Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

CONSERVATION LEAGUE Ms. Brown. Good morning, Senator. I'm kind of giving this testi mony not only for myself but as the chairwoman of the Idaho Con servation League. I would like to speak for members of the chap ters in eastern Idaho that could not be here today or that are writ ing in testimony later on. I wish to cover primarily the reasons why wilderness areas are necessary to the environmental and eco nomic health of this region, particularly. First, I think it's important to rid ourselves of the question that's very much too parochial and that is, how much wilderness should there be in Idaho? I really think we're talking about a national, not just a State resource. Sometimes I think we're talking about areas that are just within our boundaries, but we've got to think nationally. The wilderness areas here hold an ever increasing sig nificance to both American and foreign visitors. I think we have a responsibility to consider Idaho's role in this national context just as we view our agricultural contributions on such a scale. But it makes sense, that because Idaho has enough food, to start asphalt ing over the rest of the agricultural lands jsut because we satisfy our own needs. Since resources aren't distributed equally among the 50 States, we need to consider wilderness in this context. Yes, maybe Idaho has more than its share, but we have to make up for other States. If hearings were held in California, Ohio, or Massachusetts chances are that the virtues of wilderness would be far more extolled and understood than they are sometimes in this State. So I suggest we argue not over numbers but really evaluate each area on its merits, especially in the area of watershed recreation and wildlife among the other multiple uses which are inherent in wilderness designation. Here in eastern Idaho we are privileged to have the opportunity to view wildlife in their natural habitats practically outside our back door. This privilege cannot be taken for granted much longer. The multiple use designation called wilderness is the only vehicle we now have to insure that quality wildlife habitat is preserved for future generations. All of the roadless areas on the Targhee, which I'm most familiar with, have exceptional wildlife areas, primarily because these areas have low timber value and have not had easy access provided by roads. The Greater Yellowstone ecosystem in which I live, I live in Island Park among the dead trees, by the way, which encompasses many of the Targhee areas, contains one 607 of the greatest concentrations of endangered or threatened species including the grizzly bears and the Trumpeter swans. I feel it's our responsibility to preserve this wildlife habitat and it's a remnant of Western heritage in the areas such as Gams Mountain, Palisades, and the Centennial roadless areas. As far as watershed goes, I think the value of wilderness in pro tecting critical watersheds is often overlooked. Because we have old growth forests containing density and diversity of vegetation, the natural springs and streams retain their high water quality in this area. Once roads are built for timber harvest this high quality re source is forever lost. Through logging activities, stream beds are forced to carry higher loads of sediment, decreasing their capability to sustain life. Many roadless areas protect the sources of our major rivers. For example where I live, the Centennial Mountains and the Lionhead area protect the watershed of the Henry's Fork of the Snake and that whole area that's so critical to our economic tourism values in Island Park. Since water plays such an impor tant role throughout Idaho, Senator McClure I feel we ought to see our obligation to preserve its long term viability.