I am writing as a resident of Big Sky, Montana, to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reconsider its proposal to fully eliminate the 2001 Roadless Rule. If finalized, this would pose a direct threat to my community.

Big Sky's wildfire risk is already higher than 96% of communities in the United States. Building more roads into currently roadless national forest land could create an increase in wildfire danger for us. 85% of wildfires are human caused, and are 4x more likely to occur near roads than in roadless areas. Therefore, constructing more roads would significantly increase wildfire danger for my community.

The Roadless Rule also protects our water. 34% of Montanans get clean drinking water from roadless areas, which filter and purify that water at no cost to taxpayers. The Gallatin River Watershed and Madison River Watershed are both watersheds that Big Sky relies on, and are both in roadless areas. Connectivity across these entities is essential for a healthy ecosystem, particularly for our water. 

Rolling back this rule would trade a free, working system of fire resilience and water filtration for more roads, more ignition sources, and more risk to a community that is already among the most fire vulnerable in the country. I ask the Department to withdraw this proposal and keep the 2001 Roadless Rule intact.