Howard Zahniser
Encyclopedia
Howard Clinton Zahniser was an American environmental activist. Zahniser is noted for being the primary author of the Wilderness Act
of 1964.
Zahniser was born in Franklin, Pennsylvania, and grew up in nearby Tionesta
along the banks of the Allegheny River
close to the Allegheny National Forest
. He attended college at Greenville College
in Greenville, Illinois, where he graduated with a B.A. degree in English in 1928.
After beginning his career with the United States Bureau of Biological Survey (1930), Zahniser went on to become executive secretary of The Wilderness Society
and editor of The Living Wilderness from 1945 through 1964.
plans for a ten-dam, billion dollar Colorado River Storage Project
began to arouse opposition in the early 1950s when it was announced that one of the proposed dams would be at Echo Park
, in the middle of Dinosaur National Monument
. The controversy assumed major proportions, dominating conservation politics for years. David Brower, executive director of the Sierra Club
and Zahniser representing The Wilderness Society led an unprecedented nationwide campaign to preserve the free-flowing rivers and scenic canyons of the Green and Yampa Rivers. If even a national monument was not safe from development, they reasoned, how could any wildland be kept intact?
On the other side of the argument were powerful members of Congress
from western states, who were committed to the Colorado River Storage Project in order to secure water rights, obtain cheap hydroelectric power and develop reservoirs as tourist destinations. After much debate, Congress settled on a compromise that eliminated Echo Park Dam and authorized the rest of the project. The Colorado River Storage Project Act became law on April 11, 1956. It stated, “that no dam or reservoir constructed under the authorization of the Act shall be within any National Park or Monument.”
Historians view the Echo Park Dam controversy as signaling the start of an era that includes major conservationist political successes such as the Wilderness Act and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
In his capacity with The Wilderness Society, Zahniser drafted the Wilderness Act in 1956, which was introduced in the United States Congress that same year — in the House of Representatives by Congressman John P. Saylor
of Pennsylvania, and in the Senate by Hubert Humphrey
of Minnesota. Zahniser was the main proponent of the Wilderness Act over the subsequent eight years that it took to pass the legislation, including overseeing numerous rewrites, attending all 18 public hearings on the bill, and personally lobbying virtually every member of Congress in support of the legislation.
Zahniser died of heart failure on May 5, 1964, just a few months before President Lyndon B. Johnson
signed the Wilderness Act into law in September of that year. The Wilderness Act established America's National Wilderness Preservation System
, which today permanently protects more than 106 million acres (429,000 km²) of federal public land for the benefit of future generations of people and wildlife alike. Wilderness areas must be designated by act of Congress under the framework of the Wilderness Act that Zahniser created on United States Forest Service
, National Park Service
, United States Fish and Wildlife Service
, and Bureau of Land Management
lands. There have been more than 100 separate wilderness bills signed into law since 1964. Every United States President since 1964 has signed substantial wilderness legislation during his time in office.
Zahniser is buried in the Tionesta Riverside Cemetery; his rough-hewn marker, taken from the surrounding forest, faces his beloved Allegheny River. In August 2001, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission dedicated a roadside historical marker, in Zahniser's name, just north of Tionesta along the Allegheny River near the southern end of the Allegheny Islands Wilderness
.
Wilderness Act
The Wilderness Act of 1964 was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society. It created the legal definition of wilderness in the United States, and protected some 9 million acres of federal land. The result of a long effort to protect federal wilderness, the Wilderness Act was signed...
of 1964.
Zahniser was born in Franklin, Pennsylvania, and grew up in nearby Tionesta
Tionesta, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 615 people , 282 households, and 166 families residing in the borough. A more recent estimate has Tionesta's population being 592, a loss of 3.69%. The population density was 457.5 people per square mile . There were 337 housing units at an average density of...
along the banks of the Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
close to the Allegheny National Forest
Allegheny National Forest
The Allegheny National Forest is a National Forest located in northwestern Pennsylvania. The forest covers of land. Within the forest is Kinzua Dam, which impounds the Allegheny River to form Allegheny Reservoir. The administrative headquarters for the Allegheny National Forest is located in Warren...
. He attended college at Greenville College
Greenville College
Greenville College is located in Greenville, Illinois, a small Illinois city, located 45 miles east of St. Louis, Missouri on Interstate 70...
in Greenville, Illinois, where he graduated with a B.A. degree in English in 1928.
After beginning his career with the United States Bureau of Biological Survey (1930), Zahniser went on to become executive secretary of The Wilderness Society
The Wilderness Society (United States)
The Wilderness Society is an American organization that is dedicated to protecting America's wilderness. It was formed in 1935 and currently has over 300,000 members and supporters.-Founding:The society was incorporated on January 21, 1935...
and editor of The Living Wilderness from 1945 through 1964.
Echo Park Dam controversy
United States Bureau of ReclamationUnited States Bureau of Reclamation
The United States Bureau of Reclamation , and formerly the United States Reclamation Service , is an agency under the U.S...
plans for a ten-dam, billion dollar Colorado River Storage Project
Colorado River Storage Project
The Colorado River Storage Project is a United States Bureau of Reclamation project designed to oversee the development of the upper Colorado River basin...
began to arouse opposition in the early 1950s when it was announced that one of the proposed dams would be at Echo Park
Echo Park (Colorado)
Echo Park is a remote river bottom surrounded by canyon walls on the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument. It was first mapped and given its name by the Powell Geographic Expedition in 1869. A proposed dam at Echo Park turned into a nationwide environmental controversy in the early 1950s...
, in the middle of Dinosaur National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument is a National Monument located on the southeast flank of the Uinta Mountains on the border between Colorado and Utah at the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers. Although most of the monument area is in Moffat County, Colorado, the Dinosaur Quarry is located in Utah...
. The controversy assumed major proportions, dominating conservation politics for years. David Brower, executive director of the Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
and Zahniser representing The Wilderness Society led an unprecedented nationwide campaign to preserve the free-flowing rivers and scenic canyons of the Green and Yampa Rivers. If even a national monument was not safe from development, they reasoned, how could any wildland be kept intact?
On the other side of the argument were powerful members of Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
from western states, who were committed to the Colorado River Storage Project in order to secure water rights, obtain cheap hydroelectric power and develop reservoirs as tourist destinations. After much debate, Congress settled on a compromise that eliminated Echo Park Dam and authorized the rest of the project. The Colorado River Storage Project Act became law on April 11, 1956. It stated, “that no dam or reservoir constructed under the authorization of the Act shall be within any National Park or Monument.”
Historians view the Echo Park Dam controversy as signaling the start of an era that includes major conservationist political successes such as the Wilderness Act and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
Wilderness Act
John P. Saylor
John Phillips Saylor was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Saylor was born in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1929, and Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle,...
of Pennsylvania, and in the Senate by Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. , served under President Lyndon B. Johnson as the 38th Vice President of the United States. Humphrey twice served as a United States Senator from Minnesota, and served as Democratic Majority Whip. He was a founder of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and...
of Minnesota. Zahniser was the main proponent of the Wilderness Act over the subsequent eight years that it took to pass the legislation, including overseeing numerous rewrites, attending all 18 public hearings on the bill, and personally lobbying virtually every member of Congress in support of the legislation.
Zahniser died of heart failure on May 5, 1964, just a few months before President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
signed the Wilderness Act into law in September of that year. The Wilderness Act established America's National Wilderness Preservation System
National Wilderness Preservation System
The National Wilderness Preservation System of the United States protects federally managed land areas designated for preservation in their natural condition. It was established by the Wilderness Act upon the signature of President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3, 1964...
, which today permanently protects more than 106 million acres (429,000 km²) of federal public land for the benefit of future generations of people and wildlife alike. Wilderness areas must be designated by act of Congress under the framework of the Wilderness Act that Zahniser created on United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
, National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
, United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
, and Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
lands. There have been more than 100 separate wilderness bills signed into law since 1964. Every United States President since 1964 has signed substantial wilderness legislation during his time in office.
Zahniser is buried in the Tionesta Riverside Cemetery; his rough-hewn marker, taken from the surrounding forest, faces his beloved Allegheny River. In August 2001, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission dedicated a roadside historical marker, in Zahniser's name, just north of Tionesta along the Allegheny River near the southern end of the Allegheny Islands Wilderness
Allegheny Islands Wilderness
The Allegheny River Islands Wilderness is located in the Allegheny National Forest. It comprises seven islands in the Allegheny River, totaling . All are alluvial origin. The islands are located between Buckaloons Recreation Area and Tionesta, Pennsylvania....
.
External links
- Zahniser Institute for Environmental Studies
- Howard Zahniser at Findagrave.com