Wilderness Restrictions May Affect Us All

Boaters aren’t the only ones who may face more restrictions for using the largest designated wilderness in the continental United States.

Backpackers, hunters, horseback riders and other visitors also would see changes in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area if the U.S. Forest Service adopts its proposal without changes.

The biggest changes would affect pilots.

Mechanized transportation is banned in most wilderness areas. But Congress exempted airplanes when it passed the Central Idaho Wilderness Act of 1980, and said the Forest Service could only close 16 existing airstrips for emergency reasons.

During a typical year, planes land in the wilderness area about 5,000 times, according to the Forest Service. Many carry hunters, rafters or backpackers.

Under the proposed new management plan, the Forest Service would limit four airstrips to emergency use only. They would get little maintenance.

The Forest Service might temporarily close other strips at times when wildlife is vulnerable - if a wolf pack is raising young at the edge of a strip, for instance, or elk are using it for a calving ground.

Pilots using the wilderness would have to buy a permit.

Other possible changes include:

Removing some little-used trails, or allowing them to grow over. There are 2,400 miles of trails within the wilderness area.

Closing some overused or water-damaging campsites near lakes.

Banning the use of chain saws to cut firewood in the Salmon River corridor. Currently, the Forest Service issues permits for the use of chain saws.

Using chemicals as a last resort to kill noxious weeds. Currently, the Forest Service uses only hand tools for the work. A Forest Service environmental impact statement says noxious weeds are “the single biggest ecological threat” to ecosystems within the wilderness area.