FS-2025-0001-601354

To the U.S. Forest Service: I am writing to express my strong opposition to any efforts to rescind, weaken, or roll back the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. I am a sixth-generation native of the Tusquitee valley in Clay County, NC, and have hiked and camped in the Tusquitee Bald inventoried roadless area my entire life. This backcountry is a special place to me and many residents of western North Carolina, both "locals" like myself and newer residents. The economic value generated by this pristine area, which provides prime natural settings for hiking, hunting, trout fishing, camping, and horseback riding, is a boon to the local economies of Clay, Cherokee, and Macon counties. Upholding full protection for inventoried roadless areas such as Tusquitee Bald is a fundamental component of protecting water quality in our nation's most pristine watersheds. While it is an obvious statement, it merits repeating that there is no biological, economic, nor spiritual substitute for clean water. The Tusquitee Bald roadless area protects headwaters of the most significant recreational and trout streams in our area, including Tusquitee Creek, designated High Quality Waters by the NC Department of Environmental Quality; and Fires Creek and Nantahala River, both of which are designated Outstanding Resource Waters, which is the highest water quality classification conferred by the state and which signifies exceptional ecological or recreational value (both values in the case of these two streams). The U.S. Forest Service's own research confirms that roadless areas are critical to watershed protection (USFS Environmental Impact Statement in 2000 and 2001). Moreover, it is well established that road construction, use, maintenance, and repair harm water quality and fragment aquatic habitat (Dominick A. DellaSala, James R. Karr, David M. Olson, 2011, Journal of Soil and Water Conservation). Sediment levels increase, often by orders of magnitude (ibid.). As a former highway engineer (NC Professional Engineer License Number 032565, currently inactive), I can attest to how notoriously challenging that erosion and sedimentation control is on linear developments such as roads, mountain roads in particular. Sediment is our primary water pollutant by volume, and a major threat to rare aquatic species such as the eastern hellbender and endemic game fishes such as the Southern Appalachian brook trout. In consideration of our Appalachian culture and backcountry recreational heritage, our pristine mountain waters, our rare aquatic species gems, and more, I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to abandon the proposed rescission and instead maintain full protections for all currently designated inventoried roadless areas. Thank you for the opportunity to provide public comment. Sincerely, Philip W. Moore 3192 Tusquittee Rd Hayesville, NC 28904