•Importance of controlling agricultural pollution along the Chi-Jia-Wang Stream to protect the habitat of a species of endangered salmon•Paper by Lin C.Y., , Lin W.T., Chou W.C., & . (2002). Modeling the width and placement of riparian vegetated buffer strips: A case study on the Chi-Jai-Wang Stream, Taiwan. Journal of Environmental Management. 66(3), 269-280.•Presented by Robert R. Willis, Environmental Studies, GEOG 370, 3/01/2010

Modeling the width and placement of riparian vegetated buffer strips on the Chi-

Jai-Wang Stream, Taiwan

Estimate Suitable Width for Vegetated Buffer Strips in the Riparian Zone

• Problem: Wastewater, surface runoff and groundwater flow contribute to problems of pesticides, nutrients and other organic pollutants entering the stream.

• Hypothesis: A wider riparian buffer zone is needed to effectively reduce the amount of pollution

Topographic Analysis and Pollutant Transport Simulations

• Study Area: Wu-Lin Farm located on the Chi-Jia-Wang Stream riverbank, Taiwan

• Simulation of pollutant transport: simulated vertical movement of pollutants in soil to estimate safety depth

• Safety depth is vertical depth necessary in a riparian zone for a pollutant to change from high concentration to background level

Results

• Estimated safety depth for Fanarimol is 5.19 m

• Fanarimol is the most highly concentrated pollutant tested so its safety depth should be enough for all other pollutants

• Width of vegetated buffer strip can be obtained by using the safety depth

Conclusion

• When evaluating the total effects of a riparian vegetated buffer strip, the entire watershed area should be considered as a unit

• Riparian zones based on a safety depth of 5.9 m are sufficient for this area

• Criticisms: Results are only from simulation and more accurate results require onsite data verification