Hello,
My name is Paige Penningroth and I am writing to submit a public comment on the Notice of Intent to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule. This issue is deeply personal to me as someone who spends extensive time in the incredible beauty of our National Forests; with much of my time spent in the Superior National Forest and Chequamegon National Forest of the Northwoods.
I strongly oppose rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule, because it is a threat to the complex and unique ecosystems, as well as the economy built by those who love to visit it. As a water scientist and avid forager, I oppose the removal of the Roadless rule as it strips protections for 1,600 at-risk species, and threatens the clean drinking water that Minnesota and the Northwoods are known for.
I have been fortunate enough to experience seeing at-risk species such as moose, the Gray Wolf, and the Showy Lady Slipper during my time in these National Forests. It has been proven that the addition of roads in these areas increases habitat fragmentation, disrupting populations and further threatening these at-risk species (Wattles et. al 2018, https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.21459).
At a time when water quality and accessibility are top of mind for many Americans, the Roadless Rule is more important than ever. Forested watersheds, those that have not been impacted by human development like roads, provide the vital ecosystem services of water filtration and storage; reducing sediment and pollutants. The importance of clean water is evident by the millions of visitors coming to recreate in pristine Northwoods lakes, often coming from places where water is contaminated with harmful algae, e.coli, and agricultural runoff. Runoff from roadways can quickly change small lakes that are already at risk from invasive species and a warming climate (Gillis et. al 2022, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8817996/).
These opinions are echoed across the nation - over 95% of comments on the issue support keeping roadless protections in our National Forests. It is for these reasons - the opportunity to encounter rare species, the value that healthy lakes provide our communities, and the will of the people - that I strongly oppose rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule. Moving forward, I ask that the agency do the following:
Conduct a thorough environmental analysis of roadless areas to assess the impacts of additional road building;
Guarantee that no watersheds will be negatively affected by rescission;
Develop and share a detailed plan for addressing its existing backlog in road maintenance and repairs;
And commit to moving forward with transparency, including a full account of how public comments were considered and concerns addressed.
Please protect America’s remaining roadless areas for current and future generations.
Paige Penningroth