| Indicators for Strategy D: Soil and Water in Oregon's Forests |
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| Background |
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Soil and water are the foundations of life that enable Oregon’s forests to thrive.
High-quality water for aquatic life and human uses is very important to Oregonians, and forestlands produce Oregon’s highest quality water. More than half of Oregonians depend on forests for their drinking water. Industry, agriculture, fisheries, and recreation users also need high-quality water – it can be an important factor that a business considers when choosing Oregon as a place to grow and expand.
Forest wetlands, streams, rivers, and lakes are also critical for aquatic life. Fish, amphibians, insects, and other organisms need the clean water than Oregon’s forests can provide – for habitat, reproduction, and to preserve the health and survival of their species.
Roads provide many benefits throughout Oregon’s forests – access for property owners, the public and their many recreation activities, wildfire management, forest management and improvements, and transporting wood products. However, roads do alter the natural landscape, and can impact soil and water resources. Assessing the risks of forest roads related to altering streams, lakes, or wetlands, stream blockages, landslides, and surface erosion is critical to understanding the health of Oregon’s forestlands
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| Indicators for Strategy D |
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The following indicators have been approved to measure the progress towards achieving Strategy D of the Forestry Program for Oregon – “Protect, maintain, and enhance the soil and water resources of Oregon's forests”, along with the desired trends for each indicator.
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| Learn More . . . |
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For more information on Oregon's Indicators of Sustainable Forest Management, contact:
David Morman, Director
Forest Resources Planning Program
Oregon Department of Forestry
2600 State Street
Salem, OR 97310
PH: 503-945-7413
FAX: 503-945-7490
E-MAIL: dmorman@odf.state.or.us
www.oregon.gov/ODF
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