The program's overall objective is to help forest landowners manage wetlands for timber production while protecting important wetland functions such as those associated with hydrology, water quality, and habitat. The program achieves its objective by establishing cooperative research projects involving scientists from universities, state and federal agencies, and other research organizations. The program is currently supporting studies in 11 states. Funding from these partnership research projects has supported 30 M.S. and 6 Ph.D students and has resulted in over 50 publications. Results Hydrology .
Forest management affects hydrology primarily through manipulation of vegetation.
For example, following clear-cut harvesting, evapotranspiration is usually reduced and water tables generally rise. The effect is most noticeable during the first year after harvesting and diminishes thereafter as regrowing vegetation restores evapotranspiration rates. Water quality . Effects are typically small and water quality criteria are rarely exceeded. Water quality parameters usually return to undisturbed levels within a period ranging from months to a few years.