Speak up in support of the Roadless Rule — Public comments open now.
- Jon Hare
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 6 hours ago
The public lands that define the Gunnison Country are worth advocating for, and right now, they need your voice.
The U.S. Forest Service has proposed rescinding the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, putting protections for roughly 45 million acres of national forest lands across the U.S. at risk. The public comment period is now open and comments are due by September 21, 2026.
For those of us who live, visit, work and recreate in the Gunnison Country, this is about more than a federal policy. It is about the values within our National Forests: intact wildlife habitat, healthy watersheds, big-game migration routes, clean water, a quiet backcountry and the ability to enjoy our public lands.
Background into the Roadless Rule
The Roadless Rule was created to protect the nation's large, connected backcountry landscapes from the impacts of new roads and timber harvesting. The federal roadless framework includes exceptions and management provisions, and Colorado's separate Roadless Rule was specifically developed to conserve roadless values while accommodating appropriate uses and management when necessary.
In the Gunnison Country there are 14 Roadless Areas. The 2012 ruling was created to protect undeveloped areas of the National Forests across the state of Colorado, totaling 4.2 million acres, by prohibiting new roads and other development activities that could degrade their resources and inherent values. New roads often lead to logging and other extractive industries.
As of now, these acres would remain protected under the State’s rule, but our advocacy voice is needed at the national level to ensure that these protections—and the roadless landscapes they safeguard—aren’t targeted next.
Opening our forests to new road development would disrupt sensitive ecological systems by fragmenting wildlife habitat, harming migration corridors, increasing erosion and watershed impacts, and overall changing the character of the landscapes.
Take Action
The Forest Service is accepting public comments on the proposed rescission and its draft environmental review through September 21, 2026. This is an important opportunity for public lands users, of all walks, to put their concerns on the record.
Please take a few minutes to submit a comment using the link below.
Tell the Forest Service why intact, roadless public lands matter to you.
Other ways you can advocate for the protection of the Roadless Rule
Tell our congressional delegation to protect roadless lands permanently. Ask Representative Jeff Hurd to support legislation that would codify roadless protections into law and to prioritize funding for maintaining the roads and public-land infrastructure we already have.
Thank Senator John Hickenlooper for sponsoring the Roadless Area Conservation Act and encouraging him to keep pushing for permanent protections.
Contact Representative Jeff Hurd | Contact Senator John Hickenlooper |
For 25 years, roadless protections have helped keep some of the U.S.’ most treasured backcountry intact, and here in the Gunnison Country, we understand the value of untouched landscapes better than most. Join us in this advocacy effort!
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