Phosphorus Sediment and Escherichia coli Loads in Unfenced Streams of the Georgia Piedmont, USA.

The article discusses a study to evaluate water quality in two streams flowing through tall fescue pastures with different shade distribution, and to evaluate the effects of alternative water sources on stream water quality. A secondary, supporting objective was to determine the amount of time spent by cattle in the riparian areas of these pastures. The streams used in this study flowed through two pastures located at the Central Research and Education Center of the University of Georgia, Georgia. Portable samplers were installed where the stream entered and exited each pasture. Monitoring of water quality during storm events took place with and without water troughs available. When water troughs were not available, an electric fence around the troughs prevented cattle access to them. At the onset of the project, the intention was to evaluate water quality for 1 year with water troughs available, then close the water troughs in March 2002 and evaluate water quality without water troughs for one additional year. Due to the nature of this study and the distribution data, parametric statistical procedures were not applicable, therefore, the analysis was performed with nonparametric methods.