Yaak Forest Council to host roadless rule meeting

In response to the Trump administration's plan to rescind the roadless rule, the Yaak Valley Forest Council is hosting a meeting Thursday, March 5 at the Maki Theater in Libby.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and end at about 7:30 p.m.

On June 23, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the USDA’s plan to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, aiming to lift restrictions on road construction and timber harvesting across nearly 59 million acres of National Forest System lands.

According to a press release from the Yaak Valley Forest Council, when the U.S. Forest Service proposed the roadless rule, 600 public meetings, including 34 in Montana, were held. The non-profit says the Forest Service is not planning to hold any public meetings regarding the possible repeal.

Wilderness and backcountry advocates say the rescission of the Roadless Rule would be a devastating blow to America’s backcountry public lands and the millions of people who depend on them for outdoor recreation, clean air and water, and climate resilience.

Meeting participants will learn more about the Roadless Rule and they are invited to share their thoughts on the proposed repeal and discuss alternatives for managing the Kootenai's roadless backcountry areas.