Lochsa Area Streams Need Your Help Again (ID)!
The Nez Perce and Clearwater National Forests are taking another big step toward eliminating protections from most or all of 89 outstanding whitewater streams in the Lochsa, Selway, and Clearwater watersheds. These rivers have been found eligible for Wild and Scenic designation and should be protected through the Forest Planning process. Instead, the Draft Forest Plan proposes to remove those protections for political reasons through a misapplied process they call "suitability."
Maybe you are one of hundreds of paddlers that sent a letter on this issue in the last stage of the Forest Planning process. Over 99% of public comments supported protection for all 89 streams. The Forest Service ignored these letters. The most protective alternative they considered protects less than half of these streams. We need to speak up again as a community at this last critical public input opportunity.
Whether or not you’ve sent a letter in the past, if you have ever paddled or hope to paddle in this stunning part of Idaho, please speak up with a simple letter to the Forest Service — you can use the template below to get started.
Check out the list of eligible streams that are on the chopping block in the table on page 274 of their flawed Wild and Scenic analysis, then send the Forest Service a message!
If you have a few extra moments please personalize your message with a bit about your experience with these rivers, and any specific opinions you have that support continued protection of the streams listed as eligible in the Draft Forest Plan. Thanks for taking action to protect Idaho whitewater today! The deadline for comments is April 20, 2020.
Take Action Today! Make your voice heard for wild and scenic rivers in Idaho!
More Information
Explore the Draft Plan, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, and other USFS documents here.
You can also comment by mail:
Zach Peterson, Forest Planner, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests
Supervisor’s Office, 903 3rd Street, Kamiah, ID 83536