09/03/2026
Did you know that for over 20 years, a single federal rule has protected 45+ million acres of our cleanest drinking water sources, fish habitats, and wild backcountry? 🌲
Established in 2001, the Roadless Area Conservation Rule prevents wild, undeveloped parts of our National Forests from being carved up by industrial roadbuilding, mining, resource extraction and clear-cut logging.
Now, the federal government has formally proposed to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule entirely.
Here in Kittitas County, we already have thousands of miles of Forest Service roads for hunting, driving, camping, and motorized trails. The vast majority of public lands in Kittitas County are not roadless. For an example of what is covered ... the buffer sone south of Alpine Lake Wilderness Area (e.g., portions near Lake Ingalls, Mt. Stuart, and upper Cle Elum River drainage) is covered by the Roadless Rule. This rescission isn’t about local access—it’s about opening national public lands nationwide to industrial resource extraction.
Over 62,000 public comments have already been submitted, and every voice counts.
👉 Submit your public comment today to keep wild lands protected:
https://www.regulations.gov/document/FS-2025-0001-223869
