Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Weigold. Mr. Thank you, Senator McClure. My name is Ted Weigold, my Boise residence is 1005 Fort Street, Boise, 83702. I will be undoubtedly submitting have a copy of now and I'd additional comments to the one you like both comments to be in the record. I support wilderness designation for a number of proposed wil derness in the State of Idaho. There are in particular two which I would address today. The first is Lime Creek, located in the Sawtooth National Forest, among the Soldier Mountains, north of Fairfield and the other is the Needles, located east of Cascade in the Payette National Forest. I have backpacked, horsepacked, hiked, fished and hunted both of these areas extensively over the last several years. Because our family farm is located in the Fairfield area, I have spent a large amount of time in the Lime Creek proposed wilder ness study area. I would characterize it as having considerable qualities of remoteness and giving one the feeling of solitude. I would also point out that it is located in an area where forest regeneration is a slow process at best. There are a number of old cuts in the vicinity which show little evidence of any regrowth whatsoever. I would be happy to show them to you some time. Insofar as the Needles are concerned, it is an area, I'm sure you are aware, is located along the drainage of the South Fork of the Salmon River. I am certain you know that past logging road build ing practices in that vicinity have led to some disastrous siltation problems insofar as the river fishery is concerned. I would think that it would be highly appropriate for the Nee dles, given their spectacular beauty, to be designated anything other than wilderness. Because it appears logging and a sound en vironmental manner is practically impossible under any circum stances in that area, wilderness designation also makes sense. Thank you.