Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Spencer. Senator McClure and committee members, I speak as a resident of Idaho on my own views. As a resident of Idaho, a taxpayer, a hunter and sportsman, I vigorously oppose the opening of more roadless areas for economic development. Having resided in Idaho all my life, I have seen a lot of areas logged or otherwise developed. Corporation giants go in and clearcut the land, then leave a few standing trees along a windy ridge top to seed the clearcut. With the coming of the first windstorm, these unprotected trees are blown down and no other seeding is provided. The brush soon takes over, and it becomes impossible for a new crop of trees to grow. The clearcut becomes useless. It is next to impossible to hunt it, the timber companies especially on their own land forbid anyone to cut firewood on it. And it soon become a wasted area. Is this good resource management? If those clearcuts were replanted and taken care of, a new crop of marketable timber would be growing on some of them right now. Instead of doing that, the timber companies are trying to push into our last remaining roadless areas. Certainly, logging does help wildlife habitat to a certain point. But after a few years the brush no longer provides good browse. And it is even a loss when it concerns the game habitat. I have worked as a guide and packer in the Selway-Bitterroot area. So I know how nice it is not to have to fight those menacing clearcuts. I have also hunted logged areas that have been some good game producers. Since the Selway-Bitterroot is the closest roadless area, I would find it pleasing to know that somewhere closer there might be another roadless area to set aside for undisturbed hunting and recreation. 529 I have backpacked and seen some of these areas mentioned, mainly the Kelly and Cayuse Creek drainages and the Great Burn area. Some of this area is the finest game habitat I have seen. Disturbing it would greatly unbalance those game herds. Some of the areas I have seen are high sub-Alpine areas with little or no trees. Are we going to cut down the only one that might stand on those high rocky crags? As a taxpayer, I am equally angered by having to subsidize the timber companies because the timber value in some of those areas is low. Why not put some of that money to work hiring people to help replant clearcuts that now could be profitable timber stands? The Forest Service says that with their better erosion control methods none of the trout streams will be damaged. It will only take one heavy siltation to ruin them. And how do you protect a freshly cut logging road from a high mountain cloudburst? In much of this area that I have visited, I noticed a lot of roads were beginning to have large iron gates on them with the words 'Road Closed.'