Why Researchers Say Drinking Water Could Be AffectedThe study, published July 15 in PLOS Water, found that inventoried roadless areas protect over 80,000 miles of streams and rivers in the contiguous U.S. “Our results demonstrate that rescinding the Roadless Rule would diminish protections for rivers, and may compromise drinking water quality and affordability, reduce recreational opportunities, and threaten freshwater biodiversity,” the authors wrote. “Safeguarding Roadless Rule protections is therefore essential for sustaining ecosystem services, supporting human well-being, and advancing broader conservation and resilience goals under increasing climatic and land-use pressures.” “In short, rivers in roadless areas are essential for both people and nature,” Olden said. “Bulldozing roads through these forests to log them will pollute drinking water and increase fire risk.