How the Roadless Rule protects clean water for 25 million Americans
A study from the University of Washington indicates that the 'Roadless Rule,' which protects 60 million acres of U.S. national forest, is vital for the drinking water supply of 25 million Americans. The research suggests that repealing these protections could negatively impact water quality across thousands of miles of rivers.
Why it matters
The findings highlight the intersection of environmental conservation policy and public health infrastructure in the United States.
Nearly all drinking water in the United States starts somewhere in a forest, long before it reaches a tap. About 90% of Americans get their water from public systems, and a large portion of that water comes from forestlands, which means policies affecting forests also have an impact on water. According to a new study published in the journal PLOS, the Trump administration’s expected repeal of the ‘Roadless Rule’ could impact the drinking water supply for an estimated 25 million Americans.How the ‘Roadless Rule’ protects Americans’ drinking waterThe Roadless Area Conservation Rule, signed by the Clinton administration in 2001, put roughly 60 million acres (243,000 square kilometres) of national forest off limits to development, curbing industrial timber harvest and preserving forest ecosystems. Though the rule was popular with the public, it drew immediate criticism from timber and related industries. Last summer, the federal government moved to rescind it.
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