Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Southern Research Station

Water, Air and Soil

Forests are home to wildlife, and provide drinking water, carbon storage, and much more. These ecosystem services can have a monetary value. USDA Forest Service photo.
Photo Credit
USDA Forest Service photo

Forests are home to wildlife, and provide drinking water, carbon storage, and much more. These ecosystem services can have a monetary value.

From the bottomland hardwoods of the Mississippi Delta to the coldwater mountain streams of the Southern Appalachians, water shapes and defines the landscape. About 80% of freshwater in the U.S. originates on forest lands, and much of the nation’s surface drinking water supply comes from national forest lands.

When the National Forest System was established in 1905, one of its first mandates was to restore the watershed function of forests. This includes protecting watersheds that provide drinking water and minimizing erosion from forest roads to safeguard water quality. 

The Southern Research Station provides resource managers with tools to measure water from forests, conserve groundwater, and manage forest lands and soils to ensure clean air and water for generations to come.

CompassLive

Publications

Last updated September 25, 2024
pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy