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22 <br />1 log portions of Bowen Gulch, a controversy arose. The <br />2 Forest Service found that the Bowen Gulch contains sig- <br />3 nificant and valuable stands of old growth trees. After <br />4 lengthy negotiations, the Forest Service agreed to provide <br />5 alternative timber of comparable value to the successful <br />6 bidder. All parties now agree that this area should not <br />7 be opened to further commercial timber activity. <br />8 This legislation will protect the old growth resource <br />9 in Bowen Gulch, and will also require Bowen Gulch and <br />10 adjacent lands to be managed for baekeountry recreation. <br />11 Because there is strong support for continued use of por- <br />12 tions of this area for winter motorized recreation as well <br />13 as summer mechanized recreation on designated trails, <br />14 this legislation will permit these uses to continue. It is the <br />15 committee's intent that the Forest Service will manage the <br />16 Bowen Gulch backeountry recreation area consistent with <br />17 those purposes, as described in attachment A prepared by <br />18 the Forest Service. In particular, the committee notes that <br />19 this management prescription will preclude the construc- <br />20 tion of new roads, but will permit snowmobiling and moun- <br />21 tain biking to continue in areas currently open to such <br />22 uses. <br />23 The committee understands that this management <br />24 prescription was developed by the Forest Service, and the <br />25 committee commends the agency for its work. The com- <br />s 1029 IS <br />