Trump's Roadless Rule plan could reshape San Diego trails

Zoom in: The rule currently protects 11% of the famous Pacific Crest Trail, including a long stretch east of Pine Mountain in the Cleveland National Forest.

• It also covers the national forest's Horsethief Canyon, Nelson Canyon and big swaths around Eagle Peak.
• You can explore the Pacific Crest Trail Association's interactive map here.

What they're saying: "This isn't just about a thru hike, this is about people who go take a day hike on the PCT in a beautiful mountain setting," Mark Larabee, advocacy director for the Pacific Crest Trail Association, told Axios.

Yes, but: Ending the rule wouldn't close the trails, but would dramatically change their character, Larabee said.

• "Imagine a pristine bit of forest and they come in and decide that they're going to cut trees down," he said. "The trail should be managed in a way that mitigates human impacts on the trails and on the landscapes surrounding the trails."

Hiking and outdoor recreation also has a big economic impact, he argued.

Friction point: The Trump administration says the 2001 rule hampers wildfire prevention and firefighting, including forest thinning and insect control.

• "We've watched preventable conditions — overgrown stands, insect outbreaks and disease — turn healthy landscapes into tinderboxes," Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a statement this month.

Reality check: Multiple studies have shown that roads are themselves associated with increased risk of wildfires.

• The rule already allows crews to build roads in protected areas to address any "imminent threat" to public safety, including fires.

Catch up quick: The Trump administration began looking at ending the rule last year.

Driving the news: Now the formal process has begun with a new call for public comments, which can be submitted here until Sept. 21.