On March 28, 2006, New Hampshire Senators John Sununu (R) and Judd Gregg (R) introduced S. 2463, the New Hampshire Wilderness Act of 2006, which would permanently protect approximately 34,500 acres of White Mountain National Forest. Sununu authored the Senate legislation and Gregg is the lead co-sponsor of the bill.

“For a number of years, local and state officials, citizen groups and other concerned individuals have been working toward the goal of designating more wilderness in the White Mountain National Forest. Their dedication toward permanently protecting land in the Sandwich Range and the Wild River area is to be commended, and will come to fruition with the passage of this bill,” Senator Sununu said.

Senator Gregg stated, “The White Mountain National Forest is one of the most spectacular and treasured areas of forest in our nation. Its beauty has been enjoyed by generations of New Hampshire residents and visitors alike, who enjoy the natural wonder of the snow-capped mountain peaks, lush green forests, and crystal clear waterways. Now that the Forest Service has issued its management plan, Congress must take action to further protect the uniquely undisturbed and pristine areas in the White Mountain National Forest for generations to come.”

On March 30, Representative Jeb Bradley (R-NH) introduced H. R. 5062 to expand by 10,800 acres the existing Sandwich Range Wilderness, which lies in his congressional district, and Rep. Charles Bass (R-NH) introduced H.R. 5059 to designate the 23,700-acre Wild River Wilderness, which is found in Bass’ congressional district. Together, these bills include the same designations as the Senate bill.

“The Whites are one of the most visited national forests in the country for good reason, with their ready mix of recreational opportunities, natural conservation and pristine habitat protection, and economic support,” said Rep. Bass. “From the passage of the Weeks Act that established the national forest system in the eastern U.S. in 1911 while my grandfather was governor, through the almost 100 years of the forest’s history, the White Mountain National Forest has been a jewel and place of solitude for millions of Granite Staters and visitors alike. I am honored to play a small part to improve the experience for millions of future visitors and protect our precious habitats and native ecosystems.”

Fred Lavigne, a member of the Friends of Sandwich Range citizens’ group, said, “We’re very pleased that Congressmen Bradley and Bass are introducing a New Hampshire Wilderness Bill in the House. This will permanently protect historic sites as well as older forests in the Sandwich Range. We’re also pleased that new Wilderness will be created in the magnificent Wild River Valley.”

“Senators Sununu and Gregg will be thanked for generations to come,” said Leanne Klyza Linck, eastern forest senior associate for The Wilderness Society.

New Hampshire wilderness advocates including Friends of the Sandwich Range, Friends of Wild River, The Wilderness Society and others are advocating permanent protection for a few other areas, including Flat Mountain, Mt. Kancamagus, and Wonalancet in the Sandwich Range. It believes the wildlife corridor to the Caribou-Speckled Wilderness in the Wild River Valley should be designated a wilderness area, as should the low-elevation land down to the snowmobile bridge, except for the campground.

Background
The White Mountain National Forest makes up 14% of New Hampshire’s land mass and is one of the largest tracts of public land in the Northeast. With six to seven million visitors a year, the Forest provides recreational opportunities as well as remote wilderness experiences to people from throughout New England and beyond. There are four existing wilderness areas on the Forest – the Sandwich Range, Presidential Range-Dry River, Pemigewasset, and Great Gulf. These areas total 114,000 acres or two percent of the state.

At the end of 2005, the Forest Service released the final version of its newly revised forest plan, which recommended wilderness designation for approximately 34,500 acres of wilderness on the Forest. Local citizens and groups including the Friends of the Sandwich Range and Friends of Wild River worked tirelessly throughout the Forest Service’s plan revision process to get the best possible new wilderness recommendations from the Forest. When the agency released its final plan, members of the New Hampshire congressional delegation pledged to introduce legislation to permanently protect the wilderness areas recommended by the agency.

For More Information

• Fred Lavigne, Friends of the Sandwich Range, 603-284-6919
• Leanne Klyza Linck, The Wilderness Society, 802-482-2171
• Bart Koehler, TWS Wilderness Support Center, 970-247-8788