Risch introduces Scotchman bill

CLARK FORK — A lengthy, technical ascent to designate a wilderness area amid the Scotchman Peaks reached an important benchmark on Thursday.

United States Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, announced he is introducing Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Act of 2016. The legislation would designate approximately 13,900 acres of the Cabinet Mountains as a wilderness area.

“If passed, this legislation would allow future generations of Idahoans to enjoy Scotchman Peaks, while at the same time protecting the needs and rights of local communities and tribes,” Risch said in a prepared statement. “This will was introduced today to start the public process, and will not move forward until I hear from Idahoans directly about this topic. I look forward to holding a public hearing in the next Congress to receive input.”

Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, which has been promoting the wilderness designation since 2005, heartily welcomed the news.

“We are grateful to Sen. Risch for introducing this bill,” Phil Hough, executive director of the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, said in a statement. “There is tremendous support for protecting this special part of Idaho as wilderness for the benefit of present and future generations.”

Friends of Scotchman have developed a broad base of support for the proposal that includes one of the largest forest product companies, current and former boards of Bonner County commissioners, the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce and various other interests. The group has paired its wilderness advocacy with volunteer programs which have brought improvements to the trail leading to its namesake peak, aided in wildlife censuses and educated the public about the landscape.

Idaho Forest Group is among the designation’s supporters.

“There are some parts of the national forest that should be managed for timber production and some parts of the forest that should be managed for wilderness,” Bob Boeh of IFG said in a news release. “The Scotchman Peaks Wilderness proposal is a collaborative process that involved diverse stakeholders.”

In all, more than 6,700 individuals have added their names to a list of supporters. A vast majority — 80 percent — live within two hours of the Scotchman Peaks.

The proposal has drawn wide, deep swaths of support in Bonner County, although there some who would rather see the area mined or timber harvested from it. Supporters counter that the terrain is too steep to be effectively logged or mined.

Friends of Scotchman Peaks are hoping for progress in 2017.

“I believe that this bill is non-controversial, broadly supported and that it should not have a difficult pathway forward,” Hough said on Thursday.

The Idaho Conservation League, meanwhile, also cheered Risch’s announcement.

“Support for the protection of this special part of Idaho is almost as tremendous as the views from the summit of Scotchman Peak,” Brad Smith, North Idaho director of ICL, said on Thursday. “ICL is pleased that Senator Risch is responding to the desires of local residents, who would like to see the Scotchman Peaks protected for the benefit of present and future generations.”

The wilderness area would straddle the Idaho/Montana border. Another 48,000 acres in Montana have been already been proposed as wilderness area in Kootenai National Forest planning.

Hough said Friends of Scotchman is collaborating with the Kootenai Forest Stakeholders group in Montana.

Bonner County commission Chairman Cary Kelly said Risch’s legislation is good news for Bonner County.

“I think there is a community consensus that the best use of this land is for it to remain as it is now,” said Kelly. “This designation will ensure that this area will remain wilderness for future generations.”