Administration to Strip Protections From 58 Million Acres of Backcountry Forest

The Trump Administration has announced that they will rescind the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which has protected popular backcountry recreation destinations spanning nearly 60 million acres of Forest Service lands across the country since 2001. The result of this action, if successful, would open remote landscapes valued for backcountry recreation to road building and logging. The announcement is anticipated to kick off a formal rule-making process that will include opportunities for the public to speak up for these important areas. In advance of this action, you can make your voice heard with Members of Congress by supporting the Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2025 (H.R. 3930 and S. 2042) sponsored by Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-6) and Senator Maria Cantwell (WA). 

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The Roadless Rule was approved in January 2001 following years of scientific study, more than 600 public hearings across the country, and 1.6 million official public comments. The lands protected under the Roadless Rule are critical to wildlife, backcountry recreation, drinking water, and downstream water quality. American Whitewater has consistently supported the protection of these unroaded backcountry landscapes. The Roadless Rule does not affect access through existing Forest Service roads but prevents the construction of new roads and resource extraction in some spectacular backcountry landscapes. The Roadless Rule recognized that the Forest Service already has a massive road system that they are unable to maintain, so should not be building new roads in sensitive areas.

Protecting these wild places from road building is critical to protecting the wild rivers that flow through them – and the unique experience of paddling them. Runs like the Middle Fork Feather and Dry Meadow Creek in California, Cascade Brook in New Hampshire, the Animas in Colorado, the Cooper and McCoy Creek in Washington, South Fork Salmon in Idaho, Seneca Creek and Tea Creek in West Virginia, Upper Chattooga in Georgia, Snowbird Creek and Upper Wilson Creek in North Carolina, and Laurel Fork of the Potomac in Virginia all flow through Forest Service Roadless Areas. American Whitewater’s advocacy for these wild places dates back over 25 years when we engaged in the original development of the 2001 Roadless Rule that we have continued to defend through several administrations and sessions of Congress (see for example our testimony before the House Natural Resources Committee.

Note that Colorado and Idaho developed their own state-specific Roadless Rules—Idaho in 2008 and Colorado in 2012 (with a minor technical amendment in 2016)—through an extensive public process that considered local needs. These rules should be respected and not weakened or amended by future administrative actions.

American Whitewater is closely monitoring the Administration’s efforts to eliminate the Roadless Rule and will keep paddlers informed about opportunities to take action. Today, we urge you to raise your voice in support of legislation that would permanently protect our American heritage through public law. While this legislation may not pass during this Congress, your input today is crucial for several reasons:

• It shows Congress that this issue is important to you, demonstrating support for sponsors who champion this cause.

• It informs potential bill sponsors that their constituents strongly back this legislation, encouraging them to join as sponsors.

• It informs opponents of protecting these backcountry landscapes that their constituents value these pristine areas.

Our recent success in removing public land sales from the reconciliation bill illustrates how citizen action can make a difference. This is another attempt to transfer our public lands to extractive industries. Take action now to support the Roadless Area Conservation Act, and stay tuned for the next steps!