Comment Analysis · Docket FS-2025-0001

FS-2025-0001-518048

Opposes rescissionPosted September 30, 2026 On Regulations.gov

Not scored for substance: the comment does not clear the floor of substantive signal.

Topics

Environmental Protection Biodiversity
- “wild trout thrive in Caples Creek”
- “habitat for mule deer, bald eagles and so many other species, remains healthy”
- “protects some of the wildest forests we have left”
- “protect critical wildlife habitat”
Forest Management Wildfire
- “fuel management practices implemented here, the impact of the fire was minimal”
- “arguments are largely debunked by comprehensive, multi-decade forestry data”
- “resilience against the Caldor Fire is a real-world example”
- “removing Roadless Rule restrictions is necessary in order to successfully manage wildfires”
Water Quality Quantity
- “Caples Creek is a tributary to the American River”
- “protect critical wildlife habitat and drinking water for millions”
- “carves its way through granite, creating living sculptures of stone and water”
Recreation Tourism Public Use
- “frequently fly fish on Caples Creek”
- “fish in stretches which rarely see an angler”
- “trout eagerly take flies”
- “quiet, remote, and backcountry recreation values”

What it names

Roadless areas: Caples Creek

The comment

I live near, and frequently fly fish on Caples Creek within the Caples Creek Roadless Area, in Alpine County, California. Caples Creek is a tributary to the American River and is unique in large part because of its relative inaccessibility. In areas the creek departs from soil and carves its way through granite, creating living sculptures of stone and water. Wild trout thrive in Caples Creek. If you are willing to hike, it is possible to fish in stretches which rarely see an angler, and in these waters the trout eagerly take flies. In 2021, the Caples Creek Roadless Area was hit by the devastating Caldor Fire but, because of the fuel management practices implemented here, the impact of the fire was minimal, wild trout populations continue to thrive, and habitat for mule deer, bald eagles and so many other species, remains healthy. Proponents of abolishing the Roadless Rule argue that removing Roadless Rule restrictions is necessary in order to successfully manage wildfires. Such arguments are largely debunked by comprehensive, multi-decade forestry data and the U.S. Forest Services own internal reviews. The Caples Creek Roadless Area's resilience against the Caldor Fire is a real-world example which belies these arguments. It would break my heart to see this truly singular landscape ruined forever due to the removal of existing protections, which are demonstrably effective, practicable and reasonable. The Forest Service should keep the Roadless Rule intact exactly as it is. Do not weaken or repeal this critical policy. National forests are the heart of our public lands. The Roadless Area Conservation Rule protects some of the wildest forests we have left, forests that protect critical wildlife habitat and drinking water for millions. Revoking the Roadless Rule puts landscapes, wildlife, and communities at risk. Not only is the Roadless Rule good policy, it's also wildly popular across the country, with over 600,000 people submitting comments to the US Forest Service last year in support of keeping the rule in place. And more than 20 years ago, the American people overwhelmingly called for our national forests to be protected for future generations. Revoking the Roadless Rule would destroy the natural inheritance we leave for our children.