And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>X-Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Date: Fri, 15 Jan 1999 12:16:29 -0700
>To: "Wild Rockies Alerts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>From: Wild Rockies InfoNet <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: LETTERS NEEDED TO PROTECT THE RIVER OF NO RETURN WILDERNESS!
>Sender: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
>LETTERS NEEDED TO PROTECT THE RIVER OF NO RETURN WILDERNESS!
>
>The Forest Service has released a draft management plan for the Frank
>Church-River of No Return Wilderness (FC-RONR). The draft plan allows for
>unlimited expansion of aircraft and motorboat use, continues a grossly
>unfair river rafting allocation system, and encourages the steady
>degradation of Wilderness character. Once approved, the plan will guide
>management of the 2.4 million-acre Wilderness for many years to come.
>
>Please take a few minutes to send a letter to the Forest Service supporting
>stronger Wilderness protection in the plan. Comments must be submitted by
>February 1, 1999.
>
>A Bit of Background... The River of No Return Wilderness, established by
>the 1980 Central Idaho Wilderness Act (CIWA), is the largest Wilderness in
>the Lower '48. Flowing through the heart of this expansive area are two
>premier Wild and Scenic Rivers--the Middle Fork and the Main Salmon. The
>FC-RONR provides essential habitat for restoring viable populations of
>grizzlies, wolves, salmon, bull trout, wolverine and other species in the
>Northern Rockies. It is a grand wilderness by any measure, but its wild
>future is anything but certain.
>
>The CIWA contained several provisions that allowed for certain activities
>that aren't ordinarily allowed in Wilderness including provisions that
>prevent the Forest Service from closing the existing public land airstrips
>(unless they became unserviceable or unsafe) or reducing the number of
>motorboats on the Salmon River below the level of use that was occurring as
>of 1978. Another stipulation requires that the Main Salmon River corridor
>be managed under the provisions of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act rather
>than the more-restrictive Wilderness Act. In all other areas, however, the
>provisions of the Wilderness Act apply including requirements that the
>Forest Service administer the Wilderness and the incompatible uses in a
>manner that preserves Wilderness character and minimizes the impacts of the
>non-conforming activities.
>
>Specific Problems With the Management Plan
>
>1. Aircraft use: The DEIS estimates that as many as 5,500 aircraft land
>at 12 public landing strips in the FC-RONR each year, a dramatic increase
>over pre-Wilderness levels. Much of the increase represents a new fad of
>motorized recreation ("bagging airstrips", touch-and-go landings, and
>airplane camping). The Wilderness Management Plan should require a permit
>for all aircraft use and should limit the number of landings to a number no
>greater than existed at the time of Wilderness designation (1980). Support
>the FS proposal to not maintain four marginal airstrips--Mile Hi, Vines,
>Dewey Moore, and Simonds.
>
>2. Managing Use on the Middle Fork and Main Salmon Rivers: Middle Fork:
>The EIS notes that both physical and social carrying capacities are
>exceeded during peak use and that some sensitive wildlife (eagles, osprey,
>harlequin ducks) have been driven from the river corridors. The plan caps
>total river use near existing levels. However, commercial outfitters would
>receive nearly 60% of the total allocation on the Middle Fork. Use limits
>should be achieved by reducing group size and commercial use. The permit
>system should be changed to favor public use over commercial use.
>
>Main Salmon: The plan does very little to control the motorboats on the
>Salmon River which has increased substantially since 1978 largely due to
>"jetback shuttles" (returning rafters who floated the "River of No Return"
>to their cars). Jetbacks should be prohibited and motorboat use should be
>capped at 1978 levels.
>
>3. Wilderness Resorts: In 1995, the Forest Service issued 15-year permits
>for 3 permanent resorts (lodges, cabins, etc.) on public land on the Wild
>Salmon River. Wilderness Watch has challenged that action in Court. Urge
>the Forest Service to remove these structures.
>
>4. Outfitter camps: The plan would continue the practice of reserving
>over 80 camps to commercial land-based outfitters. The camps include
>permanent structures such as corrals, tent logs and fences. Outfitter
>camps should be temporary and removed at the end of each season. All
>Wilderness users should be required to meet the same rigorous
>leave-no-trace standards.
>
>5. Backcountry impacts: The plan allows the Wilderness to become less
>wild by shifting the type of recreation experience available (referred to
>as the "recreation opportunity spectrum") from "primitive" to
>"semi-primitive and roaded natural". Urge the FS to implement specific
>management strategies to reduce crowding and on-site physical impacts in
>heavily used areas and to implement safeguards to prevent similar impacts
>from occurring elsewhere.
>
>6. Livestock grazing, fire control, fish stocking: These three important
>ecological issues are not addressed in the plan. Urge the Forest Service
>to adopt standards that promote naturally functioning ecosystems. Natural
>fires should be allowed to burn, stocking non-native species should cease,
>and strict controls should be incorporated into livestock allotment plans.
>
>YOUR LETTERS ARE NEEDED NOW!!
>
>Send a letter to the Forest Service (postmarked by Feb. 1, 1999), urging it
>to adopt a management plan that enhances rather than reduces the Wilderness
>character of the FC-RONR Wilderness. Letters should be addressed to:
>
>FC-RONR Wilderness Coordinator
>Salmon and Challis National Forests
>RR 2 Box 600
>Salmon, ID 83467
>
>For more information contact:
>
>WILDERNESS WATCH
>Box 9175
>Missoula, MT 59807
>406/542-2048
>mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>
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