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STREAM NETWORK EXPANSION: A RIPARIAN WATER QUALITY FACTOR
Citation:
WIGINGTON JR, P. J., T. Moser, AND D. R. Lindeman. STREAM NETWORK EXPANSION: A RIPARIAN WATER QUALITY FACTOR. Hydrological Processes. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Indianapolis, IN, 19(8):1715-1721, (2005).
Description:
Little is known about how active stream network expansion during rainstorms influences the ability of riparian buffers to improve water quality. We used aerial photographs to quantify stream network expansion during the wet winter season in five agricultural watersheds in western Oregon. Winter stream drainage densities were nearly two orders of magnitude greater than summer stream densities, and agricultural land use was much more abundant along transient portions (e.g., swales, road ditches) of stream networks. Water moving from agricultural fields into expanded stream networks during large hydrologic events has the opportunity to bypass downstream riparian buffers along perennial streams.