Do not rescind the roadless rule.
As a former Forest Service employee in Oregon, and National Park Service employee in Montana, I have had the privileged experience of not only enjoying the natural areas for my own recreational benefit, but also as someone working for a federal land management agency. My concerns with rescinding the roadless rule include, but are not limited to: 1) An increase in human-caused wildfires, 2) destruction of habitat for sensitive plants and animals, 3) DECREASED recreational opportunities for locals and tourists in Oregon, 4) lack of resources to support the current roads and infrastructure.
I have spent the last 3 years working for the forest service in Central Oregon, a nationally recognized area not only for its natural beauty, but for the wildland urban interface. Last year a large wildfire threatened the town of Sunriver, and this year the town of Sisters was threatened by a wildfire. Each year, approximately 85% of fires are started by humans. I have former coworkers who’s main job duties are to patrol roads and look for fire starts caused by humans. Tourists, locals, and houseless people alike flock to the forest service roads in Oregon. Adding in new roadways will increase the work needed to patrol these areas for fire starts, in an area already prone to extreme fires.
Increasing roadways will destroy habitat for sensitive plants and animals. This is already a concern with mandated logging operations, but will worsen the issue if the roadless rule is repealed. Animals in Oregon already suffer from habitat fragmentation, leading to disrupted migration corridors, and animal deaths. Protecting plants and animals is a non-partisan issue, and is essential for the wellbeing of our nation.
Recreation is THE industry in Central Oregon. Year-round, Central Oregon is a world-wide tourist destination. While working at the Lava Lands Visitor Center in Newberry National Volcanic Monument, we would create a list on a whiteboard of the destinations visitors have traveled from. We would quickly fill the whiteboard up with different states, and countries such as Germany, France, UK, India, Australia, and many more. Tourists and locals alike are visiting to see the unique, untouched landscapes of volcanoes, lava flows, pristine lakes, lush forests, and fields of wildflowers. While working in a fee booth at Newberry Caldera, I visited with locals who were excited to camp, fish, hike, and tourists excited to hike the largest obsidian flow! The majority of Newberry Caldera is protected under the roadless rule, alongside being a National Monument. Without the roadless rule, recreation, tourism, small businesses, and cultural resources would be under fire.
My last point is the current lack of support, both in employees and money, to support the 265,000 miles of current forest service roads. There are roads that are designated for passenger vehicles that I’ve never been able to drive on because of how rough the roads are. Popular roads in the Deschutes National Forest are heavily traveled, and the road crews are unable to keep up. If the concern is truly for the public’s safety, wildfire, and recreation, the current roads should be improved FIRST. The 370 road heading up to Broken Top Trailhead is barely passable in a 4x4 vehicle with high clearance. Can you imagine having to ride in an ambulance, in critical condition down that road? The forest service needs support maintaining its current roads and infrastructure before considering adding new roads in.
Thank you for reading my comments in support of NOT rescinding the roadless rule.
Hannah Croxton