Amy Dominguez, Amy.Dominguez@sierraclub.org
Salt Lake City – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its latest step to eliminate protections under the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, claiming the move is necessary to reduce wildfire risk and expand forest management. Since the Forest Service created the Roadless Rule in 2001, it has protected undeveloped roadless areas across the country. In Utah, well-loved areas like the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Fishlake National Forest, and Dixie Forests would be at risk.
In addition to protecting hiking and biking trails, rock climbing routes, and backcountry skiing terrain, the Roadless Rule also serves to safeguard watersheds in Utah’s forests, ensuring clean water sources are available for several Utah communities. Should the rule be repealed, roughly 4 million acres of roadless areas in Utah would lose protections.
In response, Leader of the Lands Team for the Sierra Club Chapter in Utah, Patty Becnel, released the following statement:
"Imagine hiking up Little or Big Cottonwood Canyons, the Uinta’s, the Wasatch National forest, or in other areas in the more than 4 million acres of forests In Utah only to endure logging trucks rumbling by. The Roadless Rule has been essential in keeping forests intact, preventing fires, protecting our watersheds, and offering recreational opportunities. Currently, the Forest Service has over 370,000 miles of roads to manage and a 4.4 billion dollar deficit in deferred maintenance. With pending funding cuts, the Forest service will be unable to manage these roads, yet alone new ones. We need to keep the Roadless Rule intact to grow the 9.4 billion dollar outdoor recreation industry and protect the beauty of Utah."
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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.