The Clearwater Basin of North Central Idaho is part of the largest undeveloped federal wildlands complex in the Lower 48. Over 2,000 river miles flow through the heart of this rich forested country, which includes designated Wilderness and irreplaceable roadless wildlands. The 1.5 million acres of roadless wildlands on the Nez Perce- Clearwater National Forest provide excellent habitat for large carnivores such as grizzly bears, gray wolves and wolverines, habitat for smaller, sensitive species such as the goshawk, the black-backed woodpecker, and the fisher, and crucial habitat for bull trout, Chinook salmon and steelhead. Idaho County houses over half of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest. Despite the county's huge size, it only has a population of 16,000 people.
The Idaho County Commissioners have added a suggestively worded advisory provision to their November 6, 2018 ballot to tell the Forest Service that the county does not want the Forest Service to recommend any more wilderness or Wild and Scenic river segments in Idaho County. This petition gives the rest of Americans a vote on their lands, which we will pass along to the Forest Service.
By signing this petition, I agree that
All of Americans should have an equal say in protecting one of the wildest and diverse places left in the Lower 48;
The Forest Service should look at preserving all or most of these remaining roadless wildlands and free-flowing waterways in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest for all Americans by recommending these areas for wilderness or Wild and Scenic River designations.
