%0 Research article
%T Capacity of riparian buffer zones to reduce sediment concentrations in discharge from peatlands drained for forestry
%A Nieminen, Mika
%A Ahti, Erkki
%A Nousiainen, Hannu
%A Joensuu, Samuli
%A Vuollekoski, Martti
%D 2005
%J Silva Fennica
%V 39
%N 3
%R doi:10.14214/sf.371
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/371
%X In 1995–2001, the efficiency of riparian buffer zone areas to reduce the  concentrations of suspended solids in discharge from peatlands drained  for forestry purposes was studied at 7 locations in south-central  Finland. The two largest buffer zones reduced the concentrations of  suspended solids by > 70%. The efficiency of the three medium-sized  buffer zones to reduce through-flow sediment concentrations was 50–60%,  but no reduction occurred at the smallest two buffer areas. Thus, the  capacity of buffer zones to reduce sediment concentrations was strongly  related to their size. However, significant correlations were also found  between reduction capacity and inflow water sediment concentrations,  although the correlations at the two smallest buffer zones were low. The  use of buffer zones in reducing sediment load from peatlands drained  for forestry purposes is recommended, but relatively large areas for  efficient removal capacity are needed.