I oppose the proposal to fully or partially rescind the Roadless Area Conservation Rule.
My name is Bridget Corwin, and I am an avid hiker based in the beautiful state of Michigan. Although our state has fewer Roadless Areas than many others out West, the ones we do have are extremely special and beloved by local and visiting hikers, anglers, hunters, and campers. I have spent time in the roadless areas of the Hiawatha and Huron-Manistee National Forests, and they are truly incredible places that I believe would be negatively impacted by rescinding this Rule.
For example, Bear Swamp in Huron-Manistee National Forest contains the headwaters of Muckwa Creek and Black Creek, which feed into the Big Sable River system—a network that supports cold-water fish populations dependent on stable water temperatures and unobstructed migration corridors. The swamp's vegetation and hydrological function moderate water temperature and maintain baseflow during dry periods- conditions that are critical for fish spawning and survival. Road construction in headwater areas directly threatens this temperature regulation function and creates barriers to fish movement, degrading aquatic habitat throughout the downstream network. Additionally, if roads were built and logging was allowed in this area, sediment from bare slopes and road surfaces would wash into the creeks, smothering the gravel and organic spawning substrate that cold-water fish require for reproduction.
Although I understand concerns that the Roadless Rule in its current form may hinder wildfire mitigation efforts, studies have shown that timber harvesting often leads to homogenous forested areas that will then burn at a more uniform, sustained high intensity (https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/34437). Instead of more roads and logging, I believe we need better planning around the wildland–urban interface and more regular and controlled prescribed burns. It is critical that we allow federal lands like these to stay undeveloped not only to preserve the unique and wonderful plants and animals that live there, but also to protect the activities and places that are special to us as humans both today and for future generations. For this reason, I oppose the proposal to rescind or alter the Roadless Rule and support the No Action alternative.