Water, Air and Soil

Water, air, and soil, when combined with the organisms they support, form ecosystems. These ecosystems, when in good condition, provide numerous benefits to the nation including clean water and air, abundant food and fiber, and healthy ecosystems that support local communities. The Forest Service carries out research on water, soil, and air to help meet its mission of sustaining the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.

Many of the national forests and grasslands were created as part of a national effort in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to protect and restore soil and water resources and associated forest and grassland ecosystems. Today, about half of the U.S. population relies on forested lands to capture and filter their drinking water while new challenges, such as climate change, confront resource managers working to sustain the long-term integrity of these lands and the resources they provide.

Water is one of the most important commodities on Forest Service lands, and the cleanest water flows from healthy, forested watersheds. The most effective way to approach ecological issues is to consider them at a watershed level.

Air, like water, is inseparable from the health of natural resources. Poor air quality decreases visibility, acidifies or disrupts the nutrient balance in lakes and streams, injures plant and animal communities and harms human health.

Healthy soil absorbs water and makes it available for plants, cycle nutrients and filter pollutants. Soil also controls water flow and stores and cycles nutrients. Soil is the basis of our ecosystem and controls living things above and below the surface.