MANAGING FORESTLANDS FOR INCREASED WATER YIELDS: ECONOMIC AND HYDROLOGIC TRADEOFFS IN THE ICHAWAYNOCHAWAY CREEK BASIN, GEORGIA

In the Southeastern United States, freshwater resources are strained by increasing development, population growth, and the expansion of agricultural irrigation. Restoration of upland forest, however, to low-density, fire-maintained longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) savannas may mitigate this resource concern. I analyze the economic and hydrologic impacts of longleaf pine restoration against other forest land uses, identifying the financial barriers and water use impacts of alternate forest management regimes. Current government programs that restore native longleaf savanna habitats on private lands offset implementation costs but fall short of baseline forest income levels by $47-$150 ha-1 annually. In the Ichawaynochaway Creek Basin, I found moderate increases in 2.3% low flows up to 85,000 cm3 s-1 could be achieved with costs less than $1 million per year through the restoration of loblolly pine savannas at a greater cost efficiency than longleaf pine restoration, highlighting the potential development of forest-to-water markets in the Southeast.