I attended the Idaho Environmental Forum lunch in June regarding the topic, “Should Idaho’s Boulder-White Clouds Mountains Be a National Monument?”
The answers is yes. It is time to designate the area as a National Monument to preserve it for generations to come. With Rep. Simpson’s CIEDRA proposal still stuck in Congress, which would have designated the mountains as a wilderness area, there is still no guarantee of the protection of this land in the future. The panelists at the forum representing Custer County, Blaine County, the Sawtooth Society, and the Wilderness Society, shared their opinions about this designation; proponents shared the desire to protect the land and preserve it as it is now for generations to come while embracing multiple use strategies. Opponents were tied to questions with management, impact on local economy, and the role of the federal government. Blaine County Commissioner said it best when he encouraged them to come together to discuss ways to preserve the land, support the local residents, and bolster the local economy. Opponents must open their minds and hearts to examine the ways to preserve this special place while providing the appropriate resources to support the local economy and manage the land. Stubborn, anti-federal government attitudes of some leaders, are not helping the residents of the area nor the preservation efforts of this special mountain range and watershed. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and U.S Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack have been invited to Idaho to hear from our citizens. We all have a vested interest in this land and preserving our legacy of hiking, hunting, and fishing for generations to come. If you are interested in ways to protect our open spaces, visit theIdaho Conservation League Website where you can find information about how to preserve and enjoy Idaho’s natural resources. You can also fight to protect the Boulder White Clouds and designate it as a National Monument.