Daily Wilderness News Clips

Delaware, the only state in the country lacking a national park, would finally have one under legislation introduced yesterday by its congressional delegation.

The proposed park, to be dubbed "First State National Historical Park," would have a central headquarters in New Castle and connect to a series of historic sites and attractions across the state.

Democratic Sens. Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman and Rep. Mike Castle (R) said the bill came as a result of years of local studies and meetings.

There are many people trying to protect the Organ Mountains ranging from sportsmen, business owners, conservationists and elected officials. The "Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Wilderness Act" is being pushed in Washington, D.C., by New Mexico Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall. If passed, the measure will protect almost 400,000 acres of public land in Dona Ana County, and would ensure the protection of watersheds, hunting, recreational opportunities as well as cultural resources like petroglyphs.

A bid by New Mexico's two U.S. senators to protect the Organ Mountains and other scenic areas in Southern New Mexico could help El Paso, too.

If approved, it would preserve thousands of acres that are an easy day trip from El Paso and could create new opportunities for hiking, proponents said.

Mayor John Cook wants the City Council to support a bill introduced in Congress last month by Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall by passing a resolution Tuesday.

Representatives of the Hidden Gems Wilderness Campaign said Tuesday that the proposal to protect 400,000 acres of the White River National Forest will not adversely affect military flight training currently conducted in Colorado.

The High-Altitude Army Aviation Training Site program currently uses mountainous sections of Eagle County and the Flat Tops to train helicopter pilots for the war in Afghanistan. The terrain and altitude at the HAATS is similar to that of Afghanistan.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday approved wild and scenic river designation for Illabot Creek, a 14-mile-long tributary of the Skagit River and important spawning area for Chinook salmon and wild steelhead.

The legislation goes on to the Senate, where it is being sponsored and pushed by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.

From 10,000 feet off the ground, the piece of Colorado north of Taos looks segmented into perfect rectangles by a series of roads. The plots appear ripe for development.

The state border in this bit of America is stark, because, on New Mexico's side, there are very few roads and the plains stretch for miles with only sporadic intrusions by modern society, like a solitary road or house.

Campaign Executive Director speaks to Idaho Public News Service about the early days of hunting season, and where the hunting is best — away from roads and vehicle noise, in wilderness.

LAS CRUCES - Support for the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Wilderness Act continues to grow, as the Obama administration has now offered its support to the legislation intended to protect the mountain range just east of Las Cruces and other scenic areas in Doña Ana County.

Montana Sen. Jon Tester will host an open house in Troy Saturday to discuss the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act.

Tester introduced the legislation in July after seeking input from stakeholders across the state and hosting listening sessions in Libby, Missoula, Deer Lodge and Townsend.

Tester's open house is scheduled to run Oct. 10 from 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Troy High School auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

After a presentation, Tester and his staff will be on hand to gather feedback and answer questions about the legislation.

A pristine piece of the Southern Oregon landscape is closer to winning federal protection. April Baer reports.

The Devil's Staircase is a rugged forested place in the southern-most edge of the Coast Range, east of Reedsport.

From time to time, timber companies have identified it as a possible site for logging. But its terrain is so steep, and hard to navigate, that its old-growth trees have remained intact.

Now Senator Ron Wyden proposes the area as federally protected wilderness.