Which practice can effectively control nutrient loading to surface waters?

Planting vegetation along waterways is an effective practice for controlling nutrient loading to surface waters because it promotes the growth of riparian buffers. These buffers consist of plants and trees that absorb and filter out excess nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, before they can reach exposed water bodies. The roots of these plants stabilize the soil, reducing erosion, while the leafy canopy captures rainwater, allowing it to infiltrate and thereby reducing runoff that might carry fertilizers and other pollutants into the water. This natural filtration process helps maintain water quality, preventing algal blooms and other negative impacts associated with nutrient overload.

In contrast, increasing agricultural runoff or reducing wetland areas would exacerbate nutrient loading, as both would lead to more pollutants and nutrients entering the water bodies. Decreasing sedimentation might imply a reduction in particulate matter, but it does not directly address nutrient loading and can even overlook the importance of certain sediments that contribute to healthy aquatic ecosystems.