RIPARIAN WETLANDS AND WATER-QUALITY

Because of wet soils adjacent to the stream, riparian buffers are freq uently present between farming and urban activities on the uplands and small streams. These riparian areas have been shown to be very valuab le for the removal of nonpoint-source pollution from drainage water. S everal researchers have measured >90% reductions in sediment and nitra te concentrations in water flowing through the riparian areas. The rip arian buffers are less effective for P removal but may retain 50% of t he surface-water P entering them. I consider riparian buffers to be th e most important factor influencing nonpoint-source pollutants enterin g surface water in many areas of the USA and the most important wetlan ds for surface water quality protection.