Tell the Forest Service to Uphold Protections for Idaho's Rivers!

Last November, the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest in northcentral Idaho released its long-anticipated forest plan revision. Sadly, it removes protections for some of Idaho’s finest rivers. 

One of the core components of a forest plan revision is to determine whether streams are eligible for inclusion in the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System. Of the 88 streams found to be eligible for Wild & Scenic designation on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, only 12 will be protected as “suitable.” That means 76 eligible streams will be stripped of protections. Among those on the chopping block are the Lochsa headwaters and the North and South Forks of the Clearwater River. These rivers have been protected for more than 30 years and possess some of the best fishing and boating Idaho has to offer. 

The Forest Service claims it doesn’t need to safeguard the vast majority of its Wild & Scenic eligible streams because their free-flowing character and fisheries will be protected by general riparian and aquatic standards and guidelines. But this new forest plan calls for dramatically increased logging, including within riparian buffer zones.

Take action now to oppose the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest’s new forest plan. Tell the Forest Service to protect Idaho’s rivers!

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Regional Forester

Leanne

Marten

National Forest Service

Dear {contact_data~salutation},

I am writing to express deep concerns about the revised forest plan for the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest. I am particularly concerned about the extensive changes in the protective status of streams deemed eligible for inclusion in the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System. 
 
The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest has many exceptional rivers within its boundaries worthy of permanent protection under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The Forest’s decision to permanently remove safeguards from 86% of its Wild and Scenic eligible streams is alarming. This decision would fail to protect tributaries to the Lochsa and Selway Rivers, as well as strip protections that have been in place for the North and South Forks of the Clearwater Rivers for more than 30 years. These rivers exemplify the best of the best. 
 
The Forest’s decision to conduct a Wild & Scenic River suitability analysis and the subsequent release of protections for Wild & Scenic eligiams was a choice, not an obligation. Please reverse this decision and maintain administrative protections for all eligible streams, or forego the suitability process entirely. Not only is the Forest's rationale for finding streams to be unsuitable for Wild & Scenic designation largely unsupported, but the decision is also inconsistent with what other national forests in Region 1 have done.

Since 2015, five national forests in Idaho and Montana have revised their forest plans. Collectively, these forests have more than doubled the number of Wild & Scenic eligible streams protected and increased protected stream miles by more than 75%. Yet, across four million acres in central Idaho, the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest found just 12 streams to be suitable for protection. This decision runs counter to the public’s wishes, and it undermines the broader conservation and climate goals of the Biden Administration. 
 
As an advocate for the preservation of Idaho's rivers, I strongly urge you to fix the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest’s revised forest plan so protections are retained for all Wild & Scenic eligible streams, not just those that were found to be suitable. These valuable protections offer a balanced approach that safeguards the Clearwater River watershed while also allowing compatible well-planned projects, including for wildfire mitigation and endangered species habitat restoration. 
 
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to a positive resolution that prioritizes the long-term health and sustainability of Idaho's most prized waterways.

Sincerely,

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