|
|
WATERSHED
RESTORATION
Disturbances
vs. damage -
Floods, fire, drought, insects and
disease occur naturally and are part
of a healthy watershed while excessive
timber harvesting, human development,
fire suppression and some agriculture
practices can damage watersheds. |
|
 |
 Water
is the source of life. It exists in abundance
on our planet, but only a small percentage of
that water is freshwater. Freshwater is captured
and stored in watersheds, which are the topographic
areas from which rain and snowmelt drain into
a single low-lying point, such as a creek, river,
lake or reservoir.
In the past few decades, many watersheds have
stopped functioning properly because the land
and water have been abused or overused, and the
waterways have been polluted or damaged. The National
Forest Foundation puts damaged watersheds on its
list of top threats to our National Forests and
has made watershed protection and restoration
a main priority.
Watersheds are comprised of at least one body
of water or waterway and the land area they drain.
Often that terrestrial area is agricultural or
forested land. Watersheds, which are a major component
of ecosystems, are said to have a distinct ecological
function. They cycle water from the high points
to the low points, bringing valuable nutrients
and water to plants and carrying away excess,
but naturally occurring, silt, soil and waste.
Functioning watersheds help to keep fresh water
clean. They act much like the circulatory system
in our bodies. The plants, animals and people
living within them rely on their health to ensure
the integrity and quality of the life they sustain.
Disturbances such as floods, fire, drought, insects
and disease occur naturally and are part of a
healthy watershed and ecosystem. However, past
land management practices that allowed for excessive
timber harvesting, fire suppression and damaging
agriculture were based on science that only accounted
for resource production, which, along with excessive
development, increased the occurrence and intensity
of these disturbances, creating an imbalance.
The results include: degraded soil, lack of vegetation
cover in riparian areas, eroded stream channels,
polluted and contaminated waterways, landslides
and intense fires. These problems lead to decreased
biodiversity, a lack of clean water and air and
a decline in the amount and quality of natural
resources available to local communities.
PAGE 2:
(continued) >> |
|
|
