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   Water quality is and will continue to be the most important environmental issue facing the Illinois agricultural community.  With the advent of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), the Gulf Hypoxia issue, and impending nutrients standards for all surface waters, it is imperative that the agricultural community take a proactive approach in addressing water quality issues at the local watershed level.  The voluntary establishment of Best Management Practices (BMP’s) such as riparian buffers through government cost-share programs is an effective means to accomplish this.  Thus, it becomes essential that researchers document the water quality benefits of important BMP’s like riparian buffers so that the agricultural community can demonstrate to regulatory agencies how water quality has improved at the watershed scale. 

     Riparian ecotones are critically important transitional areas along stream margins, as they provide the last opportunity for nutrient, sediment, and chemical attenuation before being transported to streams.  Riparian buffer vegetation can vary widely in species composition, which can have a substantial impact on physical and chemical soil properties, and ultimately the water quality renovation capabilities of the buffer.  As Illinois is one of the leading agricultural states in the U.S., an excellent opportunity exists to conduct riparian buffer studies examining sediment and pollutant transport in agriculture watersheds.  Further, southern Illinois agricultural fields are commonly non-tile drained, which increases the utility of riparian buffers.  Riparian areas in southern Illinois are also home to a unique species (i.e., giant cane, Arundinaria gigantea (Walt.) Chapm.) that has shown promise as a nutrient filter and has received support from state and federal agencies for its reestablishment into its native range.