On Thursday, October 16, 2008
the US Forest Service released the Idaho Roadless Rule, which provides management direction
regarding road building and resource extraction across 9.3 million acres of public roadless lands
in Idaho. The Rule replaces the more protective 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule as it
applied to Idaho's roadless areas.
Right now there is a proposed national rulemaking to decide the fate of Colorado's backcountry roadless areas. Rivers flowing through Roadless areas in Colorado include the Los Pinos, Piedra, Hermosa Creek, Mad Creek, Saint Vrain River, Conejos River, and Lime Creek. Many additional rivers are bordered by Roadless areas that define their superb scenery and water quality. These include most notably the Upper Animas River, Cache la Poudre, Elk River, and the Taylor River. The Animas, Poudre, and Taylor Rivers are commercially rafted by large numbers of citizens, supporting significant regional economies. Your comments to the Forest Service are needed by October 23rd.