A few weeks after publication of this Article, as a result of comments from James Kirchner and colleagues, we realized that our assembled dataset of paired watershed studies, used to assess the streamflow response to forest removal and planting, contains errors in the percentage change in streamflow associated with land cover modifications. Second, the effects of continent-wide forest removal on streamflow (Table 1 of the Article) are overestimated, because we assumed a starting condition of 100% forest cover. Third, there are serious concerns regarding model validation that need to be assessed using the corrected data. Correcting these honest mistakes goes beyond a simple Author Correction, and therefore we and the Nature editors wish to retract this Article. There are two Matters Arising that accompany this Retraction Note, by James W. Kirchner et al. (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-1940-6) and by Adriaan J. Teuling & Anne J. Hoek van Dijke (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-1941-5). We have decided not to respond because we do not wish to cause further confusion by defending a retracted paper. We are working with Kirchner and colleagues to constructively address the issues raised in a revised paper; if and when it is published we will alert readers by posting a comment to this Retraction.