FS-2025-0001-608220

I am strongly opposed to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (Docket ID No. FS-2025-0001). As a resident of Western North Carolina who regularly fishes and recreates in multiple Roadless areas and whose drinking water comes from a watershed partially protected by Roadless designation, this issue is personal. As someone who witnessed the horrors of Hurricane Helene in Appalachia, I am strongly opposed to actions that would further fragment our national forests and exacerbate the flood and landslide damage from extreme precipitation. Our national forests are part of our country's natural heritage. It's where we recreate and connect with nature. These forests provide crucial habitat for wildlife, keep our air and water clean, and mitigate the impacts of flooding. During heavy rain events, trees help to slow the flow of water, allowing soil and vegetation to absorb more of it. Tree roots also help to hold soil in place, reducing the risks of landslides. When forests are cut down, the risk of severe flooding and landslides increases. Additionally, since water tends to flow along roadways, new road construction can disrupt the natural water flow, resulting in increased flooding in certain areas. The Roadless Area Conservation Rule was enacted in 2001 to protect some of our most precious national forest areas from road construction and logging. These protections recognized the importance of these areas, not only for our recreational enjoyment, but also for the critical ecosystem services they provide. The proposal to rescind the Roadless Area Conservation Rule would undermine these protections and put communities at greater risk. The Appalachian region is particularly susceptible to heavy rains and damaging flooding. The steep terrain causes water to accumulate in low-lying areas, where homes and businesses tend to be concentrated because they are often the only flat areas suitable for building. Widespread deforestation and road construction from historical surface mining and other activities have already increased flood risk for downstream communities, as demonstrated by the 2022 floods in Eastern Kentucky. Many areas currently protected by the Roadless Area Conservation Rule are less accessible because of steep, rocky terrain. These features also make these areas particularly susceptible to landslides, especially when existing trees are removed and there are no longer roots to hold soil in place. Once trees have been removed from an area, it can take decades for them to regrow, and large swaths of forests have already been lost in recent years. For example, Hurricane Helene damaged more than 800,000 acres of forests in western North Carolina, including more than 190,000 acres of national forest lands. These areas cannot afford to lose even more trees. The proposed rule will only increase the frequency and severity of future flooding and landslides, and the impacts of those disasters will be felt far beyond the regions directly impacted. All Americans will bear higher disaster recovery costs associated with increased flooding and landslides. We should invest in stronger protections for communities susceptible to natural disasters, rather than eliminating existing protections. I also cannot say enough about the value of large swaths of national forest only broken up by pre-2001 roadways. The vistas from the Blue Ridge Parkway where my husband and I had our first date and where he proposed — and where millions visit each year, keeping WNC small town economies humming — those viewsheds are in large part protected by the Roadless Rule. I often hike in areas that are not protected by Roadless designation as well, and the difference is striking — constant traffic noise, even on a beautiful mountain hike. I'm grateful I can drive another 30-45 minutes further and dip into the protected sections of Pisgah, where traffic noise is seldom and the ecological integrity (and the variety of trees, flowers, birds, etc.) is striking. These pockets protected by the Roadless Rule are tiny in comparison to the vastness of the United States, and once they are tracked through with roads, there is no going back. We have an obligation to future generations to protect what remains of the continent's undisturbed woods, so that our children's children can also fish and camp and enjoy these peaceful woods. Thank you for your consideration of my comment and for your service to our national forests.