Page 6 - Georgia Forestry - Spring 2017

ENVIRONMENT
Forests for Freshwater
by Sherry V. Crawley
How working forests improve water quantity and quality
What can you do to conserve water? Take a shorter shower. Install a rain barrel. Buy a ream of paper?
That’s right — our state’s working forests play a critical role in maintain- ing freshwater resources. “Of all the commercial land uses, the thing that is kindest to the stream is forestry,” says University of Georgia hydrology profes- sor Rhett Jackson, Ph.D.
Forests absorb rainwater and slow it down, limiting erosion. Trees along waterways help filter pollution that water collects as it flows over city streets and other sources of stress.
“The forestry community in Georgia is responsible for two-thirds of the land area of our state,” says the Georgia Forestry Commission. “One of the key roles of the Commission is to assess and share best management practices to continuously improve the way working forests are managed to support our state’s growing need for clean, abundant and affordable water.”
SHERRY V. CRAWLEY WORKS IN NATURAL RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATIONS.
Water cycles through the Atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration. The forest canopy releases water vapor into the air, regulating precipitation.
The forest canopy shields soil from rainfall, reducing erosion.
water
Root systems and organic material on the forest floor slow down water so that it can enter the soil, recharging groundwater.
Roots and the forest floor hold on to soil, limiting erosion.
4 | GEORGIA FORESTRY