“I am writing to express my strong opposition to any proposal that would rescind or weaken the Roadless Rule in…”

I am writing to express my strong opposition to any proposal that would rescind or weaken the Roadless Rule in California. Protecting our remaining 4.4 million acres of inventoried roadless areas is absolutely critical to safeguarding the state’s water quality, world-class recreation, and ecological health. Specifically, I urge you to maintain protections for these areas based on the following critical impacts:Downstream Water Supply: California’s roadless areas act as natural water filtration systems. Most of our Wild and Scenic Rivers flow directly into major reservoirs that supply drinking water to downstream communities and sustain California's vital agricultural sector. Rescinding these protections will increase erosion, sedimentation, and runoff from resource extraction, driving up water treatment costs for local municipalities.Ecosystem and Watershed Health: Decades of scientific research, including the Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project, conclusively prove that watersheds with fewer roads are the biologically healthiest. They provide critical, undisturbed refuges for declining native fish and wildlife species.World-Class Recreation: These undeveloped lands secure access to premier, irreplaceable class III-V whitewater boating and angling opportunities on iconic waterways like the Middle Fork Feather, North Fork American, Tuolumne, Merced, Kings, and North Fork Kern Rivers. Roads and subsequent industrial development will permanently degrade these recreational treasures.Wildfire Risk: Building more infrastructure and roads into wild forests introduces higher human activity, which is a primary driver of accidental wildfire ignitions. The Forest Service already possesses the necessary authority to manage fuels and suppress fires in roadless areas without constructing permanent, high-maintenance roads.Please protect California's watersheds, economies, and wild places by keeping the Roadless Rule fully intact. Sincerely, Janet Geren Sincerely, Janet Geren Shasta Lake, CA 96089