MTTC 103 Elementary Practice 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The most serious environmental effect of clear-cut logging in hilly regions of Michigan is the increased soil erosion and silting of local streams. When trees are removed from hilly terrain, the protective cover that their roots provide is lost. This leads to a significant reduction in soil stability, making it more susceptible to erosion, especially during rain events.

As the soil erodes, it can wash into local streams and rivers, causing silting, which can have detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems. This sediment accumulation can smother fish habitats, disrupt the balance of local water systems, and lead to decreased water quality. The impact on waterways is crucial since it affects not just the immediate environment but also the broader ecological balance, influencing wildlife that relies on these bodies of water for survival.

While other environmental effects, such as the potential for increased insect populations or reduced tree species diversity, are also significant, they do not pose as immediate and severe a threat to the overall ecosystem as the erosion and silting caused by clear-cutting in hilly areas.