“subject to new road construction, timber harvesting and commercial development”
What it names
Roadless areas
Liberty Bell
Attachments
1 file from Winter Wildlands Alliance. Counts as 1,134 — Counted from the files: The enclosed submissions were counted from the files themselves.
Enclosed submissions
The comment
Winter Wildlands Alliance (WWA) is a national non-profit conservation organization representing the interests of human-powered winter recreationists. We work to inspire and empower people to protect America’s wild snowscapes. Our alliance includes 38 grassroots groups across 16 states.
Our community values roadless areas for the opportunities they provide for backcountry winter recreation, including skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. Additionally, while these areas are protected from new road construction and timbering, their management is less restrictive than Wilderness, allowing for more flexible land management in these important places. Roadless areas exist across the country and are home to beloved winter backcountry recreation spots like Montana’s Hayalite Canyon, a world-renowned ice climbing destination; backcountry skiing at Washington Pass and Liberty Bell at the Headwaters of Washington’s Methow Valley; backcountry skiing, Nordic skiing, and snowshoeing in Utah’s Central Wasatch, a region which draws thousands of visitors each winter; backcountry skiing around Lake Tahoe and in the Sherwins next to the town of Mammoth California; and backcountry skiing and snowshoeing around Wyoming's scenic Teton Pass; and so many more special areas. Without the protections of the 2001 Roadless Rule, all of these areas are subject to new road construction, timber harvesting and commercial development which could fundamentally impact landscapes that provide critical ecosystem services and meaningful outdoor experiences.
We write here to submit comments on behalf of 1,134Winter Wildlands Alliance members and supporters. Thank you for considering these comments from across our network.