File Code:	2530-3	Date:	October 2, 2008	

Subject:	Water Strategy    	
		
To:	Regional Foresters, Station Directors, Area Director, IITF Director, WO Directors   	

Water is one of the most important resources flowing from our nation’s forests and grasslands.  Along with climate change and “Kids in the Woods,” water is an emphasis area for our Agency due to the existing and emerging issues compelling us to act.  Population growth, land use change, user demands, climate change and associated ecological disturbances are among the primary stressors affecting the sources, quality, and supplies of water everywhere.  Forests in the United States provide about two-thirds of the nation’s water supply, with almost 20 percent coming from National Forest System lands alone.  Thus, we have a significant responsibility to ensure the sustainability of this life-essential resource.
As we consider ways in which the Forest Service can redeem our responsibilities to act as water resource stewards, Rick Cables, Sam Foster and Chuck Myers are leading the effort in developing an Agency-wide Water Strategy.  The team will be working across deputy areas to generate ideas for a strategy and options for a way forward.  I hope that you will be a part of this effort to help us create a thoughtful, representative, and relevant strategy to guide our Agency’s actions for sustainably managing water in the coming decade.
I have asked Anne Zimmermann, Director, Watershed, Fish, Wildlife and Rare Plants, to serve as lead and Sherry Hazelhurst (NFS), Rich Lasko (S&PF), and Michael Furniss (R&D) to work on the development of the strategy.  They will be reaching out to you for assistance in this process.
I look forward to expanding our Agency’s emphasis on water and appreciate your help in creating a unifying vision with meaningful actions to sustain healthy watersheds.

	
/s/ Gloria Manning (for)	
JOEL D. HOLTROP	
Deputy Chief for National Forest System