Walla Walla City Council opposes roadless rule rollback over Mill Creek watershed risks

WALLA WALLA — The Walla Walla City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to formally oppose federal efforts to roll back land protections, approving a city comment letter and joining a broader public campaign against the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule.

In a pair of 7-0 votes, council members approved submitting an amended comment letter on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s draft Environmental Impact Statement. They also voted to sign on to an organizational public comment letter opposing the rescission and authorized inclusion of the city logo.

City officials expressed critical concern that removing roadless protections could jeopardize the 36-square-mile Mill Creek Watershed in the Umatilla National Forest, which serves as the primary municipal drinking water source for more than 35,000 residents.

The city’s letter warns that eliminating roadless restrictions risks opening pristine forest areas to timber harvesting, road construction, and potential ground disturbance. Council members cautioned that such activities could increase soil erosion, elevate wildfire risks, and lead to higher water treatment costs for residents.

The council’s response asserts that federal environmental reviews failed to adequately evaluate the downstream social and economic impacts on municipal water supplies. By joining the organizational letter, Walla Walla aligns itself with regional stakeholders advocating to preserve long-standing conservation measures.

The USDA’s draft Environmental Impact Statement evaluates options regarding the 2001 Roadless Rule, which restricts road building and timber harvesting across nearly 58 million acres of national forest land nationwide.

File photo of the Mill Creek Watershed

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Elkhorn Media Group