THE PROPOSED MINERAL WITHDRAWAL WILL PROTECT 20,574 ACRES IN THIS AREA FOR 20 YEARS.  

Join us for our 2024 Comment Challenge!

It's important the Forest Service hears us loud and clear that we support the Pactola Reservoir - Rapid Creek Watershed Withdrawal proposal.
Let's generate 2,024 Comments supporting the Withdrawal proposal.   
​Are you up for this Challenge?  We are!  So far 561 comments have been submitted, which is great.  Now we need to reach our 🎯 goal of 2,024 submitted by Oct. 28th @ 11:59 pm MDT.  Join us and share this great news.  

HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP:

• Submit your comment now! Tell your family and friends, too. https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=63876
• State clearly that YOU support the Pactola Reservoir-Rapid Creek Watershed Withdrawal.
• Speak from your heart and tell the Forest Service why you support this Withdrawal. Ei: I love Pactola and I swim there.
• Ask them to expedite the Withdrawal proposal to the Secretary of the Dept. of Interior!
• Already submitted your comment but didn't say "I support the Withdrawal?"Just submit again!

What to know:

• The Environmental Assessment (EA) and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for this project was released on Sept. 19, 2024.  
• A 30-day public comment period began on Sept. 21, and that has been extended to Oct. 28th at 11:59 PM MDT.
• Submit your In-Support-Of Comment at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=63876
• ​You can review comments submitted on the proposed mineral withdrawal via the U.S. Forest Service's Reading Room for this Project at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//ReadingRoom?Project=63876.
• This comment period serves for the public to comment on the EA and the FONSI.  Which will protect the 20,574 acres in the Pactola Reservoir area and the a portion of the Upper Rapid Creek Watershed.

​Note: The entire watershed is estimated at 198,000 acres.

Map of the Mineral Withdrawal shows the area as indicated in yellow with blue outline is just a small portion of the actual boundaries of the Rapid Creek Watershed.

The US Forest Service & Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposed this mineral claims withdrawal which would prohibit most new mineral claims, exploration, and mining on 20,574 acres in the Pactola Reservoir area of the Rapid Creek Watershed.  

​RCWA is committed to seeing the entire Rapid Creek Watershed protected.  Will you join us and sign our petition, too?  Sign the RCWA Petition to designate this precious watershed a recreational area to be protected for future generations.  Let's get the Rapid Creek Watershed Recreational Area Act (RCWRAA) into LAW!