Best Management Practices Affect Water Quality in Coastal Watersheds

Abstract

Coastal ecosystems are vulnerable due to watershed sediment and nutrient loads. In this study, the hydrology and water quality of two coastal watersheds, Wolf River watershed (WRW) and Jourdan River watershed (JRW), were assessed using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). Model performance evaluation was performed using the coefficient of determination (R2) and the Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE). After model calibration and validation, the effectiveness of ponds, wetlands, riparian buffers, and their combination as best management practices (BMPs) were analyzed. Total suspended solids (TSS) was reduced by 31.15% in the pond scenario and 30.37% in the wetland in WRW. In addition, mineral phosphorous (MinP) was reduced by 11.84% and 9.63% in ponds and wetlands, respectively. Similarly, in JRW, TSS was reduced by 74.89% in ponds and 74.90% in wetlands. Likewise, ponds and wetlands reduced MinP by 8.05% and 13.40%, respectively. Among four riparian buffer scenarios, the 30 m buffer prompted the estimation of higher reductions such as TSS by 28.36% and MinP by 29.77% in WRW, whereas a 13.14% TSS and 22.89% MinP reduction in JRW. In addition, combined BMP, TSS was reduced by 30.37% and MinP by 52.09% in WRW, followed by a 74.92% reduction in TSS and 27.37% in MinP in JRW. All BMP implementations were effective in reducing TSS and MinP. This study suggests that ponds and wetlands were effective in reducing TSS and riparian buffers were effective in reducing MinP. These findings could be insightful in coastal watershed management.