Wilderness News

I would like to add my support for the Hidden Gems wilderness proposal in its entirety.

The House Thursday approved legislation that would extend the highest level of federal protection to 21.3 miles of Oregon's MolallaRiver.

The bill, which was sponsored by Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., sailed though the chamber by a 292-133 vote. All five members of Oregon's delegation voted for the bill. It now moves to the Senate where Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have introduced an identical measure.

I am writing to respond to Christy Love's letter of Nov. 12, in which she expresses opposition to designating the Rock Creek area as wilderness.

I appreciate her point of view as a stakeholder who grazes cattle in the area. However, to state that her ranch "most definitely would be adversely affected" by the designation is misleading.

According to section 4(d)(4)(2) of the Wilderness Act of 1964: "The grazing of livestock, where established..., shall be permitted to continue..." after an area becomes wilderness.

Congress has already had its say in setting the boundaries of Eastern Nevada's newest wilderness areas, but local residents will still have a chance to shape the way they're managed. 

At just under 11,000 feet, Mount Grafton is the highest point on BLM-administered lands in the state. The BLM is now accepting public comments for a draft plan to manage the mountain and three other wilderness areas within the agency's Ely district. 

I read with considerable interest the guest column of Will Skelton in the Oct. 24 edition of the News Sentinel, since I and many others worked with Skelton's leadership to accomplish the passage of the 1984 wilderness bill that protected some outstanding wilderness areas in the Cherokee National Forest.

The effort to protect the Upper Bald River, which several of us know quite well, began in the early 1970s. It's a truly magnificent area.

Colorado Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet earlier this week introduced the Senate version of U.S. Rep. John Salazar's San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act, which would protect more than 60,000 acres of public lands in southwestern Colorado as either wilderness or a special management area.

Good news for outdoor enthusiasts and environmentalist alike in Maine: Yesterday, the Appalachian Mountain Club announced its recent purchase of 29,500 acres of the Roach Ponds track land.  Although the AMC will manage the property, they have donated the land to the state of Maine so that it will remain permanently protected land for recreational public use.  

Colorado's U.S. senators have joined the push for wilderness and other protections for more than 61,000 acres in the San Juan Mountains.

Democrats Mark Udall and Michael Bennet have introduced the San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act, a companion bill to legislation recently offered in the House by Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo.

Democratic U.S. Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet introduced a bill Tuesday to preserve more than 61,000 acres in southern Colorado's San Juan Mountains, including 33,000 acres of new wilderness.

The bill is the Senate version of legislation introduced in the House by Democratic Rep. John Salazar of Manassa and would expand existing wilderness around Lizard Head peak and the 14,150-foot Mount Sneffels.

The bill also creates a 21,000-acre special-management area and removes from mineral development more than 6,500 acres near Naturita Canyon.

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet announced that they have introduced the San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act of 2009 in the Senate. It is a companion bill to one introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman John Salazar (H.R. 3914).