ABSTRACT
Headwater streams in forests are the source of 70% to 80% of the water flowing in the rivers of the United States (Binkley et al., 2004). Watersheds within the National Forest System alone provide the public water supplies of 3400 towns and cities. The National Forests comprise only 30% of the forested land in the United States, so many more municipalities depend on water from forests owned by states, corporations, and private individuals (Dissmeyer, 2000). As discussed in the preceeding chapters, the condition of forest ecosystems was a major influence on the characteristics of headwater streams. These characteristics include the quantity and timing of baseflow and stormflow, concentrations of sediment and dissolved nutrients, water temperature, and the stability of the stream channels.
