The Colorado Roadless Rule July 31, 2012 Hermosa Creek Roadless Area Trey Schillie US 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 communities 2. Continued coal mining in the North Fork coal mining area 3. Permitting construction and maintenance of water conveyance structures 4. 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 3 rd, 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 IssueColorado Rule2001 Rule General Roadless Inventory Reevaluated in s and later

Colorado Rule: Improved Inventory Forest2001 Rule Acres Colorado Rule Acres Net Change Arapaho-Roosevelt352,500347,100(5,400) GMUG1,058,300901,100(157,200) Manti-La Sal11,0007,700(3,300) Pike San Isabel667,300774,700107,400 Rio Grande529,000518,600(10,400) Routt442,300433,600(8,800) San Juan543,600566,10022,500 White River639,500636,700(2,800) TOTAL4,243,6004,185,600(58,000)

Roadless Rule: Community Protection  Community Protection from Wildfire – Community Protection Zone (CPZ) Within 0.5 Miles  Tree cutting  Road construction Additional 1 Mile  Limited tree cutting o Lands identified by CWPP; and 1) Steep slopes; 2) Geographic feature that creates a fire break; or 3) Condition class 3

Colorado Rule: Comparison to 2001 Rule IssueColorado Rule2001 Rule Tree-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 State-specific concern: Community protection from wildfire

Colorado Rule: Comparison to 2001 Rule IssueColorado Rule2001 Rule Tree-cutting for administrative or personal use 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 Tree-cutting for purpose of a timber sale Not allowedIn previously harvested areas Other tree-cutting activities

Colorado Rule: Comparison to 2001 Rule IssueColorado Rule2001 Rule Road 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