Boulder-Whiteclouds Wilderness Starting to Sink

[JoseCuervo]

Sierra Club concerned with precedents in Simpson's proposal


POCATELLO - The Sierra Club and other area environmental groups are backing away from the framework of Rep. Mike Simpson's Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Proposal.

The proposal centers around undeveloped areas of the Boulder and White Cloud mountain ranges, northeast of Sun Valley.


"Our biggest concern is the precedents that are being set by some of the language in this proposal," said John Schmidt, chair of the Sierra Club's Eastern Idaho Chapter.

Initially, the project represented a collaboration of politicians, businesses and conservation groups. But while all supported the creation of a designated Boulder-White Cloud wilderness area, differences in opinion have led to the various conservation groups breaking off dialogue.

"(Simpson) kept his cards close to his chest, and when he released the proposal there were a lot of surprises," Schmidt said.

Simpson held a series of town hall meetings earlier in the month in Ketchum, Challis and Stanley after releasing a proposal outline June 18.

Former Gov. Cecil B. Andrus is among those to publicly support the proposal, but the Sierra Club and other groups say it goes too far.

One section of the proposal calls for public land within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area to be transferred to Custer County to foster possible future economic development.

"To us, that's a huge issue - the showstopper," Schmidt said. "If they need economic stimulus, there are plenty of other ways to do it."

Schmidt said the Sierra Club also objects opening up additional land to off-road vehicles and snowmobiles and failing to establish federal reserved water rights.


According to the proposal, three wilderness areas would be created, totaling between 250,000 and 300,000 acres in all.

Much of the land that doesn't fall into those three areas would be given back to the county. Simpson estimated the potential economic windfall of such a move at between $6 to $10 million.

In a written document posted Wednesday, Simpson said Custer County - 95 percent of which is public land - badly needs an economic jolt.

"Simply put, the county's tax base, or more specifically the lack thereof, is inadequate to support the services required for such an expansive county" Simpson said.


Schmidt, however, said giving away land in one of Idaho's "crown jewels" was unacceptable to the Sierra Club.

"It conflicts with the spirit and purpose of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area," Schmidt said.

In addition to the central Idaho area in question, Schmidt said the proposal could have long-term consequences for the rest of the state, including southeast Idaho.

"This could affect forests in this area in the future as well," he said.

Schmidt said there is still a chance the Sierra Club could support the proposal, if certain changes are made.

Yet Simpson's Wednesday message included a thinly veiled reference to the Sierra Club's stance.

"It is important to remember that resolving old battles and moving to a strong future requires the active and constructive participation of the interested parties," he said.

 

[JoseCuervo]

Environmental groups jointly oppose Simpson wilderness plan
Originally published Wednesday, July 21, 2004


TWIN FALLS -- More than two dozen environmental groups are telling Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson that they can't support his wilderness and economic development proposal for the Boulder-White Cloud mountains near Stanley.

They say they want wilderness, but that his plan sacrifices too much.

Simpson has described his proposed Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act as a give-and-take proposition. The Idaho Republican said trade-offs are the new way to negotiate controversial land-use decisions. The old way, he said, was all about boundaries and has left the central Idaho wilderness issue unresolved for 30 years.

But finding the balance he seeks among environmentalists, off-road vehicle users and Custer County residents looking for a way to make a living in a mostly public-land based county so far hasn't leveled out.

After a round of public hearings, Simpson announced earlier this month that he may include another 100,000 acres to the 294,000 he has proposed for protection. But that hasn't stopped opposition from environmentalists to fundamental aspects of his proposal.

Simpson's office said Tuesday that it hadn't received a copy of the groups' joint letter that outlines their objections, and would wait to review it before issuing a response.

Objections raised by the groups include allowing off-road vehicle use throughout the proposed wilderness area and transferring 1,000 acres of public land to Custer County for economic stimulus. Most land within the county is public, and local governments struggle to handle the busy summer tourism season. Preserving more land as wilderness would further reduce the county's ability to raise revenues.

"If Custer County does need some additional funds, then let's provide them with the money instead of going this kind of backdoor way of giving them land," said Duane Reynolds, chairman of the Northern Rockies Chapter of the Sierra Club.

The Sierra Club took the lead in drafting the letter to Simpson's office.

Off-road vehicle use remains one of the most divisive issues. Off-road enthusiasts have opposed the plan on grounds that central Idaho already has thousands of acres of wilderness and that they would lose access to favorite trails. But Simpson's plans still permits off-road vehicle use in some areas of the proposed new wilderness.

"I do think people need places to snowmobile and use off-road vehicles, it just doesn't have to be in the Boulder-White clouds," Reynolds said.

The environmental groups said Simpson's plan opens critical ranges to motorized use, opens new motorized trails in pristine areas, allows permanent status for motorized use on national forest lands and "wastes" taxpayers' money by providing $1 million to Idaho's Off-Road Motor Vehicle Program to be used for off-road vehicle trail enhancements. A portion of the fund goes for enforcement activities and rehabilitation of land damaged by off-road vehicle users.


NewsTracker
* Last we knew: Congressman Mike Simpson said he would likely increase the size of his proposed wilderness plan by 100,000 acres.
* The latest: Nearly 30 environmental groups have signed a letter telling the Idaho Republican that they want wilderness designation but that his plan is "too broken to ever fix."
* What's next: Simpson has said he will decide in August whether to hold another round of public hearings before taking his proposal to Congress.

 

[Ithaca 37]

Here's a quote from a letter in today's paper about the Boulder-Whiteclouds:

"We cannot just look at these areas as our own personal recreational havens, but as ecosystems full of fish, wildlife and scenic values that need to be protected for future generations."

 

[1_pointer]

I'm not for the transfering that that large of a tract to the state or county. I don't think either have the infrastructure to manage them properly.