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Forest Service from obtaining water rights to protect the 

 wilderness resource while allowing others to assert claims to 

 divert or impound water that would otherwise flow through 

 wilderness . 



Without either a) allowing the Forest Service to obtain water 

 rights that are necessary to protect wilderness values or, 



b) preventing others from diverting water in these areas, we 

 do not believe the water- related wilderness values could be 

 adequately protected. We do not believe wilderness should be 

 designated unless all wilderness values and characteristics can 

 be adequately protected. Without this protection, possible 

 diversions, impoundments, or other developments may make it 

 impossible to protect the wilderness character of these areas. 



Release Language 



We do not object to the release language. The language ties 

 release of areas to the analysis and recommendations in the 

 Forest Plans. We support that general approach. 



Special Management Areas 



We have concerns about the large acreage and divergent 

 management schemes for the many special management areas in the 

 bill. We recognize the prerogative of Congress to legislate 

 management direction for Federal lands. The National 

 Wilderness Preservation System, Wild and Scenic Rivers system, 



