Happy National Wilderness Month

We celebrate our wild and natural places, while we work to protect them from threats.

By Ann Mesnikoff, Federal Legislative Director

Sturgeon River Gorge, Upper Peninsula, MI

It’s Wilderness Month! September marks the anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act of 1964, which established the National Wilderness Preservation System to protect federal lands retaining their “primeval character” for future generations. Think Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness Area in the Ottawa National Forest or the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

There are 14 Wilderness Areas in Michigan and 52 in the Midwestern and Great Plains states. From the Upper Peninsula to Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois, we have a lot to celebrate this month, but we are also facing threats to our public lands and the hopes of adding new Wilderness Areas.

These are special places that deserve protection.

A Threat to our Forests

The Trump administration’s Forest Service has announced a plan to repeal the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which would open nearly 45 million acres of undeveloped national forest to destructive logging and road construction.

Trap Hills, Michigan

The roadless areas of the Midwest’s Shawnee, Hiawatha, Ottawa, Hoosier, Superior, Chequamegon-Nicolet, and other national forests are more than just beautiful, undeveloped lands. They are vital safeguards for wildlife, clean water, climate resilience, and the wild experiences that define the Midwest.

With the Trump Administration’s rollback of the 25-year-old Roadless Rule that has protected 46 areas in the Midwest’s National Forests comprising more than 170,000 acres, we still have time to speak up for protecting special places (check out the full list of Roadless Areas here). Here are three that are particularly at risk:

Norwich Plains area in Ottawa would lose protection as a Roadless Area. This is one of the areas central to the effort to add new Wilderness in the Ottawa National Forest in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Burke Branch and Ripple Hollow in Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest are two Roadless Areas that would lose protection.

Hiker in Trap Hills

If the Administration finalizes the rollback of the Roadless Rule areas like Norwich Plains, Burke Branch and Ripple Hollow that now have wilderness area qualities could be subject to being crisscrossed by roads and logged.

We need to raise our voice to the Trump Administration to say we want to keep our forests protected. They are accepting public comment until October 6th.

Take Action Here

There is also another solution in Congress that would protect the Shawnee.

Burke Branch and Ripple Hollow along with several other areas in the Shawnee could get protection through S. 2548, the Shawnee National Forest Conservation Act that would designate these areas as Wilderness Study Areas and create a new Wilderness in nearby Camp Hutchins. This act is sponsored by Illinois Senator Dick Durbin and is included in the Senate’s Farm Bill.

What Can You Do?

Two things:

Get outside! Enjoy the fall by hiking these trails. Enjoy the amazing wild and natural places we have around the Midwest.
Take Action: Tell the Trump Administration you want our roadless areas protected.

Ann Mesnikoff,

Federal Legislative Director

Ann Mesnikoff is the federal legislative director at ELPC, working in Washington, D.C., with the Midwest Congressional Delegation and national coalitions to advance supportive clean energy, clean water and clean air, and transportation reform policies.