Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Ms. Glaccum. Senator McClure, thank you for inviting public testimony on the future of Idaho's roadless areas. It's good to know that you are interested in the average Idaho citizen's opinions on this issue. I am Ellen Glaccum. I live on an 80-acre place in Blaine County. I have six cows, three horses, three dogs, two children, and only one husband. Is that in the order of priority? Laughter.] Ms. Glaccum. He would say so, yes. That husband does brings home the bacon, as it were, by running a sporting goods store in Ketchum and therefore it is directly due to the recreation industry that we are able to pay the bills and, I might add, the taxes. You will be listening to much testimony here today which will show how very substantial the recreation industry in Idaho is. So sufficed to say that mine is just one of the many mouths directly fed by tourists who visits our area. Why do the tourists come here? Why do they choose Idaho? They come here because it's different. It's not like Detroit or Los Ange les. It's got large chunks of unspoiled land that belongs to us all. Those areas support healthy wildlife populations which are total ly dependent upon the roadless character of their habitat. The water quality is high and the air is clear. Fishing is good. It's the way this country used to be. And for these reasons, the tourists come to Idaho for their vacations. They spend their money and they go back home, leaving things pretty much as they found them. Idaho is regarded by them as a national heritage and we must insure that it be protected for future generations to enjoy. I recommend that you include the endangered Idaho wilderness Core areas which will be presented to you in October in your legis lation. I urge you to include so-called soft release language in your bill because this is not an issue which should be excluded from future consideration. This is an issue which will affect [bell] generations to come, a so bering thought indeed. I urge you to think about your descendants as well as mine when you draft legislation this fall. This is a legency we should be proud to leave them. Thank you.