BUFFER ZONES AROUND WATER-SUPPLY RESERVOIRS

In urbanizing areas, the protection of watersheds draining into potabl e water reservoirs may present a problem. Growing conflicts are arisin g between interest in development of land and desire to preserve drink ing water supplies from contamination. This paper outlines a strategy designed to preclude development only upon a front buffer zone adjacen t to the reservoir itself and lower portions of its tributaries. A wid er zone behind (up slope from) the front buffer would be required to h ave special controls over nonpoint source pollution imposed as a condi tion of development. This special control buffer zone would provide fo r reduction in pollution from the runoff that reaches the reservoir fr om channels and tributaries.