Not only does the land become a less reliable investment monetarily, is also becomes increasingly more risky physically, as increased frequency of forest fires increase the potentiality that our homes and everything in them get destroyed. We know that old growth forests are incredibly resilient and resistant to the spread of forest fires, while large swaths of monoculture trees planted in tight rows, lined up like matchsticks with no diversity or natural spacing, are incredibly prone to uncontrollable burns once a single match is lit.

This is a very big topic and one that comes loaded with far more fodder for dissent. For some of us, this is a big deal, for others it’s quackery. At the end of the day, there are enough reasons we can all agree on to consider using this land more responsibly, even if we’re only looking at financial prosperity in the short and longer term. That said, if you are curious about why there’s so much hullabaloo around the impact of clearcutting on water, there are two key factors: The health of the watershed and man-made chemicals in the water supply. Let’s look briefly at each.

Impacts of Clearcutting on Watershed Health

Clear-cutting can significantly damage watersheds in several ways, affecting water quality, soil stability, and ecosystem health. Here’s a closer look at how these impacts unfold:

1. Increased Erosion and Sedimentation: When trees are removed, the soil loses its primary structure and stability provided by root systems. Without this root network, rain can easily wash soil into nearby streams and rivers. This sediment buildup clouds the water, harming fish and aquatic species, and increases the cost of water treatment.
2. Loss of Natural Filtration: Forested areas act as natural filters, trapping pollutants before they reach water sources. When these areas are clear-cut, pollutants like pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, as well as heavy metals and other chemicals, can enter waterways more freely, affecting water quality and making it harder to maintain clean drinking water sources.
3. Altered Water Flow and Flood Risk: Trees play a vital role in absorbing rainfall, which helps to control how much water enters rivers and streams at one time. Clear-cutting disrupts this balance, often causing higher water flow and increasing the risk of flash flooding during storms. This altered flow can also reduce water availability in dry periods, as the natural water-retaining ability of forests diminishes.
4. Increased Water Temperature: Trees provide shade to streams and rivers, helping to maintain cool water temperatures necessary for many aquatic species. When forest canopy is removed, streams can become warmer, which can be detrimental to fish populations like salmon and trout that require cooler water to survive.
5. Nutrient Imbalance: Trees recycle essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus back into the soil and surrounding ecosystem. Clear-cutting disrupts this cycle, often leading to nutrient imbalances in the watershed. This imbalance can harm the growth of new vegetation, further degrading the ecosystem’s health.

In short, clear-cutting disrupts the natural processes that maintain healthy watersheds, leading to increased sedimentation, pollution, flooding, and loss of aquatic habitat. These changes impact the entire ecosystem, including local communities that rely on these water sources for drinking water, agriculture, and recreation. Williams, the community where I live, relies on water from the Pipe Fork watershed that would be clearcut if sold.

Impacts of Clearcutting on Waters Quality: What is Glyphosate

Standard industry practice when clear-cutting involves the use of glyphosate, a herbicide applied to prevent regrowth of competing vegetation after trees are removed. When glyphosate is sprayed on large clear-cut areas, it can enter nearby water systems in several ways:

1. Runoff and Leaching: Rainfall and irrigation can carry glyphosate from the soil surface into nearby streams, rivers, and groundwater. In particular, glyphosate tends to bind to soil particles but can leach into water sources, especially when there is heavy rain after application.
2. Drift During Spraying: During application, especially aerial spraying, glyphosate can drift beyond target areas and contaminate nearby water bodies, contributing to contamination of surface water and potentially affecting water tables.

Glyphosate exposure in humans is linked to several potential health risks, especially for communities near areas where it is heavily applied:

• Carcinogenic Potential: Glyphosate has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a “probable human carcinogen,” with some studies suggesting an association between glyphosate exposure and certain cancers, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
• Hormonal Disruption: Some research indicates that glyphosate may disrupt endocrine (hormonal) systems, which can lead to reproductive and developmental issues over time.
• Kidney and Liver Damage: Long-term exposure to glyphosate, especially through contaminated water, has been linked to potential kidney and liver damage, as these organs are primarily responsible for filtering toxins from the body.
• Microbiome Impact: Glyphosate may affect the human gut microbiome, disrupting beneficial bacteria, which can affect immunity, digestion, and overall health.

In short, glyphosate from clear-cutting sites can enter water tables, posing health risks including cancer, hormonal issues, organ damage, and microbiome disruption for those consuming contaminated water or living near affected areas.