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August 6, 2010 in Outdoors, Idaho, Region
Simpson hasn’t given up Idaho wilderness hopes
TWIN FALLS, Idaho — U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson says he hasn’t given up hope on his plan to create a new central Idaho wilderness.
The six-term Republican told the Twin Falls Times-News this week that despite opposition, “strange things happen in legislative sessions.”
Last month, his bill to create the 330,000-acre wilderness in the Boulder Mountains and White Clouds Peaks got a congressional hearing.
But Gov. Butch Otter came out strongly against it, as have pro-motorized recreation groups backed by Albertsons grocery-store heir Joe Scott.
Otter says he’d never support the plan.
Simpson is still trying to revive the proposal, after GOP U.S. Sen. Jim Risch said the bill needs more work to develop consensus between opponents and its proponents, which include the Idaho Conservation League.
© Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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notrich on August 06 at 10:31 a.m.
Check out the percentage of Idaho that is wilderness. I’m for wilderness, but when an area has too much of it, then it hurts the state. Tax base is small, no place for industry and housing, smaller area for logging, roads are limited, forest fires are harder to put out, and mining is almost impossible. However, it doesn’t affect farming or tourism.
To sum, you need to consider what Idaho needs for the future.
fishinjay on August 06 at 11:31 a.m.
According to the numbers cited on wilderness.net 8.4% of Idaho is designated wilderness. Adding 300,000 acres would increase the % of designated wilderness to 9%.
Is that too much, too little, or not enough?