inyalrology 
Forest and rangelands occupy the Nation’s most 
important water producing areas. The hydrologist 
plays an important role in the planning, design, and 
implementation of management practices on those 
lands. 
The Forest Service offers a wide variety of oppor- 
tunities for the hydrologists in National Forest adminis- 
tration, research, and State and private cooperative 
forestry programs. For example, the Forest Service 
hydrologist: 
© Determines and analyzes watershed conditions 
and associated hydrologic and climatic variables 
in terms of management potentials, limitations, 
and hazards. 
Prepares plans and prescriptions for minimizing 
possible adverse effects of (1) resource use and 
development, (2) construction of improvements, 
and (3) natural catastrophe on the water 
resource. 
Recommends, designs, and assists in imple- 
menting installation of flood control, soil con- 
servation, and watershed improvements. 
Helps determine the criteria, needs, and oppor- 
tunities for blending water yield improvement 
land and 
with other resource management 
objectives. 
Collecting a water sample from a forested watershed in eastern Ken- 
tucky to determine whether there is any change in water quality. 
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Determines the influence of grazing, timber 
harvest, minerals management, recreation use, 
road construction, waste disposal, and other 
management activities on the water resource 
and on the local microclimate. 
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS 
Since hydrology is an applied science, it overlaps 
many scientific fields. To be properly qualified, the 
applicant should have a broad knowledge of soil 
physics, ecology, climatology, plant physiology, aquatic 
biology, geohydrology, economics, and social science 
in addition to a working knowledge of water science, 
computer science, mathematics, and statistics. 
Hydrologists in the Forest Service must have suc- 
cessfully completed a full 4-year course of study at an 
accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s 
(or higher) degree with major study in watershed 
management, hydrology, or aquatic biology. Candi- 
dates lacking a specialized degree may qualify if 
their course of study included a minimum of 6 semester 
hours in hydrology and 6 semester hours in analytical 
geometry and calculus plus a total of at least 30 
semester hours in any combination of courses which 
includes at least four of the following: statistics, com- 
puter science, physical science, engineering science, 
soil physics, aquatic biology, geohydrology, clima- 
tology, or land and water resource management or 
conservation. 
Watershed scientist testing water sample at Water Cress Spring, Mark 
Twain National Forest, Missouri. 
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