The U.S. Forest Service acknowledged that its plan to roll back protections on 45 million acres of national forest land could impact endangered species, water supplies and wildlife habitat across Arizona and the Southwest. The agency filed a proposal on Aug. 18 to rescind the “roadless rule,” which set aside over 60 million acres of forests and grasslands within national forests as roadless areas. … The Forest Service’s plan notes that rescinding the roadless rule would increase soil erosion and sediment pollution for about 24 million Americans. In the Southwest, the repeal could affect 739 water intake locations and nearly 2 million people, according to the plan. 

Other “roadless rule” water impact news:

• San Francisco Chronicle: Opinion: California should fight Trump’s plan to end protections for U.S. national forests
• The Land Desk: Blog: Trump attacks Roadless Rule, again