FS-2025-0001-608121

I oppose the proposed repeal of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. I urge you to maintain the existing Rule as is. The Roadless Rule was intentionally enacted for good reason. It protects the watersheds of many of our National Wild and Scenic Rivers in California, as well as many rivers and streams deemed eligible for national protection by the Forest Service. The roadless areas through which these wild rivers flow are an important refuge for threatened and endangered fish, wildlife, and plants. The Roadless Rule provides greater continuity of habitats to increase local biodiversity and minimize risks of invasive species by limiting the edge effect for habitats and habitat alteration due to resource extraction. Roadless Areas provide outstanding opportunities for outdoor recreation in a primitive setting, such as hiking, backpacking, whitewater boating, mountain biking, and even motorized recreation on existing legal trails. Roadless areas provide clean water for wildlife and recreation. The rivers and the headwaters and tributaries of those rivers that flow from and through the roadless areas into reservoirs are critical to maintaining high-quality water for downstream communities and family farms and agriculture. Many rivers to consider include but are not limited to the Klamath, South Fork Trinity, North Fork American, Tuolumne, South Fork Kings, Middle Fork Feather, Merced, and North Fork Kern. The Roadless Rule does not limit public access. Most roadless areas are legally available for public recreation under the Rule – they are simply closed to new road building, commercial logging, and other development that requires new roads. Roadless areas do not increase wildfire threats. In fact, it is quite the opposite because roads, not roadless areas, are a primary source of wildfire starts. The Forest Service has current techniques, tools, and existing access to address any fire concerns within the roadless aresa. Natural areas with less disturbance, such as Roadless Areas, are better equipped to deal with normal fire occurrence with more resiliency and allow fire to return nutrients to the land instead of burning catastrophically. I urge that Roadless Rule be retained to protect our wild places for recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, to protect our wild and scenic rivers, and be retained in their current status as important sources of clean water for our communities and farms. Sincerely, W. Y.