UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA -Your Family Forest
  • EXPLORE
  • PLAN
    • Start with a Plan
    • What's important to you: Developing management goals
    • Profiling Your Land: History and Mapping
    • Assessing Forest Properties
    • Conservation Easements
    • Family Heritage
  • LEARN
    • Drought and Infestation
    • Enhancing Wildlife
    • Silviculture
    • Vegetation Management and Reforestation
    • Safety and Roads
    • Threats and Issues
    • Water Quality
    • Wildfire
  • Act
    • Working with a Forester
    • Cost Share Programs
    • Workshops

Water Quality

Since forest management and other land use activities have impacts on water quality, it is important to understand what water quality is, how it is measured and how to protect it. The quality of water coming from forest lands is vital for human use, but also for sustaining aquatic life, irrigation, swimming and recreation, navigation and hydropower generation.

Water quality indicators include clarity (turbidity), chemical content (pesticides, nutrients, petroleum products etc), bacterial content and temperature.

FAQ's
what are some common water challenges?
Sediment input, woody debris, and lack of riparian vegetation are common challenges in forest ecosystems.
what should I do if I think i have a water quality problem?
If you suspect you have a water quality problem, contact a registered professional forester, your local UC Extension office or local Water Quality Control Board.
Resources
Forest Stewardship Series 11: Forest Water Quality
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© 2016 Regents of the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources

  • EXPLORE
  • PLAN
    • Start with a Plan
    • What's important to you: Developing management goals
    • Profiling Your Land: History and Mapping
    • Assessing Forest Properties
    • Conservation Easements
    • Family Heritage
  • LEARN
    • Drought and Infestation
    • Enhancing Wildlife
    • Silviculture
    • Vegetation Management and Reforestation
    • Safety and Roads
    • Threats and Issues
    • Water Quality
    • Wildfire
  • Act
    • Working with a Forester
    • Cost Share Programs
    • Workshops