“scenic forests near Washington Pass in the North Cascades”
What it names
Roadless areas
Ponderosa Pine
The comment
I oppose the proposed action and any other measures to repeal or weaken the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Please choose Alternative 1 and retain the current roadless rule.
In Washington state, we have 2 million acres of inventoried roadless areas containing 3,900 miles of recreational trails. These areas are hugely popular for hiking, biking, hunting, fishing and other forms of recreation. Outdoor recreation is a critical economic driver supporting local businesses and communities across Washington.
Roadless areas also provide important habitat for endangered salmon and wildlife, and protect treaty rights and cultural values. Opening up roadless areas to new roads will degrade these important values. Road building also increases the likelihood of uncharacteristic wildfire: the vast majority of wildfires are sparked by human ignitions in proximity to roads.
Most importantly, the US Forest Service (USFS) already has 371,000 miles of roads and an enormous backlog of needed road repairs and maintenance. In 2024 the USFS estimated that it has a road maintenance backlog of $10.8 Billion on its current road network. I urge the agency to take this backlog seriously and invest in needed road maintenance, repair and decommissioning. We should take care of our current roads before building new ones. As an avid recreational user of our forest lands in Washington state, I frequently encounter USFS roads in deep disrepair. I also encounter roads that have been closed because of storm damage and USFS doesn’t have the funding or the staff to fix these problems. Please turn your attention to taking care of the current road network - and don’t add to the problem by building new roads that are not wanted or needed.
Some of our most beloved lands in Washington are protected as roadless areas – the vast stretches of old growth forest above Lake Quinault, the ponderosa pine forests of the Teanaway Valley and the scenic forests near Washington Pass in the North Cascades. All these areas deserve protection.
Please choose Alternative 1 and retain the current roadless rule.