assessment of sustainability of our forests

Southern Forest Resource Assessment

 Below is the original wording of one of the preliminary questions and public suggestions or concerns submitted about it--for details see our Public Input or Methods pages
 
 

"What is the history, status, and likely future of water quality in Southern forested watersheds?"
  1. Flash flood effects are becoming more common, downstream erosion problems, and the general decline of water levels.
  2. Documentation should be made of water quality or lack there of coming from managed forest areas to see if there is a real problem as some state.
  3. It should use the extensive research and assessment data which is currently available in evaluating the favorable impact of streamside management zones on non-point source runoff from forested sites.
  4. Currently as well as in the past riparian zones and watersheds have been cut to the banks. Huge amounts of sediment erode into ephemeral, intermittent, and perennial streams as is easily seen by the large sand loads and deeply incised stream paths.
  5. Measure and monitor water quality, including hydro-patterns (rainfall, temperatures, water levels, relative humidity, UV-B), basic water chemistry, presence or absence and quantity of chemical compounds, Establish a baseline for assessing the effects of pollution (direct and indirect)--need reference sites.
  6. A comparison of the stream water quality in and from urban settings, streets and highways, new home and shopping center developments, agricultural and forest would be of interest.
  7. Clearcutting (which has now become common around here) and any untreated discharge from the mill would allow sudden turbid and high BOD runoff which would have an adverse impact on local and downstream water quality.
  8. What are the history, status, and potential future conditions for water quality in and around forest ecosystems?
  9. Document the roles state forestry associations play in addressing private forestland management concerning water quality.
  10. The role of states in addressing private forestland management, particularly in regards to water quality and reforestation, should be documented and recognized.
  11. Water Quality should be addressed as point source and non point source, clean water and safe drinking water.
  12. How have forest operations effected the water storage and water supply on a watershed basis?
  13. Have forestry practices--clearcutting and softwood agriculture--contributed to the decline in water supply for water districts in the area? What role does the holding capacity of intact forests play in the sustained water supply to growing communities?
  14. Will water quality be approached as point source and non-point source? Will wetlands mitigation impact forests? Does BMP directly reduce non-point source pollution? Can it be verified?
  15. “Future” denotes prescriptive, not descriptive assessment. What methods will be used to predict the likely future?
  16. Chipmills promote sedimentation of our rivers and streams.
  17. What effect is the increased deforestry activity having on sedimentation rates in reservoirs? Dams have been referred to as "sediment retention structures" by the DOE. What are the implications of accelerated sedimentation on aquatic biology, the life expectancy of reservoirs, and drinking water supplies and quality? What are the implications of increased reliance on chemical fertilizer needed by the pulp and paper plantations to make up for nutrient losses? What percentage of rivers and streams in the study area are eutrophic and to what degree and what are the trends?
  18. Which practice destroys more watershed, aquatic/riparian ecosystem: Logging or Grazing?
  19. Clarify differences between point and non-point sources.
  20. Does this question describe ALL impacts on water quality from activities other than forestry such as point source facilities and other sources of non-point source pollution?
  21. This project has two different aspects – drinking water and recreation. Designated beneficial uses need to be addressed as well as links to state water quality standards, don’t drop out any uses.
  22. Several agencies within each state manage point and non-point sources. Which mandates or regulations affect forestry? Under point source management describe which State has primacy.
  23. Water quality is generally good in SE based on experience and available [information].
  24. Do comparison of forested & non-forested land uses by watershed.
  25. Need to consider that different forest types drive different water quality impacts.
  26. What recourse do downstream landowners have from impacts to water quality, caused by upstream activities?
  27. NCSU and Duke have looked at water quality--see them for information. Also, check with Drs. Skaggs and Gilliam, and Delegate Bud Phillips – VA legislature.
  28. Consider the impact of herbicides, applied fertilizers on WQ conditions. The fate of herbicides applied and the differences between low and high intensity management should be considered (Coweeta research).
  29. What are the impacts of new technology/harvesting techniques (chip mills) to be able to harvest previously unharvestable areas, specifically to water quality?
  30. Identify reasons for lack of water quality data.
  31. Concerned about decreasing water quality and quantity related to timber harvesting activities; provided an example watershed - Rockcastle River Watershed.
  32. What is the sustainability of drinking water resources for the future, based on current and future forest practices?
  33. How do different ownership practices affect water quality? Need to address how various land use changes are impacting water quality.
  34. What are the effects of different harvesting and management techniques on water quality, specifically use of pesticides?
  35. What are the social and economic impacts of water quality degradation?
  36. Can sedimentation be examined as part of water quality?
  37. What is the total maximum daily loading for a stream associated with silviculture activities? What is the status of designation of TMDL for streams from non-point source runoff?
  38. What is the percent of streams affected by projected land use changes?
  39. How will streams be defined or classified?
  40. Need to include springs, seeps, and caves in water quality assessment.
  41. What streams are currently being monitored?
  42. What are the impacts of sedimentation and siltation of rivers/creeks?
  43. Need to assess upstream vs. downstream effects of clearcutting in the small area assessments.
  44. What are the effects of different sizes and manner of clearcuts on water quality?
  45. What are the impacts of chip mill technology to water quality (and all other categories)?
  46. Need to use land use plans for cities/counties to get an idea about projected future land use and impacts to watersheds.
  47. Are you looking at stormwater volumes? Increase in stormwater volumes are associated with forestry activities.
  48. What are the impacts of recreation on water quality?
  49. What are the impacts of forest roads on water quality?
  50. How effective are use of buffer zones/streamside management zones in protecting water quality?
  51. Is landscape management feasible for protection of water quality?
  52. Need to compare pesticide/fertilizer use in urban vs. forest managed watersheds.
  53. Need to identify specific streamside management zone formulae to determine appropriate width of buffers.
  54. Need to look at Coweeta watershed studies and data.
  55. What are the impacts of urban growth and industry on water quality and the surrounding forests?
  56. What are the downstream water quality effects from siltation? What is the current sediment loading? Are you measuring total suspended solids?
  57. Can you separate out sources over time and space?
  58. What are the impacts of new pesticides?
  59. What is the thermal effect of deforestation on watersheds and the landscape?
  60. What is the economic cost of increased sedimentation, e.g., impact on water treatment plants and the health risks when systems fail?
  61. How do we identify highest priority watersheds for restoration? (Especially from a water quality standpoint.)
  62. We need to focus on forested watersheds with highest aquatic diversity areas; at impacts of forest practices in forested watersheds on drinking water.
  63. What were water quality levels of past and how do they compare with today’s?
  64. As hardwood forests age, how will this affect water quality?
  65. How will increased recreation use affect water quality?
  66. How do we measure water quality degradation attributable to silviculture and identify those with short and long-term impacts.
  67. We need to understand the individual effects of all land uses on forested watersheds and water quality.
  68. Forest industry focused recently improving water quality. Need to document improvements in water quality by Forest industry.
  69. How do we separate effects of historic land use from effects of current use?
  70. Show where changes in land use & water quality occur; show link between land use & water quality.
  71. If the forest is left uncut the watershed is good. If the watershed is clear-cut without any S. & E. controls then the watershed is in bad shape. Forester should not be exempted from filling a sediment and erosion control plan and then be forced to live up to that plan.
  72. Compare and contrast water quality in forested vs. other land uses
  73. Document water quality from actively managed watersheds.
  74. How have levels of nutrient input affected water quality -- including TDs, sediment…
  75. How have pulp mills and chip mills affected tannin login levels, suspended solids, by land use types.
  76. Document impact of recreation and tourism on water quality in forested areas

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Question as revised in response to these comments

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  modified: 1-MAR-2000
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