Bill would add 20,000 acres to wilderness: Alexander, Corker introduce measure for Cherokee Forest

 http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/jun/10/bill-would-add-20000-acres-to-wilderness/

Tennessee Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker on Wednesday introduced legislation that would add almost 20,000 acres of wilderness to the Cherokee National Forest across six East Tennessee counties.

The Tennessee Wilderness Act of 2010 would expand the amount of federally designated wilderness in the national forest to about 86,000 acres. The forest currently contains about 66,000 acres of wilderness, designated by Congress a quarter-century ago.

Wilderness protection is reserved for federal lands that rank high in scenery, biological diversity and recreational opportunities. Once added to the National Wilderness Preservation System, the areas are protected in perpetuity from logging, mining and road building but remain open to traditional recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking and horseback riding on existing trails and roads.

Alexander and Corker's bill would designate six areas totaling 19,556 acres as wilderness at both the northern and southern ends of the 640,000-acre Cherokee National Forest. All six areas have been managed as wilderness since 2004 when the U.S. Forest Service recommended them for wilderness status in its comprehensive forest plan.

The bill would not affect privately owned lands, or make changes to public access.

"This is the first step toward protecting these pristine mountain lands for all of us to admire and respect," Alexander said. "They will be managed to preserve the wilderness experience, but in a way that doesn't prohibit hunting, camping, or hiking. I think it's a sensible proposal."

U.S. Rep John J. Duncan Jr., R-Knoxville, has not taken a public position on the wilderness bill. On Wednesday, Duncan's office released a statement saying that the 2nd District congressman "has great respect for Sen. Alexander, and will probably follow his lead."

The act would create one new wilderness area while expanding the boundaries of five other existing wilderness areas in the Cherokee National Forest. At 9,038 acres, the Upper Bald River Wilderness, in Monroe County, is by far the largest new wilderness tract proposed in the bill.

Will Skelton, a retired Knoxville attorney and long-time wilderness advocate, said the new Upper Bald River Wilderness would protect the Bald River and its headwater streams, guaranteeing clean water, lush forests and dramatic waterfalls for generations to come.

"It has all the characteristics of a truly outstanding Southern Appalachian wilderness area," Skelton said.

Morgan Simmons may be reached at 865-342-6321.