Page Title Forestry Best Mgt.
Clean water is essential to Illinois' economy and quality of life.
Our forests play a vital role in purifying and maintaining clean lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater. Maintaining or restoring forest cover protects the site, preserves and improves the quality and integrity of stream waters flowing within and out of the area. Forested lands are effective in maintaining erosional processes to normal, geological rates. Forests are also effective in shading streams, thereby maintaining relatively cool waters in our forested streams. Forests tend to act as a sink and take up and recycle nutrients.