee River Wilderness  - 267,328 acres (108,184 ha)
Pole Creek Wilderness - 12,533 acres (5,072 ha)
After negotiations involving Oregon senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, the Owyhee Act introduced in November 2019. It would preserve 1 million acres (400 thousand hectares) of Owyhee canyonlands as wilderness, while calling for improvements to loop roads to bring in visitors. It also designated 14.7 miles (23.7 km) of the river for protection under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. It was supported by both ranchers and conservationists, as well as the Northwest Sport Fishing Association.
Owyhee River