Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Butterfield. Senators McClure and Symms, I have come here today to express my support of the so-called endangered Idaho wilderness core, which is being proposed by the Idaho Conservation League, and other conservation groups. I feel that we do need more wilderness in Idaho, and that it is very vital to the state and people of the state. I do not support hard release language in your bill, and would urge you to try and utilize soft release type language. I feel that wilderness is consistent with the development by the State Fish and Game in trying to reestablish anadromous fish in this State. We have invested a great deal of money not only in this State, but in others in building hatcheries and facilities to manage these fish. The reasons have been because of the dams on the rivers and the siltation caused by the roads in the forest for tim bering. We need to stop this right now, and get on with reestablishing these runs. Wilderness is also important to watersheds and water quality. Water quality is important, because if the water quality of this State is degraded further, the people in this State can only count on spending more money in treating that water for their needs in the future. I am disturbed with the economics of the timber industry if it is true that it costs more to build these roads than to harvest the timber, then we have created a false economy, and it will not be wilderness which destroys the timber industry. I am proud of the Idaho wilderness. I support the designation of more wilderness areas. I don't want to lose it. Please give us the wilderness we would like. Thank you.