Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mrs. Carlson. Thank you, Senator McClure. It is not a question of how many acres of wilderness Idaho should have, but what is the best use for the land itself. Some of the land under consider ation is well suited for logging, mining, and grazing. And other land is best suited only to maintaining hunting, fishing, and hiking, which are valuable economic resources in Idaho. Wilderness status for this land will also protect our watersheds with its valuable water, the lifeline of Idaho. Excessive erosion caused by mining and logging activities in areas not suited to such action, can severely damage our watersheds, which in turn hurts the farmer, rancher, and every person in Idaho. It is impossible to protect our fish and wildlife to insure quality water for Idaho and to leave some solitude and beauty for the future generations if we release all land not now in wilderness. Many areas need to be studied further for final boundaries and acreages. And in my written testimony I have listed some areas which I will not go into now. But I would like to say that it seems a shame, for example, that 8,000 acres of the Salmo-Priest area, which is the home for the mountain caribou, would need to be taken out of wilderness. To me these and the red — giant red cedars there should be put in wilder ness. Also it seems a shame that Mount Borah, Idaho's highest peak, in a wilderness situation. Timber and mineral values are very low in this area. I am strongly against any bill which would permanently bar any wilderness consideration for land not now declared wilderness. I urge that the areas mentioned in my written testimony, as well as some other areas, be designated wilderness to protect the most crit ical areas for fish, wildlife, recreation, and watershed. I understand plans are underway to prevent exact boundaries and acreages and this will be proposed in October. Thank you.