My name is Kathryn Nyrop and I live in Wilson, WY, adjacent to the Bridger Teton National Forest. I walk in the forest daily and also explore and appreciate Targhee National Forest and all national forests in our beautiful country.
Part of the reason these forests are so beautiful and important is that they have been saved from road development for over 25 years. I strongly support the “No Action” Alternative 1 that would maintain protections for our Roadless Forests, and I strongly oppose Alternatives 2 and 3, which would strip their protections.
Roadless Areas are critical to fresh drinking water, animal habitat, and opportunities for recreational access.
Given the recent cutbacks on funding for our national forests, I do not believe that more roads are needed when we can't maintain what we have. Furthermore, more access via roads degrades the value of the natural outdoors, which the public clearly does not want to see harmed.
Out of a very lengthy list of reasons to keep the Roadless Rule in place, perhaps the most relevant and important argument is that it is what the American people, whose public lands it protects, are in overwhelming favor of!
Keep our public lands public and protected.