The Roadless Rule as pertains to our public lands among our USFS territories needs to remain in force. Please read and think about my family's reasons to keep this understanding of our watersheds, open spaces for wildlife and so much more.
East Cascades Bird Alliance works to educate us about birdlife in our Central Oregon area. And protect it. This June I and others spent a day traipsing around acres and acres of USFS lands with Bird Alliance, leader, Chuck Gates. He is a retired Crook County public school biology teacher. This day is a prime example of how hiking way beyond parking lots (there were none; just roadsides stretching into roadless areas or within close viewing range of No Roads. This Roadless Rule elimination plan would basically eliminate our beloved tradition being passed on to grandkids who are already your Admin voters…
4 generations of Hensons who feel commited to many parts of our state's public lands. Here are the main geographic areas:
The Rogue River/ Siskiyou NF and The Umptqua NF when we previously lived in Roseburg
Boundaries of Crater Lake NP and the Park itself.
Entire coastal area not protected by our State Parks that often border NForests. We visit the coast often.
And there is the Strawberry Lakes region in E. Oregon and surrounding forests! And the Wallowas...!
Just in Central Oregon, we highlight some truly beautiful and ecologically necessary places, in the areas around: Steelhead Falls, the Metolius River, Three Creeks Lake, Tam McArthur Rim, Paulina Lake, Kwolh Butte, Maiden Peak, Green Mountain, Lookout Mountain and more.
There are close to 200,000 acres in Central Oregon 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.
Pushing roads into these unspoiled places would change Central Oregon forever. Let’s do everything we can to ensure our forests remain wild, healthy, and resilient—for people, wildlife, and future generations. Despite hearing from over 600,000 Americans opposed to the rollback—99% of all comments received—the USDA released details as to how it plans to axe the Roadless Rule.
I urge you to choose the No Action alternative and maintain full Roadless Rule protections for America's wild forests.
Sincerely, with watchful diligent eyes,
Annis Henson
2399 NW Hosmer Lake Dr.
Bend OR 97703
Annis Henson
Bend, OR