Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

DESERT Ploger. Mr. Thank you, Senator McClure. The Committee for Idaho's High Desert is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization acting on behalf of wildlands, rivers, and wildlife. Our members are committed to establishing permanent natural refuges for Idaho's diverse undomesticated species and firmly believe wilder ness management to be the most effective tool for this purpose. As president of the east Idaho chapter, I appreciate this opportunity to make the following points: First, Committee for Idaho's High Desert agrees with the Idaho Wildlife Federation that the 4.5 million acre RARE II alternative W ought to be the basis for discussion, per the ninth circuit court decision determining Forest Service recommendations for nonwilderness, invalid. Two, Committee for Idaho's High Desert strongly supports the endangered Idaho wilderness core proposal as an absolute mini mum, due to the critical fish and wildlife habitat and threats from ill-advised industrial exploitation of these 10 areas. Third, we are deeply concerned over accelerated timber develop ment within Targhee, Caribou, Salmon, and Challis National For ests. The arid climate and thin topsoil of eastern and central Idaho would compromise sustained yields as an inevitable consequence of reforestation difficulties. Moreover, existing growth is generally of such poor quality that taxpayers must subsidize access road con struction for lumber companies to turn a profit — fouling streams, scarring the landscape, and destroying wildlife habitat in the bar gain. Four, we criticize the Idaho State fish and game wilderness pro posal for exclusing virtually all of eastern and central Idaho. Fish and game personnel have defended their selection of Borah Peak on grounds of their Bighorn Sheep reintroducing efforts. Yes, rather curiously, fish and game reintroduction of Bighorn Sheep into Diamond Peak and Mountain Goat into Palisades apparently count for nothing. Critical fish and wildlife aspects of the North Lemhi, Lionhead, Cache Crest, and Garns National roadless areas were similarly disregarded. Fifth, the Pioneer, Borah Peak, and North Lemhi roadless areas are eminently deserving of wilderness status, due to the outstand ing wildlife and recreational values present. Each has an adjacent Bureau of Land Management wilderness study area — Little Wood River, Borah Peak, and Goldburg, respectively — that were recently dropped from further consideration by Interior Secretary Watt on the grounds of size. Committee for Idaho's High Desert feels that these three BLM riparian zones ought to be included within the na tional forest wilderness legislation. Six, many of you are aware of the crisis posed by desecration of archeological sites at the BLM Black Canyon wilderness study area near the unique Lost River Sinks. The unusual concentration of sites and criminal destruction thereof extends well into the adja 604 cent Diamond Peak roadless area. The Committee for Idaho's High Desert strongly believes that banning vehicular intrusions through wilderness management is an essential measure for enforcing an tiquities laws and for preserving these precious remnants of Idaho's prehistoric heritage. we propose a combined Diamond Accordingly, Peak/Black Canyon wilderness be included in the forthcoming wilderness bill. We note that any BLM protective actions for Black Canyon appar ently require approval of the Interior Secretary Watt. This urgent matter cannot tolerate the years of delay given by Watt to other BLM wilderness recommendations, such as for the Great Rift. Thank you, Senator.