Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Ms. Bottaro. Hello, my name is Michelle Bottaro and I'm from Salmon also. I am talking for myself and also for Cheryl Hart who couldn't make it today. .1 wish to testify at this hearing because of the need to protect Idaho's roadless areas. Once a road goes into an area, the area is changed forever. The wildlife that exists there is forced into small er and smaller areas. I think that economic issues are not suffi cient grounds to warrant the destruction of undisturbed natural habitat caused by roadmaking. I strongly oppose the hard release approach that bars any further consideration of specific roadless areas as wilderness. It would essentially mean less wild land than we have right now becasue with the said places, we would no longer be protected. It is normal for timber sales on my range or district to be deficit sales; the Government does not make money. We do not regenerate trees fast enough to continue at past harvest rates. The Northfork ranger district has more potential at this time, I feel, to manage for recreation. The Salmon River runs west from 681 Northfork and has a large river floating as well as camping impact. Eight or so years ago, no one floated the day stretch of the Salmon commercially. Now, there are three or more companies that float that stretch regularly. The Forest Service allows launching of eight permits of up to 30 people apiece daily from Corn Creek for the roadless area afloat. I understand that recreation industry is the third largest industry in the State. It seems to be growing in the Salmon River area and creates seasonal new jobs locally. The areas affecting me personally are the Lemhi Range and the West Big Hole. West Big Hole deer and elk migrations have been disturbed by roads and logging. Game that was plentiful 20 years ago is now only seen occasionally. Our area is heavily hunted each season with differing hunting dates for Montana and Idaho. We must leave someplace for the herds to go by allowing a combining with Montana's West Big Hole wilderness. I urge the inclusion of the endangered Idaho wilderness core as a minimum in your legislation. Thank you for considering my views.