Issue: Future management of roadless areas
Goal: Establish roadless policy as cornerstone for national river protection initiative
Current Status: In 2000, the U.S. Forest Service(USFS) initiated public comment for the future of 40 million acres of forest lands that remain wild and roadless. American Whitewater views the roadless policy as an opportunity to safeguard wilderness rivers, establish a Federal Paddling policy, and protect many headwater areas of the rivers we paddle which remain wild and roadless, but unprotected. The Forest Service is a critical player in river protection and river recreation. The USFS is charged with managing some 96 designated components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System(some 4,316 miles). This is an opportunity for the Forest Service to protect the headwaters of scores of whitewater treasures. Rivers such as Sections 0 through 4 of the Chattooga (SC/GA/NC), the Selway and Middle Fork Salmon (premier multi-day wilderness runs in ID), the Salt(AZ), the headwater rivers and creeks in the Cheat watershed(WV), and many, manymore that lie in America's National Forests. The Roadless Areas Policy is an incredible opening to positively influence the way the Forest Service manages some of our country's most renowned rivers!
Precedent: The USFS proposal has the potential to be more than just a roadless area policy. With the assistance of the Forest Service and the support of the current Administration, this policy can easily form the basis for a National River Protection Initiative. Protecting roadless areas will have the affect of shielding many of America's rivers, headwater creeks, and watersheds as well as the land and forest resources that are vulnerable to development pressures. Those roadless areas that include remote or wilderness rivers will be especially critical as river resources provide additional benefits for all outdoor recreation including those who fish, hike, hike, climb, kayak, canoe, or raft.