Citation:

Ghimire, S., R. Parmar, J. Corona, G. Mahadwar, R. Srinivasan, K. Mendoza, AND JohnM Johnston. Sensitivity of Riparian Buffer Designs to Climate Change - Nutrient and Sediment Loading to Streams: A Case Study in Back Creek Watershed (VA, USA) Using HAWQS. AWRA 2021 Virtual Summer Conference: Connecting Land & Water for Healthy Communities, Virtual, July 19 - 21, 2021.

Impact/Purpose:

Riparian buffers can help protect stream water quality and restore impaired waters due to nitrogen pollution under the 303(d) section of the Clean Water Act (CWA). In this study, we conducted sensitivity analysis of 45 simulated riparian buffer zone (RBZ) designs (i.e., varying buffer vegetated length and width) and assessed the influence of four future climate change scenarios of precipitation and temperature drivers on five water quality index (WQI) parameters: Dissolved Oxygen, Total Phosphorous, Total Nitrogen, Total Suspended Solids, and Biochemical Oxygen Demand at the watershed scale of Back Creek located in VA (USA). This research guides our future analyses of RBZs adapted to other watersheds nationwide and complements the EPA Office of Water research on the quantification and monetization of the benefits of water quality changes in the U.S.

Description:

We conducted a sensitivity analysis of 45 simulated riparian buffer zone (RBZ) designs (i.e., varying buffer vegetated length and width) to understand potential trade-offs between the RBZ designs and water quality changes. The EPA/Texas A&M HAWQS model was adapted to the Back Creek watershed within the Albemarle-Pamlico river basins. Using the Hydrologic and Water Quality System (HAWQS) and Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), we assessed the influence of four future climate change scenarios of precipitation and temperature drivers on five water quality index (WQI) parameters: Dissolved Oxygen, Total Phosphorous, Total Nitrogen, Total Suspended Solids, and Biochemical Oxygen Demand at the watershed scale. Results spanning a future climate range from drier to wetter and hotter to cooler were compared with no-RBZ design as the baseline for years 2070-2099. Temperature was found to be a stronger driver of stream WQ change compared to precipitation, primarily resulting from the loss of snow cover in late winter months that increased erosion. These preliminary findings will guide our future analyses of RBZs adapted to other watersheds within the Albemarle-Pamlico river basins and nationwide.

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