Letter to the editor - About that wilderness in Kettle Range

Editor,

I have read with interest concerns that some cattlemen have expressed about proposals to designate wilderness in the Kettle Range. This is an issue that I have some perspective on, having worked for the Forest Service for 41 years. I served as Chief of the Forest Service from 2011-2007.

Early in my career, I worked in timber sale preparation and other tasks on the Republic Ranger District of the Colville National Forest. I have fond memories of those years, and of the beautiful landscape of the Kettle Crest. There are parts of the area that certainly meet the criteria for wilderness designation. Even as a strong believer in multiple use and resource extraction, I feel that wilderness is an important part of balanced management and ought to be represented in the Kettle Range.

Wilderness often raises concerns among the ranchers who hold grazing permits on National Forest land, that it will force changes in their practices. but Congress has bent over backwards to prevent such changes, including provisions in many wilderness bills to grandfather existing grazing practices thereby allowing that use to continue. I have enough experience to know that this policy often works, and that ranching can continue within wilderness.

My experience is that over time, many ranchers come to value aspects of wilderness. For instance, while ranchers can continue to use ATVs and other equipment as part of their approved allotment management plans, motorized recreation is prohibited in wilderness. This means that cattle are harassed less and that fewer noxious weeds are spread. Those are very real benefits to today's rancher.

It was during my time as Chief that the Colville National Forest changed from a battleground to a model of collaboration, through the work of the Northeast Washington Forestry Coalition.

It is very satisfying to see people work through differences to advance the great good. This was part of the original vision of the founders of our national forests, President Theodore Roosevelt and the first chief, Gifford Pinchot.

I hope that people who still hold concerns can similarly get involved in discussions that might address or resolve them, so that collaboration can continue toward an overall balance, providing the greatest good for the greatest number of people in the long run.

Sincerely,
Dale Bosworth
Chief, U.S. Forest Service
2001-2007