Assessing effectiveness of long-term forestry best management practices on stream water quality at a basin scale—a case study in Southern USA

Five streams in catchments with pastoral dairy farming as the dominant land use were monitored for periods of 7–16 years to detect changes in response to adoption of best management practices (BMPs). Stream water quality was degraded at the start with respect to N, P, suspended solids (SS) and E. coli concentrations, and was typical of catchments with intensive pastoral agriculture land use. Trend analysis showed a decrease in SS concentration for all streams, generally increasing water clarity, and lower E. coli concentrations in three of the streams. These are attributed to improved stream fencing (cattle exclusion) and greater use of irrigation for treated effluent disposal with less reliance on pond systems discharging to streams. Linkages between water quality and farm actions based on survey data were used to develop BMPs that were discussed at stakeholder workshops. Generic and specific BMPs were developed for the five catchments. The 3–7 year periodicity of major climate cycles, as well as market forces and a slow rate of farmer adoption of simple BMPs mean that monitoring programs in New Zealand need to be much longer than 10 years to detect changes caused by farmer actions. Long-term monitoring is also needed to detect responses to newly legislated requirements for improved water quality.

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Best Management Practices and Long-Term Water Quality Trends in the Everglades Agricultural Area

Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology ◽

10.1080/10643389.2010.530905 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 41 (sup1) ◽

pp. 608-632 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Samira H. Daroub ◽

Stuart Van Horn ◽

Timothy A. Lang ◽

Orlando A. Diaz

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Agricultural Area ◽

Everglades Agricultural Area ◽

Best Management ◽

Water Quality Trends

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Preliminary Evaluation of Effects of Best Management Practices in the Black Earth Creek, Wisconsin, Priority Watershed

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1993.0457 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 28 (3-5) ◽

pp. 539-548 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

John F. Walker ◽

David J. Graczyk

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Mass Transport ◽

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Nonpoint Source ◽

Transitional Period ◽

Preliminary Evaluation ◽

Best Management ◽

Creek Watershed ◽

Basin Scale

Nonpoint-source contamination accounts for a substantial part of the water quality problems in many watersheds. The Wisconsin Nonpoint Source Water Pollution Abatement Program provides matching money for voluntary implementation of various best management practices (BMPs). The effectiveness of BMPs on a drainage-basin scale has not been adequately assessed in Wisconsin by use of data collected before and after BMP implementation. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, monitored water quality in the Black Earth Creek watershed in southern Wisconsin from October 1984 through September 1986 (pre-BMP conditions). BMP implementation began during the summer of 1989 and is planned to continue through 1993. Data collection resumed in fall 1989 and is intended to provide information during the transitional period of BMP implementation (1990-93) and 2 years of post-BMP conditions (1994-95). Preliminary results presented for two subbasins in the Black Earth Creek watershed (Brewery and Garfoot Creeks) are based on data collected during pre-BMP conditions and the first 3 years of the transitional period. The analysis includes the use of regressions to control for natural variability in the data and, hence, enhance the ability to detect changes. Data collected to date (1992) indicate statistically significant differences in storm mass transport of suspended sediment and ammonia nitrogen at Brewery Creek. The central tendency of the regression residuals has decreased with the implementation of BMPs; hence, the improvement in water quality in the Brewery Creek watershed is likely a result of BMP implementation. Differences in storm mass transport at Garfoot Creek were not detected, primarily because of an insufficient number of storms in the transitional period. As practice implementation continues, the additional data will be used to determine the level of management which results in significant improvements in water quality in the two watersheds. Future research will address techniques for including snowmelt runoff and early spring storms.

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Sediment delivery in managed forests: a review

Environmental Reviews ◽

10.1139/a05-016 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 59-87 ◽

Cited By ~ 87

Author(s):

J C Croke ◽

P B Hairsine

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Stream Water ◽

Timber Harvesting ◽

Forest Harvesting ◽

Managed Forests ◽

Stream Water Quality ◽

Sediment Delivery ◽

Forest Road

The opening or removal of forest canopies during harvesting or land clearing results in a predictable sequence of responses, the descriptions of which appear remarkably similar around the world. Such activities are now widely acknowledged to have adverse impacts upon water quality and in-stream ecology. Sediment delivery, therefore, encapsulates the dominant process by which water resources are impacted and the process that can be best managed to limit off-site impacts. This paper is a review of current processes, and perceptions, of sediment delivery in managed forests. We outline the major components of sediment and runoff delivery as they relate specifically to timber harvesting activities. Whilst much existing research has focused upon soil loss as the major component of timber harvesting impacts, this review highlights both the need for, and benefits from, a conceptual advance in our thinking of sediment delivery. We advocate that by managing runoff delivery pathways and the resultant pattern of hydrological connectivity, we can limit the potential adverse effects of forest harvesting on in-stream water quality. Specific attention is given here to the interaction of the forest road and track network with both sediment and runoff delivery. The result is a comprehensive account of how best to manage timber harvesting for both on-site sustainability and off-site water resource protection.Key words: timber harvesting, sediment delivery, road network, connectivity, best management practices (BMPs).

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