Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Ms. Craighill. Senator McClure, Representative Craig, and members of the committee, my name is Carol Craighill, and I am from Boise, Idaho. Today I wish to go on record favoring wilderness protection spe cifically for the Lick Creek and Needles areas which are part of the Payette Crest. To see this country on foot, as I have, is to appreci ate it. It is composed of rugged, steep glacially carved granite peaks that shelter hanging valleys and meadows. Many high mountain lakes fed by pristine watershed exist here in elevations exceeding 8,500 feet. These area have easy access from Boise and McCall and would relieve heavy use of existing wilderness. These areas are also a value to the wildlife who live there: Elk, deer, black bear, cougar, bobcat, lynx and beaver. Protection of areas that still remain essentially untraveled, un changed by man and undiscovered need wilderness status. Groups wishing that Lick Creek and the Needles be opened for use such as offroad vehicles, timbering or mining fail to recognize the true values of this wild land. But properly protected, these areas could provide renewable re sources essentially forever. Before concluding, I would like to take this opportunity to ex press my full support for Idaho's Endangered Wilderness Core, the ten areas which you are very familiar with. They are listed in my written comments. I also wish to express my support for the conservationists' wilder ness alternative that will be submitted in October of 1983 in detail. In addition, I wish the record to show that I am opposed to any land release language that may be a part of upcoming legislation. I would must prefer so-called soft release that would allow areas ex cluded from protection reconsidered at the beginning of the next forest planning cycle 15 years from now. Do not sell Idaho to the highest bidder. Thank you.