The Colorado Roadless Rule

July 31, 2012Hermosa Creek Roadless Area

Trey SchillieUS Forest Service: Rocky Mountain Region

May 31, 2013

Roadless Rule: Background and Context

What is a “roadless rule?” Provides management

direction for roadless areas on National Forests

Undisturbed lands over 5,000 acres

Creates an inventory of these lands

IRAs/CRAs

Colorado Roadless Rule: Background and Context

2006 State of Colorado petitioned the Secretary of Agriculture for a “state” roadless rule

Legal challenges regarding 2001 Rule

Five State-specific concerns

1. Ability to treat fuels adjacent to communities2. Continued coal mining in the North Fork coal mining

area3. Permitting construction and maintenance of water

conveyance structures4. Permitting access to transmission and utility lines 5. Provisions for ski area management in existing permitted

or allocated ski areas

Colorado Roadless Rule: Background and Context

Colorado Roadless Rule published in the Federal Register on July 3rd, 2012 – effective immediately

Rest of country (except Idaho & Colorado) currently under the 2001 Rule

Without the Colorado Rule, roadless area management would be subject to the 2001 Rule

Roadless Rule: Background and Context

Established Prohibitions: tree-cutting road construction and reconstruction linear construction zones

Established Exceptions to Prohibitions

Established an Improved Roadless Inventory 4.19 million acres in Colorado over 363 CRAs Identifies 1.22 million upper tier areas; tighter

restrictions

A better roadless inventory

Colorado Rule: Comparison to 2001 Rule

Issue Colorado Rule 2001 Rule

General Roadless Inventory

Reevaluated in 2011 1970s and later

Colorado Rule: Improved Inventory

Forest 2001 Rule Acres

Colorado Rule Acres

Net Change

Arapaho-Roosevelt 352,500 347,100 (5,400)

GMUG 1,058,300 901,100 (157,200)

Manti-La Sal 11,000 7,700 (3,300)

Pike San Isabel 667,300 774,700 107,400

Rio Grande 529,000 518,600 (10,400)

Routt 442,300 433,600 (8,800)

San Juan 543,600 566,100 22,500

White River 639,500 636,700 (2,800)

TOTAL 4,243,600 4,185,600 (58,000)

Roadless Rule: Community Protection

Community Protection from Wildfire – Community Protection Zone (CPZ)

Within 0.5 MilesTree cuttingRoad construction

Additional 1 MileLimited tree cutting

o Lands identified by CWPP; and1) Steep slopes;2) Geographic feature that creates a fire

break; or3) Condition class 3

Colorado Rule: Comparison to 2001 Rule

Issue Colorado Rule 2001 RuleTree-cutting for hazardous fuel reduction

Up to 1.5 miles from an at-risk community boundary

Not allowed in upper tier

Not allowed

Road construction to support hazardous fuels reduction

Up to .5 miles from an at-risk community boundary

Not allowed in upper tier

Not allowed

Wildfire protection and other emergency situations: tree-cutting, road construction

Allowed Allowed

State-specific concern: Community protection from wildfire

Colorado Rule: Comparison to 2001 Rule

Issue Colorado Rule 2001 Rule

Tree-cutting for administrative or personal use

Allowed Allowed

Tree-cutting for wildlife habitat improvement projects

Allowed in non-upper tier, coordination with CO Division of Wildlife

Allowed

Tree-cutting incidental to a management activity not otherwise prohibited

Allowed Allowed

Tree-cutting for purpose of a timber sale

Not allowed In previously harvested areas

Other tree-cutting activities

Colorado Rule: Comparison to 2001 Rule

Issue Colorado Rule 2001 RuleRoad construction for water conveyance structures

Allowed for pre-existing water rights

Not allowed in upper tier

Not allowed

Road reconstruction for water conveyance structures

Allowed for pre-existing water rights

Not allowed in upper tier

Not allowed

Linear construction zone (LCZ) in upper tier

Allowed for pre-existing water rights in upper tier

N/A

Tree-cutting to reduce impacts from fire to watersheds

Allowed

Not allowed in upper tier

Not allowed

State-specific concern: Water provision and Municipal Water Supply Systems

Colorado Roadless Rule: Summary for Wildfire Protection

Colorado Roadless Rule Establishes a Community Protection Zone (CPZ)

Tree cutting and road construction to support those projects with 0.5 miles of at-risk community

Tree cutting an additional 1 mile under certain conditions

Utilizes language and concepts from HFRA

Allows tree cutting for watershed protection outside of CPZ

Not allowed in upper tier

Road construction and tree cutting allowed for emergency situations