ABSTRACT
Forested watersheds are generally at high elevations and in remote areas with little development and few disturbances. Forest canopies, oor, and root systems also provide the best mechanisms in nature to protect the watershed from accelerated soil erosion, landslides, and nutrient losses. Coupling these conditions with cooler water temperatures, due either to the higher elevation or the shading effect of riparian vegetation, makes the quality of water owing through forested watersheds better than in other surface conditions.
