Our Drinking Water and Forest Service Research

Behind every drop of water from the tap is an entire forest ecosystem. And while it’s easy to take drinking water for granted, you might be surprised to learn that the nation’s largest single source of water is the National Forest System, the network of national forests stewarded by the USDA Forest Service. Many of these national forest lands overlay the source areas for important rivers and aquifer systems, and more than 60 million Americans rely on them for drinking water.

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Forest Service’s New Email System

You are receiving this email from the USDA Forest Service because we are excited to introduce our new email system, allowing us to provide you with valuable information directly. We believe that this system will keep you informed about the latest updates and initiatives from the Forest Service. However, if you ever wish to stop receiving emails from us, you can easily do so by clicking on the unsubscribe link provided in the email. We hope you find the information we share both beneficial and interesting. Thank you for your continued support and interest in our work.

Where there’s fire there’s smoke and it’s bad for your health

Deadly and destructive wildland fires consuming so much of the West, from California all the way to British Columbia, are not only affecting those who have had to flee but those who are downwind of these massive infernos. Smoke from this year’s summer wildfires have delayed air traffic in the Seattle area and even resulted in warnings for healthy adults to stay inside.

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Hunting and fishing are pastimes enjoyed by 82 million Americans

There is art in the sport of hunting and fishing, a tradition often borne from the marriage between the need to provide food for the family and the love of the outdoors. For some, it is a deeply rooted and cherished family custom. Others, by comparison, are newcomers.

Regardless of where they come from, or their reasons for taking to the outdoors, dedicated hunters and anglers are stewards of the land—keenly aware that their roles are intrinsically tied to the respect and care of the land.

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Digging those dinosaurs on National Forests, Grasslands

When most folks think about our grand and beautiful national forests they probably don’t conjure up images of a fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex munching on his morning prey or a gentle Brachiosaurus chewing enough leaves to nearly fell a small forest just to fill her vegetarian stomach.

But millions of years ago this was exactly what was happening on lands that today comprise national forests and grasslands like the Thunder Basin National Grassland.