Forest management by West Coast water utilities: Protecting the source?

摘要

Since passage of the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act amendments, emphasis on source water protection for public drinking water supplies has steadily increased, and the effects on water quality from commercial logging and forest road-building has been at the forefront of concern for many water utility managers. Acquiring forested land is often viewed by water utility managers as one of the most effective ways to control water quality in their watersheds. However, if water utilities seek to buy land or acquire conservation easements in their forested watersheds to protect source water quality, then it is vital for them to consider how they manage this land once it is purchased. This article summarizes the key findings of a research project that analyzed forest management policies and practices of 45 West Coast public water utilities that own forested land in their source watersheds. The research includes three types of quantitative analysis and six case studies, which show that public participation in watershed planning is critical to the success of any source water protection program.