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Repealing Roadless Rule? The Real Costs | Spokane News
The USDA wants to scrap the Roadless Rule, claiming it’ll help with wildfires, forest health, and rural economies—but the real problem? Over 370,000 miles of unmaintained roads and a $10 billion backlog. This rule, enacted in 2001, protected watersheds and habitats from further fragmentation. More roads don’t fix maintenance or boost efficiency—they fragment ecosystems, pollute waterways, and actually increase wildfire risk by bringing people closer to forests. Timber economics also don’t favor new roads: hauling costs often exceed log value, especially when better timber is near existing…
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