Officials mull making Scotchman Peaks wilderness

SANDPOINT — A draft forest management plan is recommending making more than 25,000 acres of the Scotchman Peaks area in northern Idaho part of a protected wilderness zone. The recommendation is part of a draft record of decision developed for the Kootenai and Panhandle national forests. The Bonner County Daily Bee reports the new draft updates the existing 1987 plan and will guide management of the forests for the next 15 years. The old plan recommended 23,900 acres of the Scotchman Peaks area be designated wilderness. The new plan simply adds 2,000 more acres to that total. The draft plan and accompanying environmental study were released for public review last month. The forest is accepting public comments on the proposal until late November.