Assessing impacts of riparian buffer zones on sediment and nutrient loadings into streams at watershed scale using an integrated REMM-SWAT model

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 916-924 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chengfu Zhang ◽  
Sheng Li ◽  
Junyu Qi ◽  
Zisheng Xing ◽  
Fanrui Meng
Keyword(s):  
Swat Model ◽  
Riparian Buffer ◽  
Watershed Scale ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
Nutrient Loadings ◽  
Riparian Buffer Zones

Dimensioning of riparian buffer zones in agricultural catchments at national level

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn Uuemaa ◽  
Ain Kull ◽  
Kiira Mõisja ◽  
Hanna-Ingrid Nurm ◽  
Alexander Kmoch
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
National Level ◽  
Agricultural Runoff ◽  
Riparian Buffer ◽  
Soil Types ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
Slope Length ◽  
Local Flow ◽  
Riparian Buffer Zones ◽  
Buffer Width

<p>Intensive agricultural production interferes with natural cycles of nutrients (mostly nitrogen and phosphorus) and may lead to water quality degradation due to excessive nutrient loadings. To mitigate this effect at the landscape level establishment of buffering vegetated strips is an efficient measure.</p><p>Recommending optimal widths for riparian buffer zones to reduce the agricultural runoff is still a challenging task, in particular when considering the spatial variability of the landscape. Empirical-based approaches include assessment of terrain, soil types, land use and vegetation, and are often realised in computationally expensive hydrological simulation. However, trade-offs have to be made between spatial resolution and areal extent. Another elegant empirical-based approach are nomographs, where via triangulation of a specific slope length, terrain slope and soil type recommended buffer width can be easily calculated. Mander and Kuusemets (1998) already developed such a nomograph for Estonian catchments in 1998, yet, a computational use case has not been explored.</p><p>We implemented the nomograph as a GIS algorithm in Python/QGIS to retrieve the recommended buffer width at national level. We synthesized a specific slope length via a weighted average of flow length, local flow accumulation and LS factor, and then use the specific slope length, slope derived from 5 m spatial resolution DEM and soil texture classes as inputs for the algorithm. We applied this algorithm and calculated recommendable buffer strip widths for the whole of country of Estonia, over an area of approx. 43,000 km<sup>2</sup>. We evaluated the uncertainty of the results as well the algorithm’s sensitivity to input weights.</p><p>The developed algorithm is applicable in any region with relevant adjustments to local soil types. The result directly informs policy making by being able to more specifically decide and explain variations of buffer zone widths along water bodies.</p>

Hydrogeologic controls on the transport and fate of nitrate in ground water beneath riparian buffer zones: results from thirteen studies across the United States

2004 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 47-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.J. Puckett
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Ground Water ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Riparian Zone ◽  
The United States ◽  
Riparian Buffer ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Riparian Buffer Zones

During the last two decades there has been growing interest in the capacity of riparian buffer zones to remove nitrate from ground waters moving through them. Riparian zone sediments often contain organic carbon, which favors formation of reducing conditions that can lead to removal of nitrate through denitrification. Over the past decade the National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program has investigated the transport and fate of nitrate in ground and surface waters in study areas across the United States. In these studies riparian zone efficiency in removing nitrate varied widely as a result of variations in hydrogeologic factors. These factors include (1) denitrification in the up-gradient aquifer due to the presence of organic carbon or other electron donors, (2) long residence times (>50 years) along ground-water flow paths allowing even slow reactions to completely remove nitrate, (3) dilution of nitrate enriched waters with older water having little nitrate, (4) bypassing of riparian zones due to extensive use of drains and ditches, and (5) movement of ground water along deep flow paths below reducing zones. By developing a better understanding of the hydrogeologic settings in which riparian buffer zones are likely to be inefficient we can develop improved nutrient management plans.

scholarly journals Concentrated flow paths in riparian buffer zones of southern Illinois

2011 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Pankau ◽  
J. E. Schoonover ◽  
K. W. J. Williard ◽  
P. J. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Riparian Buffer ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Southern Illinois ◽  
Concentrated Flow ◽  
Riparian Buffer Zones

Planted Riparian Buffer Zones in New Zealand: Do They Live Up to Expectations?

2003 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 436-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Parkyn ◽  
Rob J. Davies-Colley ◽  
N. Jane Halliday ◽  
Kerry J. Costley ◽  
Glenys F. Croker
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Riparian Buffer ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
Riparian Buffer Zones
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