The administration gave the public just three weeks to weigh in on a proposal that will negatively impact the management of 6 million acres of Montana backcountry. The proposal threatens to disrupt elk distribution, compromise the headwaters of our blue-ribbon trout streams and clean drinking water, and fragment habitat for Montana’s wildlife that depend on undisturbed backcountry, such as bighorn sheep, mountain goats, grizzly bears, lynx, wolverines, Harlequin ducks, bull trout, and more. Three weeks simply isn’t enough time for hunters, anglers, local communities, and conservationists to have our say.
Here’s what we need to do right now:
1. Ask the USDA to extend the public comment period, which is scheduled to end on September 19th. Submit your comment directly through the Federal Register here. Tell USDA to keep the Roadless Rule in place, extend the comment period, and protect the public lands and wildlife that define our way of life.
2. Call Montana’s congressional delegation. Tell them to stand up for YOUR backcountry and headwaters and Montana’s wildlife.
Senator Steve Daines (406-245-6822)
Senator Tim Sheehy (202-224-2644)
Representative Ryan Zinke (202-225-5628)
Representative Troy Downing (202-225-3211)
You can also use the form below to send a note to your Congressional delegation and demand they take action.
Your federal elected officials are also influenced by Montana’s County Commissioners. Use this link to look up the contact information in your county, and ask your County Commissioners to take action.
Now is the time to speak up to keep Montana’s backcountry open, intact, and teeming with fish and wildlife.
Here are some facts to counter misinformation.
Opposition to the Roadless Rule comes from misinformation that roadless areas “lock up” these areas and prevent management. This is false. Here are the facts about USFS roadless areas in Montana:
The Roadless Rule was enacted in 2001 after 430 public meetings with more than 23,000 people attending. More than 1.6 million public comments were received, and 95% of these comments supported roadless lands protection.
- Since the 2001 roadless rule went into effect, more than 188,393 acres of hazardous fuels treatments have been conducted in roadless areas in Montana. This is 20% of the hazardous fuel treatments in Montana since 2001.
- 93% of summer elk habitat is within roadless areas. These roadless lands are critical to the health of our elk populations in Montana. Roadless lands provide secure habitat that allows us to have 5-week elk seasons in Montana. Withdrawing the roadless rule will require the shortening of Montana’s elk season to the detriment of all elk hunters.
- Many roadless areas are open to motorized trails and use by ATVs and other such motorized uses. In fact, 32% of the motorized trails on USFS lands in Montana are in roadless areas.
- Roads negatively impact trout and trout streams through sediment, pollution, and altered stream channels. 79% of roadless lands in Montana are home to native trout like Westslope cutthroat trout, bull trout, and Yellowstone cutthroat trout.
- Roadless lands provide secure areas from human-caused forest fires because 78% of human-caused fires on USFS lands occur within a half-mile of a road. 85% of all wildfires are human-caused.
- Grazing allotments are an important factor in Montana roadless areas. 2.2 million acres of grazing allotments occur in roadless areas in Montana – this is 33% of all grazing allotments on USFS lands in Montana.
- More than 90% of roadless areas in Montana are recognized as having low or very low potential for energy development. The 2001 roadless rule recognizes valid existing rights for oil and gas development, and it does not prohibit new leases.
- There are already more than 370,000 miles of existing roads on National Forest lands. The USFS currently has $8.6 billion in deferred maintenance on existing USFS roads. This means the USFS cannot come close to maintaining all the roads they currently have, never mind building new roads.
Use the form below to send a message to Steve Daines, Tim Sheehy, Ryan Zinke, and Troy Downing
Elk photo credit: Mathew Schwartz
