Dear Wildlanders,
With the holidays on everyone’s mind, we wanted to give you a quick update regarding two time-sensitive wildland issues. The Forest Service is still accepting public comments for proposed mining claims on the N. Fork Clearwater, and the agency is still taking citizen input for their current Recreation Facility Analysis.
Friday November 30th is the deadline to speak for the North Fork Clearwater River. As you may be aware, a number of placer mining claims have been made on the N. Fork Clearwater and the Nez Perce-Clearwater Nationals Forests is still looking for public input. While the agency does not have jurisdiction over the claims themselves, they do have an opportunity to lobby on behalf of the public that suction dredge mining on this irreplaceable river is a terrible idea. The Department of Interior will make the final decision.
Please use this link to craft a short comment and defend the N. Fork from unnecessary mining. The majority of claims lie between the confluence of Weitas Creek/N. Fork Clearwater and the confluence of Orogrande Creek/N. Fork Clearwater. A few claims lie downstream from the latter confluence.
Friday November 30th is also the deadline for comments on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests Recreation Facility Analysis (RFA). An RFA inventories recreation sites on the national forests and looks to see how they should be managed in the future. This essentially effects backcountry lookouts, and both primitive and frontcountry campgrounds.
Please use this link to write a short comment and stop the Forest Service from privatizing public campgrounds. The agency is entertaining the idea of turning over campgrounds to private concessionaires on the Lochsa, Selway, and Middle Fork Clearwater Rivers. This would in turn, allow private for-profit corporations to charge fees for citizens to camp on their own public lands.
Lastly, join us on Wednesday December 5th from 4-8pm at the Prichard Art Gallery in Moscow, as we participate in the 2012 Alternative Giving Market of the Palouse. We have created five different gift categories for you to choose from. Use this link to check out those gifts and see if they would be a good fit for a special friend or loved one. All proceeds help protect the Clearwater!
Support the Wild,
Brett