Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Dr. Kranz. Thank you Senator McClure, Congressman Craig and the staff. I appreciate the opportunity to testify. I am an Ada County resident for the past 8 yearts, an outdoor enthusiast and conservationist. At the present time I'm a member of a number of the local conservation organizations, including serv ing as this year's current chairman of Duck's Unlimited. My concern that Idaho retain a balance between commercial use of our wilderness area and preservation of the wilderness area for us to utilize on that basis. Specifically my concern is that Borah Peak wilderness proposal, Idaho Fish and Game recommended we set-aside approximately 119 acre tract in the Challis National Forest region. As you are probably aware, this high desert region is of question able commercial value from a timber, mineral, grazing, or water rights standpoint. This region does have significant wildlife re sources. It contains one of Idaho's few existing native wheat grass lands stand, a reasonable timber sheltering area for the existing deer and elk herds and is one of Idaho's bighorn sheep ranges, having provided a transplant site for that particular purpose in the 1960's. And I urgently request that you follow Idaho Fish and Game's recommendation of including this in the wilderness tract area. Thank you.