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Effect of management on water quality in North American forests

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Although the quality of water draining forested watersheds is typically the best in the Nation, some forest management practices can seriously impair streamwater quality. Sediment is the main concern. High suspended sediment levels, and adverse changes in stream channels, are potential problems in several regions, especially after road construction, and some harvesting and grazing practices. Impacts are most serious where fish reproduction is affected. Nitrate and water temperature are less serious problems. Harvesting can increase nitrate levels markedly, in some locations and removal of overstory from along streambanks can raise water temperatures enough to impair fish survival. Best management practices (BMPs) can avoid most of these harmful effects. Additional work is needed, in some locations, to encourage BMP use and to tailor BMP specifications to site-specific conditions.

Keywords

water quality, forest management, RPA, assessment

Citation

Brown, Thomas C; Binkley, Dan. 1994. Effect of management on water quality in North American forests. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-GTR-248. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 27 p. https://doi.org/10.2737/RM-GTR-248.
Citations
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/64320