Why Commenting Still Matters — And When We Can Change Outcomes

Across Eastern Oregon, many of us have felt it:

Why bother commenting? They’re just going to do what they want anyway.

That feeling didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s been built over time—through long processes, dense documents, and decisions that often felt disconnected from the people who live, work, and rely on these forests.

That frustration is real. And it’s shared.

But it’s not the whole story.

Because when we look back honestly, there are moments where our collective involvement has changed the course of forest planning right here at home.

Apathy Is Understandable — But Our History Tells a Bigger Story

We don’t pretend that public comments magically fix everything.

We know the system is complicated, slow, and often frustrating.

But we also know this:

When we show up together—early, consistently, and in numbers—we shape what the agency can and cannot do.

Silence makes decisions easier.

Participation creates accountability.

And we’ve seen that play out before.

We’ve Made a Difference Before — In the Blue Mountains

This isn’t abstract. It’s lived experience.

2012 — Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Travel Management Plan

In the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, a proposed Travel Management Plan was ultimately withdrawn after sustained public involvement raised serious concerns about access, analysis, and process.

That outcome didn’t happen because everyone agreed—it happened because a strong public record made it impossible to move forward as proposed.

2018 — First Attempt to Revise the Blue Mountains Forest Plans

The first attempt to revise the forest plans for the Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests was also withdrawn.

Once again, it wasn’t a single comment or a single meeting that mattered—it was the collective weight of community input that exposed unresolved issues and forced a reset.

In both cases, the agency had momentum.

In both cases, the agency expected to proceed.

And in both cases, public involvement changed the direction of the process.

When Commenting Matters Most

Public participation matters most before decisions are locked in—and especially during the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) phase.

This is when:

• Desired conditions are still being defined

• Access direction is still flexible

• Assumptions can still be questioned

• Long-term impacts are still being debated

  
  

Once plans move beyond this stage, options narrow quickly.

That’s why preparation and early engagement matter—not because outcomes are guaranteed, but because this is when our influence is greatest.

Every Voice Strengthens the Record

There’s no single “right” way to comment.

Some of us write detailed responses.

Some of us submit short, personal statements.

Some of us speak from decades of lived experience rather than technical language.

All of that matters.

What strengthens our position is participation itself—people sharing how they use the forest, what access means to their families, and what they want these lands to look like in the future.

This process works best when our collective voice reflects the full community, not just those comfortable with policy language.

Why We’re Preparing Now

Another Blue Mountains Forest Plan revision is coming.

We know that much.

We also know—from experience—how these processes tend to unfold.

That’s why Forest Access for All has been preparing:

• Reviewing past plans

• Identifying recurring patterns

• Developing tools to help people engage with confidence

  
  

Not to replace anyone’s voice—but to help all of us participate more effectively, together.

The Choice in Front of Us

No one is forced to comment.

Participation is a choice.

But our shared history in Eastern Oregon shows something clearly:

When we engage early and collectively, we influence outcomes.

When we don’t, decisions move forward without us.

This moment matters—not because the process is perfect, but because our involvement still shapes what comes next.

And that’s why this effort belongs to all of us.

Stay with us — this is the preparation window.

In the weeks ahead, we’ll be breaking down what the upcoming Blue Mountains Forest Plan revision means for our communities, our access, and our future, and sharing plain-language context to help all of us feel ready to engage when the Draft Environmental Impact Statement is released.

Next up:

We’ll take a closer look at how we moved from open forests to permission-based access, and why understanding that shift helps all of us prepare stronger comments when the DEIS is released.