Mark Udall

Seventeen-thousand acres.

The need to rehabilitate this irrigation system is long overdue and the need for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to act, equipped with the proper resources, I believe is now.

It was very significant, a 20-fold increase.

I'm certainly willing and, I think, able to be engaged, as well, in moving those discussions along.

I want to express my appreciation for the extensive work of Representative Salazar and his staff in putting this bill together and working with all stakeholders on this bill.

Let's keep the conversation alive in that regard, if we might.

Just for the record, I'd be happy to work with you and his office on that issue and any others that might come up.

Finally, the bill would withdraw from mineral entry over 6,500 acres in the Naturita Canyon area, a striking canyon west of Telluride, Colorado.

It would also establish over 21,000 acres of National Forest as the Sheep Mountain Special Management Area.

This bill would designate over 22,000 acres of National Forest and Bureau of Land Management land in southwestern Colorado as wilderness.

I look forward, as one Senator, to supporting it when it comes to the floor of the Senate.

I would like to do that.

I want to thank again Senator Risch. He and I have an excellent working relationship.

If we do nothing about this epidemic... we could be right back here with another epidemic of this size and scope.

I want to focus on S. 2798, the National Forest Insect and Disease Emergency Act of 2009, which I introduced with Senator Risch.

I feel like the folks I represent want action right now, and I really think that, Chairman, your bill and Senator Risch's bill would really help achieve what we are missing at the Federal level, and that is really a long-term approach.

I think Senator Risch and I will continue to probe your summaries and your conclusions.

Wouldn't the fuels treatment perhaps reduce that severity effect?

I was going to follow up, but I don't want to cut you off.

We urge the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee to advance this legislation as soon as possible.

I think making stewardship contracts permanent is very positive.

This epidemic is creating serious concerns in our communities regarding our forested regions, the recreational economies of these areas, and water supplies.

This sort of threat is akin to an emergency like any other natural phenomenon, and I believe we need to treat it as such.

The purpose of today's hearing is to receive testimony on several bills pending before the subcommittee.

Us westerners hang together, whether we are Rocky Mountain westerners or we are far westerners like Senator Wyden.