Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Ms. WnTAKER. Thank you. My remarks will be in reference to the Lemhi Range on the Salmon National Forest, specifically the Everson Creek, Stroud Creek, and Porcupine Creek drainages re cently referred to by the Forest Service as the Mill Creek timber sale. Whereas the Leadore Community is a ranching community and water is essential to the survival of our ranches and as the narrow band of foliage and trees crossing these drainages is very vital as a watershed, and as the planned roading and commercial timber sales would follow around through this vital watershed and with early spring runoff already creating problems with shortages of water later in the summer, any disturbance, any roading or remov ing of timber in this area, would only aggravate the problem. And 750 as the timber in this particular area is low in quality and quantity and it would be timbered at a loss, as stated by the Forest Service in the meeting held on May 25, and as we have witnessed in other areas, there would be great waste and destruction of the foliage and trees that are vital for other values. And as this is a cold dry climate with a very short growing season, regeneration and produc tivity is a slow and difficult struggle and not a timber producing area, we feel the other values should have prestige and not be sac rificed. We can be sure that once this road is established encircling the valley through this mountain range there will be continual sales, more waste and destruction, more and more barren areas, more and more early runoff of water, more and more problems with dry, burning pastures and fields, more and more harassment, killing, wounding, and rustling of livestock, more and more wildlife being driven out and down onto the ranches, more and more confusion of wildlife and destruction of wildlife habitat, less and less material for posts, poles, and firewood, which is limited and essential to the people of this remote area, and more and more taxes for the upkeep of these roads and more and more pollution of the streams. We have felt that this area could best be used and enjoying by the visitors to the area as well as by the local people and that long range values to the ranching community, visitors, and future gen erations could best be conserved if past management could be maintained. However, since the Forest Service has not chosen this alternative, we feel our best choice to protect the vital watershed, the wildlife habitat, the livestock, and the esthetic values may be a wilderness status if the use of grazing, the use of dead wood, the fire protection, could be guaranteed, and I would like to recom mend that the necessary changes be made in the wilderness bill for this. I cannot accept the concept of letting the grass grow and the dead wood pile up and then when a fire starts, whether by man or by lightning, sitting idly by and letting these resources go up in flames when we have the means to put them out when they first start. I feel it is man's responsibility to protect as well as use and enjoy with prudence and gratitude. Thank you.