Southern Appalachian Vitality Index

Percent of Watershed Highly Threatened by Insects and Disease

Models that estimate the risk of threatening processes, including forest pathogen outbreaks, are then compared to the forest importance model to determine levels of threat in different watersheds. The risk of forest insect and disease outbreak is estimated by measuring forest conditions that are thought to be favorable for colonization and establishment by pathogens of concern in different regions.

This assessment provides spatial data that can help identify areas important for protecting surface water quality in broad-scale planning contexts, and can help identify areas for further local analysis. Maps generated from these data are also useful as education tools for illustrating links between forest dynamics and the sustainability of clean water supplies.