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1/21/2010
Rapid City Journal - Op-Ed; Wilderness designation can work
- Journal Editorial Board

Is it time to designate up to 50,000 acres of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland east of Rapid City as wilderness?

Sen. Tim Johnson believes it is. Yesterday Johnson said he plans to introduce legislation that would largely dovetail with 2002 recommendations from the U.S. Forest Service to designate land in the Indian Creek, Red Shirt and Chalk Hills areas of the national grassland as wilderness.

In 2002, we supported the creation of the wilderness area if the concerns of the current and future users of the land are met. That hasn't changed. While the federal government owns the land that would be designated wilderness, it has been used for many years by area ranchers and many other outdoor enthusiasts who are concerned about future use and how it will impact them.

We can't support setting aside 50,000 acres of grassland and restricting common sense use. Grazing, hiking, walking, hunting etc. and limited motorized vehicle use for livestock and maintenance purposes should be allowed to continue with a wilderness designation. We think they can and will.

At this point, the other two members of the state delegation have taken a wait-and-see approach to the proposal.

Others have gotten out front to oppose the designation. Three county commissions, Pennington included, have formally opposed the designation and other groups are concerned about practical management of the land should the wilderness designation take effect.

It's a complex issue that has several hurdles to clear before the designation gets a congressional decision. It seems our early concerns haven't been overlooked by Sen. Johnson. In a press release, the senator said work continues with affected landowners and he would "shape sound legislation."

We support the idea of protecting South Dakota's natural landscape for future generations. But that protection has to come with some degree of protection for those who use the land and those who will be involved with management of the land - fire and weed control etc.

The balance can be struck and we hope it is. If it will, eight years after originally proposed, remains to be seen.