— MEDIA RELEASE –
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 2, 2025

Contacts:
Kayla Browne, Desert and Renewable Energy Policy Director, Friends of the Inyo Office:
760.873.6500, Cell: 313.719.0860; E-mail: [email protected]

Hundreds of Thousands of Acres of Eastern Sierra Roadless Forests at Risk
Bishop, CA — The U.S. Department of Agriculture opened a 21-day comment period on Friday, August
29th, to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (Roadless Rule). The public is urged to
oppose the federal proposal that threatens protections for more than 3.9 million acres of
California’s national forests, including over 300,000 acres of Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) on
the Inyo National Forest.

The Roadless Rule has safeguarded nearly 60 million acres nationwide from road construction and
industrial development since 2001. These protections on the Inyo National Forest cover some of the
Eastern Sierra’s most culturally significant, recreationally important, and ecologically valuable
wildlands in Inyo and Mono Counties.

Among the places at risk are the White Mountains Roadless Areas, encompassing roughly 82,000 acres,
where ancient bristlecone pines, the oldest trees in the world, grow alongside critical desert
bighorn sheep habitat in landscapes held sacred by Indigenous communities. To the north, the Glass
Mountains Roadless Areas, approximately 63,000 acres in size, serve as vital migration corridors
for mule deer and habitat for sage-grouse, while also providing some of the region’s best
backcountry hunting and camping opportunities.

The Coyote Flat Roadless Areas, about 36,000 acres, span a rugged expanse of high desert and
mountain country rich in Tribal cultural resources, are home to a herd of Sierra Nevada Bighorn
Sheep, and are a favorite destination for recreation such as hiking, horseback riding, and
Off-Highway vehicle driving.

Mono County’s Hoover Wilderness Adjacent Roadless Areas, roughly 41,000 acres, provide pristine
backcountry landscapes near Yosemite National Park, supporting world-class hiking, climbing, and
fishing. Closer to home, the roadless forests surrounding Mono Lake and Mammoth Lakes,
approximately 32,000 acres, safeguard irreplaceable watersheds that sustain local communities,
recreation economies, and the iconic scenic integrity of the Eastern Sierra.

“Rescinding the Roadless Rule would strip away one of the most important conservation measures
protecting our national forests,” said Kayla Browne, Desert and Renewable Energy Policy Director of
Friends of the Inyo. “These landscapes are the backbone of the Eastern Sierra — they provide clean
water, sustain wildlife, support Tribal cultural traditions, and power our recreation-based
economy. Once roads are built, the damage is irreversible.”

Browne emphasized the longstanding role of the rule in protecting these areas: “For nearly 25
years, this rule has ensured that roadless areas remain a haven for wildlife, a buffer against

climate change, and a place for future generations to experience the solitude and beauty of wild
lands. To dismantle it now, with only 21 days for the public to respond, undermines the
democratic process and threatens the values we all hold dear.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting comments from August 29th to September 19th, a dangerously short 21-day public comment period.
Friends of the Inyo is calling on the public to voice their opposition during the comment window. “Now is the time for everyone who loves our national forests to stand up for them,” Browne added. “Every voice matters.”

How to Comment:
Members of the public can submit written comments by visiting the Federal eRulemaking Portal, https://www.regulations.gov, identified by docket number FS-2025-0001.
Hardcopy letters must be submitted to the Director, Ecosystem Management Coordination, 201 14th Street SW, Mailstop 1108, Washington, DC 20250-1124.
The 21-day comment period closes at 8:59 pm PT on Friday, September 19, 2025.

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