Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Carleson. Senator Symms, Senator McClure, I appreciate the opportunity to testify today. I also would like to add a little fire to the cause of the Mallard-Larkins Pioneer Area. I'd like to have an area to include not only that but the adjacent Lakes ButteeElizabeth Lakes area to the east and south to make an integrated wilderness area. And in the—my testimony, I have a map that's attached. This region would consist of roughly 180,000 acres includ ing about 30,500 acres of the current Mallard-Larkins Pioneer Area. High mountain lakes in the Mallard-Larkins, Five Lakes Butte, Elizabeth Mountain-Cold Springs Peak Area would be protected as well as elk-grazing areas along the Minnesaka River. I recently spent about 5 days in the Mallard-Larkins area with my two boys and know of no other place in northern Idaho that has the rugged beauty and variety of wildlife and terrain that this area offers. In the short time there, we saw an elk herd, mountain goats, grouse, and eagles. We hiked through three life zones from Mountain Forest Zone of ancient cedar, fir, and ferns and Devil's Club around Isabella Creek through the Subalpine Zone of Bear Grass and Subalpine Fir around Heart Lake up to the Alpine Zone of Red Heather and Indian Paintbrush along Goat Ridge. Trails within this area provide access to many of the mountain lakes over a 1- to 2-day trip and the more primitive rivers within the area would require about 2 to 4 days. The region is not too amenable to logging. There is extensive road slumping along the Isabella Creek area and the poorly logged areas around Collins Creek illustrate the difficulties of logging these areas. In view of these problems and the unique beauty of this area, I recommend designating this area as a wilderness region. Thank you.