Protect Mountain Biking in Colorado's National Forests
Action Alert
For Immediate Release
08-18-08
Contact: Drew Vankat, Policy Analyst
Drew@imba.com
303-545-9011
The United States Forest Service (USFS) has recently issued a draft rule for Colorado's national forests that weakens and removes existing protections for backcountry roadless areas. Starting Monday, August 18th in Pueblo, the USFS is hosting a series of Open Houses to discuss the proposed Rule and to hear your comments. The Outdoor Alliance and IMBA feel that the draft rule inadequately protects those remote areas with rugged terrain that provide the highest quality opportunities for human-powered recreation. Our general position is that:
- The 2001 Roadless Rule did a great job of protecting wild areas in Colorado that are so very important to the people and business that make up the mountain biking, climbing, skiing, paddling, and hiking communities.
- The proposed Colorado Roadless Rule does not adequately take into account its economic and social impacts on the people and businesses of the outdoor community.
- Once a roadless area has a "long-term temporary" road, it is not roadless anymore. The proposed Colorado Roadless Rule tries to skirt around the issue by creating a new category of road- a "long-term temporary" road used for mineral, gas, and coal exploration and removal- that does not qualify as a "road" under the Rule.
NOW is the time to learn more about how this proposed Rule affects you and let the USFS know that contiguous undisturbed, backcountry areas are important to you as a mountain biker. Here is how you can help:
1. Attend a USFS Open House in your area.
Below is a list of dates and locations. All Open Houses are from 5:00 - 8:30 pm. If you have any questions about the Open Houses, contact American Whitewater's Tom O'Keefe at okeefe@amwhitewater.org or Gwen Ernst-Ulrich (USFS) at 303.275.5348.
2. Identify your interest in the outcome of the draft Rule as a mountain biker and a member of the human-powered recreation community.
If you attend an Open House, let the USFS know you are there and why you are there, even if you aren't ready to provide feedback and comments.
3. Voice your thoughts.
If you have general or specific comments, you will have the opportunity to let the USFS know. If you aren't ready to provide comments, you can send in your comments during the comment period.
4. Let us know your thoughts.
We want to hear from you, as well. We are currently performing a more in-depth analysis of the draft Rule and evaluating specific impacts to your backcountry recreational experiences. If you attend one of the Open Houses, please let us know (drew@imba.com). Also, be sure to keep us informed on your thoughts and comments on the draft Rule.
| Date | Location | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, August 18 |
Pueblo CSU-Pueblo 2200 Bonforte Boulevard | Pike-San Isabel NFs; Cimarron-Comanche NGs |
| Tuesday, August 19 |
Monte Vista Bill Metz Elementary School 545 Second Street | Rio Grande NF |
| Wednesday, August 20 |
Durango Fort Lewis College Ballroom 1000 Rim Drive | San Juan NF |
| Thursday, August 21 |
Golden Marriott Denver West 1717 Denver West Boulevard | Region-Wide |
| Monday, August 25 |
Fort Collins CSU-Lory Student Center 1101 Centre Avenue | Arapaho-Roosevelt NFs; Pawnee NG |
| Tuesday, Sept. 9 |
Grand Junction Two Rivers Convention Center 159 Main Street | Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison NFs and Manti-La Sal NF |
| Wednesday, Sept. 10 |
Glenwood Springs Hotel Colorado 526 Pine Street | White River NF |
| Thursday, Sept. 11 |
Steamboat Springs Community Center 1605 Lincoln Avenue | Medicine Bow-Routt NFs; Thunder Basin NG |
Background
With more than 380,000 miles of National Forest System roads - nine times the size of the federal interstate system, the Federal government in 2001 proposed to protect backcountry areas in a simple way - stop building new roads. The American public loved the idea and the "2001 Roadless Rule" became one of the most popular federal regulations in history. Roadless areas are locations with few or no roads open to motor vehicle use. Often, Roadless areas are not quite wilderness, but they feel that way; they also tend to be more accessible and open to a variety of sustainable recreational pursuits. Backcountry roadless areas make up about 31% of our National Forests in 39 states across the country and are ecological gems with clean air, water and plenty of wildlife.
Things are about to change. Even though these are National Forests, the Federal government now wants to let individual states drive how roadless areas are managed, letting them re-jigger different levels of ecosystem protection and impinge on the wild qualities that make these places what they are to hikers, bikers, climbers, skiers, and paddlers and everyone else that uses these lands and waters in a sustainable manner. Fortunately the Federal government is circling back and asking the public what they think about these new state-driven plans.
Should we keep these places wild and thriving with qualities that make places worth climbing and treat them like the national resources that they are, or whittle them away, here and there, state by state until the edge that makes backcountry roadless areas unique becomes dull and then gone?
Read more about the draft Rule here.
Find an online schedule of Colorado open houses here.
To Protect these Experiences We Need Your Help Today
Tell the Forest Service what you think - go to any of the Open Houses to learn more and voice your thoughts. For more background information, check out this video produced by the Outdoor Alliance or contact Drew Vankat (drew@imba.com).
