Technical Abstract: Best Management Practices (BMPs) protect streams by excluding cattle from streambanks and by filtering the run-off flowing from animal heavy use areas like feeding and watering stations. Conservation standards recommend placing buffers and filter strips downslope from heavy use areas, but do not explain how to do so. We compared two methods of siting BMPs: placing them at the closest point on the stream, or using elevation maps to trace topographic effects on water movement from the concentration area to the stream. Fine (1m resolution), medium (10m) and coarse (30m) elevation maps all showed that water from heavy use areas can enter the stream a long distance from the closest point, most commonly 85m away. Water travels 91% farther from the heavy use area to the stream than measuring to the closest stream point would suggest. The medium-resolution elevation maps (10m) were most useful for planning the locations of new BMPs.