Water Pressures Build in the Southeast

The quality of water draining from national forests is typically the highest in the country. Healthy forests provide the best protection against sedimentation and other pollutants, better and more cost-effective filtration systems than any municipal treatment plant. How do forests do it? The tree canopy dissipates the energy of raindrops, reducing landslides, erosion, and sediment. The litter layer maintains a porous soil surface, allowing water to filter in and through, minimizing erosion and supporting nutrient cycling. Multiple levels of vegetation—ground covers, shrubs, trees—also intercept rain, while roots slow runoff. Roots and soil work together to filter out pollutants, and in some cases, trap and store water.

In the South, nearly 90 percent of forested land is held by private nonindustrial landowners; publicly owned lands, though producing highquality water, can hardly ensure future availability. With increased population and loss of forest cover projected for the South, what will happen to our water supplies? [Hoyle]

Water Pressures Build in the Southeast