Iowa Sierrans,
I thought you might be inspired by this recent editorial in Sioux Falls
(see below). Sierra Club South Dakota's efforts to save the last
prairies are part of the Club's Lewis and Clark campaign. Our efforts
to save the prairies of Iowa's Loess Hills need to be renewed. Now that
the presidential and congressional elections are over we need to charge
up our state chapter's campaign to protect the last native prairies in
the state. If you are interested in our efforts, please email me.
Thank you,
Jim
Jim Redmond
Professor of English
Briar Cliff University
712-279-5544
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-----Original Message-----
From: Mary Kiesau [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, October 01, 2004 5:16 PM
To: Dexter Perkins; Jim Margadant; Edwina Allen; Wayde Schafer;
[log in to unmask]; Bill Arthur; Bob Clark; Chas Jewett; Chase
Davis; Christine Phillips; David Ellenberger; Deanna White; Heather
Morijah; 'Ivan Maluski (E-mail)'; [log in to unmask];
[log in to unmask]; Jim Young; Kathleen Casey; Kathryn
Hohmann; Katie Craig; Kirk Koepsel; Larry Mehlhaff; Nat Parker;
[log in to unmask]; Paul Shively; Roger Singer; Shannon Harps;
Steve Thomas; Tracie Weber; Scott Chapman; Betty Morgan; Gia Fairchild;
Holly Forrest; Jim Heisinger; Redmond, Jim; John Osborn;
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Cc: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask];
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Subject: GREAT L&C op-ed from SD
Importance: High
A perfect op-ed with a great messenger! Great work and congratulations
Heather and Chas!
~~ mary k
-----Original Message-----
From: Heather Morijah [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, October 01, 2004 9:17 AM
To: Matt Thornblad; Chris VandeVenter; Darrell Shoemaker; Ace Crawford;
Emily Lefholz; Ira Taken Alive; Ryan Stroschein; Tony Dean; Doug Scott;
Ed Zahniser; Edward Raventon; Jen Schmidt; Mary Kiesau; Larry Mehlhaff;
David Ellenberger
Subject: 9/25/04 RC Journal op-ed on 40th anniversary
40 years of wilderness
By James Abourezk, a former United States senator from South Dakota, who
writes from Sioux Falls.
SIOUX FALLS - Right here in South Dakota, we have the opportunity for a
distinctive and unrepeatable coincidence of timing. If successful, we
will make our state a significant and historical "first," and will
preserve a special type of land our nation has very little left of.
South Dakota is blessed with nearly 900,000 acres of prairie wildlands
that are designated as national grasslands. Most of the Midwest used to
comprise a vast, rolling sea of these scenic lands in America's
heartland - as it was when Lewis and Clark traversed it 200 years ago.
But farming, grazing and expanding human settlement have now reduced the
pristine prairie grasslands Lewis and Clark discovered to a rare and
dwindling treasure. What we have in our own state are actually some of
the last remaining wild places in the United States, and they are
vulnerable.
Inspired by a United States Forest Service recommendation, a coalition
of concerned conservation groups has created a proposal to permanently
protect a small portion of these lands and their rich wildlife and
cultural resources from further development such as oil and gas
drilling, off-road vehicles and road building.
The Cheyenne River Valley Wilderness Proposal recommends wilderness
designation for four areas within the Buffalo Gap National Grassland,
amounting to less than 75,000 acres. That's about one-eighth of the
Buffalo Gap's total area, and less than one-12th of the total national
grassland area in the entire state. The four areas recommended are known
as Indian Creek, Red Shirt, Cheyenne River and First Black Canyon. As
well as some of the finest potential prairie wilderness left in the
nation, they also contain the largest area free of roads in the entire
Great Plains.
Most land now protected through wilderness designation lies in the
national forests, national parks and national wildlife refuges.
Surprisingly, though, not one acre of national grasslands is protected.
If passed by Congress, the Cheyenne River Valley Wilderness Proposal
would create the first national grassland wilderness in the United
States.
These new wilderness areas would ensure abundant, unspoiled recreational
experiences for future generations, such as hunting, fishing, horseback
riding, hiking, camping, rafting, canoeing, guiding and outfitting. Also
allowed would be existing grazing and mining, scientific studies, and
the control of wildfire, insects and disease. Contrary to the fears of
some, no one now grazing livestock in the areas would be "forced off,"
and present grazing would continue. Motorized vehicle-use for tending
livestock and maintaining fences, wells, etc. would also continue.
Our "distinctive and unrepeatable coincidence of timing" is the
potential of having this ground-breaking legislation introduced in
Congress in the 40th anniversary year of the Wilderness Act, and the
200th anniversary year of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. The moon and
stars are lined up, and it is up to us to make our wishes known to our
congressional delegation.
I firmly believe it is not only in the best interests of South Dakotans,
but of all Americans, to grant this small portion of our state's
national grasslands the protection that only wilderness designation can
provide. With the many hundreds of thousands of acres of public land in
South Dakota open to motorized access, it is only reasonable that a few
small areas with primitive values be preserved for those who seek a
different recreational experience.
President Gerald Ford, 10 years after the 1964 Wilderness Act was
signed, said "The preservation of wilderness areas across the country
today enables us to recapture a vital part of the national experience:
like our forebears we can journey into primeval, unspoiled land ...
wilderness preservation insures that a central facet of our nation can
still be realized, not just remembered."
I urge you to let our senators and House representative - before and
after the upcoming election - know that this is important to you. It's
an unrepeatable opportunity, and there's no better way to create a proud
legacy for our state and for future generations of Americans.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, committed citizens can
change the world. Indeed, it is the
only thing that has."
- Margaret Mead
Heather Morijah ("ma-rye'-ah")
Conservation Organizer
Sierra Club - West River Office
1101 E. Philadelphia St.
Rapid City, SD 57701
tel 605.342.2244
fax 605.342.2255
www.sierraclub.org
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