Backcountry at Risk
Posted by Erica Stock on August 26, 2011 in Action Center, Action Needed!, Conservation, Habitat, Legislation and Advocacy, Trout
Tell Congress to oppose HR 1581, a major threat to our rivers, trout and public lands.
Problem
Backcountry roadless areas found within our nations wilderness and national forest provide essential fish and wildlife habitat and unparalleled hunting and fishing. Studies have shown that backcountry lands offer the longest hunting seasons, the most trophy bulls and bucks, and the highest hunter success rates. These areas contain strongholds for trout, salmon and steelhead, and provide clean, cold water to downstream fisheries. Even those hunters and anglers who never step foot in backcountry roadless areas benefit from the big game security habitat and clean water that these lands provide.
But some members in Congress are eager to remove the reasonable roadless area protections that provide for higher quality hunting and fishing opportunities. The Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011 would open more than 35 million acres of Forest Service lands that are currently protected by the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule to road building and development. In addition, the Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011 would release 6.7 million acres of Wilderness Study Areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Take Action
Call or write your members of Congress. Representatives are poised to take action on this important issue in the coming days. Please call your members of congress through the capitol switchboard (202) 224-3121 and ask your Senators and Representatives to oppose the Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011 (listed as HR 1581 in the House of Representatives and S. 1087 in the Senate).
>>You can also click here to send them an email.
Learn more. Click the following links to learn more about HR 1581 and the importance of our nation’s roadless areas to preserving fishing and hunting opportuniteis for our children and grandchildren.
Join the network. Join us on our Facebook Page, Sportsmen for Colorado’s Roadless Backcountry for the latest threats to Colorado’s backcountry and ways you can get involved to protect the last, best places to hunt and fish.
Questions? Contact Aaron Kindle, TU Colorado Field Coordinator, or Bob Meulengracht, Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development Director.
What’s at Stake
Backcountry habitats are extremely important to sustaining Trout Unlimited’s mission to protect high quality watersheds. Across the West, we’ve studied a handful of states and have found that a significant portion of endangered, threatened, and iconic trout species depend highly on unroaded pristine habitat. For instance, in Idaho, 94% of streams listed as impaired to due sedimentation occur outside watersheds that flow through backcountry roadless areas. Clearly, there are important benefits for watersheds that are below protected headwaters, and the numbers show it. We found the following percentage of watersheds for each trout species flowed at least in part through roadless areas:
COLORADO
- 76% of Greenback Cutthroat populations.
- 58% of Rio Grand Cutthroat populations
- 71% of Colorado River Cutthroat populations.
WYOMING
- 67% of Wyoming’s Yellowstone Cutthroat habitat is located in undeveloped areas.
- 73% of Wyoming’s Colorado River Cutthroat populations occupy less than 5 miles of stream habitat. A total of 51% of their habitat lies within roadless areas.
IDAHO
- 68% of Bull Trout watersheds (87% of strong populations).
- 74% of Chinook Salmon watersheds and Steelhead watersheds.
- 48% of Redband Trout watersheds.
- 58% of Westslope Cutthroat watersheds (83% of strong populations).
OREGON
- 83% of Bull Trout spawning and rearing habitat.
- 54% of Redband Trout watersheds (strong populations).
- 18 of the 20 sub-watersheds where Westslope Cutthorat Trout live contain roadless areas.
Even if you never fish backcountry waters, it is vital habitat that provides downstream fishing opportunities. Our reports also show that in regards to hunting, roadless areas consistently provide more abundant elk and mule deer, longer seasons, and better hunting success rates due to the secure habitat provided by these protected public lands.
Road Maintenance Backlog
In addition to the lost hunting and fishing opportunities this legislation would cause, the bill also does not make fiscal sense. The Forest Service currently faces a national road maintenance backlog exceeding $8.4 billion. All roads and trails increase erosion and sedimentation, but poorly maintained roads do so at a vastly accelerated rate. It is unwise to consider road building in new areas when the Forest Service cannot afford to maintain the road system it already has.
