Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Roseberg. Thank you, Senator, for a chance to speak today. My name is Ralph Roseberg. And I'm from Orofino, Idaho I am here to represent a point of view that I believe is shared by a significant portion of that community. As you probably can tell from my accent, I have not always been fortunate enough to live in Idaho. Therefore, I can compare the abundant natural resources of Idaho with other more developed areas of the United States. Idaho certainly has blue ribbon fishing streams, hunting areas and wilderness recreation potential. These particular resources offer long term use, income and aesthetic qualities if we have the foresight to conserve them. In a general economic sense, we have the hunting, fishing and tourist-dollars which should be considered along with the highly subsidized and unstable timber industry desires. As an economist told the Orofino Chamber of Commerce the other day, the timber industry boom that once was will simply never be again. An economic recovery, as Doctor Greenspan has recently spoke about, does not mean a return to the boom of preoil embargo days. Our economy in the Clearwater area is going to have to be restructured from a heavily timber dependent one. These roadless areas offer one avenue that would help do that. In a more specific vein, I would like to discuss some of these areas. Cayuse Creek and Kelly Creek drainage make up an absolutely wonderful fishing area that attracts people from all over the United States and even from other countries. Logging in this and many of the now roadless areas can only be accomplished by taxpayer financed and erosion causing roads that could be very detrimental to the fishery resources of this exceptionally gifted area. Some of the terrestrial areas can recover well. But high country streams like this are very fragile. We have a real gem here if we don't throw it away. The Mallard-Larkins offer a potentially fantastic wilderness experience. And this could become even more evident with time and thought. There is no timber cut crisis in the Clearwater area now or will not be one in the near future. So it is not necessary to lock ourselves into a choice of wilderness or clearcut with a premature decision on acreages and boundaries. There is no pressing need for final decision on some of these areas now. Logging areas without due consideration and time for that consideration have severe consequences as you have seen in the case of the South Fork of the Clearwater. Long Canyon offers the last stronghold of roadless and undeveloped natural areas in that part of the State. All of the areas in the various proposals have merits to consider. But I thought you could see these to be good examples. As a taxpayer and outdoor person, I wish you to consider the minimal timber values of these areas versus the cost to the taxpayers and the loss of fragile and irreplaceable natural resources for everyone. Many of these rugged, steep areas will cost much more for roads than they will return to the taxpayers in revenues. Let us 556 not hurry to a final decision that we may regret since there is not a pressing need to lock up these now roadless areas. Thank you for this opportunity to express our viewpoints.