Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

ASSOCIATION Mr. Linville. Than you, Senator. My name is Richard K. Linville. I represent the Salmon River Breaks Association. This association is an asociation of landowners, outfitters, hunters, and fishermen from the Salmon River breaks country in central idaho. We're concerned primarily about the Jersey Jack and Big Mallard roadless areas in the Nex Perce National Forest. Our association has proposed that the Jersey Jack and Big Mallard roadless areas in central idaho be designated by Congress as a national recreation area. NRA legislation is appropriate and desirable for these two roadless areas for the following reasons: One, the recreation values of these roadless areas, including wildlife, fishery, and scenic resources, warrant the protection that would be provided by national recreation area legislation. The Salmon River breaks currently provide some of the best bighorn sheep habitat in Idaho. The deer and elk hunting seasons in this area are the longest in the State. The big-game herds are so plentiful that controlled hunts have never been required by the Idaho Fish and Game Department. The excellent water quality in the area supports native cutthroat, steelhead, and salmon fisheries. The Idaho Fish and Game Department has endorse our proposal for a Salmon River breaks national recreation area. The roadless and undeveloped character of the Salmon River breaks has provided the people of idaho and of the United States with excellent back-country recreation opportunities since before Idaho was a State. These recreation resources deserve to be protected for the future. The second reason that should be classified as an NRA is the existing commercial outfitting and guiding businesses located within the proposed NRA are profitable and growing. They are an asset to the economy of the State of Idaho. An economic impact study that was completed in 1981 indicated that the gross income from these activities was approximately $800,000 during that time and expected to grow to $1,360,000 within the near future. The Idaho Outfitters & Guides Association at its annual meeting this year endorsed our proposal for a national recreation area. The primary reason this area is so popular with big-game hunters is that it is unroaded. The big-game herds are strong. And they will continue to remain strong as long as the access is curtailed. The third reason that market—that NRA's legislation is appropriate for this area is that the market value of the timber in the Salmon River breaks is much lower than the cost of construction roads to bring the timber out to the mill. A professional forestry consultant has examined the economics of logging the roadless areas using data provided by the Nez Perce National Forest. In his analysis, this economist used the highest bid price ever recorded in the Nez Perce National Forest as stumpage value for all of the timber in these roadless areas. Even with the assumption of this extremely high timber value, his analysis indicated that the net 439 loss to the Forest Service from road construction would be over $2 million. The net loss from administrative cost would be $1,296,000. And the net loss from road maintenance costs would be $587,000 ■with a total net loss of over $4 million. Thank you very much, Senator.