Description
Of all the outputs of forests, water may be the most important. Streamflow from forests provides two-thirds of the nation's clean water supply. Removing forest cover accelerates the rate that precipitation becomes streamflow; therefore, in some areas, cutting trees causes a temporary increase in the volume of water flowing downstream. This effect has spurred political pressure to cut trees to increase water supply, especially in western states where population is rising. However, cutting trees for water gains is not sustainable: increases in flow rate and volume are typically short-lived, and the practice can ultimately degrade water quality and increase vulnerability to flooding. Forest hydrology, the study of how water flows through forests, can help illuminate the connections between forests and water, but it must advance if it is to deal with today's complexities, including climate change, wildfires, and changing patterns of development and ownership. This book identifies actions that scientists, forest and water managers, and citizens can take to help sustain water resources from forests.
About the PDF: What am I Buying?
About Our PDFs
This book can be purchased as a computer file. The format of the file is called a "PDF". To open, view and print the file, you must have third party software (e.g. Adobe Reader or XPDF) installed on your computer.
Benefits of Buying a PDF
-
Instant. Buy it, download it immediately, and start reading.
-
Convenient. Download it to your laptop and read it whenever, wherever.
-
Searchable. Search for any word or phrase.
What are my options?
| If you want ...
| Then ...
|
| ... only a portion of the book | ... select a PDF Chapter |
| ... a computer file containing the entire book |
... buy a PDF |
| ... to read the book immediately and also own a copy for your bookshelf |
... buy the bundle |
| ... a copy for your bookshelf |
... buy the book |
Will my PDF be emailed to me?
No. After buying the PDF, we will email you instructions on how to download the file from our Web site. The PDF file will not be emailed to you.
See our Frequently Asked Questions for more information including: