Rolling back the Roadless Rule puts some of California’s most important national forests — and the rivers they safeguard — at risk. See some of these rivers at the botttom this page, and add them to your public comment in the form below!
Existing Wild & Scenic Rivers Protected by Roadless Areas:
Klamath Wild & Scenic River (Klamath National Forest) – This river in northwest California is surrounded by roadless areas. The river’s key tributaries flow through roadless areas and provide essential habitat for the Klamath River’s at-risk salmon and steelhead. This includes Dillon Creek in the Siskiyou Roadless Area and Grider Creek in the Grider Roadless Area.
South Fork Trinity Wild & Scenic River (Six Rivers National Foresat) – The lower South Fork Trinity Wild and Scenic River flows through the Underwood Roadless Area. This wild river segment offers the class IV Three Bears whitewater run and hikers may access the area via the South Fork Trail. The South Fork supports at-risk populations of spring Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, and steelhead.
Middle Fork Feather Wild & Scenic River (Plumas National Forest) – California’s first protected Wild River (1968) flows through Middle Fork and Bald Rock Roadless Areas. Many of the of the river’s tributaries are eligible for protection. The roadless areas contribute to the river’s outstanding water quality, magnificent scenery, class IV-V whitewater, and wild trout fishery. The high-quality water from the Middle Fork flows into Oroville Reservoir, the State Water Project’s primary reservoir.
North Fork American Wild & Scenic River (Tahoe National Forest) – The upper portion of this wild river flows through the North Fork American roadless area, which contributes to the river’s renowned clean water, wild trout fishery, and whitewater kayaking and other primitive recreation values. The high-quality water from the North Fork flows into Folsom Reservoir, a key component of the Central Valley Project.
Tuolumne Wild & Scenic River (Stanislaus National Forest) – Perhaps one of California’s most well-known class III-IV whitewater river and wild trout stream, the Tuolumne flows through the Tuolumne and North Mountain Roadless Areas. The Tuolumne Roadless Area also protects a key tributary – the Clavey River – which has been recommended for Wild & Scenic River protection by the Forest Service. Much of the Tuolumne’s high-quality water provides San Francisco’s drinking water supply.
Merced Wild & Scenic River (Sierra National Forest) – Downstream of Yosemite National Park, the Merced River and its primary tributary, the South Fork Merced, flow through the Trumbull Peak, Devil Gulch, Ferguson Ridge, and Raymond Peak roadless areas. These roadless areas supply high-quality water and provide a scenic backdrop to hikers and whitewater boaters in the Merced River canyon and Yosemite gateway Highway 140. The seasonal wildflower hike on the Hite Cove Trail along the South Fork in the Devil Gulch-Ferguson Ridge Roadless Area is famous. The Merced flows into New Don Pedro Reservoir, which provides drinking and irrigation water for communities and farms in the San Joaquin Valley.
Kings Wild & Scenic River (Sierra & Sequoia National Forests) – Downstream of Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks, the Kings flows through the large Kings River Roadless Area that stretches from the middle elevations of the Sierra Nevada to the foothills. The roadless area provides high-quality water for the King’s renowned class III whitewater boating and wild trout fishing. The Kings River flows into Pine Flat Reservoir, which supplies clean drinking and irrigation water to the southern Central Valley.
North Fork Kern Wild & Scenic River (Sequoia National Forest) – Flowing from Sequoia National Park and the Golden Trout Wilderness, the North Fork Kern flows through and between the Rincon, Cannell, and Chico Roadless Areas. The roadless areas offer a scenic backdrop to the class III-IV whitewater boating, wild trout fishing, and camping provided by the North Fork. It also provides habitat for the rare Kern River rainbow trout and California golden trout. Water from the North Fork flows into Isabella Reservoir, which supplies communities and farms in the Kern Basin.
Deep Creek Wild & Scenic River (San Bernardino National Forest) – Located in the San Bernardino Mountains, this Wild & Scenic River flows through the Deep Creek Roadless Area. The roadless area contributes to Deep Creek’s outstanding scenery, recreation, fish, wildlife, history/culture, geology, ecology, and botany values, including its wild trout fishery and endangered amphibians.
Potential Wild & Scenic Rivers Protected by Roadless Areas:
McCloud River & Yet Atwam Creek (Shasta-Trinity National Forests) – Portions of the McCloud River and its tributary, Yet Atwam Creek, were determined eligible for Wild & Scenic protection by the Forest Service. The river and creek flow through the West Girard Roadless Area, which contributes to their outstanding scenery, fish, geology, and Native American cultural values, including their wild trout fishery.
Deer Creek (Lassen National Forest) – Recommended by the Forest Service for Wild & Scenic protection, Deer Creek supports one of the last remaining wild native populations of spring Chinook salmon in the Sacramento River watershed. In addition to flowing through the existing Ishi Wilderness, Deer Creek flows from and through the Butt Mountain, Cub Creek, Polk Springs, and Ishi B roadless areas, which contribute to the creek’s outstanding scenery, fish, wildlife, and Native American cultural values, including critical habitat for threatened spring Chinook salmon and steelhead.
Downie River (Tahoe National Forest) – Determined eligible for Wild & Scenic protection by the Forest Service, the Downie River (and its key tributaries, Lavezzola, Pauley, and Rattlesnake Creeks) flows through the East and West Yuba Roadless Areas. The roadless areas contribute to the river’s outstanding ecology and botany values.
Upper Truckee River (Lake Tahoe Basin) – Recommended for Wild & Scenic protection by the Forest Service, the upper Truckee River drains the Dardanelles Roadless Area. The roadless area contributes to the upper Truckee’s outstanding scenery, recreation, fish, wildlife, and history values, including critical habitat for the threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout.
North Fork Stanislaus River (Stanislaus National Forest) – Recommended for Wild & Scenic protection by the Forest Service, the North Fork Stanislaus flows through a portion of the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness not already protected in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness. The roadless area contributes to the North Forks outstanding scenery, recreation, wildlife, and history/culture values.
Dinkey Creek (Sierra National Forest) – Determined eligible for Wild & Scenic protection by the Forest Service, Dinkey Creek begins in the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness and flows through the portion of the roadless area of the same name not already protected in the Wilderness, as well as the Sycamore Springs Roadless Area. The roadless area contributes to Dinkey Creek’s outstanding scenery, recreation, geology, and history/culture values.
North Fork Middle Fork Tule River (Sequoia National Forest) – Determined eligible for Wild & Scenic protection by the Forest Service, the North Fork Middle Fork flows through the Moses Roadless Area. The roadless area contributes to the North Fork Middle Fork’s outstanding recreation, history/culture, and botany values, including Giant Sequoia groves.
Lower Kern River (Sequoia National Forest) – Downstream of Isabella Dam, the Forest Service found the lower Kern to be eligible for Wild & Scenic protection due to its outstanding scenery, recreation, and cultural values. The river is bracketed by the Greenhorn Creek and Mill Creek roadless areas, which supplies clean water from tributaries flowing into the river and a scenic backdrop to southern California’s premier whitewater boating destination.
Mono Creek (Los Padres National Forest) – Determined eligible for Wild & Scenic protection by the Forest Service, Mono Creek flows through a portion of the Madulce-Buckhorn Roadless Area not included in the existing Dick Smith Wilderness. The roadless area contributes to Mono Creek’s outstanding wildlife and ecological values, including critical habitat for endangered amphibians.
East Fork San Gabriel River (Angeles National Forest) – Determined eligible for Wild & Scenic protection by the Forest Service, the East Fork flows from the existing Sheep Mountain Wilderness into the Sheep Mountain Roadless Area. The roadless area contributes to the East Fork’s outstanding scenery, wilderness recreation, and native fish (threatened Santa Ana sucker) values. The river also supports endemic southern steelhead and provides extensive habitat for the endangered mountain yellow-legged frog.
West Fork San Luis Rey River (Cleveland National Forest) – Determined eligible for Wild & Scenic protection by the forest Service, the West Fork flows through the Barker Valley Roadless Area. The roadless area contributes to the West Fork’s outstanding fish value, including its rare population of native wild coastal cutthroat trout.
