Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Ms. Hall. Senator McClure, my name is Julie Hall. I'm a profes sional nurse in Boise. But however, in the past I have worked as a seasonal employee on the Boise National Forest and have a great deal of firsthand experience in the proposed Sawtooth Completion, the Red Mountain area, and the Danskin Range, and I have also been an occasional recreational user of the Trinity and Scott Moun tain areas. I would like to address the issue of timber values in the proposed wilderness areas. My testimony is based on research development out of a personal interest in the issue. The timber industry has said that current roadless areas must be opened to commercial production in order to preserve Idaho's timber industry. It is my contention that currently accessible areas could be brought up to much greater production levels through more effective management. The trees in the proposed wilderness areas have a greater value protecting our high mountain water sheds and for recreational and wildlife use. I am submitting to you a research article which has been publiched by the U.S. Forest Service in June of this year and based on studies on Idaho lands which demonstrates improved management techinques that increase production of merchantable timber on ex isting lightly managed young growth stands can produce as much as 100 percent more timber on those lands.1 It seems to me economically unreasonable to go the tremendous expense of building new roads into existing roadless areas when the areas that are already accessible could produce the lumber needed by Idaho industry.