Defend the Roadless Rule to Protect Our Wild Forests
Bend’s Municipal Watershed originates from pristine spring-fed headwaters that originates in a local roadless area. Photo: David Willingham
The Trump administration is moving to roll back the Roadless Rule—a critical safeguard that has protected 58 million acres of wild, public forestland nationwide since 2001.
In Central Oregon alone, the rollback could impact nearly 200,000 acres of inventoried roadless areas in the Deschutes National Forest and the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grasslands. This includes beloved locales like the Metolius River Basin, Tumalo Mountain, and the Cascade Lakes.
Local roadless areas supply clean drinking water to communities like Bend, provide essential fish and wildlife habitat, and define the wild, intact forestlands we love. When roads are built into these landscapes, they fragment habitat, increase fire risk, pollute watersheds, and open the door to industrial logging and mining.
You can take action now by submitting a public comment opposing the proposed rescission of the Roadless Rule. Tell decision-makers at the USDA and USFS which roadless areas matter to you and why: clean water, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunity, or simply knowing wild places still exist.
Write in now to help protect these irreplaceable places.