How Trees Improve Water Quality and Watershed Health

The Critical Role Trees Play in Water Quality and the Health of Watersheds

Trees and forests play a critical role in capturing rainwater and reducing the risk of natural disasters such as floods and landslides. Their intricate root systems act like filters, removing pollutants and slowing down the absorption of water into the soil. This process helps reduce erosion and lessen the likelihood of soil getting over-saturated. Together, these actions make trees a vital element of "green infrastructure" across urban and rural areas. Learn more about the important role that trees play in improving water quality and shielding communities from natural disasters.

How Trees Absorb and Release Water

Similar to us, trees rely on water to survive, and they have developed many strategies to pull it from their surrounding environment. Water that is present in the soil is absorbed via tiny, hairlike roots. Once it has entered a tree's root system, it is pulled up its trunk, through its branches, and into the leaves. Trees can also absorb airborne moisture via their leaves — although a higher percentage of water intake comes from the soil.

How does water defy gravity and travel upwards from the roots of a tree, through its woody tissue, and into its leaves? To answer this question requires understanding the inner workings of trees. Similar to our vascular system, which transports blood throughout our bodies, plants have an internal network of "plumbing", otherwise known as xylem and phloem tissues. These tissues begin in the roots and extend upward through the trunk, and into the branches. From there, they connect to every single leaf.

So how is water pulled through the system? Transpiration — or, the process of water evaporating through openings in the leaves (stomates). When the water evaporates, it creates negative pressure (like a vacuum) within the leaf. As a result, water is pulled into the leaf from the xylem, replacing what was transpired.

Because xylem is a water column that extends from leaf to root, when transpiration occurs at the top of a tree, the vacuum pressure is felt all the way down at its roots. This causes the roots to pull water in from the soil, and the cycle continues. That means that even while a tree is pulling water from the soil, it's releasing moisture back into the atmosphere as water vapor. Pretty incredible, right?

How Trees Improve Water Quality

When trees absorb water, it does more than help them grow and survive. The benefits extend to the surrounding environment. Stormwater runoff can increase people’s exposure to pollution, but trees intercept and filter it, improving the water quality of runoff.

Over time, the storm water is released back into the earth and atmosphere via transpiration. With less contact with pavement, stormwater that has been absorbed and released by trees is cooler and has fewer pollutants when it enters local waterways.

How Trees Protect Watershed Health

A watershed is an area of land that drains rain water or snow into one location such as a stream, lake or wetland. These ecosystems supply drinking water to surrounding communities — and water for agriculture and manufacturing processes. They also offer opportunities for recreation, and provide habitat to a range of plant and animal species.

Trees are intertwined with watershed health, and provide a range of water-related ecosystem services, including filtering excess sediment, nutrients, and toxins before they enter waterways, reducing erosion and flooding, and shading streams so they are at optimal temperatures for aquatic wildlife.

Popular On One Tree Planted

Fundraising Disclosures

One Tree Planted, Inc.'s mission is to work with our partners to reforest our planet, empowering communities, and fostering a healthier, greener future. Financial and other information about our charity’s purpose, programs and activities can be obtained by contacting Annabella Riccio, Chief Development Officer, 145 Pine Haven Shores Rd Ste 1000D Shelburne, VT 05482-7812 United States, 1-800-408-7850. If you are a resident of any of the following states, please review the relevant disclosure statement.

FLORIDA: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-HELP-FLA OR ONLINE AT www.fdacs.gov/ConsumerServices. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. REGISTRATION #: CH66616

GEORGIA: The following information is available upon request: a full and fair description of the charitable program for which the solicitation campaign is being carried out and, if different, a full and fair description of the programs and activities of the charitable organization on whose behalf the solicitation is being carried out, and a financial statement or summary consistent with the financial statement required to be filed with the Secretary of State pursuant to Code Section 43-17-5.

MARYLAND: A copy of the current financial statement of One Tree Planted, Inc. is available by writing to One Tree Planted, Inc. at 145 Pine Haven Shores Rd Ste 1000D Shelburne, VT 05482-7812 United States, or by calling +18004087850. Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Maryland Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401, (410) 974-5534.

MICHIGAN: MICS No. 65659.

MISSISSIPPI: The official registration and financial information of One Tree Planted, Inc. may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office by calling 1-888-236-6167. Registration by the Secretary of State does not imply endorsement by the Secretary of State.

NEVADA: The state of incorporation of One Tree Planted, Inc. is Vermont. Contributions may be tax deductible pursuant to the provisions of Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code.

NEW JERSEY: INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION AND THE PERCENTAGE OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY THE CHARITY DURING THE LAST REPORTING PERIOD THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY BY CALLING 973-504-6215 or 201-504-6215 AND IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT https://njconsumeraffairs.nj.gov/public-charity-search-results REGISTRATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT.

NEW YORK: A copy of the latest annual report may be obtained, upon request, by writing to One Tree Planted, Inc. at 145 Pine Haven Shores Rd Ste 1000D Shelburne, VT 05482-7812 United States, or from the New York State Attorney General’s Charities Bureau, Attn: FOIL Officer, Department of Law, 120 Broadway – 3rd Floor, New York, New York 10271, (212) 416-8401 or https://ag.ny.gov/resources/organizations/charities-nonprofits-fundraisers

NORTH CAROLINA: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 1-888-830-4989 (within North Carolina) or (919) 807-2214 (outside of North Carolina). The license is not an endorsement by the State.

OREGON: One Tree Planted, Inc. registration in no way constitutes or implies any endorsement, sanction, or approval of a solicitation, its purposes, the manner in which it is conducted, or of One Tree Planted, Inc. by the Attorney General or any other governmental agency or officer.

PENNSYLVANIA: The official registration and financial information of One Tree Planted, Inc. may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

VIRGINIA: A financial statement is available from the State Office of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218 upon request.

WASHINGTON: The registration required by the Charitable Solicitation Act is on file with the Washington Secretary of State. Information relating to the financial affairs of One Tree Planted, Inc. is available by calling the Secretary of State at 360-725-0378 (the toll-free number for Washington residents is 800-332-4483).

WEST VIRGINIA: West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, West Virginia 25305. Registration does not imply endorsement.

WISCONSIN: A financial statement of One Tree Planted, Inc. disclosing assets, liabilities, fund balances, revenue and expenses for the preceding fiscal year is available upon request.

CONTRIBUTIONS ARE DEDUCTIBLE FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW. REGISTRATION IN A STATE DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION OF ONE TREE PLANTED, INC. BY THE STATE.

How Trees Improve Water Quality and Watershed Health

Get news, updates, & event Info delivered right to your inbox:

The Critical Role Trees Play in Water Quality and the Health of Watersheds

How Trees Absorb and Release Water

How Trees Improve Water Quality

How Trees Protect Watershed Health

Get news, updates, & event Info delivered right to your inbox:

How Trees Improve Water Quality and Watershed Health

Get news, updates, & event Info delivered right to your inbox:

The Critical Role Trees Play in Water Quality and the Health of Watersheds

How Trees Absorb and Release Water

How Trees Improve Water Quality

How Trees Protect Watershed Health

Get news, updates, & event Info delivered right to your inbox:

Related Posts

Celebrate Earth Day with Purpose: Intention Setting for a Greener Future

22 Ways You Can Help the Environment This Year

Overconsumption: The Hidden Environmental Issue You Can Help Solve

Popular On One Tree Planted

8 Amazing Bamboo Facts

Inspirational Quotes About Trees

How to Reduce Waste: 21 Ideas for Zero Waste Living

Fundraising Disclosures

Be Part of the Restoration Movement

Be Part of the
Restoration Movement