Mongabay · Natuur

Repeal of U.S. Roadless Rule could threaten drinking water for 25 million people

The Trump administration has proposed rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule, which protects 45 million acres of national forest from new roads and logging. This move could impact drinking water for approximately 25 million Americans, as roadless areas act as natural water filters.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed rescinding the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which prohibits new road construction and commercial logging on about 45 million acres of national forest. A 30-day public comment period closes on September 21.

A study in PLOS Water found that about 25 million Americans rely on watersheds fed by roadless areas. Roads and logging can increase erosion and turbidity, raising water treatment costs. Forests act as natural filters, and roads can disrupt this process by increasing sediment loads in streams.

The USDA claims the repeal will reduce wildfire risk, but research indicates most wildfires are human-caused and ignition density is higher near roads. Roadless areas are crucial habitats for vulnerable species, with 2% of land supporting 57% of vulnerable terrestrial species. Most consulted Tribes oppose the repeal.

Building roads into these areas is seen as fiscally misguided, as the Forest Service already faces a significant maintenance backlog for existing roads. The proposed rule could open approximately 4.8 million acres to timber harvest, a move criticized as using taxpayer money for private profit.

The administration's argument that roads help fight wildfires is contested; research suggests new roads increase human-caused ignition potential. Experts argue that roads are designed for resource extraction, not fire suppression, and that existing roads are often in poor condition.

Roadless areas are vital for wildlife, providing habitat for a significant portion of vulnerable terrestrial species. Rescinding the rule could put critical endangered species habitat and protected rivers and streams at risk. Indigenous communities also view the repeal as a threat to their homelands, sovereignty, and sacred sites.

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