"This is a direct attack on the heart of California’s forests, our state’s most pristine and vital natural resources,” said Mark Green, Executive Director of CalWild. “California’s 18 national forests already contain around 50,000 miles of forest roads, with no need for more. The Roadless Rule acknowledges this fact, and was created through years of collaboration and keeps our forests healthy and our water clean. To rescind it now, without any consideration for the immense benefits it provides to our communities and ecosystems, simply betrays the public."
Questions? Contact Ryan Henson: 530-902-1648
OAKLAND, Calif. – August 27, 2025 – Today CalWild issued a strong condemnation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to open a rulemaking process to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. The proposed rollback threatens the last remaining 20% of roadless areas in California’s national forests, which are vital for the state’s drinking water, wildlife, and outdoor recreation—as well as the loss of California taxpayer dollars.
Roadless areas are disproportionately important to California, providing a wide range of benefits:
- Clean Drinking Water: These areas protect the headwaters of major rivers, including the American, Kern, Sacramento, and San Joaquin, which supply clean, mountain-fed drinking water to millions of Californians.
- Wildlife Habitat: They serve as critical biological strongholds and refuges for species at risk of extinction, offering undisturbed habitat essential for their survival.
- Wildfire Risk Reduction: Roads are a major cause of human-ignited wildfires. With more roads, the risk of catastrophic fire increases, putting communities and forests in greater danger.
- Recreation: Trails in roadless areas provide outstanding opportunities for recreation in a primitive setting, including hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, horseback riding, angling, hunting, and camping.
Popular Areas At Risk if the Roadless Rule is Rescinded Include:
- Yet Atwam Creek Trail in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest
- Mt. Tallac Trail and Pyramid Creek Loop Trail near Lake Tahoe Management Unit
- Dinkey Creek Lakes Trail in the Sierra National Forest
- Whiskey Flat Trail in the Sequoia National Forest
- East Fork San Gabriel River Trail in the Angeles National Forest
- Middle Fork Lytle Creek Trail in the San Bernardino National Forest
- Chorro Grande Trail in the Los Padres National Forest
- Trail Canyon Trail in the Angeles National Forest
- Thomes Creek Trail in Mendocino National Forest
“The public has just a short time to comment on this proposal, but the message from Californians is clear: We stand with our forests, our water, and our heritage,” said Ryan Henson, Policy Director at CalWild. “Any move to remove these protections not only undermines our ability to enjoy our public lands but threatens Californians’ basic needs for clean water and forest-friendly wildfire management.”
CalWild encourages Californians to voice their opposition to the USDA by the September 19 deadline. For more in-depth information on the critical role the Roadless Rules plays in California, please visit the CalWild blog.
About CalWild: CalWild protects and restores California’s wildest landscapes, including its forests, deserts, and rivers.These important wild places provide clean air and water, refuges and habitat connections for plants and wildlife, immense cultural values, outstanding opportunities for recreation and spiritual renewal, and are important tools in addressing climate change. CalWild is the only statewide organization dedicated solely to protecting and restoring the wild places and native biodiversity of California’s public lands.
Photo by Steve Evans
