Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

OUTDOOR ASSOCIATION Mr. Sheehan. Hello, Senator, I'm D. J. Sheehan from Harrison, Idaho. And I'd like to thank you and your staff for being here today. As a member of the Lower Coeur d’Alene River Outdoor Association, I would like to testify at this hearing on the importance of saving our national forests and classifying these lands as wilderness. There is only one Idaho. And we have to preserve as much land as possible for wilderness. We need foresight and hindsight when it comes down to choosing our wilderness lands. We just want to make sure that this land is held for future generations to enjoy and use. These are critical areas needed by our fish and wildlife. Without wilderness designation, they will shortly be roaded. I would like to urge you, Senator McClure, to include in your legislation the endangered wilderness core. I would also urge you to use the soft release language in this bill. We definitely do not want a ban on future wilderness consideration for any areas not classified now. I would also urge you, Senator McClure, that at least 50 percent of the remaining 6.5 million acres of Forest Service roadless land be protected in your legislation. I would strongly request that the Idaho Department of Fish and Game wilderness proposal of 558,000 acres be changed to wilderness classification. I strongly feel that we need this land for wildlife management. At the same time, I would like to see the management rules of wilderness lands be changed so that fish and game would have more control concerning improvement on fish and wildlife habitat. Three points concerning this are prescribed burning, stream management, and use of helicopters to land and survey by officials of fish and game and Forest Service personnel. Thank you.