I am writing to oppose changes to the Roadless Rule. While I travel around the country to many National Forests, the roadless areas I visit most are in the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. These roadless areas are the Pyramid, Dardanelles, and Freel Roadless Areas.
I live and work on National Forest lands as a concessionaire. My business caters to non-motorized recreation as 300 people a day hike in to enjoy my business during the summer. I grew up here in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Public land and the peace and quiet of non-motorized recreation is very important to me.
IF the Roadless Rule is rescinded, I will not only loose my customers, but in order to enjoy outdoor recreation without motors I would have to travel to a state or national park, and that is not feasible for me.
I am very concerned about increases in wildfire risk. Facts show that most wildfires are human caused and most occur near roads. If this rule is rescinded, not only the national forest will burn but also the surrounding communities.
Water quality and thus fisheries will also suffer as these are heavily influenced by erosion and siltation of streams, caused by off road vehicles.
Quiet undeveloped recreation on roadless lands supports local economies through tourism, outfitting, hunting and fishing. This is sustainable, whereas the extraction of timber and mining is not sustainable, and will give short term profits to a few people rather than serve the public forever.
Again, I oppose changes to the Roadless Rule.
Thank you,
Eric Hildinger