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Title: STREAM WATER QUALITY IN UNFENCED STREAMS OF THE GEORGIA PIEDMONT, USA

Author
item CABRERA, M - UGA
item BYERS, H - UGA
item MATTHEWS, M - UGA
item Franklin, Dorcas
item ANDRAE, J - UGA
item RADCLIFFE, D - UGA
item NCCABB, N - UGA
item KUYKENDALL, H - NRCS
item HOVELAND, C - UGA
item CALVERT, V - UGA

Submitted to: Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/4/2004
Publication Date: 11/4/2004
Citation: Cabrera, M.L., Byers, H.L., Matthews, M.K., Franklin, D.H., Andrae, J.G., Radcliffe, D.E., Nccabb, N.A., Kuykendall, H.A., Hoveland, C.S., Calvert, V.H. 2004. Stream water quality in unfenced streams of the Georgia Piedmont, USA. Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Contamination of unfenced streams in grazed pastures may be affected by the availability of shade and water troughs. The objectives of this study were 1) to evaluate the effects of cattle on the water quality of two streams draining tall fescue/ bermudagrass pastures with different shade distributions, and 2) to quantify the effect of water troughs on stream water quality. From 2001 till 2003, loads of DRP, TP, and TSS were measured during storm flow and every 14 d during base flow in two unfenced streams in the Piedmont region of Georgia. Although storm flow was similar in both streams, loads of DRP, TP, and TSS were larger in the pasture with the smaller amount of non-riparian shade. Water trough availability did not significantly affect storm flow loads in the pasture with the smaller amount of non-riparian shade, but it decreased TP and TSS loads in the other pasture. Water trough availability significantly decreased base flow loads of TP, TSS, and E. coli in the pasture with the smaller amount of non-riparian shade, and decreased base flow loads of TSS and E. coli in the other pasture. Thus, possible BMPs to reduce P, sediment, and E. coli contamination from beef-cattle-grazed pastures would be to build or encourage shade development away from the stream and to provide cattle with water troughs.