FS-2025-0001-609400

I am a Park Ranger in the state of Maine. One of my favorite pastimes is exploring the Maine woods through solitary hiking. The USDA’s own draft environmental impact statement found that repealing the rule would cause economic and environmental harm to undeveloped forests, wildlife, and water resources, while failing to mitigate wildfire risk (https://www.pew.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2026/10/05/us-department-of-agriculture-proposes-eliminating-the-roadless-rule). The construction of roads is not a singular threat, but rather, the gateway for the majority of threats impacting imperiled species and ecosystems throughout the country. Construction of roads and other associated development fragment habitats and disrupt the natural balance of ecosystems, meaning the ecological impact extends far beyond the road itself. Repealing the Roadless Rule would negatively impact critical watersheds, native flora and fauna species, impact on recreation, and wildfire risk. Forests, specifically, old growth forests supply drinking water to approximately 150 million Americans. These intact forests are the country’s largest filtration system and they filter water naturally, for free. Road construction and logging would undoubtedly send sediment into waterways which would degrade the water quality. Additionally, an increase in fine sediments can cause a degradation of spawning grounds (Hauer et al., 2018 (https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73250-3_8)). Other issues include the disturbance of natural flows and aquatic life. Many species, such as salmon, trout, and elk depend on undammed and unlogged streams. Approximately, 24% of flora and fauna species would be threatened by pollution and habitat fragmentation due to the construction of roads or logging operations near watersheds. (Sayer et al, 2025). Wildlife and habitat would suffer substantially if the Roadless Rule was rescinded. For example, 327 protected species and 71 critical habitats would be adversely affected, according to the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). The Caribou - Speckled Extension in Maine is home to the federally endangered northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) who relies on the forest canopy to hunt insects and roosts in dead trees or bark crevices during the day. The elusive Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) can also be found in this roadless region hunting snowshoe hare. The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) passes through this part of Maine during its migration while the eastern whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus), a near threatened species, can be heard calling at night. This region is also a perfect habitat for federally threatened small whorled pogonia (Isotria medeoloides) an orchid that grows in acidic humus of hemlock dominated forests. As an experienced gardener/landscaper, I understand the complexity of plants needing proper growing conditions to survive versus thrive. To aid conservation efforts in the state of Maine, I have transplanted native plants from areas of plenty to areas lacking. Sometimes the plants will transplant well and other times they will struggle. Many plants require a specific soil pH in order to survive and a slight shift in pH would harm the plant. Opening up roadless areas would change the soil pH and therefore negatively affect the growing conditions of many native plants, which many species rely on. We would see a negative chain reaction due to a potential rescission. DEIS noted that road construction and timber harvest could harm terrestrial and aquatic wildlife through habitat loss and fragmentation, the introduction and spread of invasive species, barriers to wildlife movement, increase in direct mortality from wildlife-vehicle collisions, and a decline in species abundance. As a Park Ranger, I have experienced many of these concerns while exploring the Maine woods and during the mundane routines of life. Roads serve as dispersal corridors where invasive plant species are spread by humans, vehicles and animals. The roads that have cut through forested land have led to an increase in invasive plant species in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. One such plant is known by the common name bittersweet (Celastrus scandens). It is considered extremely invasive in the state of Maine. It is common to find it alongside roads and power lines. Bittersweet prefers loose disturbed soil. Research indicates that invasive plant species tend to decrease with the distance from roads, whereas native species show variable distribution patterns near roads (Dai et al., 2025 (https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70002)).