Earth Day is perfect time to protect Scotchmans

Spring is a time of awakening, of rebirth and renewal. As buds burst and seeds stir to life, hope (along with pollen) hangs heavy in the air.

In 1970, 20 million people from all walks of life and with little else in common but a shared desire to improve the planet’s environment came together to celebrate the original Earth Day. Congress even adjourned for the day so that they could engage in activities and visit with constituents. The events and actions that followed were bipartisan and community centered.

Soon after Earth Day, Congress and the President responded to the urgings of Americans from diverse backgrounds and passed many of our bedrock environmental and conservation laws. These laws assured that the public interest is served by (and the public is involved in) governmental decisions that impact our environment: Updates to the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act and Forest Land Management Policy Act. Congress also created the Superfund Act, President Nixon established the Environmental Protection Agency and the Forest Service conducted their Roadless Area Review and Evaluations (RARE 1 and RARE II). The 1970s were a busy time!

The Wilderness Act itself assures that there will be a similar public process, delegating to Congress the sole authority to add areas to the National Wilderness Preservation System. Congress rarely acts without gauging public support, and on lands issues local support plays an important role in whether, and when, Congress acts. Building strong, diverse public support is an important step on the pathway to Wilderness designation. Wilderness designation is one of the most democratic actions.

So, the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness set out 11 years ago to engage the community and the many different people with interests in Wilderness. We have participated in formal collaborations including the Panhandle Forest Collaborative and the Kootenai Forest Stakeholders groups. We have also had one-on-one conversations with many individuals, addressed meetings of civic organizations, stakeholders, and other groups. We’ve met with businesses, representatives of the timber and mining industries and various recreation groups. We’ve met with anyone who is interested in what Wilderness for the Scotchman Peaks would mean, including people and groups who might not have seemed like the most natural wilderness allies. We have wanted to talk with everyone, answer questions, address concerns and interests. To learn from each what their perspective had to teach us.

Through this process of public engagement and collaboration, a broad consensus of our community has come to agree that the Scotchman Peaks should be designated as Wilderness. Key endorsements from the last year or so include the Governor of Montana, the Sanders County Ledger, the Missoulian, the Bonner County Daily Bee, The Spokesman-Review and the Sandpoint Reader editorial boards. The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, the Bonner County Commissioners, and Idaho Forest Group have all called upon our Senators and Congressman to introduce a bill to designate the Scotchman Peaks (in Idaho) as Wilderness!

This support has been noticed by the Idaho Congressional delegation, and we are hopeful that 2016 will be the breakout year for the Idaho portion of the Scotchman Peaks. We can think of no better way to celebrate Earth Day than for our Congressional Representatives to honor our communities’ desire and introduce legislation to protect the Scotchman Peaks as Wilderness. We hope you will join us in urging them to do so!

If you want to celebrate Earth Day, take a moment to add your voice to this chorus. Go to:

n http://www.scotchmanpeaks.org/you-can-help/contactelecteds/

Consider joining us for our Earth Day trail project on Regal Creek (see below). Or, if you can’t make that, join us later this summer for one out many other stewardship projects.

n http://www.scotchmanpeaks.org/event/regal-creek-trail-earthday-cleanup/