Management effects on runoff and sediment transport in riparian forest buffers

The effectiveness of mature riparian forests in reducing the impact of agri culture on the quality of the nation's water resources has been documented, but the impact of forest management practices implemented within riparian forest buffers on their water quality function has not been evaluated. This article examines the effect of forest management within a Coastal Plain ri parian forest buffer system (RFBS) on runoff and sediment transport over a four year period. The RFBS, which conformed to USDA-FS and USDA-NRCS best m anagement recommendations, included a narrow ship of undisturbed forest loc ated adjacent to the stream drainage system (Zone 1), a wide managed pine f orest downslope from the grass filter (Zone 2), and a narrow grass filter s trip immediately downslope from an agricultural field (Zone 3). Forest mana gement treatments evaluated within Zone 2 were mature forest, clear-cut and selectively-thinned Significant reductions in runoff and sediment transpor t were measured under all three forest management treatments. The primary z one of runoff and sediment reduction was within the grass filter portion of the RFBS. These results indicate that riparian forests within a RFBS may b e managed for economic return to the land owner without adversely affecting the runoff and sediment reduction function performed by these buffer syste ms.