Readers respond: Roadless rule rollback threatens forests, water

Roadless rule rollback threatens forests, water

The Trump administration’s

proposed rollback of the 2001 roadless rule

threatens nearly 58 million acres of undeveloped backcountry forestland, jeopardizing crucial drinking water sources for communities across the nation. Our national forests serve as the origin for major rivers and

provide municipal water supplies

to over 60 million people in 3,400 communities across 33 states.

The roadless rule is vital for maintaining clean drinking water because it protects these headwater areas, as roads are a major cause of water pollution. Cities like Los Angeles, Portland, Denver, and Atlanta rely significantly on national forests for their water supply. Building new roads in these areas would not only increase water pollution but also burden taxpayers with the costs of cleanup and maintenance of an already extensive and underfunded forest road system.

A recent

Wildness Society analysis

of data from 1992 to 2024 indicates wildfires were four times as likely to start in areas with roads than in roadless forest tracts, and over 90% of wildfires occurred within half a mile of a road. Protecting these untouched forestlands is essential for safeguarding our water supply and ensuring the well-being of countless communities.

Maleek McKenzie, Hillsboro

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