The stress that a drought causes weakens old trees allowing easier infestation by the pine beetles. Not only has the drought caused crops and lawns to suffer, it has also drained small streams endangering the fish and wildlife that live there. Vose said the current drought situation is comparable to the severe drought in the mid 1980's. In addition to current concerns of water quantity, water quality also plays an important role in local concerns. As our population and our demand for water increases, the impact that water quantity and quality has on our environment becomes even more significant.
Water quality has a direct impact on water quantity.
Vose, who has worked at the Coweeta Hydrologic Lab since 1987 has seen the ongoing results of many of the lab's studies. Since the lab was started in 1935, it has become one of the longest ongoing studies of hydrology and climatology in the world. For many studies, had we stopped along the way, our information would have been wrong. Studies taking place over the 5400 acres of the Coweeta lab were created for the purpose of analyzing the human and natural effects on the quantity and quality of water that comes off the landscape in addition to soil and vegetative chemistry. The location for the lab was chosen in the Coweeta Valley basin because of it's unique sub-watersheds, high rainfall, and tight bedrock.