Long time Idaho resident Carole King is in Washington pushing for passage of the most ambitious wilderness bill, NREPA-
The Return of Citizen King. By Todd Wilkinson. Huffington Post.
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Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University with specialties in natural resource politics, public opinion, interest groups, political parties, voting and elections. Aside from academic publications, he is author or co-author of three hiking/backpacking guides, and he is President of the Western Watersheds Project.
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Ralph, thanks for the link to this optimism-generating article on a Monday morning! Todd Wilkerson’s article does a good job of debunking the redneck mantra of “jobs vs. environment.”
For us to make headway on protecting western ecosystems, I think focusing on the link between the environment and the economy is going to be crucial.
I was especially struck by Todd’s statement that “You cannot have a wealthy country and an improverished landschape.” So much of the land that I see which has been beaten up from grazing or logging brings to mind a third world country heedlessly destroying its resources.
By the way, does Carole King still own her place on Robinson Bar? I seem to recall seeing it up for sale for something around $19 million during the real estate boom. Anyway, a hike up Warm Springs Creek in that neighborhood is a wonderful way to experience the White Cloud Mtns, especially seeing the recovering meadows about 10 miles up where livestock have been removed for some time.
If NREPA is really serious about restoration, grazing permit Buyouts or Phase-Outs should be part of the Bill. Why close off and rip out a road if cows continue to destroy streambanks?
Every time you thin lands that are part of grazing allotments, weeds thrive ESPECIALLY with the double whammy of grazing disturbances to soils and vegetation.
To deal seriously with buffering wild lands from climate change – grazing needs to be ended – immediately. Each annual grazing bout is a mini-desertification event.
“By the way, does Carole King still own her place on Robinson Bar? I seem to recall seeing it up for sale for something around $19 million”
I tried to buy it but I was about $18.9 million short.