Streamside Management Zone Delineation for Control of Non-Point Source Pollution

Riparian areas are critical interfaces between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Protecting and enhancing them by implementing streamside management zones (SMZs) is an essential practice of sustainable forestry. SMZs provide ecological functions including protection against non-point source pollution, promotion of water infiltration, contribution of beneficial nutrients and coarse woody debris to streams, and protection against increased temperatures that alter aquatic communities. This research will demonstrate how fine spatial resolution satellite imagery can be integrated with geographic information layers to efficiently and accurately delineate SMZ boundaries with minimal external inputs, thereby providing a useful tool to planners, managers, and policy makers worldwide.