Why riparian buffers fail to filter agricultural runoff contaminants

Why riparian buffers fail to filter agricultural runoff contaminants In this article, Dr David Lobb of the University of Manitoba examines why riparian buffers often fail to filter contaminants from agricultural runoff, particularly in cold climate regions. There is an abundance of research data and field observations which demonstrate that riparian areas do not always work as filters of potential contaminants in runoff from agricultural land, and should not be promoted as a ‘silver-bullet’ Best Management Practice for agricultural watersheds. This is certainly the case in cold climate regions such as the Northern Great Plains of North America.