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I urge you to choose the No Action alternative and maintain full Roadless Rule protections for America's wild forests. In Central Oregon, there are close to 200,000 acres of Inventoried Roadless Areas in the Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest, and Crooked River National Grassland. These areas have protected wildlife habitat, boosted the economies through both outdoor recreation and high quality of life, and ensured clean drinking water for nearly 25 years. As a frequent visitor to these public lands, I strongly oppose the USDA’s proposal to eliminate, alter, or weaken the Roadless Rule, which would reduce protections across nearly 45 million acres of public lands managed by the US Forest Service nationwide. Rescinding the Roadless Rule is impractical and dangerous. In Central Oregon, opening roadless areas to logging will not yield a meaningful economic return. Instead, increasing roads will damage recreation areas, scenic views, and wildlife habitat, and eliminate the core reasons people choose to live, work, and recreate in Central Oregon. More roads also mean more fires: research shows wildfires are four times more likely to ignite near roads. More roads will also degrade drinking watersheds. In Central Oregon, the Bend Municipal Watershed begins in the headwaters of Bridge Creek and Tumalo Creek in the Deschutes National Forest. Losing Roadless protections will threaten water quality for fish species and the drinking water supply for more than 100,000 people in Bend, and tens of millions of people across the country. Rescinding the Roadless Rule also makes our forests far less resilient. Roads spread invasive species, disrupt wildlife corridors, and erode forest resilience in the face of rapidly shifting wildfire regimes. Please abandon this misguided effort to repeal the Roadless Rule and instead strengthen protections for America’s roadless forests for all the clean water, climate resilience, recreation, and habitat for biodiversity they provide. Kristin Reidelberger Bend, OR

In Central Oregon, there are close to 200,000 acres of Inventoried Roadless Areas in the Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest, and Crooked River National Grassland. These areas have protected wildlife habitat, boosted the economies through both outdoor recreation and high quality of life, and ensured clean drinking water for nearly 25 years. As a frequent visitor to these public lands, I strongly oppose the USDA’s proposal to eliminate, alter, or weaken the Roadless Rule, which would reduce protections across nearly 45 million acres of public lands managed by the US Forest Service nationwide. I urge you to choose the No Action alternative and maintain full Roadless Rule protections for America's wild forests. Rescinding the Roadless Rule is impractical and dangerous. In Central Oregon, we deeply value our natural resources and strive to protect them. As president of a local nonprofit that encourages the planting of native plants to maintain native pollinator species, vehemently disagree with rescinding this rule. Listen to the people that actually live here, none of us want this. It will devastate native species and only increase our risk for wildfires. Rescinding the Roadless Rule also makes our forests far less resilient. Roads spread invasive species, disrupt wildlife corridors, and erode forest resilience in the face of rapidly shifting wildfire regimes. Please abandon this misguided effort to repeal the Roadless Rule and instead strengthen protections for America’s roadless forests for all the clean water, climate resilience, recreation, and habitat for biodiversity they provide. gwen bartonek Bend, OR

I live in In Central Oregon, where close to 200,000 acres of Inventoried Roadless Areas in the Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest, and Crooked River National Grassland. These areas have protected wildlife habitat, boosted the economies through both outdoor recreation and high quality of life, and ensured clean drinking water for nearly 25. I strongly oppose the USDA’s proposal to eliminate, alter, or weaken the Roadless Rule, which would reduce protections across nearly 45 million acres of public lands managed by the US Forest Service nationwide. I urge you to stop the roadless rule repeal and use the No Action alternative and maintain full Roadless Rule protections for America's wild forests. Rescinding the Roadless Rule is impractical and dangerous. In Central Oregon, opening roadless areas to logging will not yield a meaningful economic return. Instead, increasing roads will damage recreation areas, scenic views, and wildlife habitat, and eliminate the core reasons people choose to live, work, and recreate in Central Oregon. More roads also means way more fires: research shows wildfires are four times more likely to ignite near roads. More roads will also degrade drinking watersheds. In Central Oregon, the Bend Municipal Watershed begins in the headwaters of Bridge Creek and Tumalo Creek in the Deschutes National Forest. Losing Roadless protections will threaten water quality for fish species and the drinking water supply for more than 100,000 people in Bend, and tens of millions of people across the country. Rescinding the Roadless Rule also makes our forests far more resilient. Roads spread invasive species, disrupt wildlife corridors, and erode forest resilience in the face of rapidly shifting wildfire regimes. We need Oregon to be wild in places, and to protect the resources we have. Didi Dayton Bend, OR

Please protect our forests! I urge you to choose the No Action alternative and maintain full Roadless Rule protections for America's wild forests. Andrew Jensen Bend, OR

Prioritize healthy ecosystems over corporate profit! Please DO NOT rescind the Roadless Rule! These lands belong to us: the people of this nation, and we are asking you to follow the science and not the rhetoric surrounding road building, logging, wildfire mitigation, and wildlife habitat in our vibrant, intact Roadless Areas. In Central Oregon, there are close to 200,000 acres of Inventoried Roadless Areas in the Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest, and Crooked River National Grassland. These areas have protected wildlife habitat, boosted the economies through both outdoor recreation and high quality of life, and ensured clean drinking water for nearly 25 years. As a frequent visitor to these public lands, I strongly oppose the USDA’s proposal to eliminate, alter, or weaken the Roadless Rule, which would reduce protections across nearly 45 million acres of public lands managed by the US Forest Service nationwide. I urge you to choose the No Action alternative and maintain full Roadless Rule protections for America's wild forests. Rescinding the Roadless Rule is impractical and dangerous. In Central Oregon, opening roadless areas to logging will not yield a meaningful economic return. Instead, increasing roads will damage recreation areas, scenic views, and wildlife habitat, and eliminate the core reasons people choose to live, work, and recreate in Central Oregon. More roads also mean more fires: research shows wildfires are four times more likely to ignite near roads. More roads will also degrade drinking watersheds. In Central Oregon, the Bend Municipal Watershed begins in the headwaters of Bridge Creek and Tumalo Creek in the Deschutes National Forest. Losing Roadless protections will threaten water quality for fish species and the drinking water supply for more than 100,000 people in Bend, and tens of millions of people across the country. Rescinding the Roadless Rule also makes our forests far less resilient. Roads spread invasive species, disrupt wildlife corridors, and erode forest resilience in the face of rapidly shifting wildfire regimes. Please abandon this misguided effort to repeal the Roadless Rule and instead strengthen protections for America’s roadless forests for all the clean water, climate resilience, recreation, and habitat for biodiversity they provide. Caroline Marks Bend, OR