The Roadless Rule

  WSG was initially formed to inventory roadless areas that qualified for Wilderness status. Much of the work that WSG did led to the designation of the current Colorado wilderness areas. Some of the roadless areas that are currently being debated over were mapped and inventoried by motivated WSGers! Today WSG has a different relationship with the wildlands of Colorado. Check out the Timber Monitoring page for more details. 

        WSG supports the protection of all of Colorado’s roadless areas under a new rule equivalent to the 2001 Roadless Rule. WSG has participated in the Colorado Roadless Taskforce meetings and we have written multiple comments over the years in support of both the 2001 Rule and current protection of roadless areas under the new rule. We believe that the roadless quality of Colorado’s roadless areas is more important than any potential extraction value.  Here are some examples of why:

• Many roadless areas are a part of watersheds that currently provide clean water for many towns and cities.  Runoff from drilling pads and timber harvesting has well documented negative effects on water quality.

• Recreation in Colorado’s roadless areas represents a more sustainable source of income for Colorado’s communities.  Much of the projected profit from timber harvesting and drilling for natural gas ends up outside of the state.  Extraction of natural resources from roadless areas makes them less suitable and less desirable places for recreation.

• Many roadless areas provide a buffer between civilization and wilderness areas.  This helps to maintain the wilderness quality of the wilderness areas.