The Importance of Forests to Water Resources

PA Forests Web Seminar Center

Date: May 14, 2019
Times: noon - 1:00 PM and 7:00 - 8:00 PM, eastern time. Questions often last an extra 15 to 20 minutes

Registration: Presentation URL (for both times): https://meeting.psu.edu/PAForestWeb/
Handouts, PowerPoints and Recorded Presentations will be available at
http://ecosystems.psu.edu/research/centers/private-forests/outreach/pa-forests-web-seminar-center

Presentation summary:
It’s estimated that about 80 trillion gallons of fresh groundwater occur below Pennsylvania and we withdraw about 1 billion gallons of groundwater daily for homes, farms and businesses. About half of Pennsylvania’s population get at least part of their drinking water directly from groundwater. But the exact processes for recharge of groundwater aquifers and the importance of land use and forested watersheds for protection of groundwater quantity and quality is often overlooked. This presentation will discuss concepts of “forest hydrology” which is defined as the movement of water within forested watersheds. Specifically, the importance of infiltration and recharge to groundwater will be explained along with how forested land facilitates the processes that supply groundwater aquifers. The connection between natural forest processes and current stormwater management practices will also be discussed. These pra
ctices seek to mimic forest processes to ensure adequate groundwater recharge, reduce surface water runoff, and protect groundwater quality in urbanizing areas.

Presented by: Bryan Swistock, Water Resources Specialist, Penn State Extension, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management

*** Please note: Continuing Education credits are not available for reviewing recorded webinars. You must participate in the live seminar to receive credit.

This webinar counts for 1 hour of PA SFI Continuing Education (C.E.) credit. You must complete 3 additional hours of C.E. credit to add 1 year to your training card expiration date. Individuals seeking C.E. credit must submit a completed Non-SFI Course C.E. credit form (Please request that the webinar administrator send PA SFI confirmation of your participation), a course agenda or certificate of completion, and a $20 administrative fee (Check made payable to “PA SIC”) to the PA SFI office. Continuing Education credit can only extend your PA SFI Training Card expiration date by a maximum of 3-years from the current calendar year. Please refer to the PA SFI Training Policy for a complete description of the program requirements.