Wilderness Watch

Illegal resorts along the wild Salmon.

		Bill Would Allow Illegal Resorts Along the Wild Salmon River, ID
		— By George Nickas In September 2000, Wilderness Watch and Wild River advocates everywhere celebrated when the federal judge presiding over Wilderness Watch v. United States Forest Service ruled that three permanent resorts along the Wild and Scenic Salmon River stood in violation of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and must be removed. U.S. Circuit Judge Sidney R. Thomas found that, "...the law is clear: the construction of permanent resort lodges is not permitted in the Wild River corridor" and is clearly "inconsistent with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (WSRA)".	Chronology of illegal resorts and the protection of the Wild Salmon River Court decision in Wilderness Watch v. United States Forest Service Wilderness Watch hearing statement on S.1003
		At the time, it seemed like the ideal culmination to an arduous 12-year fight. The public considered the cabins removal to be a done deal, with Outside Magazine reporting the case as a "big win" for Wild Rivers. (Aug. 2003) Little did we know that the battle to preserve the Wild Salmon was far from over, and that we would soon face yet another major obstacle to bringing one of the nation’s premier rivers into compliance with the law. This May, Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) introduced Senate bill S. 1003, a piece of legislation that would nullify the court’s ruling to allow for the continuing operation and maintenance of the three resorts, despite their violation of Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and the Central Idaho Wilderness Act. S. 1003 would reverse decades of administrative and congressional protection for the Salmon River by granting special rights to three outfitters not afforded to the thousands of other outfitters operating legitimately on America’s wildernesses and wild rivers. As if the legislation alone isn't bad enough, Senator Craig refused to allow opponents to testify at the committee hearing on the bill. After much effort, Wilderness Watch obtained an invitation to testify at the hearing, but not until the hearing was only a couple of days away. Less than 48 hours before the hearing was to be held we were dis-invited, leaving only undersecretary of agriculture and former Craig aid Mark Rey to testify. Rey, representing the Forest Service, spoke in favor of the bill—disgracefully putting the agency once again on record in support of constructing private lodges on public lands in Wild River corridors. Though Wilderness Watch was not allowed to testify, we did provide a detailed statement to the Committee for its consideration. In that statement, Wilderness Watch President Bill Worf described his 30-plus years of involvement, first as a Forest Service officer and later as a citizen and Wilderness Watch member, in working to remove the illegal resorts. He explained the impact S.1003 would have on the 70-plus years of laws and regulations that have protected the wild Salmon River country in this way:"S. 1003 will reverse many decades of administrative and congressional protection for the Salmon River country. It will grant special rights to 3 outfitters on the Salmon River that are not afforded to any other of the thousands of outfitters operating on our public lands' wildernesses and wild rivers. It will reward individuals who have flaunted our nation's laws and who routinely violated the terms of their special use permits. S. 1003 will condone the abysmal record of administration of this area by the Salmon National Forest, while serving as a slap in the face to other outfitters who have played by the rules and to those dedicated Forest Service employees who for decades administered those rules as they were intended. It will rob all Americans, young and old, able-bodied and disabled, of the opportunity to experience this wild river corridor in its most primitive and pristine condition." Wilderness Watch will continue its efforts to inform members of Congress and the public of the terrible consequences to the Salmon Wild and Scenic River and to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System should S. 1003 become law. We encourage all members to write, fax or call their senators and representatives to urge them to oppose S. 1003. Senator / Representative ____________ U.S. Senate / U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20510 / 20515 (202) 224-???? / (202) 225-????