Lessons learned in watershed management: A retrospective view

Forest watershed management research is mandated by over 100 years of legislation from the Organic Act and Weeks Law enacted around the beginning of the 20(th) century, to a variety of environmental protection acts passed over the past several decades. Research results have come primarily from studies of a multitude of gaged watersheds selected to represent a variety of geographic locations, forest types, topography and climate. These studies have show the effects of forests and forest disturbances on water yield, peak and flood flows, snow accumulation and melt, soil erosion and water quality including sedimentation and turbidity, chemicals and temperature. The resulting knowledge of hydrologic, nutrient and energy cycles and soil erosion has been incorporated into land and water management primarily through best management practices and an ever-increasing array of procedures including computer simulation models to help assess cumulative watershed effects. This paper reviews some important lessons learned from watershed management research across the nation and discusses management implications.