Poster Abstract Details

Author(s):
K. Cunningham, C. Stuhlinger, H. Liechty, and J. Pennington

Affiliation:
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

Presentation Type:
Poster

Topic Area:
Science delivery and exchange of information for natural resource professionals, policymakers, and private citizens

Abstract Text:
Research has proven riparian buffers to be beneficial in protecting waterways from storm water runoff and stream bank deterioration. Specifically, the greatest riparian buffer benefits involve an ability to reduce sediment loads reaching waterways and to reduce erosion hazard. Buffers also provide varying levels of protection from excess nutrients from adjacent land-uses. Furthermore, riparian buffers play a role in maintaining aquatic ecosystems. While riparian buffers are somewhat commonplace in eastern and midwest states, they have been an underutilized resource in some southern states including Arkansas. In northwest Arkansas, high P, N, and microbial levels in waterways has spawned significant concerns, controversy and lawsuits between Oklahoma and Arkansas in recent decades. Land use dynamics, socio-economics, lack of information, lack of use of available incentive programs, and other factors have been a primary factor in the underutilization of riparian buffers to supplement efforts for reducing these impacts. With the advent of a newly established CREP incentive program for the Illinois River Watershed in northwest Arkansas, The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture recognized a need for information dissemination and has worked to improve stakeholder knowledge of the uses, benefits, implementation, and available incentives of riparian buffers. The primary method of information dissemination has been through creating a series of demonstration buffers at different locations across the region. The demonstrations involved the establishment of five buffer types including: 3-zone riparian forest buffers, urban buffers, wildlife buffers, grass buffers, and naturalized buffers. Initially, the 3-zone RFB and naturalized buffer types were implemented as pilot demonstrations. Ultimately, a demonstration complex of all 5 buffer types was established at the Water Research and Education Center at the University of Arkansas - Fayetteville. The demonstrations along with developed informative materials have been utilized in workshops, conferences, and tours to educate watershed/streamside stakeholders and have played a role in public policy as the City of Fayetteville has worked to establish a streamside protection ordinance.