I am writing in opposition to rescinding the Roadless Rule and agree with Alternative #1 to take no action.
I am a horseback rider, hiker and a trail volunteer in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, a part of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest and being able to escape to the forest is very important to me. Roadless Areas ensure that, especially on the east coast, where vast landscapes are nonexistent, back country lands are reserved for the enjoyment of future generations as well as populations of the present. In addition to recreation, roadless areas protect water quality downstream and provide wildlife habitat. Roads fragment wildlife habitat. They alter drainage patterns, increase disturbance and can open the door to further development. They require construction, maintenance and eventually taxpayer dollars to keep them open. The USFS current road maintenance backlog on its 380,000 miles of existing roads is in excess of 10 billion dollars. Does it make sense to build more roads?
Roadless areas are among the last places in the country where people can experience undeveloped landscapes and a sense of solitude, once they disappear, they are lost. I feel strongly that it is important to preserve these roadless areas for future generations so our children and grand children can enjoy and experience the same opportunities and landscapes that we value today.