In the early 1930s, New York State bought 340,000 acres of abandoned farmland for trees. 26 years later, the new forests had significantly reduced runoff, with their effect stable through 1967

In the early 1930s, more than 340,000 acres of abandoned farmland in New York were purchased by the State Conservation Department for planting, growing and harvesting trees. The land gradually changed from heavy weed and brush cover into dense coniferous woodlands, with trees eventually averaging more than 30 feet high, as per study titled, 'Reforestation with Conifers: Its Effect on Streamflow in Central New York.' The reforestation also affected streamflow.

Since 1932, hydrologic data had been collected in Central New York to determine how reforestation affected streamflow. Researchers monitored three small partly reforested areas and one non-reforested control area.