Proposed Directive for Groundwater Resource Management handout v3 5 2.pdf · Proposed Directive for...
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Proposed Directive for Groundwater Resource Management USDA Forest Service Mission The mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. Why is the Forest Service proposing this directive? There are growing concerns regarding water availability and quality across the country for ecosystem viability and new and existing human uses. The Forest Service is developing a comprehensive policy to manage groundwater resources on National Forest System land. Groundwater is considered all water below the ground surface and is a key component of the hydrologic cycle—the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. Serving as a reservoir, it supplies cold, clean water to springs, streams, and wetlands, as well as water for human uses. With National Forest System land providing sources of drinking water for 66 million people in 33 States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, there is a clear need for the Forest Service—in cooperation with the States—to take an active role in managing all water resources on these lands. This proposal would set policy for the management and use of groundwater resources on National Forest System land and establish new processes and procedures for special use authorizations that involve access to and withdrawal of groundwater resources. This proposed directive also addresses components of numerous Federal initiatives involving water, the Forest Service’s renewed emphasis as a water agency, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary’s vision for managing the Nation’s forests. What is the Forest Service role in managing groundwater? By Congressional direction, National Forest System land were set aside or acquired in part to protect and manage water resources. As a result, the Forest Service has a responsibility to manage groundwater resources effectively. The proposed directive recognizes the need to manage groundwater and surface water as a connected and interdependent resource. The Forest Service recognizes that States have key roles in managing water resources within their borders, and understands that management of those resources on National Forest System United States Department of Agriculture April 2014 Forest Service
Transcript of Proposed Directive for Groundwater Resource Management handout v3 5 2.pdf · Proposed Directive for...
Proposed Directive for Groundwater Resource Management
USDA Forest Service MissionThe mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.
Why is the Forest Service proposing this directive?There are growing concerns regarding water availability and quality across the country for ecosystem viability and new and existing human uses. The Forest Service is developing a comprehensive policy to manage groundwater resources on National Forest System land. Groundwater is considered all water below the ground surface and is a key component of the hydrologic cycle—the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. Serving as a reservoir, it supplies cold, clean water to springs, streams, and wetlands, as well as water for human uses. With National Forest System land providing sources of drinking water for 66 million people in 33 States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, there is a clear need for the Forest Service—in cooperation with the States—to take an active role in managing all water resources on these lands. This proposal would set policy for the management and use of groundwater resources on National Forest System land and establish new processes and procedures for special use authorizations that involve access to and withdrawal of groundwater resources. This proposed
directive also addresses components of numerous Federal initiatives involving water, the Forest Service’s renewed emphasis as a water agency, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary’s vision for managing the Nation’s forests.
What is the Forest Service role in managing groundwater?By Congressional direction, National Forest System land were set aside or acquired in part to protect and manage water resources. As a result, the Forest Service has a responsibility to manage groundwater resources effectively. The proposed
directive recognizes the need to manage groundwater and surface water as a connected and interdependent resource. The Forest Service recognizes that States have key roles in managing water resources within their borders, and understands that management of those resources on National Forest System
United States Department of Agriculture
April 2014Forest Service
land needs to be carried out cooperatively to be effective. The Forest Service, as the manager of 193 million acres of Federal lands, much of which is located in the headwaters and recharge areas of the Nation’s streams and aquifers, has a critical role in protecting and maintaining the integrity of the water resources associated with those lands.
What are the expected outcomes of the proposed directive? The proposed directive would establish goals and clarify responsibilities for groundwater resource management at each level of the Forest Service. It would also provide consistent direction for evaluating proposed Forest Service activities and special uses of groundwater resources on National Forest System land and for measuring major groundwater withdrawals. The Forest Service expects that implementing the proposed directive would raise the level of awareness of the importance of groundwater resources for National Forest System land and watersheds. This would assist with developing an inventory of the groundwater-dependent ecosystems on National Forest System land. Through this proposed directive, the Forest Service can more readily respond to changing conditions (climate change, land use changes, needs for additional water supplies) in an informed manner, while sustaining National Forest System land and meeting new demands in a responsible way.
Comment ProcessWe invite you to submit comments on the proposed policy, which will be considered in developing the final directive. Comments must be received electronically within 90 days from publication of the proposed policy in the Federal Register. The proposed policy is posted on the Federal e-rulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov and on the Forest Service Web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/geology/groundwater. Electronic comments may be submitted by following the instructions at http://www.regulations.gov or via email to [email protected].
ContactProgram Lead: Joe Gurrieri, Groundwater Program Leader, (303) 275-5101, [email protected]
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.Forest Service
