Dear Big Wild Bi-Weekly Subscriber,
With the holiday season upon us, we wanted to give you an opportunity to make a donation to help Friends of the Clearwater defend Wild Clearwater Country in 2013. If you care about roadless wildlands, cold and clear free-flowing rivers, or the fresh prints of native wildlife, please consider making a donation today!
The Forest Service is attempting to revise the 1987 Clearwater and Nez Perce National Forest Plans. The current plans, though not perfect, do have some important provisions, including measurable water quality standards. It appears the new regulations might omit these. We stand ready to challenge any process or results not in the best interest of the public or the land, water, and wildlife.
Friends of the Clearwater (FOC) will continue to oppose an exchange for the upper Lochsa lands, and instead, seek a purchase option. We hope the Forest Service will take public sentiment into account when issuing a decision. We expect a decision on the Upper Lochsa Land Exchange in 2013.
FOC is prepared to go to court on the Clearwater National Forest Travel Plan, if necessary. In our opinion, the Clearwater National Forest has failed to adequately protect Weitas Creek, Pot Mountain, and other spectacular roadless wildlands from off-road vehicle abuse. We will keep you informed.
Along with allies, we will continue to work to prevent Highway 12 from becoming a permanent high and wide industrial corridor. A federal lawsuit has been brought against the Forest Service and the Federal Highway Administration for their failure to protect the wild & scenic corridor from road-blocking megaloads. Oral arguments begin in 2013.
Lastly, FOC will continue to advocate for the biological recovery of grey wolves across the northern Rockies. With approximately 1,000 wolves killed across the region since federal delisting took place in 2011, we firmly believe that state agencies are incapable of managing predators, particularly wolves. The federal shield needs to return.
Foundation donors often overlook small, effective groups like us. Therefore, we greatly rely on your generous financial support. Please consider making a donation today! Your contributions will go towards safeguarding wild forests of the Clearwater and ensuring that grizzlies, wolves, lynx and Chinook salmon still have a home.
Happy holidays,
Brett & Gary