There are increasing environmental concerns regarding the amounts of sediments, nutrients, and pesticides that are being found in the surface waters of the United States. The golf course industry has been identified as potential contributors to this growing problem because golf courses are managed intensively with fertilizers and pesticides. This problem is further intensified because golf courses are often constructed around open water sources such as oceans, seas, lakes, ponds, rivers, streams or ditches where sediment, fertilizers, and pesticides can enter water sources directly by surface runoff. To reduce this problem, current research has focused on the use of mature vegetative buffer strips near water sources acting as filters. These buffer strips have been shown to decrease contaminant losses in surface runoff. However, little scientific information exists identifying which turfgrass species and natural vegetation used in low-maintenance areas such as golf course roughs and buffering areas are effective at decreasing sediment, nutrient, and pesticide losses in surface runoff. Previous research is also limited regarding currently available erosion control products that claim to control sediment losses during the construction and establishment process. The objectives of this study are to: 1) Identify alternative and novel vegetation for use in low-maintenance outer golf course rough areas and buffer strips that are sustainable and persistent in the cool-humid region of the United States. 2) Evaluate best management practices and technologies (e.g. geotextile fabrics or slowly soluble starch blankets) that speed establishment and minimize sediment loss. 3) Quantify sediment and nutrient losses from sloped soil areas during the establishment period as affected by vegetation with various growth habits, canopy architectures and seasonal seeding dates. Therefore, the overall goal of this research is to identify novel sustainable vegetation that establishes rapidly, stabilizes soil to minimize sediment and nutrient loading while ultimately protecting water-quality and natural resources.