Snowpack in the
Sierra Nevada.

Many of California’s National Forests were created to protect the mountain watersheds so essential to life in California’s semi-desert climate. Since its beginnings, the Forest Service has sought to ensure a high-quality water resource from National Forest lands. Riparian areas receive special emphasis in ecosystem management, as they play key roles in wildlife and plant habitat, and maintaining water quality.

The National Forests are the site of many hydroprojects, which range from small stock dams to massive power generation stations buried deep within granite mountains. The Forest Service analyzes the environmental impacts of proposed projects, which are then licensed by other federal agencies.

Reservoirs, Dams and Diversions
There are 1200 reservoirs, dams, and diversions sited in the National Forests in California. These projects range from small, foot-high, hand-built rock dams in remote high country wilderness areas to massive hydroelectric generation projects.

• 92 are owned by cities, water companies, or irrigation districts;
• 56 are owned by the California Department of Fish and Game;
• 13 are managed by the Army Corps of Engineers or the Bureau of Reclamation,
• 167 are administered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for
  hydroelectric power generation.
• The remainder (872) are used for flood control or watering livestock.

Watershed Based Ecosystem Management
Throughout the past decade, the Forest Service has been pursuing the management of ecosystems in a way that considers total environmental impacts, particularly on a watershed basis.

Forests and Water

The Pacific Southwest Region’s Strategy for Water Management

Forest Management Activities and Water Quality

Precipitation Map for the National Forests

Hydropower Relicensing Information

Forest Water Yields