The Kentucky Division of Water indicates that agriculture is responsible for 55% of the Commonwealth’s assessed streams not supporting their designated uses. Riparian buffers reduce nonpoint source pollution in agroecosystems by storing and cycling nutrients, stabilizing streambanks, increasing infiltration, and storing water. Specific information regarding riparian buffer management is needed for land managers to maximize buffer effectiveness at reducing agricultural contaminants impairing water quality. Baseline soil properties (texture, pH, C and nutrients) of the riparian buffer surrounding a tributary of Cane Run Creek in Fayette County, KY were characterized prior to imposing three mowing regimes (intense, moderate, and no mow treatments) and one native grass regime. Measurements were made along parallel transects located 2-m and 8-m distances from the stream. Root biomass, aggregate distribution, and saturated hydraulic conductivity were measured along the 2-m transect in two consecutive years following treatment establishment. The 2-m transect soils had the highest C, pH, Ca, Zn, and sand content. The 8-m transect had the highest P, K, Mg, and clay content. Semivariogram analysis of C content indicated slight to moderate spatial dependency along the 2m transect and moderate to strong spatial dependency along the 8m transect. Root biomass increased with decreased mowing frequency at the surface depth after one year; the native grass treatment had significantly less root biomass in both years compared to mowing treatments. There was no significant treatment effect on aggregate size distribution at the surface depth in either year. Mean weight diameter and large macroaggregates decreased from 2011 to 2012. Vegetation treatment had no statistically significant effect on water stable aggregates or saturated hydraulic conductivity. Experimental semivariograms provided evidence of spatial structure at multiple scales in root biomass, aggregates, and soil C. Spatial variability occurred over a shorter lag distance in 2012 than 2011, suggesting an effect of imposed treatments slowly developing over time. This study provides important insights on riparian buffer soil properties, soil sampling strategies to detect spatial variability in riparian buffers, and length of time needed to assess effects of vegetation management regimes on riparian root biomass, soil aggregates, and hydraulic conductivity.

Los ríos, son los ejes vivos que estructuran un territorio, son dadores de vida y desarrollo de pueblos y ciudades, sin embargo, el crecimiento urbano acelerado y poco planificado ha dado la espalda a los ríos, convirtiéndolos en sarcófagos de concreto. Esta investigación se realizó en la ciudad de Bambamarca, Cajamarca, con el fin de detener la apropiación deterioro y contaminación de las riberas del río Tingo Maygasbamba, que en gran parte de su tramo esta en contacto con viviendas informales, en sus fajas marginales. La investigación se estructuró en tres fases: analítica, interpretativa y propositiva; que componen la Metodología de Renaturalización. La primera fase se enfocó en el análisis de la situación actual y la problemática de los bordes urbanos del río Tingo Maygasbamba, se desarrolló bajo dos enfoques, el primero estudió y analizó el paisaje urbano y sus diversos indicadores y el segundo se enfocó en el entorno natural y componentes del paisaje. Tras el análisis de esta primera fase, se describió y analizó cada indicador, llegando a conclusiones. La segunda fase se enfocó en el estudio de teorías, referentes y estrategias relacionados con Renaturalización de riberas y bordes de ríos. Se analizaron estrategias como corredor ecólogico, anillo verde, corredor biótico, zonas de amortiguamiento, eco urbanismo, entre otras, las cuales fueron analizadas e interpretadas para ser aplicadas en la tercera fase en donde se aplicaron estas estrategias en el territorio a nivel macro, que incluye ciudad y entorno, se ejecutó en una primera instancia un Master Plan y Plan Piloto, donde fueron aterrizadas todas las teorías y estrategias previamente estudiadas. / Rivers are the living axes that structure a territory, they are givers of life and development of towns and cities, however, accelerated and poorly planned urban growth has turned its back on the rivers, turning them into concrete sarcophagi. This research was carried out in the city of Bambamarca, Cajamarca, in order to stop the appropriation, deterioration and contamination of the banks of the Tingo Maygasbamba River, which in a large part of its stretch is in contact with informal housing, in its marginal strips. The research was structured in three phases: analytical, interpretive and propositional; that make up the Renaturalization Methodology. The first phase focused on the analysis of the current situation and the problems of the urban edges of the Tingo Maygasbamba River, it was developed under two approaches, the first studied and analyzed the urban landscape and its various indicators and the second focused on the environment. natural and landscape components. After the analysis of this first phase, each indicator was described and analyzed, reaching conclusions. The second phase focused on the study of theories, references and strategies related to the renaturalization of river banks and edges. Strategies such as ecological corridor, green ring, biotic corridor, buffer zones, eco-urbanism, among others, were analyzed and interpreted to be applied in the third phase where these strategies were applied in the territory at a macro level, which includes city and environment, a Master Plan and Pilot Plan was executed in the first instance, where all the theories and strategies previously studied were landed.