The Importance of Forests to our Water webinars

When:
September 10, 2019 @ 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
2019-09-10T12:00:00-04:00
2019-09-10T20:00:00-04:00
Where:
online
Cost:
Free
Contact:
Allyson Muth
814 865-3208

The Pennsylvania Forests Web Seminar Center will hold two one-hour The Importance of Forests to Our Water webinars on September 10th at noon and 7 p.m.

It is estimated that about 80 trillion gallons of fresh groundwater lie below Pennsylvania and about 1 billion gallons of groundwater are withdrawn daily for homes, farms and businesses. The exact processes for recharge of groundwater aquifers and the importance of land use and forested watersheds for protection of groundwater quantity and quality are often overlooked.

These presentations by Bryan Swistock, Water Resources Specialist for Penn State Extension, 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 woodlands facilitate the processes that supply groundwater aquifers.

The connection between natural forest processes and current stormwater management practices will also be discussed. These practices seek to mimic forest processes to ensure adequate groundwater recharge, reduce surface water runoff, and protect groundwater quality in urbanizing areas.

To take part in one of these webinars, go to https://ecosystems.psu.edu/research/centers/private-forests/outreach/pa-forests-web-seminar-center