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In this time of divisiveness and rancor, it is encouraging to find that collaboration is alive and well in the world of environmental conservation.

Over the past dozen years, a group of over 7000 people from a range of political views and from industries like mining and logging, have voiced their support for the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. This group has been working to have a portion of the West Cabinet Mountains of northern Idaho and western Montana designated as Wilderness. And in December, 2016, Senator James Risch introduced Senate Bill S.3531 designating about 14,000 acres in Idaho as Wilderness. Across the border in Montana, another 50,000 acres of the proposed Scotchman Peaks wilderness awaits legislation by the Montana delegation.

In its latest Forest Management Plan, the National Forest Service recommended the area for designation as wilderness and has managed the area as wilderness since the Rare II studies in the 1970s. It is home to big game animals, like elk, deer and mountain goats, to west slope cutthroat, rainbow and bull trout, to bears, big cats, and hundreds of species of birds.

Designations of the Boulder-White Clouds and the Owyhees as federally protected Wilderness areas also stemmed from collaboration among unlikely partners and with the sponsorship of, respectively, Congressman Mike Simpson and Senator Mike Crapo.

Now it is Senator Risch’s turn. We applaud him for introducing Senate Bill S.3531 in the last Congressional session. And we urge him to reintroduce the bill in this session.

The Scotchman Peaks deserve Wilderness designation for the benefit of the wildlife that there, as a source of clean water and for enjoyment by people today and generations to come.

ELAINE FRENCH

Sandpoint

Former chair,

Idaho Conservation League Board

Member,

League of Conservation Voters Board