Clearwater Defender News of the Big Wild A Publication of Issued Quarterly Friends of the Clearwater spring 2014, no.1 Of wolves and wilderness Guest Opinion George Nickas, Wilderness Watch “One of the most insidious invasions of wilderness is via predator control.” – Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac Right before the holidays last December, an anonymous caller alerted Wilderness Watch that the Forest Service (FS) had approved the use of one of its cabins deep in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness (FC- RONRW) as a base camp for an Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) hunter-trapper. The cabin would support the hired trapper’s effort to exterminate two entire wolf packs in the Wilderness. The wolves, known as the Golden Middle Fork Salmon River Creek and Monumental Creek packs, were targeted at the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness behest of commercial outfitters and recreational hunters Rex Parker Photo Credit who think the wolves are eating too many of “their” elk. Idaho’s antipathy toward wolves and Wilderness comes as no surprise to anyone who has worked to pro- Wilderness Act to preserve the area’s wilderness character, tect either in Idaho. But the Forest Service’s support and of which the wolves are an integral part. Trying to limit encouragement for the State’s deplorable actions were the number of wolves in Wilderness makes no more sense particularly disappointing. Mind you, these are the same than limiting the number of ponderosa pine, huckleberry Forest Service Region 4 officials who, only a year or two bushes, rocks, or rainfall. An untrammeled Wilderness will ago, approved IDFG’s request to land helicopters in this set its own balance. same Wilderness to capture and collar every wolf pack, us- The FS’s anemic defense is that it didn’t authorize ing the justification that understanding the natural behavior the killing, therefore, there is no reviewable decision for of the wolf population was essential to protecting them and the court to overturn, and that it was still discussing the preserving the area’s wilderness character. Now, somehow, program with IDFG (while the trapper was in the field exterminating those same wolves is apparently also critical killing the wolves). Unfortunately, the district judge sided to preserving the area’s wilderness character. The only with the FS and IDFG, so we filed an appeal with the consistency here is the FS and IDFG have teamed up to do Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Rather than defend everything possible to destroy the Wilderness and wildlife its action before the higher court, Idaho informed the court they are required to protect. that it was pulling the trapper out of the Wilderness and Wilderness Watch, along with Defenders of Wild- would cease the program for this year. In the meantime, life, Western Watersheds Project, Center for Biological nine wolves are needlessly dead. Diversity, and Idaho wildlife advocate Dr. Ralph Maughan, We will continue to pursue our challenge because filed suit in federal court against the Forest Service and the killing program will undoubtedly return. The Forest IDFG to stop the wolf slaughter. Our suit alleges the FS Service can’t and shouldn’t hide behind the old canard failed to follow its own required procedures before autho- that “the states manage wildlife.” Congress has charged rizing IDFG’s hunter-trapper to use a FS cabin as a base the FS with preserving the area’s wilderness character and for his wolf extermination efforts, and that the program violates the agency’s responsibility under the 1964 See wild wilderness page 4 Page 2 spring 2014 Inside This Issue Page 1 wolves & wilderness page 3 outreach corner The Clearwater Defender page 5 wild & scenic is a publication of: page 6 farm bill Friends of the Clearwater P.O. Box 9241, Moscow, Idaho 83843 page 8 fallen friends 208-882-9755 [email protected] page 10 bikes & wilderness www.friendsoftheclearwater.org Friends of the Clearwater, a recognized nonprofit page 12 event calendar organization since 1987, defends the Clearwater Bioregion’s wildlands and biodiversity through a Forest Watch program, litigation, grassroots public involvement, outreach, and education. The Wild Clearwater Country, the northern half of central Idaho’s Big Wild, contains many unprotected roadless areas and wild rivers and provides crucial habitat for countless, rare, plant and animal species. Friends of the Clearwater strives to protect these areas, restore degraded habitats, preserve viable populations of native species, recognize national and international wildlife corridors, and bring an end to commodity extraction and industrialization on public lands. Friends of the Clearwater is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All contributions to Friends of the Clearwater are tax-deductible. The Clearwater Defender welcomes artwork and articles pertaining to the protection of the Big Wild. Articles in the Clearwater Defender do not necessarily reflect the views of Friends of the Clearwater. Board of Directors FOC member Kelly Emo plays for wildness Jeanne McHale--President Ashley Lipscomb FOC File Photo Chris Norden--Vice President Wes Bascom Sam Finch--Secretary Diane Prorak Thank you everybody for a successful 2014 Harry Jageman--Treasurer Jill Johnson FOC Benefit Concert! We want to acknowledge Steve Paulson Al Espinosa Levi Holt, Fiddlin’ Big Al, Jason Perry, Pat Laura Earles McFarland, Garrett Clevenger, Joshua Yeidel, Matti Sand, John Fershee, Smokin’ Mojo and Advisory Board others for their music and time. We would also Stewart Brandborg Lynne Nelson like to extend gratitude towards The 1912 Center, Ashley Martens Chuck Pezeshki Wine Company of Moscow, Pie Hole, Laurene Julian Matthews Fred Rabe Sorensen and Ruth & Jim May of the Reflections Larry McLaud Inn for their support and generosity. Extra thank Staff Members you to Kelly Emo for being the main organizer. Ecosystem Defense Director: Gary Macfarlane Education and Outreach Director: Brett Haverstick Printed on 100% post-consumer, Publication recycled paper made without harmful Layout and Design: Brett Haverstick chlorine bleaching agents. Please Editor: Gary Macfarlane recycle this newsletter! Copy Editor: Bill Bonney Clearwater Defender Page 3 A wild year Brett Haverstick This spring we will be unveiling our new “pop-up banner” for community outreach events. We are grateful On September 3, 2014 the Wilderness Act for the work of local artist Julene Ewert, who helped will celebrate its 50th Anniversary. What an incredible us with graphic design. We also want to thank Amy opportunity to reflect on the road that got us here, as well Trujillo of Palouse Land Trust for allowing us to borrow as the challenges we face today and tomorrow. We hope to their banner to gain design ideas. And of course, we want have articles about Wilderness in every 2014 issue of The to acknowledge Chuck Pezeshki for continuing to allow Defender. We also have some exciting community events us to use his fantastic photography. The main photo in planned, too, that we hope you can be part of! the banner is Hansen Meadows of the Kelly Creek FOC will be teaming up with the Palouse-Sierra Roadless Area. Club for Wilderness 50: The Big Wild Photography Exhibit at the Moscow Food Co-Op. Members of the public are welcomed to showcase their favorite photos of the Selway- Bitterroot, Gospel-Hump, Hells Canyon and Frank Church- River of No Return Wilderness. The exhibit runs from September 12 - October 8, 2014. In the coming months, we will have more event details on our website. FOC is working with Wilderness Watch and the Forest Service to organize 50 Years: A Celebration of Wilderness and our National Wilderness Preservation System at the Wilderness Gateway Campground (Highway 12) on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests. Circle your calendars for September 12-14, 2014 for this family- friendly weekend extravaganza with prominent speakers, a traditional skills workshop, live music by Dana Lyons, recreation opportunities and more. We will have more information about this don’t-miss event in the next newsletter. We also want to note that the Palouse-Great Old Broads for Wilderness are having My Experiences in Wilderness at the 3rd Street Gallery (Moscow City Hall) from mid-October thru November. We are proud to announce that internationally acclaimed artist Monte Dolack is creating a fine art poster commemorating the 50th Anniversary. The theme of the poster is Celebrating Wilderness. Along with receiving a number of prestigious awards throughout his career, Mr. Dolack’s work is part of the Library of Congress and other Hanson Meadows museums and foundations. To learn more about him and Chuck Pezeshki Photo Credit his work go to www.dolack.com. FOC is selling copies of his original poster for $25 plus shipping and orders can be placed via our website www.friendsoftheclearwater.org. The 50th Anniversary National Wilderness We would like to thank the Moscow Food Co-Op for Conference will be taking place in Albequrque, NM from recently nominating us as recipient for their Dime in October 15-19. FOC staff hopes to join Wilderness Watch Time program. FOC received $529.49 in donations. We staff and attend the conference. used the money to purchase our new outreach banner. Go to www.wilderness50th.org to learn more about We also want to acknowledge the Alternative Giving the history of the Wilderness Act, the National Wilderness Market of the Palouse for allowing us to participate Presevation System and the vast amount of events and in their 2013 holiday event. We received $753.16 acitivities taking place around the country. Go wild! through the program. Page 4 spring 2014 wild wilderness cont. from page 4 Jim Fetter Illustrations, Port Angeles, Washington the Supreme Court has held many times that the agency Printed here with cartoonist’s permission has the authority to interject itself in wildlife management programs to preserve the people’s interest in these lands.