Roadless Facts, by the Numbers:
- 8,179,000 - Total national forest acres in Utah
- 4,013,000 - Number of roadless acres
- 49% - Percentage of Utah’s national forest acres at risk of being developed over time under the Bush Administration’s plan
- 25 - Number of public meetings and hearings on Roadless Area Conservation Rule in Utah in 1999
- 23,400 - Number of comments generated in Utah in support of Roadless Area Conservation Rule (during the 2000 comment period)
- 1,306,000 – People who participated in outdoor recreation in Utah in 2003 (Outdoor Industry Foundation)
- Area of Special Interest: The Upper South Fork roadless area includes 17,000 acres east of Causey Reservoir and extends northward to the Monte Cristo plateau. Several excellent hiking trails provide for dispersed recreation and solitude.
All figures are from the US Forest Service, unless otherwise noted. Map of Utah's National Forests courtesy of http://roadless.fs.fed.us/maps/usmap2.shtml See website for individual maps of roadless areas.
Editorial Comments:
"These forests are part of America's heritage, the priceless sources of our water, the irreplaceable homes of plant and animal life, the last vestiges of solitude. They should not be bargained away to loggers and politicians who seek their support."
-- Salt Lake Tribune, "America's forests," July 14, 2004
For More Information
- Steve Smith, The Wilderness Society, 303-650-5818 ext 106
