Riparian Management Research Articles

Stream bank and sediment movement associated with 2008 flooding, South Fork Iowa River

Stream bank erosion can damage riparian systems and impact the use of water downstream. Risks of bank erosion increase during extreme flood events, and frequencies of extreme events may be increasing under a changing climate. We assessed bank erosion within the South Fork Iowa River (SFIR) watershed caused by 2008 flooding, which set flood stage records in many eastern Iowa streams. Bank positions before and after 2008 were digitized using rectified aerial infrared imagery and overlaid. Differences in stream bank lines were mapped as polygons; those <4 m (13 ft) wide were deleted to eliminate polygons possibly formed by digitizing error. A high-resolution (2 m [6.6 ft] grid) elevation model was used to map elevation changes associated with both erosional and depositional polygons. We estimated that along three streams (SFIR, Tipton Creek, and Beaver Creek) with watershed areas of 20,000 to 36,500 ha (49,000 to 90,150 ac), the 2008 floods widened the channels by 0.5 to 1.1 m (1.6 to 3.6 ft), and about 8.5 ha (21 ac) of land was lost to become part of these channels. The volume and mass losses associated with this movement totaled 117,000 m³ (153,000 yd³), which comprised on average 1.1 Mg m⁻¹ (1 Mg m⁻¹ = 1.01 tn yd⁻¹) of stream length. Below the Tipton Creek confluence, the middle SFIR (58,500 ha [144,500 ac]) was widened by more than 4.4 m (14.4 ft), with about 8.1 Mg (8.9 tn) of sediment lost per meter of stream. The 2008 floods substantially altered these channels, but using images from helicopter flights from late 2008 and 2009, we found evidence that where riparian buffers were kept in ungrazed, grassy vegetation, there was less bank erosion than where grazed pastures lined these channels. Riparian management systems may reduce stream bank erosion even under extreme flooding.

Effect of riparian management on stream morphometry and water quality in oil palm plantations in Borneo

Large-scale conversion of tropical forests into agricultural plantations, particularly oil palm (OP) across South East Asia exerts enormous pressure on freshwater systems. To mitigate impacts on aquatic ecosystems, the retention of riparian buffer zones along stream banks are often advocated for freshwater management. However, there is a severe lack in ecological information available on tropical stream systems advising on the efficacy of different riparian buffer types (with varying quality) to mitigate stream physico-chemical properties after conversion for agricultural use. To test the hypothesis that greater riparian disturbance will have negative effects on stream geomorphology and water quality, we assessed the impacts of riparian vegetation structure and density on stream chemical and physical properties in different riparian buffer types commonly used in OP plantations subjected to a gradient of disturbance: (i) Native forest (NF); (ii) OP – forested buffer (OPF); (iii) OP – untreated palms buffer (no fertilizer and pesticide application) (OPOP); and (iv) OP – treated palms (OPNB). Across the disturbance gradient, riparian species diversity and density decreased with taller trees and high foliage cover. Foliage cover heavily influenced the amount of light received at the stream, bank and buffer zone that concur with stream water temperatures. In-stream litter substrate decreased with increased riparian disturbance. OP streams had higher phosphorus and potassium concentrations that can be attributed to the use of fertilizers while sodium concentrations were higher in NF streams. Generally, OPF was most similar to NF sites whereas OPOP and OPNB sites had similar characteristics showing that riparian vegetation type influences the physical and chemical characteristics of streams. Thus, the use of high quality riparian buffers with forested riparian vegetation in OP plantations to reduce the impacts of land conversion on streams is supported.

Western Oregon forest landowner beliefs about the outcomes of mandatory riparian buffer regulations

ABSTRACTResearch about nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners’ perspectives on voluntary conservation-based programs continues to proliferate. However, there is a gap in understanding NIPF landowner perspectives about the social and ecological outcomes of mandatory conservation-based regulations. We sent questionnaires to Oregon NIPF landowners to understand their beliefs about potential outcomes of proposed state regulations that strengthen mandatory riparian buffer habitat protection requirements. Factor analysis and multiple regression techniques revealed the most important variables that influence those beliefs. Overall, respondents believed that the socioeconomic outcomes were negative and the ecological outcomes were neutral or slightly positive. Respondents with more conservative political attitudes who owned larger properties were more likely to believe that the outcomes would be negative. As the importance of maintaining property for future generations and increasing timber productivity increased, respondents believed the potential outcomes would be increasingly negative. As the importance of improving water quality, increasing carbon storage, and improving recreational use on the property increased, respondents believed that the outcomes would be increasingly positive. We discuss management and policy implications, including communication strategies aimed at engaging with NIPF landowners to highlight the purpose and potential outcomes of forest and riparian management regulations.

Assessing the influence of riparian vegetation structure on bird communities in agricultural Mediterranean landscapes

Natural vegetation has been lost and fragmented in agricultural landscapes worldwide, due to the intensive land use activities. This is also true for riparian ecosystems, where agricultural practices have simplified their structure with significant cascading impacts on wildlife diversity. In this study, three representative Mediterranean riparian habitat types within an agricultural matrix landscape were studied to assess their importance for bird communities. The riparian habitat types had deciduous trees and were with: (a) natural vegetation along a torrent (NaT), (b) natural vegetation along a stream (NaS) and (c) plantation along a stream (PlaS). Three point count surveys were conducted to identify and count the birds within 15 sites in each habitat type during the bird breeding season of 2011. In addition, 11 vegetation structure variables around each point were measured. The canopy cover of the overstory and understory trees, the mean height of the overstory and midstory trees and shrubs, and the percentage of herbaceous vegetation, explained the spatial distribution patterns of the 35 bird species recorded in the study, and the structure of their communities in each riparian habitat type. The NaT was the most diverse habitat type in terms of bird species. However, the value of NaS and PlaS should not be neglected since they supported different bird communities and indicator species compared to the NaT. In Mediterranean riparian areas, by maintaining a complex vertical structure of the riparian vegetation, bird species number and diversity can be enhanced, while targeted riparian management can result in desirable communities or species, depending on their requirements.

Hierarchical procedure for creating local typologies for riparian zone research and management based on biophysical features

Riparian systems have been included as a key component in ecosystem management because of their role in buffering the impact of land-use activities on fluvial systems. Riparian knowledge can be enhanced with a typology that reflects the multiple relationships occurring throughout the landscape. We propose a hierarchical procedure based on biophysical aspects for building local to regional typologies for guiding research and management, using the Cuitzmala River Basin as a case study. The variables involved were obtained from geospatial databases, water balances, and topographic profiles. The levels and variables are context (altitude, geoform [mountains/hills/plains], and runoff coefficient), structure (stream order, longitudinal slope, hydroperiod, and segment length), and microstructure (lateral slope, bankfull width, and length-to-width ratio). We consider humidity and functional gradient along the basin to identify groups of streams and fluvial networks. Inside each network, we described structural and microstructural features associated with riparian functions, linking them with management decisions. Therefore, the proposed hierarchical procedure can help in making riparian heterogeneity visible, focusing research and management goals, and allowing the recognition of a spatial dimension of the processes being studied.

渓畔域での皆伐が渓流環境に与える影響 : 皆伐の影響を緩和する渓畔林帯の幅の検証( 研究発表会)

渓畔域での皆伐が渓流環境に与える影響 : 皆伐の影響を緩和する渓畔林帯の幅の検証( 研究発表会)

The surrounding landscape influences the diversity of leaf-litter ants in riparian cloud forest remnants.

Riparian vegetation is a distinctive and ecologically important element of landscapes worldwide. However, the relative influence of the surrounding landscape on the conservation of the biodiversity of riparian remnants in human-modified tropical landscapes is poorly understood. We studied the surrounding landscape to evaluate its influence on leaf-litter-ant alpha and beta diversity in riparian remnants in the tropical montane cloud forest region of central Veracruz, Mexico. Sampling was carried out in 12 sites with riparian vegetation during both rainy (2011) and dry (2012) seasons. Ten leaf-litter samples were collected along a 100-m transect per site and processed with Berlese-Tullgren funnels and Winkler sacks. Using remotely-sensed and ground-collected data, we characterized the landscape around each site according to nine land cover types and computed metrics of landscape composition and configuration. We collected a total of 8,684 ant individuals belonging to 53 species, 22 genera, 11 tribes, and 7 subfamilies. Species richness and the diversity of Shannon and Simpson increased significantly in remnants immersed in landscapes with a high percentage of riparian land cover and a low percentage of land covers with areas reforested with Pinus, cattle pastures, and human settlements and infrastructure. The composition of ant assemblages was a function of the percentage of riparian land cover in the landscape. This study found evidence that leaf-litter ants, a highly specialized guild of arthropods, are mainly impacted by landscape composition and the configuration of the focal remnant. Maintaining or improving the surrounding landscape quality of riparian vegetation remnants can stimulate the movement of biodiversity among forest and riparian remnants and foster the provision of ecosystem services by these ecosystems. Effective outcomes may be achieved by considering scientific knowledge during the early stages of riparian policy formulation, in addition to integrating riparian management strategies with broader environmental planning instruments.

Wildfire in boreal forest catchments influences leaf litter subsidies and consumer communities in streams: Implications for riparian management strategies

Applying the emerging paradigm of emulation of natural disturbances (END) to forest management requires understanding of how the riparian-aquatic interface responds to natural forest disturbances. A comparison of riparian forest condition and stream function was conducted across boreal, headwater streams with wildfire, harvest with minimum 30m riparian buffers, and reference forested catchment histories. We assessed riparian vegetation characteristics, leaf litter inputs to streams, instream leaf litter decomposition rates using leaf packs, and aquatic macroinvertebrates that colonized the leaf packs. Riparian shrub and juvenile woody-stem community structure was significantly more taxonomically rich and compositionally different at fire than reference sites. Mature tree densities at reference sites were 1.7× and 4× higher than at harvested and fire, respectively. Leaf litter input from riparian forests to streams was significantly greater and compositionally dissimilar at fire compared to harvested and reference sites. Although decomposition of speckled alder (Alnus icana ssp. rugosa) in the leaf packs did not differ significantly among study reaches, the aquatic invertebrate communities found in the leaf packs at fire sites were characterized by significantly higher taxa richness and unique shredder taxa. Detectable differences in riparian forest condition and instream processes suggest that forest management under the END paradigm could sustain ecosystem services (the support of aquatic biodiversity) by inducing riparian forest succession, enhancing leaf litter inputs and organic matter processing, and promoting riparian habitat complexity.

Characterizing streams and riparian areas with airborne laser scanning data

The established position and increasing availability of Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) as an important source of information including forest inventory, allows additional applications to be developed when such data are already available. One key focus area for the application of ALS data is the assessment of riparian ecosystems, due to their critical role for providing, regulating and supporting important ecosystem services. ALS data provide detailed and accurate digital terrain models (DTMs) under forest canopy, which in turn enable the characterization of detailed stream networks, stream properties, and associated vegetation characteristics in adjacent riparian ecotones. In a complex Pacific Northwest coastal forest, we demonstrate how ALS point clouds can be used to map a stream network and characterize stream properties including stream order, width, gradient, sinuosity, and solar shading. Of relevance to regulatory and sustainability related elements of forest management, we demonstrate the use of these data to identify stream classes and related riparian zones, as well as the fish-bearing potential of the stream. The total length of identified streams was 6421.8km, of which 55% were of the lowest order streams. The median stream gradient was 16.4% with median stream width varying between 0.58 and 19.67m for the smallest to largest streams respectively. Stream class and fish bearing potential were evaluated using independent data, with overall accuracies of 61.0% for stream class and 82.9% for fish-bearing potential. The median of stand height, canopy cover, and stand vertical variability within riparian management areas was 19.8m, 88.6%, and 68%, respectively, and in general did not vary across stream orders. The majority of streams (74.4%) were not accessible for anadromous fish. For fish-bearing streams, we found that only 0.2% had a mean stand height <2m, while 2.4% had canopy cover of <20%, and only 7.3% received <10h of shade. The ALS data thus enabled a holistic characterization of riparian ecotones, providing useful information on both stream and vegetation properties that can support sustainable forest management, inform on erosion risk, and become a foundation for the quantification of ecosystem goods and services.

Do trout respond to riparian change? A meta‐analysis with implications for restoration and management

Summary There are strong conceptual links between riparian zones and freshwater fish via riparian influences on water quality, habitat quality and availability, and trophic dynamics. Many of the world's riparian zones are, however, severely degraded, and the key functions they provide for fish are lost or compromised. In response to their ongoing degradation, extensive works are underway globally to restore the structure and function of riparian zones. Despite intense effort, we lack clear empirical evidence of how fishes respond to changes in riparian zones. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to explore how trout (specifically brook, brown, cutthroat, rainbow and steelhead), fish with globally important social, cultural, economic and ecological value, respond to key drivers of riparian alteration. We also identified where and with which species current research is being undertaken and examined the broad characteristics of different studies (e.g. location, focal species, length of study, study design) to better understand potential knowledge gaps in our understanding of how trout respond to changes in riparian zones. ISI Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched for relevant peer‐reviewed studies, and from an initial 6514 papers, 55 were included in the formal meta‐analysis. From these, we extracted data to calculate response ratios comparing biological attributes at sites with altered riparian characteristics to suitable unmanipulated control sites. We used linear mixed effects models to assess general and species‐specific trout responses to eight key ‘drivers’ of change in riparian condition. Most studies were undertaken in North America using control‐impact designs. We found little evidence for species‐specific responses to riparian change, and surprisingly, many drivers deemed important in the literature (e.g. revegetation, managed canopy removal, grazing, and forestry clearing) did not consistently influence trout population‐ or individual‐level metrics. Nonetheless, trout populations did respond positively to increasing woody debris and livestock exclusion (+87.7 and +66.6% respectively), and negatively to bushfire and afforestation (−67.4 and −88.2% respectively). We found some evidence that positive riparian changes may just attract fish (i.e. increased abundance or density) rather than enhance actual population production (i.e. individual size and growth). While this conclusion necessarily needs to be interpreted with caution, it does suggest that targeted research on the ‘production versus attraction’ hypothesis would be beneficial. Several key drivers of riparian change, such as revegetation activities, have been the focus of only limited research. More generally, long‐term data are lacking for most drivers. Both of these key information gaps limit our ability to predict the likely timing and trajectory of responses to riparian management. Robust monitoring programmes in areas with altered riparian zones – particularly using BACI designs to allow changes to be attributed to management – are required. The knowledge gaps present for fishes as ecologically, socially and environmentally important as trout are likely to be even more pronounced for the majority of less‐studied freshwater fish species.

Assessing the long-term ecological effects of riparian management practices on headwater streams in a coastal temperate rainforest

Our understanding of how effective forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) can mitigate logging impacts on the structure and functioning of temperate headwater streams tends to be based upon studies conducted within the first few years post-harvest. Little is known about how the affected biological parameters of streams change during riparian and upland forest regeneration, particularly the time taken to return to pre-harvest levels, or to within the range of reference conditions. By following up on an earlier study in southwestern British Columbia, Canada, we examined the post-logging recovery trajectories of stream attributes under multiple forest treatments. These treatments provided a gradient of riparian protection, including streamside clear-cutting with no reserves, and with fixed-width reserves (10m and 30m), and thinning with 50% basal area removal of riparian trees, which were compared with unharvested control sites. About 15years after clear-cutting and 9years after thinning, slower decomposition of red alder leaves (Alnus rubra) was reported in streams affected by forest harvesting, which was attributed to lower density of shredder invertebrates. Thinned reaches had lower litter decomposition rate than, but similar shredder density and richness to, unharvested reference sites. After a further 7years of forest regrowth (time elapsed between the previous and present study), we found that litter decomposition rate and shredder density in logging-affected reaches converged with values in reference reaches. Stream functional integrity, as reflected by litter decomposition, increased across all forest treatments. Some differences in rarefied shredder richness among forest treatments emerged in this study. The legacy effects of thinning on some biotic variables likely diminished more quickly (2–9years post-harvest) than those of clear-cutting with and without riparian reserves (8–15years). Stream recovery from thinning to reference conditions should continue to warrant attention, as wider, larger-scale partial harvesting practices are recommended within emerging paradigms of forest management. Overall, our findings indicate time scales towards recovery of an important ecological process of streams under common forestry practices, which could be longer than other stream properties, such as water quality. Such differences in recovery time frames should be considered for the planning of forestry operations and monitoring of harvesting legacies.

Riparian vegetation management for water temperature regulation: implications for the production of macroinvertebrate prey of salmonids

AbstractThe effect of riparian vegetation on the seasonal availability of macroinvertebrate prey for salmonids was examined. Although prey composition changed significantly between sampling seasons, overall prey density remained similar. It is often assumed that there is greater benthic production within streams without riparian vegetation, but this assumption was found to be dependent on stream size. The presence of riparian vegetation increased benthic macroinvertebrate density, but only in larger streams. Greater densities of prey of terrestrial origin were found in the drift of streams with riparian cover but only in spring. An unforeseen contributor to potential prey items for salmonids in streams with riparian vegetation was the increased presence of drifting prey of aquatic origin. The results further support riparian management as a viable tool for regulating instream temperatures without impacting on macroinvertebrate density. The presence of riparian vegetation can even increase salmonid prey availability in some instances.

Riparian management: A restoration tool for New Zealand streams

SummaryMany New Zealanders are planning and implementing riparian management, and riparian fencing and planting are now standard best practice tools for water quality and habitat restoration. New Zealand has a long history of action, with the first catchment riparian schemes and science dating back to the 1970s. As a result of this, there is now solid scientific evidence that demonstrates the value of a range of management actions including the following: riparian zones and buffers for livestock exclusion (fencing with or without planting), nutrient processing, shading small streams for temperature control, providing leaf and wood input to stream ecosystems, and enhancing fish and invertebrate habitat. In the last decade or so, on‐ground action has accelerated significantly with the introduction of dairy industry and government agreed targets. In 2015, 96% of dairy cows had been excluded from waterways &gt;1 m wide and &gt;30 cm deep on land that cows graze during the milking season providing impetus for on‐ground action to spread into other pastoral industries. Tools for planning, managing and implementing successful riparian restoration have proliferated, informed by on‐ground successes and failures. Despite this, there remain challenges for individuals or communities planning riparian restoration. Careful case‐by‐case assessment is recommended to ensure that plans match design to local landscape constraints and can realistically contribute to improved water quality or habitat outcomes.

Riparian Management of Perennial Coastal Streams with Potential Habitat for a Tailed Frog (Ascaphus truei)

Assessments were conducted at stream reaches associated with recent harvesting in the mid-coast of British Columbia to: 1) determine how riparian vegetation has been managed around coastal streams that do not typically require a riparian reserve, but contain potential habitat for tailed frogs, and 2) correlate harvest prescriptions with habitat quality. The results are intended to guide decisions related to harvesting around small fish-bearing, and all non-fish streams on the mid-coast of BC. We found that bedrock-dominated reaches exhibited less disturbance than erodible streams when subjected to riparian cutting but their confined channels may have facilitated the transfer of road debris downstream, creating blockages and dewatering. Tailed-frog tadpoles were observed where some riparian harvesting had occurred, but the channels were stable and stream flow undisturbed. Recommendations for best practices when planning to harvest around perennial coastal streams include the consideration of geologic site characteristics prior to making harvesting decisions.

A catchment-scale assessment of stream temperature response to contemporary forest harvesting in the Oregon Coast Range

Historical forest harvesting practices, where the riparian canopy was removed, generally increased energy loading to the stream and produced higher stream temperatures. As such, contemporary forest management practices require maintenance of streamside vegetation as riparian management areas, with an important function of providing shade and minimizing solar radiation loading to streams to mitigate stream water temperature changes. The Alsea Watershed Study Revisited in the Oregon Coast Range provided a unique opportunity to investigate and compare the stream temperature responses to contemporary forest harvesting practices (i.e., maintenance of riparian vegetation) with the impacts from historical (1960s) harvesting practices (i.e., no riparian vegetation). Here we present an analysis of 6years (3years pre-harvest and 3years post-harvest) of summer stream temperature data from a reference (Flynn Creek) and a harvested catchment (Needle Branch). There was no evidence that the (a) 7-day moving mean of daily maximum (T7DAYMAX) stream temperature, (b) mean daily stream temperature, or (c) diel stream temperature changed in the study stream reaches following contemporary forest harvesting practices. The only parameter of interest that changed after forest harvesting was the T7DAYMAX when analyses were constrained to the Oregon regulatory period of July 15 to August 15 and all sites in each catchment were grouped together—in this case stream temperature increased 0.6±0.2°C (p=0.002). However, over the entire post-harvest study period, the warmest maximum daily stream temperature observed in Needle Branch was 14.7°C—in the original Alsea Watershed Study, maximum daily stream temperatures rose to 21.7°C (1966) and 29.4°C (1967) in the first two post-harvest years, providing evidence that current harvesting practices have improved protection for stream water temperatures.

Riparian management affects instream habitat condition in a dairy stream catchment

ABSTRACTUsing a space-for-time substitution design, we investigated the response of structural instream habitat and fish populations to different riparian management practices throughout a Dairy Best Practice Catchment. We found a significant negative correlation between the upstream area of stock exclusion fencing and deposited instream fine sediment cover. Furthermore, we determined that this relationship emerges when ≥300 m lengths of upstream riparian area were included in the analysis, indicating the scale at which stock exclusion fencing results in a positive instream habitat response. Specifically, for this historically degraded spring-fed stream, our findings indicate that riparian segments with 5 m wide stock exclusion fences (both banks) are required to achieve instream fine sediment cover below 20% in downstream reaches. Fish were sparse and evenly spread throughout the catchment. Fish distributions were not correlated with reach-scale riparian or instream habitat variables, possibly because the available habitat quality gradient was too narrow.

Managing emerging contaminants in watersheds: Need for comprehensive, systems-based strategies

While much has been done to reduce conventional pollutants in watershed systems, emerging contaminants (ECs) are posing a major threat to health and environment. These contaminants pose a threat to humans and to ecosystems. There is a critical need for comprehensive strategies that aim at watershed system-wide abatement (source-transfer-fate levels) using both structural and nonstructural approaches. In this study, we review sources, occurrence and harmful impacts of ECs with an eye toward watershed-scale mitigation strategies at source, transfer, fate, and organismal response levels. The use and efficiency of activated carbon, ozonation, photocatalysis, photo fenton, reverse osmosis and constructed wetlands are useful in mitigation. Management priority is needed for pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides, and industrial contaminants that are increasing in frequency and concentrations. Structural approaches at source level can include best management practices like buffer strips, riparian management, natural and constructed wetlands. These natural strategies are cost-effective for small communities due to low operational cost and energy consumption. Non-structural approaches can include dissemination of information, education, outreach, incentives for mitigation, and policy mechanism for compliance. A comprehensive, watershed-based, systems approach with multi-level strategies at source, transfer and sink level for efficient abatement of ECs and sustainability of watershed systems.

A Synthesis of Stream Restoration Efforts in Florida (USA)

Studies summarizing stream restoration projects in the US are outdated and omit the majority of restoration projects in Florida. To address this gap, we compiled stream restoration data from diverse sources to create a Florida Stream Restoration Database (FSRD, available at http://www.watershedecology.org/databases.html) containing information on project type, location, completion date, and costs. The FSRD contains 178 projects categorized by restoration type, including riparian management (23%), stream reclamation (19%), flow modification (13%), bank stabilization (12%), channel reconfiguration (11%), in-stream habitat improvements (11%), floodplain reconnection (6%), invasive species removal (4%), and dam removal (1%). Projects were spatially clustered into three geographic regions, providing insight on the diversity of initiatives, needs, and funding sources of land management agencies and private landowners that motivated restoration efforts. Projects in the Florida panhandle emphasized in-stream habitat restoration, while peninsular projects were dominated by flow modification, and projects in the west central region focused on stream reclamation to mitigate surface mining practices and water quality and habitat improvements in tidal streams. Results suggest that Florida is spending much more on stream restoration than previously documented. Between 1979 and 2015, the mean and median stream restoration project costs in Florida were $15.4 million and $180 000, respectively, indicating a strongly skewed distribution because of the large Kissimmee River restoration project in central Florida. This work highlights the need for, and utility of, statewide and national restoration databases to improve restoration tracking. This need will become increasingly critical as more stringent water quality and habitat mitigation rules are implemented across the country. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Elaboração de Carta de Adequabilidade Ambiental de uma pequena propriedade rural no município de São Miguel Arcanjo, São Paulo, utilizando técnicas de geoprocessamento

RESUMO Utilizando técnicas de geoprocessamento, cartas de declividades, de solos, de uso e cobertura vegetal, a Lei Federal nº 12.651/2012 e as recomendações do Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) para áreas ripárias, este trabalho teve por objetivo elaborar uma Carta de Adequabilidade Ambiental que indica os níveis de adequação ambiental e legal da área de estudo. A Carta de Uso do Solo e Cobertura Vegetal mostrou que o uso agrícola ocupa 44% da área de estudo, seguido pela vegetação nativa (29,1%). A Carta de Declividaderevela que 62,1% da área de estudo possui classe de declividade entre 6 e 12% e 23,3% entre classe de 12 a 20%. Na área de estudo foi identificado somente o Latossolo Vermelho Distrófico, de baixa vulnerabilidade à erosão. Baseado na lei já citada e recomendações do FSC (2005) para gerenciamento de áreas ripárias, foi elaborada a Carta de Usos Restritosna qual a área de preservação permanente (APP) existente ocupa 22,4% da área, a APP a recompor 0,3%, a reserva legal 18,3% e a área de gestão ripária 9,9%. Essas três últimas cartas temáticas foram sobrepostas, considerando sua importância na conservação dos recursos hídricos e atendimento legal, para gerar a Carta de Uso Conservacionista, que demonstra que as áreas com alta e muito alta prioridade são as APP e as de declividade entre 12 e 20% e representam 45,5% da área de estudo. Essa carta foi sobreposta pela Carta de Uso do Solo e Cobertura Vegetale por meio de uma soma ponderada foi produzida a Carta de Adequação Ambientalque indica os níveis de adequação da área de estudo. A integração de variáveis ambientais com os requisitos legais se mostrou eficaz para avaliar as áreas potenciais para adequação ambiental, indicando que aproximadamente 44% da área de estudo necessita de algum tipo de adequação.

Managing Emerging Contaminants: Status, Impacts, and Watershed-Wide Strategies

Widespread occurrence of emerging contaminants (ECs) in water bodies is a major health concern worldwide, both in developing and developed countries. Contaminants from pharmaceutical, personal care products, pest control, and animal operations enter water bodies and can exceed acceptable levels. ECs can cause harmful impacts on aquatic and terrestrial wildlife and human communities. Endocrine disrupting chemicals cause a number of reproductive and sexual abnormalities in wildlife and humans. During prenatal and/or early postnatal life, exposure to these chemicals can impair the development of the endocrine system and of the organs that respond to endocrine signals in organisms. The effects during development are permanent and sometimes irreversible. Managing ECs in water resources is a critical issue that requires attention especially in sensitive ecosystems and in rapidly developing areas. There is a need for a comprehensive framework that aims at system-wide abatement (source-transfer-fate levels) using both structural and non-structural approaches. In this study, we review the state of this problem in developing and developed countries, nature of their impacts on aquatic organisms, terrestrial animals, and on public health. A comprehensive, innovative, and novel approach with multi-level strategies at source, transfer, and sink level is proposed for effective removal of ECs. Some structural approaches at source level for abatement of ECs include the use of best management practices like buffer strips, riparian management, natural, and constructed wetlands. Since these strategies have multi-level applicability, they are cost-effective alternatives to include in wastewater treatment. Among structural approaches at sink level, powdered activated carbon, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis can remove most of the emerging organic. However, the cost of treatment by these methods is high and it is inevitable for treating drinking water. Besides structural approaches, non-structural approaches play a major role and need to use targeted strategies in dissemination of information, outreach to modify human behavior, incentives for controlling contaminant loads, and improved and updated policy mechanism for compliance to pollutant standards.