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
 
 

"How have forest management activities and other forest uses influenced water quality and aquatic habitat in forested watersheds?"
  1. Where are the ecological hot spots for aquatic diversity in the region?
  2. In addition to evaluating aquatic habitat, the Assessment should evaluate how forest management activities have influenced municipal watersheds.
  3. The Assessment should limit its assessment of aquatic habitats to forested aquatic habitats, and should recognize the lack of historical data in this area. It should also use caution in speculating the "likely future" of aquatic species.
  4. Mussels, fish, amphibians, and reptiles that depend on water are declining in numbers and range. This will continue with the present intensive management on both public and private forest lands and only get worse. We are losing the habitat battle.
  5. How have forest management and other forest uses influenced water quality and aquatic habitat in forested watersheds?
  6. Assessment should recognize the high water quality and diversity of aquatic species associated with forested watersheds relative to other land uses. Water quality can best be protected by retaining forest land in forest cover.
  7. The study doesn't include an evaluation of the impacts of clearcutting on plant diversity or aquatic species.
  8. Big timber companies could care less about how aquatic systems are affected by their management practices. Scraping the ground bare like they do, when it rains, tons of silt flows into streams, marshes, and ponds, causing death of aquatic life due to siltation. Not to mention all the erosion on the uplands. I think a minimum of several acres should be left as a buffer along every streamside in any timber or ag lands, commercial or private.
  9. Riparian forests, along with bottomland hardwoods, other forested wetlands, and upland forests are not only essential wildlife habitat for species like neotropical migratory songbirds, but also play a key role in maintaining water quality and retaining flood waters.
  10. Define aquatic habitat. Is it the water and associated system or does it also include riparian area? Clarify definition and scale of aquatic habitats.
  11. I know that whenever a large amount of organic life is removed from a track of land, such as with a logging operation, that alot of topsoil is lost due to erosion. Whenever erosion occurs the soil moves first to the streams and then on to the rivers. Rivers are by nature going to transport a lot of silt and sand anyway but when topsoil is added due to erosion it causes a whole lot of additional problems. The pH of the water can change because of the dissolved phosphorous and accompanying minerals drastically altering the life of streams as well as the river itself. The eroded topsoil also makes it increadibly hard for aquatic life such as spawning fish to complete their delicate cycle. IN OTHER WORDS I DON'T THINK THAT OUR PRECIOUS SOUTHERN FORESTS SHOULD BE CUT DOWN. For the sake of everyone, for the sake of the rivers and streams, for the sake of the Seventh Generation of human beings which will be following us after we are long dead.
  12. Mussels and fish are mentioned in the assessment plan, but need to include all riparian-dependent species such as neotropical migratory songbirds, mammals, reptile, etc.
  13. Need a baseline/benchmark for aquatic habitats, present & future, and describe assumptions for each. What are the habitat needs for specific sensitive aquatic species?
  14. What aquatic species will be studied? Just T & E species or other indicators? ADD question - effect of exotic species on forested watersheds including aquatic habitat.
  15. ADD question - effect of exotic species on forested watersheds including aquatic habitat.
  16. ADD question - address the frequency and occurrence of aquatic species in forested watersheds versus other land uses, i.e. species richness and diversity information.
  17. How will FIA data be used in the assessment?
  18. What is the impact of exotic species on forested wetlands?
  19. Include discussion of hypoxia in Gulf of Mexico as it relates to forest, non-forest in the Assessment Area.
  20. Legacy issue - Piedmont- some past practices are responsible for sediment/WQ problems; focus on future & don't dwell on past practices.
  21. Other inputs - agricultural & urban uses - locating a watershed with primary forest influences is difficult.
  22. Water quantity, not just water quality, is also a factor.
  23. Exam the impact of 404 Regulations on forest practices. What are the restrictions?
  24. Focus should be on the bottomland hardwood impacts from chip mill activity.
  25. Differentiate hardwoods by age distribution, quality factor - old growth, river bottom.
  26. Not just age but size and quality with active management (better).
  27. Factor in land acquisition programs, purchase greenways, ex. FL.
  28. What is WQ? Will be different for each physiographic region; state have different reference streams; can you account for the variability.
  29. Development/zoning regs impact on rural forest conversion.
  30. Forested watersheds impacts broader than forest activities.
  31. Why focus on WQ impacts from forestry practices; other activities - recreation, 2nd home development may be causing bigger problems.
  32. Extent of forested wetlands - how good is forested wetland info (use available data; one outcome is that it may not be totally answerable).
  33. Look at past history; forests help managed soil (better than agricultural activities).
  34. Large river system - function of system - shift of activities from hardwood to CPR pines.
  35. Hardwood management - long-term management having 60-80 year horizons with natural revegetation.
  36. Relative impacts on mussel populations hard to sort out; other perturbations like agricultural are ongoing issue in Piedmont but also S. Appalachacia. - ``Splash dams''.
  37. Pine straw contracts - short-term 2-3 years - impacts/reduce nutrients.
  38. Issue: Discuss population trends with regard to Threatened & Endangered Aquatic Species.
  39. We need to separate historical from modern activities in analyzing effects of activities on habitat.
  40. We need to understand links between habitat characteristics and individual’s species needs.
  41. Concern: Where is the study going to find the reliable data to answer all-important questions?
  42. Issue: Use good data to identify aquatic habitats and identify species involved.
  43. Concern: Forestry will be blamed for many or all problems with regard to these habitats and species, whereas forestry may in fact be part of the solutions.
  44. Concern: We need to recognize the effects and measure the effects of exotics and native pests on forested wetland aquatic species and habitats.
  45. Sturgeon listing in Alabama and its possible effects on timber industry. Lack of data (historical) on sturgeon numbers.
  46. How is “aquatic habitat” defined?
  47. Question validity of the statement that lowland forests are steady.
  48. Overuse of “gray literature.” Ensure sound science on high level of scientific peer review.
  49. What is the real future of aquatic habitat with continued dredging, channelization, “drainage improvement,” flood control, etc.?
  50. Impact of exotics?
  51. Feasibility of correction of problems with exotic species.
  52. Negative impact of population growth on aquatic habitat.
  53. What is the trend of research?
  54. Amount of studies pertaining to aquatic habitat.
  55. How does forestry affect migratory patterns -- by species, by habitat, by management activity?
  56. What are documented bio-indicators, status, and future?
  57. Document what habitats are fragile.
  58. What is the exposure to detrimental activity?
  59. What affects does the conversion of forest wetland have on people and communities who depend on them?
  60. What effects of different land uses on drinking water -- quality, quantity, cost?
  61. Provide regional cost/benefit analysis when values can be determined.
  62. Determine impacts of forest fragmentation and shifting of forest land use into other uses on water quality and wildlife habitat.
  63. What affects of human development in riparian areas on water quality and aquatic habitat?
  64. Likely future use of southern forest watersheds for waste applications and the impact on water quality.

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Question as revised in response to these comments

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  modified: 1-MAR-2000
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