Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

MANAGER, LOUISIANA-PACIFIC CORP. Mr. Dickison. Senator, I am Jim Dickison, and I am a resource manager for Louisiana-Pacific. I am addressing the Idaho Forest Industry Council's position on Long Canyon and the Selkirk Crest area. This is more detailed in the book just submitted. Long Canyon contains valuable timber resources, which are needed to help support the local economy. Long Canyon poses management challenges which, if met, can assure the needs of sportsmen, back country recreationists, the timber industry, and the local economy be achieved. Long Canyon and Parker Canyon, which is the adjacent drainage to the south, have similar characteristics except that Parker Canyon is not economically feasible to access. From a timber industry standpoint, there are three objectives which should be achieved in a comprehensive management plan for the Selkirk area: Retaining the biological productivity of Long Canyon and Parker Canyon as a component of the annual allowable harvest; allowing harvest of mature timber within Long Canyon; and maintaining desirable back country recreation values in Long Canyon, Parker Canyon, and the Selkirk Crest. Industry believes these objectives can be met through implement ing management plans which include roadless, back country status for the Selkirk Crest and Parker Canyon; low impact logging methods and/or snow roads for any areas to be harvested in Long Canyon; strict, effective road closures for any roads entering Long Canyon; design of cutting units to minimize visual impact and provide maximum wildlife benefits; preservation of representative stands of old-growth timber along the trail and adjoining the stream in Long Canyon; Parker Canyon would be preserved as roadless in perpetuity; a citizens advisory group which could help manage this Selkirk area. Thank you for the opportunity for us to state our recommendations for this area.