The WCTA is north and adjacent to the Gospel Hump wilderness area. Fragmenting this ecosystem is a tragedy beyond words. The WCTA borders the South Fork of the Clearwater River, where bull trout, steelhead, and salmon are found. WingCreek contains pure strains of westslope cutthroat trout, and Twentymile and Otter Creeks contain critical fish habitat and spawning beds. Roads destroy wilderness.
Roads facilitate resource development.
They fragment habitat and create artificial edges, eliminating wilderness-dependent and forest interior species. They create erosion and mass slope failures that clog streams. They facilitate air and noise pollution. Road dust covers plants, reducing photosynthesis. Road cuts disrupt ground water flow patterns.