Water Quality

Cross Referenced Case Studies:

>>Lower Yuba River Accord

Water Quality fluctuates during the water cycle, because it is affected in diverse ways at each stage of its journey from “source to sea and back again.”

Healthy forests have a combination of varied ages and species of plants, fish and animals that have different but compatible water and nutrient needs. They hold complementary stocking levels of each to feed forest soils that hold root systems in place. These root systems in turn hold the soils in place to prevent them from being washed away into lakes and streams, which can compromise water quality.

In mountains like the Sierra, precipitation in the form of snow melts and percolates down to aquifers slowly, filtering out toxins. This naturally treated water feeds springs that become marshes and lakes that store water in the forest, and rivers that convey water through the forest to the sea.

Precipitation in the form of rain is readily available to plants and animals in the forest, and what is not used percolates into aquifers more rapidly than snowmelt. When there are not enough flora and fauna to take up rain or surface water and hold soils in place, and where soils are dense and contain lots of clay, the percolation system functions much less effectively, so that more water tends to run off rather than flow into aquifer “filters.”

Along the way, rivers pick up nutrients and debris, -and toxins, when they are present, and transport them downstream. Sierra lakes and rivers provide recreation for people as well, and human activity affects water quality. See also: Community and Economy: Tourism and Recreation.

Healthy forests and healthy communities depend for their very survival on an adequate supply of clean water. Although machines can treat water supply for human consumption, duplicating the natural water cycle is not only cost-prohibitive, it is impossible for a machine to perform all the functions of a healthy watershed.

For these reasons, water quality management in forest ecosystems requires understanding and integrated management of everything that affects water both in the forest and flowing through it. A vast undertaking, water quality, water storage, and water conveyance organizations usually focus on direct monitoring, research and advocacy related to both surface water and aquifers, and preventing soil erosion into watersheds. See also: Restoration: Watershed Restoration and Ecosystem Services: Erosion Control

Coming soon: SYRCL Forestry project to protect the South Yuba Watershed. Please visit: www.syrcl.org/majorissues/majorissues-forestry.asp