Many of us have heard the opinion expressed many times in Lincoln County that we have enough wilderness already. As a longtime wilderness supporter, I have learned that people who state this opinion often have little idea of how much wilderness we actually have.
Most folks are surprised to learn that only about 2 percent of Lincoln County is presently protected as wilderness, which is the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Area.
"In order to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy and modify all areas in the United States ... , leaving no lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition, it is hereby declared to be the policy of Congress to secure for the American people of this and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness."
It has been five years since the debate about wilderness in Doña Ana County began in earnest. These discussions have taken many twists and turns but, thankfully, have resulted in the development of a sound and widely supported proposal for protecting sensitive wildands in our community.
As a wilderness supporter, I am proud to participate in a diverse coalition of organizations and citizens who have fought for the vision of protecting the Organ Mountains and nearby public lands.
This spring, President Barack Obama created the America's Great Outdoors Initiative. This weekend leaders from the Department of Interior, Department of Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency met with New Mexicans in Albuquerque to learn about our views of this program. This is my viewpoint on this issue.
For nearly a decade I have worked with Idahoans to solve land management issues in central Idaho. In 10 years, it's easy for the facts to become distorted and the issues that prompted action in the first place to be overlooked.
So let's look at the facts: The Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (CIEDRA) is an Idaho solution crafted by Idahoans, not federal bureaucrats or outside interests-right down to compromising on which trails to close and which to keep open.
Four centuries ago, my ancestors came to New Mexico to farm and ranch in the Rio Grande Valley. Over the generations they moved north to Colorado's San Luis Valley, where they settled the ranch where I grew up.
On our ranch, my seven brothers and sisters and I were in the outdoors every day, working in the fields, tending to the cattle, or watching the birds pass overhead in their migrations.
Like many in the West, we learned that our livelihoods depended on the health of land and the stewardship values Americans have passed from generation to generation.
In another life, I was a wilderness ranger, and to this day there's a certain trail in a certain wilderness where I am most at peace with myself and with the world.
As an Idaho river outfitter for more than 30 years and with previous professional fisheries and wildlife work, natural resource management has always been important to me, personally and economically. I remember attending the first public hearing in Lewiston for potential dam breaching to save anadromous fish. The final determination was that of the four H's, habitat would be one of the preferred methods of fish recovery.
Over a decade of hard work has gone into making CIEDRA a fair and effective bill to protect the Boulder-White Clouds for Idahoans. The bill accounts for diverse recreational interests and local economies, and it preserves more than 330,000 acres. The area certainly warrants wilderness designation with its spectacular peaks, headwaters, wildlife and pristine habitat. Passage of this bill is the sensible and responsible thing to do.
Although the conservation challenges facing others across Montana vary, the fact remains that grassroots efforts have sprung up where folks have chosen to set aside their differences and work together. They say all politics is local and that's certainly the level where the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act originated. The compromises and agreements forged by the many folks involved were done so in an open fashion, through years of hard work, lengthy debate, and input from many different types of people.
Opinion: Do we have enough wilderness?
July 30th, 2010Many of us have heard the opinion expressed many times in Lincoln County that we have enough wilderness already. As a longtime wilderness supporter, I have learned that people who state this opinion often have little idea of how much wilderness we actually have.
Most folks are surprised to learn that only about 2 percent of Lincoln County is presently protected as wilderness, which is the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Area.
Opinion: Wilderness provides so much for state
July 21st, 2010"In order to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy and modify all areas in the United States ... , leaving no lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition, it is hereby declared to be the policy of Congress to secure for the American people of this and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness."
Opinion: Wilderness Excuses Don’t Hold Water
July 19th, 2010It has been five years since the debate about wilderness in Doña Ana County began in earnest. These discussions have taken many twists and turns but, thankfully, have resulted in the development of a sound and widely supported proposal for protecting sensitive wildands in our community.
As a wilderness supporter, I am proud to participate in a diverse coalition of organizations and citizens who have fought for the vision of protecting the Organ Mountains and nearby public lands.
Opinion: Outdoor initiative increases opportunities
July 19th, 2010This spring, President Barack Obama created the America's Great Outdoors Initiative. This weekend leaders from the Department of Interior, Department of Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency met with New Mexicans in Albuquerque to learn about our views of this program. This is my viewpoint on this issue.
Opinion: A Solution We Can’t Do Without
July 22nd, 2010For nearly a decade I have worked with Idahoans to solve land management issues in central Idaho. In 10 years, it's easy for the facts to become distorted and the issues that prompted action in the first place to be overlooked.
So let's look at the facts: The Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (CIEDRA) is an Idaho solution crafted by Idahoans, not federal bureaucrats or outside interests-right down to compromising on which trails to close and which to keep open.
Opinion: Reconnection to the Outdoors Part of New Conservation Agenda
July 19th, 2010Four centuries ago, my ancestors came to New Mexico to farm and ranch in the Rio Grande Valley. Over the generations they moved north to Colorado's San Luis Valley, where they settled the ranch where I grew up.
On our ranch, my seven brothers and sisters and I were in the outdoors every day, working in the fields, tending to the cattle, or watching the birds pass overhead in their migrations.
Like many in the West, we learned that our livelihoods depended on the health of land and the stewardship values Americans have passed from generation to generation.
Opinion: For new wilderness to succeed, next generation must have interest
July 19th, 2010In another life, I was a wilderness ranger, and to this day there's a certain trail in a certain wilderness where I am most at peace with myself and with the world.
Letter: CIEDRA will help salmon
July 14th, 2010As an Idaho river outfitter for more than 30 years and with previous professional fisheries and wildlife work, natural resource management has always been important to me, personally and economically. I remember attending the first public hearing in Lewiston for potential dam breaching to save anadromous fish. The final determination was that of the four H's, habitat would be one of the preferred methods of fish recovery.
Letter: CIEDRA is well-crafted
July 14th, 2010Over a decade of hard work has gone into making CIEDRA a fair and effective bill to protect the Boulder-White Clouds for Idahoans. The bill accounts for diverse recreational interests and local economies, and it preserves more than 330,000 acres. The area certainly warrants wilderness designation with its spectacular peaks, headwaters, wildlife and pristine habitat. Passage of this bill is the sensible and responsible thing to do.
Opinion: Working locally, working together
July 13th, 2010Although the conservation challenges facing others across Montana vary, the fact remains that grassroots efforts have sprung up where folks have chosen to set aside their differences and work together. They say all politics is local and that's certainly the level where the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act originated. The compromises and agreements forged by the many folks involved were done so in an open fashion, through years of hard work, lengthy debate, and input from many different types of people.