Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

LEAGUE Ms. Erickson. Hello, my name is Lill Erickson and I am here to testify for my husband, Phil Hearn, as well as myself. I am with the Idaho Conservation League. I traveled 170 miles to testify here today in support of additional wilderness for Idaho because I think it's a very important issue, and I had to get up at 4 o'clock this morning so it's pretty important to me. I am from district 20 and I have to say that Senator Crystal and Representative Wood do not voice my views; I disagree with them and I don't want you to think that they speak for everyone. I am from Salmon which is rapidly becoming a community eco nomically dependent on recreation. It is the third largest industry in the State exceeded only by agriculture and manufacturing. In 1981 receipts from recreation totaled $1,843,500,000 and is growing, according to the division of economic and community affairs, which is a State office. In contrast, Idaho's fourth and fifth industries, mining and timber, contributed only $420 million and $342 million respectively, to the State. Recreation is intrinsic to the economic well being of Idaho, and the prosperity of the recreation industry depends on the quality of the water, fish, wildlife and scenic resources of the State. And I don't agree with some of the other folks who believe that the recre ation industry — road recreation industry is the only recreation in dustry. I do appreciate the industry that requires roads, and I 680 think it's important, but also the wilderness dependent recreation industry is very important. Wilderness designation protects these natural resources from mismanagement. Emphasis is placed on the noncommodity value and restrictions placed on the exploitation of the commodity re sources of range, timber and minerals. Wilderness is really multi ple use in my feelings. Only roads, construction, timber harvesting, and mechanized equipment are prohibited. The other multiple uses of grazing, hunting, fishing, hiking, and mining are allowed and regulated to compliment and enhance rather than exhaust the nat ural resource character. I ask the committee to designate as wilderness those areas in cluded in the conservationist's proposal which is being developed. It is being prepared in a careful and thoughtful manner. Field inven tories are being conducted by hundreds of dedicated volunteers and boundaries drawn to exclude resource-use conflicts and protect fragile areas. I am confident that the proposal will recommend only those areas of the highest wilderness caliber. Personally, I recommend the Northern Lemhis, the Idaho side of the West Big Hole, Germania Creek, the White Clouds, and Boul der Mountains and Mount Borah, which are near Salmon. I also endorse the Sawtooth completions, Long Canyon and the Selkirk Crest, the Mallard-Larkins, the Payette Crest, Garns Mountains, the Palisades, the Great Burn and Cayuse Creek and the SalmoPriest. I further ask because of my particular feeling for the White Clouds that a no mining clause be inserted to forever protect the White Clouds from mineral development. I think the resource value of wilderness there far exceeds any mineral value. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on these important issues and I enjoyed hearing Senator Symms' 5-minute testimony on his wilderness views.