I am writing in support of Alternative 1 for the Roadless Rule, the No Action Alternative, because I believe it is important to keep the Roadless Rule intact to protect the few remaining areas of true wilderness left in the United States. I have been an avid hiker and backpacker that has been fortunate enough to be able to spend time in some of the wilderness areas of most of the states west of the Mississippi, including my closest forest, the Mendocino National Forest(MNF). The Roadless Rule has helped to protect these areas from extractive industries and other development that would have negative effects on water quality, air quality, and wildlife habitat and connectivity, as well as on the recreational value of these few remaining relatively untouched areas. National Forests are a vital part of our public lands system that help support a 1.2 trillion dollar outdoor recreation economy and supplies 5 million jobs.
The Forest Service has not been able to properly maintain many of the roads that it already controls in our National Forests. I am a member of FireScape Mendocino’s Core Group and hear how many roads in the MNF are in disrepair and often impassable. Some of the ones I travel have been closed due to landslides and fallen dead trees left over after the massive fires that have ravaged the area. Constructing new roads will only add to the workload and allow for impairment of vital watersheds.
Building roads as a strategy to fight wildfires is counterproductive. The vast majority of fires are caused by people and start within a half a mile of an existing road. Building more roads is, therefore, likely to increase fires.
Please leave the Roadless Rule unchanged in order to support the supply of clean drinking water to tens of millions of Americans, habitat for thousands of species of animals and plants, many of which are endangered or threatened and vital to the livelihoods of tribes and all of the other people who rely on them for sustenance, and recreational opportunities that improve the physical and mental well being of anyone that goes there. We need our wild places to remain wild.
Thank you,
Debra Sally