S8, Ep 66: The Roadless Rule Debate: Chris Wood on Protecting America's Wild Spaces and What You Can Do

Episode Overview

On this episode of The Articulate Fly, Trout Unlimited President and CEO Chris Wood returns to discuss the fight to save the Roadless Rule, the 25-year-old policy now facing a full rescission by the U.S. Forest Service. With a public comment period closing September 21st, host Marvin Cash and Chris cover why this fight matters well beyond hunters and anglers. Chris, who helped write the original 2001 Roadless Rule as a Forest Service policy staffer under Chief Mike Dombeck, walks through its origins, the parallel legislative attack led by Senator Mike Lee and why the rescission would open 44 million acres of backcountry to new road construction. The conversation ranges from Idaho and Utah's grazing and oil and gas leasing inside roadless areas to the outsized role these lands play as cold, clean water sources for the Tongass National Forest, Colorado's greenback cutthroat trout habitat and Idaho's bull trout and Chinook and steelhead runs. Chris also details recent Trout Unlimited conservation wins, including record coho returns from the North Coast Coho Project and a deal to acquire four dams on Maine's Kennebec River to open habitat for Atlantic salmon. The episode closes with concrete advice on how anglers can make their voices heard before the comment deadline.

Key Takeaways

• Why the Roadless Rule's rescission would strip protections from 44 million acres of backcountry that provide the coldest, cleanest water for downstream trout and salmon fisheries.
• How to submit an effective public comment before the September 21st deadline, including personalizing it with a specific roadless area or species that matters to you.
• Why the "de facto wilderness" argument against roadless areas doesn't hold up, since these lands already permit off-road vehicle use, grazing, oil and gas leasing and mining.
• When a more deliberate, iterative rulemaking process (like the state-specific rules Idaho and Colorado developed under the Bush administration) makes more sense than a blanket rescission.
• Why building a broader coalition beyond traditional hunters and anglers is becoming essential to winning public lands fights in the current political environment.

Locations & Species

The episode centers on the 58.5 million acres of national forest backcountry protected by the 2001 Roadless Rule, with particular attention to Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado and Alaska's Tongass National Forest. These roadless areas supply drinking water for more than 40 million Americans and serve as critical, contiguous habitat: 70% of Colorado's greenback cutthroat trout, 68% of Idaho's bull trout and 70-75% of the Tongass' and Idaho's Pacific salmon and steelhead populations depend on habitat found within roadless areas.

FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat is the Roadless Rule, and why is it being challenged right now?

The 2001 Roadless Rule bars new road construction across 58.5 million acres of national forest. On August 18th, the U.S. Forest Service proposed rescinding it entirely, with a public comment period ending September 21st. A parallel legislative effort led by Senator Mike Lee also seeks to eliminate the rule and bar any future administration from reinstating it.

Why do roadless areas matter for trout and salmon fishing specifically?

Roadless areas are the source of the coldest, cleanest water for the larger rivers downstream that support wild trout and salmon. They protect outsized shares of at-risk populations, including most of Colorado's greenback cutthroat trout, Idaho's bull trout and the Tongass National Forest's Pacific salmon and steelhead runs.

Isn't a roadless area basically the same as a designated wilderness area?

No. Unlike wilderness, roadless areas already permit off-road vehicle use (33% of all motorized trails in the 12 Western states are in roadless areas), oil and gas leasing, grazing and mining, so the argument that they're "de facto wilderness" locked away from any use doesn't hold up.

How can anglers make their comments count before the September 21st deadline?

Personalizing a comment with a specific roadless area, species or memory that matters to you is more effective than a generic form submission. Comments can be submitted through Trout Unlimited, and the goal is to exceed the 1.6 million comments the original rule drew 25 years ago.

What happens if the rescission goes through anyway?

Advocates expect the rescission to face extensive litigation. Continued advocacy and public pressure are seen as important groundwork for reversing the rescission under a future administration if needed.

Submit Your Comment Before the DeadlineSponsors

Thanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership.

Related Content

S2, Ep 40 - Chris Wood of Trout Unlimited

S7, Ep 98 - The Fight for Our Future: Land Tawney on Grassroots Advocacy and Public Lands

S7, Ep 105 - Changing the Narrative: Robbie Kroger's Mission with The Origins Foundation

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Helpful Episode Chapters

0:00 Introduction

3:56 Why the Rule Matters

10:38 How It All Started

18:18 Roadless Areas Aren’t Wilderness

25:26 Habitat Benefits for All

32:41 The Agency’s Staffing Crisis

39:25 Why Nuance Got Lost

43:01 Broadening Conservation Messaging

45:34 How to Take Action

51:20 TU’s On-the-Ground Wins