When Teddy Roosevelt established the National Forest System, he did so to protect the best of America as an enduring legacy for future generations. In spite of that vision, over a hundred years later, many of those forests have been mined, logged, overgrazed, and developed.

With barely 4% of Oregon legally protected as Wilderness, many of the best of what’s left owe their protections to the citizens and leaders who walked in the footsteps of Roosevelt to create common sense protections like the 2001 Roadless Rule which yesterday marked its 10 year anniversary.

Though the Rule was (and is) one of the most popular conservation efforts in history, it’s been a rough decade, and the journey isn’t over quite yet.

Genesis:

The story of the Roadless Rule began years before 2001, and came from the most extensive public process in federal rulemaking history. Hundreds of public hearings were held, scientists weighed in, and nearly 95% of an unprecedented 1.6 million public comments were in favor of the rule. Oregonians would be remiss not to gloat a little here – on a per-capita basis, our state submitted more public comments than any other.

…Rightfully so of the 58.5 million acres protected from industrial logging and road-building nearly 2 million are here in Oregon. In addition to protecting some of our most charismatic landscapes, the wildlands protected by the Rule represent some of the best of what’s been spared from the scars of clearcuts, roads, and culverts. They provide some of the most cherished values that make Oregon such a great state: clean drinking water (also used for our great craft beer industry), habitat for threatened wildlife, and world-class recreational opportunities!

Still, the Rule was almost immediately attacked by the Bush administration and its allies in the timber industry. Thankfully citizens, businesses, and leaders around the country rallied to the Rule’s defense – nowhere more so than here in Oregon.

Despite a decade of court battles and attempts to exploit loopholes in the Rule, only 7 miles of roads and 535 acres have been logged in roadless areas. Still roadless threats persist – even here in Oregon where support for the Rule is unparalleled.

Threats:

On the doorstep of Crater Lake National Park, Umpqua National Forest Supervisor Clifford Dils recently proposed a timber sale of historic proportions called DBug (click here to see a short video of the project area). In its original form, the project would have included more roadless logging than occurred across the entire country since the rule’s inception. Thankfully, after garnering national attention and creating a public backlash that included thousands of citizen comments, the project has been reduced in scope.

Still, the Forest Service’s most recent proposal stubbornly included commercial logging in roadless areas as well as unnecessary and destructive logging in critical habitat, and some of the most pristine wildlands around Diamond and Lemolo Lakes. Oregon Wild and conservation partners are continuing to work with the Forest Service and have proposed several detailed alternatives in hopes Supervisor Dils will focus the project on the significant common ground instead of using the threat of fire to test the limits and log important backcountry habitat.

The Future:

On the national level, the Rule has continues to receive strong rhetorical support from the Obama administration. Unfortunately though, some actions (like this, and this) have sent mixed messages that continue to embolden old-school foresters to push for projects like DBug, and encourage states like Colorado to subvert strong national protections for our National Forests.

The last court decision stemming from the decade of controversy is expected any time. However, until the Rule is codified into law, the fight to protect roadless areas with names like Mt. Bailey, Thirsty Creek, Imnaha, and Zane Grey will likely continue.

So whether your drink of choice is cold beer or pristine water, why not raise a glass to the Roadless Rule that made it possible!