Vegetated buffers strips (VBS) have a long history as one of several management practices that function to minimize the likelihood that animal agricultural operations contaminate surface water with pathogens or enteric microorganisms prevalent in fecal matter. This report summarizes results of a demonstration project at the San Joaquin Experimental Range, Madera County, to determine the utility of VBS to protect water quality on rangeland located in the southern Sierra Nevada foothills.  The monitoring results presented in the report support the assertion that rangeland buffers of limited width can be effective in reducing animal agricultural inputs of waterborne protozoa and bacteria into drinking, irrigation, and recreational water supplies.