Forest Hydrology and Watersheds

The study of how forest canopies, root systems, and forest soils regulate the movement, filtration, and storage of water across landscapes.

Forest hydrology and watersheds encompass the study and scientific management of how forest canopies, extensive root systems, and deep organic forest soils interact with, regulate, and filter the movement of water across regional landscapes.

Forests behave like massive, highly sophisticated natural water regulation sponges and filtration systems. The process begins in the high canopy, where the dense layer of leaves and branches intercepts heavy rainfall, cushioning the physical impact of storms and allowing a significant percentage of water to evaporate directly back into the atmosphere before ever reaching the ground. The water that does reach the forest floor infiltrates into porous, organic forest soils that are held together by a vast matrix of tree roots. This root network prevents soil erosion on steep slopes and acts as a natural break, slowing down surface runoff and allowing rainwater to gently recharge deep underground aquifers. By regulating stream flows, healthy forests play a significant role in mitigating catastrophic downstream flooding during severe storms, while simultaneously filtering out sediments and pollutants to deliver clean, pure water supplies to regional rivers and across watersheds.