FOREST SERVICE PROPOSAL FOR RECLASSIFICATION The following table from the Forest Service Report of June 15, 1961, summarizes the results of the proposed changes (see map, p. 4): TABLE 1 Anaconda-Pintlar Primitive Area___ Additions: A. East Fork of Bitterroot River__. B. Mussigbrod Creek- C. Plimpton Creek_.. D. Thompson Creek. E. Pintlar Creek.... F. Fishtrap Creek G. East Fork of La Marche Creek....... H. Seymour Creek_-_. R. Mount Tiny-Mount Howe (National Forest land only). Total additions___ Total area studied__. Exclusions: I. East Fork Bitterroot_ J. Meadow Creek-Bugle Creek-- K. Mussigbrod Creek___. L. McCormick-Roberts Creeks. M. Mudd Lake_. N. Swamp Creek-West Fork Fishtrap Creek.... O. East Fork Fishtrap Creek__. P. Dry Creek____ Net acreage 164, 408 5, 838 205 Q. Middle Fork Rock Creek-Meyers Creek_ Total exclusions‒‒‒‒‒ Anaconda-Pintlar Wilderness Area, net total National Forest land.. Private land, the Anaconda Co Private land, MS 10579---- Anaconda-Pintlar Wilderness Area, gross area. 768 2, 130 3, 187 378 371 1, 088 480 14, 445 178, 853 2,936 4,854 243 634 1, 139 2, 701 557 1, 280 6, 706 21, 050 157, 803 1,257 21 159, 081 Timber MULTIPLE USE COMMITTEE'S STUDY AND RECOMMENDATIONS The following table 2 summarizes Forest Service estimates of timber volumes and acres: ANACONDA-PINTLAR AREA-COMMERCIAL FOREST ACREAGE (NATIONAL FOREST The proposed wilderness area contains an estimated 673,900 thousand board feet of timber of which 394,500 thousand board feet is sawtimber of 11-inch diameter breast high and larger. The remaining 279,400 thousand board feet is pole-size timber of 5- to 11-inch diameter breast high. The above estimated timber volumes are contained on 86,455 acres, giving an average stand of 5,000 board feet of sawtimber and 3,000 board feet of pole-size timber per acre. The Forest Service estimates a potential allowable annual cut of 7 million board feet. By species, 57 percent of the stands are lodgepole pine, 30 percent Engelmann spruce, and 13 percent Douglas-fir. The bulk of the spruce is in the stream bottoms. Shallow, rocky soils, steep slopes, difficult access, low-quality timber, low timber volumes per acre, and high elevation make the greater portion of the timber uneconomic with present costs of production and available markets. Because of rapidly improving logging methods, however (such as use of helicopters), it is conceivable that the better stands of timber could be economically harvested in the future. There are some beautiful stands of mature and old-growth spruce enhancing the trail approaches to the higher country. Unfortunately, in some areas, these stands have been killed by bark beetles, and the remaining stands are threatened. Large portions of the lodgepole pine stands were killed by mountain pinebeetles around 1930. Although, this large volume of fuel contributed to some large fires in the past and still presents a serious hazard in many areas, there has been low fire occurrence in recent years. High elevation, short summer period, and natural fire breaks have aided in the low fire loss record. Nevertheless, the threat of fire cannot be ignored. Aerial detection and suppression will have to be relied on to give the primary fire protection. Insects and disease are ever-present threats to the scenic values of wilderness areas. Forest Service policy provides for control of insects and disease when a buildup of either threatens to spread to commercial forest land outside wilderness areas. Control is difficult and expensive, however, again because of poor accessibility. In rugged, undeveloped areas such as the Anaconda-Pintlar, the costs of detection and suppression of fire, insects, and disease are relatively high because of generally poor access by ground methods and equipment. This must be considered part of the extra cost of maintaining wilderness areas. Water The annual average precipitation for this area is 30 inches, which falls mainly as snow. This is due to the high elevation of the area, which makes for a short snow-free period usually 21⁄2 to 3 months in the summer. This enhances the area's water quality and productivity for domestic, industrial, irrigation, and recreation uses, which is of first importance. There are no power withdrawals or water impoundments. Two special-use. permits for diversion ditches exist on the Beaverhead forest portion of the proposed wilderness area. A 1-mile section of ditch from Palisade Creek to Mudd Lake and a 4-mile section from Fishtrap Creek to Swamp Creek will remain in the proposed wilderness area. At present, the watershed value of this area is its highest use. It is recognized the other multiple uses, including wilderness, can be compatible with watershed management, when they are kept in harmony with it. Minerals The geologic knowledge of this area is limited. Even though there are known depositions of copper, tungsten, galena, and other ores in or adjacent to the primitive area, there has been no extensive exploration because of primitive area restrictions and inaccessibility. The Forest Service brochure description of minerals of the area is limited to the following remarks: "There are three patented mining claims in the Middle Fork of Rock Creek drainage near Senate Mountain which contain known copper deposits. These are in a part of the present primitive area recommended for exclusion. There is a patented claim near the head of Copper Creek inside the proposed wilderness. There are a few unpatented claims in the vicinity of Warren Peak. There was some prospecting for tungsten ore along the northeastern part of the boundary around 1956. To date, no commercial mining has been done in the primitive area." The Forest Service proposed wilderness area includes a patented mineral claim MS 10579 in the head of Copper Creek on the Deer Lodge Forest and the Anaconda Co. lands in sections 31 and 33, township 4 north, range 13 west (area R in Forest Service brochure) near Mount Howe. The Anaconda Co. has expressed willingness to exchange for other national forest lands, but desires to retain mineral rights of the above-mentioned lands with the rights of exploration and removal because the geology is favorable to ore depositions. It is important to our economy and national defense that this proposed wilderness area, along with all other existing wilderness and primitive areas, be open for mineral exploration to allow a thorough inventory and evaluation of the mineral potential. 77350-62-pt. 4—40 It should be clearly understood one mineral survey cannot be considered conclusive. Future developments in new uses of known minerals, need for new minerals, and rapid advances in mineral survey techniques make it necessary to keep the job of mineral evaluation continuously in progress. Particularly, in geologically complex areas such as this. These lands may harbor strategic minerals necessary to our economy and national defense and precious time could be saved by having this knowledge available in event of emergencies. The committee feels no wilderness report can be complete without such information. Grazing There is at present a grazing allowance for 100 cow-months on the Beaverhead Forest portion of the proposed wilderness area. The Forest Service plans to continue the present allowance for grazing, although no new grazing permits will be issued. At one time, the Beaverhead Forest portion of the primitive area had grazing permits for 1,000 sheep-months and 350 cow-months. These permits were voluntarily discontinued due to foot rot-disease contracted by the sheep, short season and timbered areas which produced little forage, the rough terrain, and difficult access which makes livestock grazing unsuitable on much of the No competition is likely between livestock grazing and recreation stock, since cattle use only the lower parts of the canyon bottoms. area. Fish and game A wide range of game animals inhabit the proposed wilderness area, including mountain goats, moose, elk, deer, black bear, beaver, mink, marten and weasel. Blue grouse, Franklin's grouse, and ruffed grouse also are present. Elk and deer migrate outside of the area during the heavy snow months. Because of high elevations and limited forage areas, the winter food problem for elk is critical. Rainbow, cutthroat, and brook trout are found in a number of the lakes and streams. Recreation Recreation use of the area has been limited mainly because of inaccessibility. Forest Service records show the following estimated annual recreation use of the primitive area: Although the American Forestry Association conducted a trail ride in the area during 1959 there have been few true wilderness area type visits. The majority of the visits were from sportsmen. These visits fluctuate in rate of occurrence and length of visit depending on the weather and the time of the hunting season set for the area. Early hunting seasons increase the number of visits. The area has an excellent wilderness use potential, both for sportsmen and those seeking a wilderness experience. An improved trail system will encourage many more visits. Increased use may also bring about the need for sanitation and campground facilities. Recreation riding and pack-stock feed may also become critical because the limited forage is needed by game animals. The Beaverhead Forest portion of the proposed wilderness area is accessible only over private lands. This is not a problem. The Forest Service has had ingress-egress to the area and will no doubt obtain rights-of-way easements when sufficient use of the area is established. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS In analyzing the Forest Service proposed Anaconda-Pintlar Wilderness Area, the committee attempted to evaluate the resource, and their impact on the local communities as well as giving consideration to the highest use. The committee has the following recommendations: 1. In general, the committee wishes to commend the Forest Service and support its reclassification proposal for the Anaconda-Pintlar Wilderness Area. The area for most part contains true wilderness characteristics and would no doubt retain its wilderness character for many years regardless of classification. The committee recognizes the area to be a reasonable wilderness selection because of its sufficient size and wilderness qualities. 2. The committee sees one possible conflicting use of this area and its wilderness classification. The mineral potential is relatively unknown because of inaccessibility and primitive area restriction. For this reason the committee recommends the exclusion of 1,278 acres (see table 1) of private lands from the proposed wilderness area. The committee also recommends a more thorough inventory and evaluation of the mineral potential of this area by the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology and the U.S. Geological Survey to ascertain this potential at an early date. These mineral surveys should be made periodically to keep the information current. The mineral industry (including private individuals) should be allowed full opportunity to check these findings. If valuable or strategic minerals are discovered, the wilderness value of the area affected should be reappraised against the mineral values as a basis for justifiable boundary changes. 3. The committee recognizes the watershed values of this area as its present highest use. The committee recommends that other uses of this area be in harmony with its water quality and productivity. 4. The committee recommends improvement and better maintenance of the trail system to aid administration and improve recreation use of the area. 5. The committee recommends that in future proposed wilderness area reports the Forest Service include more complete information on timber volumes and values by species. Where indicated timber values warrant, an up-to-date and accurate reinventory should be made before wilderness classification is proposed. CONCLUSION This committee believes it expresses the feelings of the majority of forest landowners, operators, and users, as well as local citizens, when it says it believes wholeheartedly in maintaining a reasonable acreage of our scenic back country as wilderness. The value of wilderness country for recreation and spiritual stimulation is fully recognized. However, the committee also believes the amount and kind of country set aside for wilderness must be kept in balance with the other needs of local and regional citizens for the material necessities of life-food, shelter, clothing-as well as the maintenance of a reasonably high standard of living as expressed in the possession of the "beyond bare necessity" items everyone enjoys (good homes, churches, automobiles, television sets, sporting goods, camping equipment, a "dinner out now and then"). Of paramount importance is the absolute necessity of protecting and developing the natural resources which sustain the basic industries of our regionagriculture, minerals, forest products. These natural resource-using industries are the lifeblood of our region; they form the foundation upon which rests all other social and economic development. The future holds many challengesimproved national defense, more jobs for a rapidly increasing population, greater demands for outdoor recreation (including wilderness) and a growing need for social and spiritual advances. If we are to meet these challenges, the basic industries must not only be maintained, they must be strengthened and greatly expanded. In facing the responsibility imposed by these challenges, the committee urges that extremely careful consideration be given to the reclassification of existing primitive areas so that no large, contiguous tracts of land more valuable for integrated use of all resources are committed to the limited use of wilderness. In this respect, the committee has no serious criticisms of the Forest Service pro |