Table 2

Carbon stored in headwater riparian reaches of sampled riparian zones and extrapolated to the entire Coastal Plain network

Location (n = no. of reaches)

Watershed size (km²)

Stream network length (km)

MgC/ha (30-m-wide zone)

MgC/ha (60-m-wide zone)

MgC/km stream length (30-m-wide zone)

MgC/km stream length (60-m-wide zone)

Total MgC stored in (30-m-wide zone)

Total MgC stored in (60-m-wide zone)

Cow Swamp (40)

44.5

47.5

94.2

92.3

283

554

13,427

26,299

Crisp Creek (37)

45.9

41.2

84.0

87.0

252

522

10,380

21,514

Lumber (66)

73.7

74.8

104.4

100.5

313

603

23,415

45,070

Current condition of Coastal Plain riparian zones

56,772

57,227

96.3

94.7

289

568

16,529,285

32,512,359

Potential condition of Coastal Plain riparian zones

56,772

57,227

241.7

241.7

0.725

1.450

41,495,029

82,990,058

Difference

24,965,744

50,477,700

Carbon is estimated to be 0.5 times organic matter [25]. Data for Coastal Plain riparian zones based on the weighted average of the three sampled watersheds. Potential carbon storage based on carbon estimated in Mature Forest. Current and potential carbon values of Coastal Plain riparian zones based on extrapolation from sampled networks. Riparian zone widths: 30-m-wide zone includes the 0-15 m bands on both sides of stream; the 60-m-wide zone includes the 0-30 m bands on both sides of stream. "Difference" represents the amount of additional carbon that could potentially be stored in Coastal Plain headwater networks. Total carbon pool would be about 10-15% more than indicated values if large roots (not sampled) were also included [23].

Rheinhardt et al. Carbon Balance and Management 2012 7:4   doi:10.1186/1750-0680-7-4