Forests are crucial for sustaining the nation’s water supply, but their role is often under-measured and undervalued in decision-making. Utilities, communities, and land managers face growing risks from wildfire, climate change, and development, yet lack consistent information on how these changes affect water availability, water quality, and costs. Without clear data on both water supply and economic value, it is difficult to prioritize forest management, justify investments, or evaluate tradeoffs across competing land uses.

Photo Credit

USDA Forest Service photo by Preston Keres

Each year, the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest contributes approximately 180 billion gallons of water supplied to water users, with an estimated value of about $1.3 billion.

This project provides national-scale estimates of how much water originates from forested watersheds and how that water supports communities, agriculture, energy production, and other economic sectors. By integrating hydrologic modeling with economic analysis, the project assesses both the volume of water provided by forests and its value to downstream users. 

The research also evaluates future water demand and the probability of water scarcity across U.S. river basins. These projections help identify regions where forests will be key for maintaining reliable water supplies and where risks from wildfire, climate change, and land use changes might threaten water availability and quality.

Project Significance

This work supports the Forest Service Resources Planning Act (RPA) Assessment and related national analyses of water supply and demand, as mandated by the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (Public Law 93–378; 16 U.S.C. 1600, et seq., as amended) and the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (Public Law 93–378; 16 U.S.C. 1642, et seq., as amended). It also highlights the important role national forests and grasslands play in protecting many headwater watersheds that supply water to downstream areas. By combining ecological, hydrologic, and economic data, the project provides information and tools to help federal agencies, water managers, utilities, and other partners better understand the connections between forests and water resources and plan for long-term water security.

This work also supports emerging approaches to natural infrastructure investment, including watershed protection programs and financing mechanisms, including pay-for-performance approaches. By quantifying the value of forest-based water services, the project helps identify where investments in forest management can reduce long-term risks and costs for downstream communities.