The Wasatch canyons are a treasure that all residents of this valley rely upon whether they know it or not. More than 60 percent of our water supply comes from these seven canyons, and they also provide us with endless opportunities to connect with nature at whatever level we desire.
It is time for everyone interested in outdoor recreation and productive natural resource management to get behind Sen. Jon Tester's Forest Jobs and Recreation bill. We have been in a 35-year management stalemate since the Roadless Area Review and Evaluation, RARE I and II studies of the 1970s. The RARE studies set out all of the areas the U.S. Forest Service recommended for wilderness classification. Since then, those areas plus many others including large buffer zones have been managed to protect wilderness qualities.
Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., recently announced support of some of the work of a good group of individuals who have been working towards establishing wilderness status on a small amount of Forest Service lands down around Indian Creek and Red Shirt in the Badlands.
I know these lands; they are fragile and beautiful.
Comments at Tuesday's city council meeting indicate a lot of people care about the 360,000 acres of desert, canyons and washes southwest of Mesquite.
And why not? It's a magnificent landscape, with incredible vistas and fascinating rock formations. It is becoming an increasingly popular place for outdoor recreation, and people come from all over the world to explore its unique attractions.
The Hidden Gems wilderness plan is a once in a lifetime opportunity to preserve environmentally sensitive parts of the National Forests that surround us. The areas proposed for protection by Hidden Gems generally consist of intact lower elevation habitats within the White River National Forest. Development or over-use of these areas, many of which are located right here in the Frying Pan, Crystal and Roaring Fork river drainages, would have a major impact on wildlife, soils and vegetation.
I was happy to support wilderness protection at the recent field hearing for the proposal aimed at protecting local natural treasures like the Organ Mountains, Broad Canyon, and the Potrillo Mountains. More than 500 interested citizens attended, and as I listened to the many voices, one thing was clear: Community members want our precious public lands protected so that New Mexicans can forever enjoy these wild places.
Let's put behind us the recent unseemly and inaccurate charges that Sen. Jon Tester's bill on timber jobs and wilderness was crafted in secrecy. It's time to focus on what the bill will accomplish rather than try to paint some vague conspiracy that belongs in a pulp fiction novel.
Sen. Tester is to be commended for taking on timber jobs and wilderness designation in one bill after these issues have been stalemated in Montana's political wars for 25 years.
The fight over 50,000 acres of land in Buffalo Gap National Grassland might seem irrelevant to those who don't follow the ins and outs of wilderness management.
But the land's uniqueness means that South Dakota either faces a great opportunity or is poised for a disastrous mistake.
U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., plans to introduce legislation to designate the area as federally protected wilderness.
A time will come when there no longer will be pristine areas like those covered by the Hidden Gems
I have been living in this wonderful part of the world for a little longer than five years. There are countless reasons why I love to live here, and one of them is the wildness and natural wonder that surround me.
Opinion: Canyon development bad idea for S.L. Valley
March 16th, 2010The Wasatch canyons are a treasure that all residents of this valley rely upon whether they know it or not. More than 60 percent of our water supply comes from these seven canyons, and they also provide us with endless opportunities to connect with nature at whatever level we desire.
Opinion: It's time to end the stalemate and pass this well-balanced legislation
March 15th, 2010It is time for everyone interested in outdoor recreation and productive natural resource management to get behind Sen. Jon Tester's Forest Jobs and Recreation bill. We have been in a 35-year management stalemate since the Roadless Area Review and Evaluation, RARE I and II studies of the 1970s. The RARE studies set out all of the areas the U.S. Forest Service recommended for wilderness classification. Since then, those areas plus many others including large buffer zones have been managed to protect wilderness qualities.
Opinion: Indian Creek wilderness right thing to do
March 15th, 2010Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., recently announced support of some of the work of a good group of individuals who have been working towards establishing wilderness status on a small amount of Forest Service lands down around Indian Creek and Red Shirt in the Badlands.
I know these lands; they are fragile and beautiful.
Editorial: Gold Butte is worth fighting for — let’s not fight over it.
March 12th, 2010Comments at Tuesday's city council meeting indicate a lot of people care about the 360,000 acres of desert, canyons and washes southwest of Mesquite.
And why not? It's a magnificent landscape, with incredible vistas and fascinating rock formations. It is becoming an increasingly popular place for outdoor recreation, and people come from all over the world to explore its unique attractions.
Letter: Once in a lifetime opportunity
March 12th, 2010The Hidden Gems wilderness plan is a once in a lifetime opportunity to preserve environmentally sensitive parts of the National Forests that surround us. The areas proposed for protection by Hidden Gems generally consist of intact lower elevation habitats within the White River National Forest. Development or over-use of these areas, many of which are located right here in the Frying Pan, Crystal and Roaring Fork river drainages, would have a major impact on wildlife, soils and vegetation.
Letter: Protect wilderness
March 9th, 2010I was happy to support wilderness protection at the recent field hearing for the proposal aimed at protecting local natural treasures like the Organ Mountains, Broad Canyon, and the Potrillo Mountains. More than 500 interested citizens attended, and as I listened to the many voices, one thing was clear: Community members want our precious public lands protected so that New Mexicans can forever enjoy these wild places.
Letter: Let’s focus on what matters in Tester’s bill
March 8th, 2010Let's put behind us the recent unseemly and inaccurate charges that Sen. Jon Tester's bill on timber jobs and wilderness was crafted in secrecy. It's time to focus on what the bill will accomplish rather than try to paint some vague conspiracy that belongs in a pulp fiction novel.
Sen. Tester is to be commended for taking on timber jobs and wilderness designation in one bill after these issues have been stalemated in Montana's political wars for 25 years.
Editorial: Grassland proposal sounds reasonable
March 8th, 2010The fight over 50,000 acres of land in Buffalo Gap National Grassland might seem irrelevant to those who don't follow the ins and outs of wilderness management.
But the land's uniqueness means that South Dakota either faces a great opportunity or is poised for a disastrous mistake.
U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., plans to introduce legislation to designate the area as federally protected wilderness.
Letter: Changes would complicate plan
March 3rd, 2010Why would Rep. Denny Rehberg propose changes to Sen. Jon Tester's forest jobs bill that Montana mill owners say won't work?
Letter: Gems bid makes sense
March 1st, 2010A time will come when there no longer will be pristine areas like those covered by the Hidden Gems
I have been living in this wonderful part of the world for a little longer than five years. There are countless reasons why I love to live here, and one of them is the wildness and natural wonder that surround me.