The effectiveness of streambank fencing to improve microbial water quality: a review

This literature review collates published data on the effectiveness of fencing stock out of waterways to reduce faecal indicator bacteria concentrations in streams. Eighteen suitable papers were identified, from 4 countries. Reported values of stream fencing effectiveness ranged from zero to 96%. Overall, different experimental approaches did not appear to bias results. This large range in effectiveness values indicates that while we are confident that stream fencing will improve microbial water quality in streams, we have very low confidence in predicting the actual percentage reduction values that can be expected.