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WATERSHED
RESTORATION STATISTICS AND LINKS
General Statistics:
- 214,100,000 National Forest visits per year;
more than all national parks and visits to
Disney facilities
- Protecting streams and sources of clean
water is the number one interest of respondents
when asked why it is important for the National
Forests to be well managed. (Study conducted
by U.S. Forest Service, 2000)
- Anglers enjoy nearly 50 million fishing
days fishing on National Forests
- In 1996, fishing within the National Forest
System generated $2.9 billion.
- National Forests contain 96 of the nation’s
150 designated Wild and Scenic RiversHealthy
Forests and Water
- Roughly 80 percent of the nation’s
freshwater resources originate on forests
(covering one-third of U.S. land area)
- These forested lands absorb rain, refill
underground aquifers, cool and clean water,
slow storm runoff, reduce flooding, sustain
watersheds, and provide critical wildlife
habitat
- Forests also provide abundant water-based
Watersheds and the
National Forests:
- 1897 Organic Act stipulated that forest
water reserves were established to protect
and enhance water supplies, reduce flooding,
secure favorable water flow, protect forests
from fire, and provide a continuous supply
of timber
- Excluding Alaska, about 14 percent of U.S.
runoff comes from National Forests
- More than 60 percent comes from east of
the Mississippi River, where 70 percent of
the nation’s state and private forests
are located
- 33 percent of the runoff comes from western
forests—proportionately more because
these areas include the headwaters of major
rivers and forested areas of major mountain
ranges. For example, National Forest lands
in California occupy 20 percent of the state,
but produce nearly 50 percent of the runoff
- The value of this water is about $3.7 billion
annually; greatest value is in the Pacific
Northwest and the Pacific Southwest
- Water from these lands is of an unusually
high quality
National Forest Water
and Biodiversity:
- More than one-third of National Forest lands
have been identified as important to maintaining
aquatic biodiversity
- A recent Forest Service study identified
five critical watersheds harboring rare species,
among them, the Southern Appalachians and
Tongass National Forest (Alaska)
National Forest Water
and Communities:
- In 1999 the EPA estimated that 3,400 public
drinking water systems are located in watersheds
containing National Forest lands
- About 60 million people live in these 3,400
communities
- In Washington state 86 percent of the population
is served by water systems originating on
National Forests; in Oregon, 80 percent
- More than 900 cities rely on National Forest
System watersheds, including Portland, Denver,
Oakland, Helena, Salt Lake City, and Little
Rock
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