U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Angier, Jonathanitem
                                            McCarty, Gregory
  Submitted to: Riparian Ecology and Management in Multiland Use Watersheds Meetings
                                    Publication Type: Abstract Only
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 12/21/2000
                                    Publication  Date: N/A
                                    Citation: N/AInterpretive Summary:
                                Technical Abstract: Riparian buffers are believed to function as natural remediation sites for groundwater-borne agricultural contaminants, but this presupposes certain conditions. One assumption is that water infiltrates in the uplands, travels horizontally as groundwater through the riparian zone, and is discharged into the stream channel. Horizontal groundwater flow through the ewetland soils should ideally supply sufficient contact and residence time within the soil matrix for nutrient removal. Reducing conditions in the anaerobic soil and abundant carbon in the system enable this process to occur. Dense vegetation in these areas allows additional nitrate to be taken up by plants during the growing season. Significant deviations from these conditions may allow contaminated groundwater to enter surface waters. The study site, a small headwater stream in an agricultural setting, shows evidence of nutrient delivery by contaminated groundwater.  Groundwater flow paths within the riparian zone appear to deviate considerably from a lateral direction. The region in which high nutrient levels are detected in the stream and groundwater also contains large areas within the floodplain that are permanently saturated. Transects of nested piezometers indicate that hydraulic gradients in these zones are strongly vertical (upwards) and weakly horizontal (toward the stream). Numerous macropores deliver water to the surface. High-hydraulic conductivity sand layers within the soil may interact with the macropore system to create preferential groundwater flow paths.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov