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.
Trees, associated vegetation, and the litter-covered forest floor absorbs the impact of rainfall and allows the rain to infiltrate without surface flow. Sediments and debris carried in from other areas are usually trapped and held by the forest vegetation and leaf litter. The Manual below contains voluntary guidelines for BMP's that will help to ensure that Illinois' forested sites are not degraded, that the waters associated with these forests are of the highest quality compatible with natural processes, and that our forest resources are wisely utilized.