WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTANTS FROM FORESTRY?
When forestry operations are carried out without paying attention to protecting our soil and water resources, a variety of problems can result. The main nonpoint source pollutant from forestry is sediment. Others include excessive nutrients (mainly nitrogen and phosphorus), forest chemicals (herbicides, insecticides and fungicides), and organic debris. Other negative impacts include disruption of natural drainage and increased irregularity of streamflows, and increased water temperatures. The presence and severity of these problems depend on site characteristics, weather conditions during the operations, and the forestry practices employed. We can’t control the weather, but we can try to use the best practices that we have available for managing the land and its resources.