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