|
RAGC90 - Percentage of stream length within 90 meters of cropland The percentage of cropland cover within 90 meters of a stream is
calculated by summing the total number of cropland land cover cells
underneath stream segments in the 1 km grid cell reporting unit
and within a three cell buffer (90 meters) and dividing by the stream
corridor’s total land area (all cells 90 meters adjacent to
streams minus those classified as water). Cells inside the buffer
zone but outside of the grid cell boundary are ignored. Agricultural
practices typically employ fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals
that may be transported to streams in water runoff. The closer agriculture
is to a stream the more likely related pollutants will enter the
stream. Concentrations of pollutants transported into streams are
also more likely to be higher when agriculture is closer to streams. |