Soil Erosion

The soil next to a river is a great place for trees to grow.  The trees shade the river and the soil, and the river water stays cooler.  But when  these trees are removed, the river water will warm up!  Cutting down trees along the shores of lakes, rivers, and streams can reduce the amount of shade over these waters and, thus, contribute to heating of the water.

A nice shady spot along this river; the water looks cool and inviting!

Trees and plants growing next to a river, stream, or lake help anchor the soil. Without these trees and plants, soil erosion can and increase the cloudiness or turbidity of the water.  Cloudy or turbid water absorbs more heat from the sunlight and, thus, causes an increase in the water temperature.

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