Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Snyder. My opening position is to support the proposed Endangerd Wilderness Core of 10 areas that are cosponsored by the Idaho Conservation League. I further support a soft-sufficiency language as a fair approach in the future planning and management of Idaho's roadless lands. I have developed a great love and respect for the lands of Idaho. Our State is particularly special with its vast amount of forest land. I cannot emphasize the importance of careful planning and evaluation of these lands. There is a need for further research and continued comprehensive planning of all forest lands. There is not a need to rush into a permanent land management plan that has had no additional studies since the discredited RARE II evaluation of 1978. A forest is a complex community that should have all aspects evaluated before putting an economic tag on it. In the past, little public opinion has dictated the goals and management philosophies of the National Forest Service. Changes in recent times have provided more public input in management decisions that affect public lands. These current public sentiments lie in a more balanced resource approach as designed by the MultipleUse/Sustained-Yield Act of 1960. The recent National Forest Management Act of 1976 acknowledges the Multiple-Use/SustainedYield Act by further providing listed guidelines for land manage ment planning decisions. They are: To insure that timber will be harvested from National Forest Service lands only where: (1) Soil, slope, or other watershed conditions will not be irreversibly damaged; (2) There is assurance that such lands can be adequately restocked within 5 years after harvest; (3) Protection is provided for streams, streambanks, shorelines, lakes, wetlands, and other bodies of water from detrimental changes in water temperatures, blockages of water courses, and deposits of sediment, where harvests are likely to seriously and adversely affect water conditions or fish habitat; and (4) The harvesting system to be used is not selected primarily because it will give the greatest dollar return or the greatest unit output of timber. I insist that all Idaho national forests should adhere to this policy in the event of developing current roadless lands. I also have included in this report areas of interest that I personally visited to and experienced. Mallard-Larkins, Grandmother Mountain, Upper Priest Lake, the Selkirk, and other areas of interest that have potential Wilderness recognition would be Scotchman Peak, Kelly Creek, which would be in the Hoodoo Mountain-Great Burn Area, Elk Summit and Walton Lakes, both of the concerned Lochsa Face Area. Wilderness is significant because it applies to all realms of the muliple use/sustained-yield concept. And its recreation, range, watershed, wildlife, and fish with the exception of timber. This is an enduring resource that—wilderness is an enduring resource that allows natural selection and succession to follow its own course. 658 The demand and use of wilderness is ever increasing. And I believe Idaho should lead the way as a wilderness enriched State. Present and future generations would greatly benefit by its social and economic welfare. Thank you.