BOARD00744

• Board Meeting Date: 7/10/1973
• Description: Agenda or Table of Contents, Minutes, Memos
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

Mr. Stapleton: Mr. Hauk, can you answer my question? If you had 140,000
acres and this bill ends up with 212,000 acres, who advocates the en-
larged wilderness area, and how does that come about? What groups and
so forth?

Mr. Hauk: Well, I think it isn't just here in the Flat Tops. It is I
allover the country. There are lots of groups such as the Wilderness
Society which advocate larger areas. I think this is the key thing.
They feel that it will go down the drain similar to your wild rivers
situation. If it isn't given a formal designation by Congress, they
feel that this may be the end of any additional wilderness areas. We
realize and admit that we need additional wilderness just like we need
a few more ski areas in the state. But we also have to take care of
the other segments, the sheepmen, the cattlemen, the people that want
to drive out into this country in a jeep, a few of the people that can't
backpack. But basically, it is a combination of let's say all types of
not necessarily environmental groups, but the wilderness oriented people.
And another thing, they feel that once it is put in a wilderness cate-
gory, then they are in a much better position to oppose any kind of
water development projects, hydroelectric water storage, etc.

Mr. Stapleton: I understand that and you know we are not antagonists.
We are trying to have a balance between water development and the environ-
ment. We think we are as conscientious and sincere as the other groups
and that is why I was asking how that came about. I have a great
respect for the Forest Service and I think they are trying to play a
neutral and partial job. And when they get overruled to the point of
140 to 212, then I would like to take a look at what the input is for
the 212. That is the way I look at it.

Mr. Ten Evck: Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask a specific question.
In your presentation, Mr. Hauk, I thought you said that the Forest
Service now recommends the inclusion into this wilderness area of vari-
ous sites in the southwestern corner of the Meadows and Lost Solar and
others. So that what you had earlier recommended would now be a larger
area as far as the Forest Service itself is concerned, is that correct?

Mr. Hauk: Well maybe I didn't make myself clear. We originally recom-
mended that the South Fork Canyon be included and that was pulled out I
of our final report because of requests from the Governor and the water '
storage angle, oil shale needs, and so forth. We have always felt that
the South Fork Canyon should be part of the Flat Tops wilderness.

Mr. Ten Evck: This was in 1966 and 1967?

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