Kim Petty, kim.petty@sierraclub.org
BEND, Ore. — On Monday, April 6, the Sierra Club Oregon Chapter and partners are hosting a town hall meeting in support of preserving the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, also known as the Roadless Rule. The Trump administration began the process of rescinding the Roadless Rule last August, but no public hearings have been announced. As a result, public lands advocacy groups across the country are organizing meetings where community members can speak out about the importance of roadless areas and protecting wildlands. At the Bend event, writing stations will be available to submit public comments for the upcoming comment period.
The Roadless Rule was enacted in 2001 following an extensive public participation process that included more than 600 public hearings nationwide and prompted 1.6 million public comments, 95% of which were in favor of protecting roadless areas. When the Trump administration proposed rescinding the Roadless Rule last fall, the initial comment period was remarkably short, lasting only three weeks. Public comment periods on proposed federal rules often last from 30 to 90 days. Despite the brief comment period, more than 200,000 comments were submitted and over 99% of those comments opposed the repeal.
The Roadless Rule protects nearly 45 million acres across the United States, and over two million acres of undeveloped public lands in Oregon. In Central Oregon alone, more than 200,000 acres of public land could be affected by changes to roadless protections—raising concerns for wildlife habitat, clean water, and outdoor recreation.
WHAT: Speakers, including outdoor advocates and local elected officials, will give a “Roadless 101” presentation to community members, followed by an “Action Hour” in which attendees will work in groups to write their public comments.
WHO: Sierra Club Oregon Chapter, Central Oregon LandWatch, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, National Parks Conservation Association, Native Fish Society, Oregon Wild, and Protect Our Winters
WHEN: Monday, April 6, 2026 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm PT
WHERE: Edward J. Ray Hall Atrium at Oregon State University-Cascades, 1500 SW Chandler Ave, Bend, OR 97702
MORE BACKGROUND:
- The Bend Municipal Watershed, which is Bend’s primary source for drinking water, spans nearly 15,000 acres that are protected by the Roadless Rule. The Rule helps maintain water quality by prohibiting construction and logging in the area.
- The Roadless Rule, which has been in effect with broad bipartisan support since 2001, protects some of America’s last-standing, undisturbed wildlands, providing safe habitat and migration corridors for wildlife.
- Forests, wetlands, canyons, and other undeveloped lands protected by the Rule are home to many threatened and endangered species, including grizzly bears, wolves, and salmon. Currently, roadless areas provide millions of acres of undeveloped backcountry for game animal populations, like elk and mule deer, to thrive.
- Rescinding the Roadless Area Conservation Rule would open these wild areas to the highest bidder for logging, mining, and oil and gas drilling.
- You can see what wildlife species are protected in Oregon with this map.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.