Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

CONTRACTORS, BONNERS FERRY, IDAHO Mr. Karnes. Senator, my name is Mike Karnes. I was born and raised in Boundary County. Since 1963 I have been working in the woods. In 1970 I started my own logging company. For the past 20 to 25 years, I have hunted, fished, hiked, snowmobiled and camped on virtually every part of the areas being considered here. It is my opinion that neither Long Canyon nor the Selkirk Crest should be designated for wilderness. Let's consider first the Selkirk Crest. In 1971 the U.S. Forest Service and the State of Idaho entered into a management agreement for the Selkirk Crest, which this agreement is exhibit 1 in my written testimony. In this agreement, it stated clearly that this area should remain roadless in a near natural condition for back country recreation. It also stated there shall be no harvesting of timber. I wholeheartedly concur with this. I would highly recommend that the Selkirk Crest be left under the present agreement, so that the Forest Service would be ble to manage adjacent timber stands, protect the crest and adjacent 18 areas from fire without the hindrances caused by designated wilderness. Many people including myself, ride snowmobiles in this area several times each year. Due to the snow depth, 7 to 9 feet plus, no damage occurs. In 15 years of riding snowmobiles on the Selkirk Crest area, we have yet to see any big game roaming. If it were designated wilderness, snowmobiling would be prohibited. Next, let us look at Long Canyon. Many estimates have been made as to the timber volume included in this area. It is my opinion that there is between 300 to 400 million board feet of saw logs.