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Off-road vehicles threaten largest recommended wilderness in Lower 48
Nestled in remote East-Central Idaho, the Salmon-Challis National Forest contains some of Idaho's wildest and most pristine gems. Idaho's largest peak, Mt. Borah, rises to more than 12,600 feet. Portions of the Boulder-White Cloud Mountains and many recommended wilderness areas are also present in this spectacular basin and range country. The Forest is also home for bighorn sheep, salmon, steelhead, and sage-grouse.
The Salmon-Challis National Forest is beginning a process to designate specific roads, trails, and areas for use by dirt bikes, ATVs, and other off-road vehicles. The Forest Service has warned that unmanaged off-road vehicle use is one of the top four threats facing public lands due to its impact on the land, water, wildlife, ecosystem functionality, and other forest recreationists.
Send the Forest Service your letter today to help protect the Salmon-Challis forest and its wildlands, sensitive ecosystems and wildlife habitat, and quiet recreation opportunities from unmanaged dirt bikes, ATVs, and other off-road vehicles.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Salmon-Challis Travel Plan Comments
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments on the Salmon-Challis travel plan. The Salmon-Challis National Forest contains some of Idaho's best proposed wilderness areas, including Mt. Borah, the Boulder-White Clouds, the Pioneers, the Beaverhead, the Centennials, the Lemhis and proposed additions to the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness.
Since motor vehicle use is incompatible with wilderness designations, the Salmon-Challis National Forest should designate all recommended wilderness areas as non-motorized zones in the travel plan. Off-road recreation within recommended wilderness dramatically reduces wilderness values and the potential for designation. Thus these areas should be set aside for wildlife and quiet recreationists until Congress at least has the opportunity to act on these areas.
I am also concerned about the designation of additional roads and trails for motor vehicle use in the Pioneers, particularly in the Copper Basin, Fall Creek, Lake Creek and North Fork Big Lost River, as well as the Mt. Borah recommended wilderness.
The Salmon-Challis also contains important habitat and migration corridors for a number of species, including salmon, steelhead, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, sage-grouse and numerous other species. The forest is an important linkage between the greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the Northern Rockies Ecosystem and ultimately the Yukon Ecosystem in Canada and Alaska. Wildlife migration is particularly important along the Continental Divide.
The travel plan should ensure that adequate and secure habitat is in place for these species. Migratory species should be free to travel through the forest to adjacent ecosystems securely. Lastly, designations of roads and trails for motor vehicle use should not infringe upon opportunities for quiet and solitude on the forest.
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
August 23, 2007
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The Salmon-Challis National Forest cradles gorgeous alpine peaks, stunning basin and range country, wilderness quality lands, and is home to numerous fish and wildlife species. The forest also serves as an important migration corridor connecting the greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to the Northern Rockies Ecosystem and eventually the Yukon Ecosystem in Canada and Alaska.
Off-road vehicle advocacy groups are pushing agency staff with the Salmon-Challis National Forest to open roads and trails in recommended wilderness areas, in proposed additions to the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, and in important habitat for fish and wildlife species.
You Can Help!
A brief moment of your time will help to protect the wildlands, wildlife and serenity of Idaho's Salmon-Challis National Forest. The deadline for letters is September 14th so please send your letter today.
Click "Go Back" to send a letter online now, or if you want to send your own letter by mail, send it to the following address. A sample is below.
Sample letter
E-mail to comments-intermtn-salmon-challis@fs.fed.us and indicate "Travel Planning" on the subject line.
Bill Wood
Forest Supervisor
Attn: Travel Management Planning
1206 S. Challis St.
Salmon, ID 83467
Subject: Salmon-Challis Travel Plan Comments
Dear Supervisor Wood,
Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments on the Salmon-Challis travel plan. The Salmon-Challis National Forest contains some of Idaho's best proposed wilderness areas, including Mt. Borah, the Boulder-White Clouds, the Pioneers, the Beaverhead, the Centennials, the Lemhis and proposed additions to the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness.
Since motor vehicle use is incompatible with wilderness designations, the Salmon-Challis National Forest should designate all recommended wilderness areas as non-motorized zones in the travel plan. Off-road recreation within recommended wilderness dramatically reduces wilderness values and the potential for designation. Thus these areas should be set aside for wildlife and quiet recreationists until Congress at least has the opportunity to act on these areas.
I am also concerned about the designation of additional roads and trails for motor vehicle use in the Pioneers, particularly in the Copper Basin, Fall Creek, Lake Creek and North Fork Big Lost River, as well as the Mt. Borah recommended wilderness.
The Salmon-Challis also contains important habitat and migration corridors for a number of species, including salmon, steelhead, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, sage-grouse and numerous other species. The forest is an important linkage between the greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the Northern Rockies Ecosystem and ultimately the Yukon Ecosystem in Canada and Alaska. Wildlife migration is particularly important along the Continental Divide.
The travel plan should ensure that adequate and secure habitat is in place for these species. Migratory species should be free to travel through the forest to adjacent ecosystems securely. Lastly, designations of roads and trails for motor vehicle use should not infringe upon opportunities for quiet and solitude on the forest.
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