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Tell the U.S. Forest Service it's time to close airstrips in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness!

Wilderness Watch and our allies have called on the U.S. Forest Service to permanently close four backcountry airstrips located in the Big Creek drainage within the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho, and we could really use your help to make sure the Forest Service does the right thing!

The Simonds, Vines Ranch, Dewey Moore, and Mile Hi airstrips were not in regular use at the time of wilderness designation through the Central Idaho Wilderness Act in 1980, and they should have been closed permanently decades ago.

Instead, the agency has kept them open under "emergency use only," bowing to pressure from aviators and the Idaho Congressional delegation who are now pushing the Forest Service to open these Wilderness airstrips to unlimited use by recreational pilots.

The area's Wilderness quality continues to suffer from the ongoing and increasing noise and intrusion, with the airstrips being used for multi-airplane rendezvouses, practice "touch and go" landings, and airstrip "bagging."

Over 35 years ago – in 1982 – the Forest Service put forth a plan to let these four airstrips in the River of No Return Wilderness revert back to their natural state. It's long past time for this to happen!

Please take action to keep the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness wild!

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Tell the U.S. Forest Service it's time to close airstrips in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness!

U.S. Forest Service Region 4 Regional Forester and Deputy

Subject: Please Close Airstrips in Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness

Message:

Dear U.S. Forest Service,

I'm writing today as an equal-owner of America's public lands to request that you permanently close four backcountry airstrips located in the Big Creek drainage within the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho.

The Simonds, Vines Ranch, Dewey Moore, and Mile Hi airstrips were not in regular use at the time of wilderness designation through the Central Idaho Wilderness Act in 1980, and they should have been closed permanently decades ago.

In fact, way back in 1982 the Forest Service put forth a plan to let these four airstrips in the River of No Return Wilderness revert back to their natural state. I believe it's long past time for this to happen!

Unfortunately, the U.S. Forest Service has kept them open under "emergency use only," bowing to pressure from aviators and the Idaho Congressional delegation who are now pushing the Forest Service to open these Wilderness airstrips to unlimited use by recreational pilots.

The area's Wilderness quality continues to suffer from the ongoing and increasing noise and intrusion, with the airstrips being used for multi-airplane rendezvouses, practice "touch and go" landings, and airstrip "bagging."

The Forest Service is clearly abdicating its responsibility to the American public and the River of No Return Wilderness. The Forest Service's very own Wilderness management plan states that public use will be discouraged on these strips, but what is the Forest Service actually doing to discourage public use of these Wilderness airstrips?

Again, I request that you permanently close these four backcountry airstrips located in the Big Creek drainage within the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho.

Remaining:

Tell the U.S. Forest Service it's time to close airstrips in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness!

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