Forest Management Impacts on Water

Many forest management activities can affect watershed health and water quality. Proper ecosystem management is essential for the health of our watersheds. Within the National Forests, riparian areas -- areas around streams -- receive special emphasis. Watershed management projects are directed at maintaining and restoring riparian areas, maintaining water quality, and increasing water yields whenever possible.

Timber
Certain timber practices can have negative effects on watersheds and water quality. Clear-cutting, which no longer is allowed in the National Forests, can lead to excessive erosion and sedimentation buildup in streams.

Logging roads that are not properly designed or maintained can also create erosion problems.

Fire
Uncontrolled fires can destroy entire forests, leading to massive erosion and water pollution. Natural fire conditions, in which forests are periodically cleared of brush by low-burning, low-temperature ground fires, help maintain forest stability. But uncontrolled, high-temperature fires, which burn entire trees and leave hillsides free of all vegetation, can damage soil quality and leave watersheds vulnerable to tremendous damage.

Grazing
Grazing practices, particularly in dryer areas, can impact watershed quality. In dry areas, cattle trample stream banks, destroying riparian vegetation and habitat, and causing erosion and the loss of native plants.

Mining
Abandoned mines are a major source of river pollution throughout the west.  Abandoned mine shafts leach heavy metals such as copper, mercury, zinc and lead into the water supply.

There are thousands of abandoned mines in California, dating back to the times of the Gold Rush. Many of these mines are located within National Forests.  At present, there are few effective ways to clean up abandoned mines or mitigate their negative impacts.