Forest buffer strips: Mapping the water quality benefits

Abstract

Forest buffer strips are widely recommended for trapping nonpoint-source pollutants and protecting surface water quality, yet few models are designed to identify key areas for buffer installation and management. This article presents a conceptual model of polluted runoff dynamics to provide traction in estimating watershed-wide forest buffer needs. Inputs required for these estimates include elevation and land-cover maps, along with derived products that represent basic nutrient runoff principles.