Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

MACHINES ASSOCIATION Mr. Collins. Senator McClure, ladies and gentlemen, my name is Clark Collins. I am president of the Idaho Trail Machines Asso 665 ciation. On behalf of the over 500 members of the Idaho Trail Ma chine Association and estimated 25,000 off-road motorcyclists of Idaho, I would like to address this hearing on the proposed Idaho wilderness bill. The wilderness controversy has been erroneously portrayed by many as a recreation versus development issue. Motorized recrea tion has been ignored by those taking this stand, and speaking as a representative of the trail bike riders of Idaho, we cannot support any additions to what is already the second largest wilderness area of any State in the Union. We have proven our responsibility by our many years of coopera tion with our public land managers. Through our membership in the Idaho Trails Council, we have demonstrated our willingness to share the trails with other users. We have, in fact, been honored by that organization for the hundreds of miles of trails cleared annu ally by ITMA members. These trail improvements and use of State parks and recreation ORV funds benefit all users and assist our land managers, enabling them to maintain a larger trail system than would otherwise be possible. The majority of Idaho trails suffer from a lack of use and maintenance rather than overuse by trail riders. Multiple-use management has in the past represented conserva tion and the balanced use of our natural resources. The lands being considered fort wilderness classification are presently being man aged to protect their wilderness values without the restrictions im posed by this Federal designation. We feel the Forest Service is capable of managing these lands without legislative intervention. For those lands that are primarily of recreational value, we would support a less restrictive classifica tion protecting them from commercial exploitations but allowing a broader range of recreational opportunities and less restrictive management requirements. As we see it, the push for more wilderness is not supported by the majority of Idahoans, nor by the State government, nor the Federal land managers, but rather by out of State based, special in terest societies of environmental extremists, the majority of whom have never been to Idaho and never will be. The management by exclusion and discriminatory restrictions imposed by wilderness designation have resulted in the tragic over use of the easily accessible outer edges of these nationally noted areas, and the virtual nonuse and neglect of the majority of these lands. We have thousands of miles of trails in Idaho but not enough so that those seeking a solitary trail experience can be as sured of having their favorite trail all to themselves. We support wilderness; not the artificial Federal land classifica tion but the natural wilderness where there are no manmade land ing strips. There are no trail bikes, not because it is against the law, but because Idaho's true wilderness will not physically accom modate them. We support opportunities for solitude and natural experience. Those desiring these types of recreation should seek them where they exist rather than attempting to have them legislated into ex istence. 32-426 0—84 43 666 We are not asking for a lion's share of our public lands for our selfish exclusive use. We seek only the opportunity to share these lands with other users. We therefore expect no less consideration from others. Encountering others on the trail should be an oppor tunity to make new friends, not the destruction of a solitary recre ational experience. Prior motorized recreational use of an area should have a bear ing on its suitability for wilderness, if that type of use is to be ex cluded by the designation. That has not been apparent in the past nor has it been allowed in the consideration of this proposed legis lation. We therefore oppose any additions to federally designated wilderness and will present additional written testimony within the time limit, regarding the areas of specific concern to us. Thank you.