Brooks Wild Sky Letter

From: Arlene Brooks [mailto:arlenebrooks@comcast.net]
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2003 1:02 PM
To: 'john.koster@co.snohomish.wa.us'; 'sievers.council@co.snohomish.wa.us'; 'nelson.council@co.snohomish.wa.us'; 'dave.gossett@co.snohomish.wa.us'; 'jeff.sax@co.snohomish.wa.us'
Subject: Everett Herald article - June 11th, 2003

District 1: John Koster
District 2: Kirke Sievers
District 3: Gary Nelson
District 4: Dave Gossett
District 5: Jeff Sax

RE: County Council splits on Wild Sky Bill –

Snohomish County Councilmen;

I read with interest in the June 11^th Everett Herald newspaper where Mr. Nelson, Mr. Koster and Mr. Sax were requesting Senator Larry Craig of Idaho to hold a public hearing on the proposed Wild Sky Wilderness.

I believe this should be in order as during the initial public hearings in 2002, the actual boundaries were still being debated….
the actual language was (when maps were present) “areas under consideration for wilderness.”

The area proposed has not been involved in any formal Wilderness Study, a process that is important to all stakeholders. The Wild Sky Wilderness Act -2003 states the one reason for wilderness designation is to protect resources…. “safeguarding resources is management…not total wilderness designation.” Because of the increase of population over the past ten years, non-wilderness areas are heavily used which demonstrates a greater need for more developed multiple-use recreation areas – not more wilderness as being proposed.

The latest Fuel Use Study - 2003 (HB 1698) performed by Hebert Research and Associates for the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation, recorded that 49% was used for “other recreation activities,” such as berry picking, sightseeing, hunting and fishing to name a few. The proposed lowland designation would then restrict such activities if you are dependent on motorized transportation.

Another issue that has not got to much attention is “Inholdings. Wilderness legislation regarding inholdings, contain inconsistent language that has or will lead to several interpretations by the federal agency or agencies – that is, what type of access will be permitted to the inholders. It is also noted, if a landowner is unwilling to sell, the land can be condemned, “to enhance the wilderness.” There is also the “tax base loss” for Snohomish County – yes, we do believe a public hearing would be in order.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity of expressing the concerns of my 2500 member organization and concur with your request of another public meeting.

Sincerely,

Arlene Brooks, Washington State Director,
Pacific NW Four Wheel Drive Association
21520 SE 346^thAuburn, WA. 98092