Measure urges cleanup of wilderness trails damaged by fire

Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) ― A House Committee has agreed to debate a resolution urging the federal government to take steps to clean up networks of trails damaged by years of wildfires in a wilderness area in eastern and central Idaho. The House Resources and Conservation Committee introduced a resolution Monday focused on Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness’ trail system. Republican Rep. Marc Gibbs of Grace says the message to the U.S. Forest Service is simple: Take steps to repair trails or let Idaho volunteers do the job. Gibbs says hundreds of miles of trails have been damaged, blocked or declared unsafe because of wildfires. While Gibbs says he understands the agency’s financial strains, he contends trail neglect has taken an economic toll in the region through a decline in hiking, hunting and outfitting.