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9/25/2004
Rapid City Journal - Op-Ed; 40 years of wilderness
- James Abourezk, a former United States senator from South Dakota, who writes from 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.