The geologic setting of the Lincoln back country is generally well known. The lithified rocks consist of Precambrian Beltian strata of argillites, quartizites, and carbonates. These units have been intensely deformed primarily by faulting (thrusting) along the continuation of the Sawtooth Overthrust Belt. The Beltian rocks are badly shattered and, therefore, readily susceptible to mechanical weathering, which in this northern climate produces large talus deposits at the base of pronounced cliff faces.

The Beltian strata are mantled with Pleistocene glacial drift, which is especially thick and pronounced in the valley bottoms and lower to intermediate slopes of the mountains. The glacial drift is composed of unsorted and unstratified mud, sand, pebble, and bouldery material, all completely unlithified (uncemented). Much of the timber in the area is rooted in this material. Even on a modest slope this glacial drift can become very unstable, particularly during rapid snowmelt, after a moderate rainfall or after the harvesting of a timber crop. At such time the inhomogeneity of the draft can produce a pattern of subsurface water movement that promotes massive downslope sliding of the material. In addition, the soil cover in the area is very thin, averaging only a few inches, and is a very fragile resource.

The U.S. Forest Service multiple-use plan envisages the opening of one or more access roadways, through the Lincoln back country, for tourist, sportsman, and commercial use. Any proposed roadway will be cut primarily through the glacial drift mantling the valley bottoms and lower walls. Early in the summer of 1968 I had occasion to investigate the U.S. Forest Service access road along Lake Creek, on the western border of the proposed wilderness area. Geologically, the Lake Creek road cuts material identical to that in the proposed wilderness area. At the time of my investigation it had been raining for 24 hours and many of the features directly related to the immediate rainfall were superimposed on the normal erosion of the road banks in the 2 years since construction. A number of colored slides are included with this statement to illustrate the features discussed below.

The Lake Creek road was strewn with boulders eroded out of the glacial drift in the road cuts. These boulders are anywhere from a few inches to a few feet across and are a potential road hazard. Large sections of the glacial drift slope are undergoing sliding, both above and below the road level. In places large trees and soil are moving down over the road embankment, and in another place, where logging has occurred just above the Lake Creek road, the logged area has undergone massive slumpage. Undercutting this unconsolidated glacial drift during road construction produces a very unstable situation and sliding, slumpage and sloughing will continue to occur until the natural slope again develops by eliminating the road cuts.

In many places along the Lake Creek Road slumpage and sloughing from the road cuts have completely clogged the drainage ditch which should carry runoff water to the culverts. Under these circumstances, typical in areas of unconsolidated material, the runoff water carries over the road causing rapid erosion of the roadbed. This phenomenon cannot be prevented unless every road cut through the glacial debris is covered with a plaster or cementlike mask.

Where water does reach a culvert and is carried under the road bed to the valley side of the road, the unconsolidated debris around and

below the culvert is rapidly eroded. The water falls onto the glacial drift slopes below with enough energy to cause deep and rapid gullying, as large quantities of glacial materials are carried to the stream below.

In conclusion, the construction of an access road in the Lincoln back country would be relatively inexpensive, inasmuch as most of the road would cut through unconsolidated glacial drift. However, a number of disadvantages and potential dangers come readily to mind. Such a road will be expensive to maintain for it will be in nearly constant need of grading, clearing, and indeed in many places, actual reconstruction. It does not appear probable that such a road can be maintained without an abnormal financial investment. In addition, there will be an ever-present danger to travelers from sliding and slumping, especially during and shortly after, wet weather. Lastly, the increased erosion caused by road construction and timber harvest will have a very detrimental effect on the streams and lakes of the area. For these reasons I oppose a multiple-use plan for the area and support the proposal for the establishment of the Lincoln-Scapegoat Wilderness Area.

I would like to add one more comment. I listened carefully to the testimony of my good friend and colleague, Willis Johns. He very accurately delineated some of the more important matter in the large study area of the U.S. Forest Service. I think it pertinent to point out that the area described by Dr. Rogers and associates in the Geological Survey as a potential mineral resource lies outside, east of the boundary of the proposed wilderness area. I also might point out that the other warranted area delineated by Mr. Johns as one of potential mineral resource is the Red Mountain area, the whole southern slope of which is outside the proposed wilderness area.

Thank you very much.

Senator BURDICK. Thank you, Doctor.

Senator METCALF. Thank you very much for a very informative

statement.

Senator BURDICK. Dr. George Weisel, Missoula.

STATEMENT OF DR. GEORGE F. WEISEL, PROFESSOR OF ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA, MISSOULA, MONT.

Dr. WEISEL. Senator, my name is George F. Weisel. I am a professor of zoology at the University of Montana with graduate and research specialty in fish. I am also well acquainted with the Lincoln back country-Scapegoat Mountain area, having packed into this country since the 1930's. I might add, I am not too affluent in packing, and at the present time I don't feel too particularly strong, either.

I am concerned about the overall ecological changes that will occur in the Lincoln back country-Scapegoat area, should it be invaded by roads, logged or used for mass recreation. I will, however, confine myself to the fishery.

The cutthroat trout is the only native trout in western Montana. The Dolly Varden (bull trout) is the only native char. Introduced rainbow trout and brook trout have largely replaced the native species in all but back-country areas of western Montana. Subspecies of the cutthroat trout have been placed on the endangered species list in

some Western States. Both the cutthroat and Dolly Varden are rapidly approaching this status in Montana.

Lander's Fork and the Middlefork of the Blackfoot abound with small native cutthroat trout. Few of these are over 10 inches in length. Meadow Creek and the East Fork of the Blackfoot above the falls were probably barren of fish until stocked about 50 years ago. These fish are undoubtedly hybrids and have some of the color characteristics of golden trout. None of the hybrids in the streams are large, but it is possible some may grow to several pounds in Meadow Creek Lake. Below the falls on the Blackfoot there are fair-sized cutthroat trout, and in the late summer large Dolly Varden are common in pools at the base of the falls.

During summer months whole sections of streams in this northern Rocky Mountain region become dry. Where the bedrock is close to the surface, there is surface flow, but where the bedrock is covered with gravel and boulders, the summer flow disappears underground. A notable example of this is the Dry Fork of the Blackfoot. At these times, the fish become concentrated in pools and are easy prey to predators, including man.

Heart Lake is the largest and deepest in the entire area. It includes 32 acres with a depth of close to 50 feet in a few spots. Planted grayling have successfully survived in Heart Lake along with the cutthroat. The next two lakes in size are Parker and Webb. They are 12 and 18 acres respectively with maximum depths of about 14 feet. These two lakes are actually beaver ponds with mud bottoms, but they support a fair cutthroat fishery. Other so-called lakes in the area are mere potholes, and some go dry in the summer. However, the two Twin Lakes, shallow and 7 to 9 acres in size, do have some cutthroats.

The Forest Service admits that the lakes are small and fragile. In their March 1963, long-range plan for the northern half Lincoln ranger district, they state, "the lakes will be left to as near natural a condition as possible. Because motorboats would conflict with the nearnatural environment, powerboats will not be permitted on the lakes." I would like to add that the lakes would provide little water-oriented recreation and that at the present time they are being utilized to capacity. The campgrounds at Heart Lake are already barren and impacted.

The waters of the Lincoln back country-Scapegoat country are remarkably free of trash fish. Other than a few native sculpens, whitefish, and dace, they are essentially pure trout waters. These waters undoubtedly serve as important breeding grounds and recruitment. waters for the lower Blackfoot River system.

The present fishery in the Lincoln back country is receiving close to its maximum utilization and the pressure becomes greater each year. One of the primary goals of the backpackers and horseback riders is to fish in the area, although there is as good or better fishing in some of the waters close to roads. There is more of a challenge and satisfaction in catching wilderness fish.

The fishery definitely cannot withstand the heavy fishing which would result in easy access by road. The streams and lakes are so small that fishermen would be shoulder to shoulder. The native fish certainly could not sustain a sport for long. An expensive "put-andtake" fishery of legal-sized planters would soon be necessary if there

were to be any fishing. Inevitably, this leads to the extinction of the native fish population. I seriously doubt that the Montana Fish & Game Department would consider planting the waters of the Lincoln back country. It is one of the least desirable types of habitat for this kind of fishery management. (The year-to-year cost of planting legalsized fish should be considered in any cost-benefit ratio. See the investigations conducted by the Michigan Game Department on the effect planter fish have on wild populations.)

Aside from fishing pressure, alterations to the water runoff will degrade the water and adversely affect the fishery. For the past 2 years we have been studying the water quality of roaded and logged streams as compared to pristine waters in western Montana. This investigation is supported by a grant from the Water Resource Research Center. It is apparent from the study that there is increased temperature, increased siltation and turbidity, and less stability in waterflow in those streams with bordering disturbed land. (These findings are nothing new. See Bartsch, 1959, U.S.P.H.S., Taft Sanitary Eng. Center; Chapman, 1962, J. Forestry; Cordane, 1961, Calif. Fish and Game: Cormack, 1949, Canadian J. Res.; Ellis, 1936, Ecol.; Larking, 1959, Canadian Fish. Cult.; etc. We are conducting the research primarily to find out what untouched watersheds are like; there are not many left to study.)

Quoting again from the Forest Service long-range plan, 1963:

The Landers Fork and, to a lesser extent, the East Fork of the Blackfoot drainages contribute heavy silt during spring runoff. The loose, glacial material in these drainages is subject to severe erosion. During summer months, all streams produce clear water.

Should roading or logging occur in the Lincoln back country, there will be a severe erosion problem. The terrain is steep and the hillsides are composed of loose glacial till. Shocking examples of what occurs when roads are built in this type of country can be seen in the neighboring Lake Creek and Copper Creek developments. The Forest Service has stated there is "heavy" siltation during high runoff. What will be the siltation problem when the unstable soil is disturbed? Will the Forest Service be guilty of not abiding by the new water quality standards set by the State and Federal Governments?

It has been amply demonstrated that increased residue and turbidity are injurious to a trout fishery. (Tebo, 1955, Prog. Fish-Cult.; Ellis, 1936, Ecol.; Shaw and Maga, 1943, Calif. Fish & Game; Wallen, 1951, Bull. Okla. Agric. & Mech. Coll. Biol.; etc.) The eggs and larvae are smothered bottom insects, a main part of the trout's diet, are killed; and plantlife is injured by the reduction of penetrating light. Increased siltation will also hasten the aging and decrease the depth of the small lakes. Waters of the Blackfoot River outside the proposed wilderness will also be adversely affected by receiving degraded water. The best and cheapest watershed and fishery management for the Lincoln back country-Scapegoat area is to incorporate it into a wilderness. Thank you.

Senator BURDICK. Thank you, Doctor.

Dr. C. C. Gordon, Missoula.

STATEMENT OF DR. CLARENCE C. GORDON, PRESIDENT, WESTERN MONTANA SCIENTISTS' COMMITTEE FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION

Dr. GORDON. Before proceeding with my own testimony, I have some testimony here from Mr. Otto Teller, who is on the board of directors of Trout Unlimited, in support of the Lincoln-Scapegoat area.

Senator BURDICK. It may be received and printed at the end of your remarks.

Dr. GORDON. The Western Montana Scientists' Committee for Public Information is a member group of the National Scientists' Institute for Public Information. The association is dedicated to providing scientific information relevant to social issues in the field of environmental contamination. The western Montana group is composed mostly of university faculty members and some local physicians. Some of its members have visited the Lincoln back country, and all of its members are familiar with the environment of western Montana.

As scientists, we are aware of the ability of our fellow human beings to alter the environment through technology. We are equally aware that these alterations can cause far-spreading and often destructive changes.

It is the considered opinion of the scientists' committee that the greatest long-range benefit for the people is to classify the Lincoln back country-Scapegoat Mountain area as a wilderness.

Our technology has outpaced our understanding of the best utilization of the land. Anyone familiar with construction projects in the mountainous portions of western Montana is aware of the deleterious and often irreversible changes that occur. After reviewing the physical and biological aspects of the Lincoln back country-Scapegoat Mountain area, it is obvious that this country will be even more adversely affected than most mountainous areas if roading or logging be allowed. The hillsides are friable and steep. Much of the clay and fractured rock is presently held in place by plant roots to a depth of a foot or less. Even a slight disturbance of the soil will start an eroded gully. Whole mountain slopes slipped into valleys and streams during the floods of 1964.

Development of the Lincoln back country-Scapegoat Mountain area will be disastrous; leaving it a wilderness will provide a unique and invaluable recreational and study center for generations.

I would like to talk for just a moment about my own profession. I am a forest pathologist, and I believe I am the only forest pathologist doing research on forest fungi in Montana. As a teacher I have to dig through the literature to find out what other people have done in this area, and I am quite surprised to find what little has not been done on forest fungi.

For this reason I am amazed when people talk about the ravages of insects and diseases which occur in unmanaged areas, or managed areas, and people here, or some people have inferred that if an area is managed, there will be no diseases in the area, or less diseases in a managed area than in an unmanaged are. This is quite untrue. There is absolutely no literature that would support these statements. There is also a statement

Senator METCALF. Do you know when the Forest Service dropped all that DDT on the Yellowstone River and killed all the insects? At least they got rid of all the insects down there. Of course, they got