.jpg)
Riparian Buffers
Riparian buffer zones are an effective protection for our rivers, creeks, and streams within watersheds. They are strips of trees and shrubs along the shorelines of rivers and streams that help filter runoff by acting as sinks, as nutrients and excess water are taken up by the root systems and stored in the biomass of trees. Buffer zones also provide a transition between water and human land use.
Some of the benefits provided by buffer zones include:
- Bank stability
- Reduced flooding downstream
- Reduced drain maintenance/dredging costs
- Nutrient retention
- Increased water retention
- Improved aesthetics
- Sediment capture
- Fish and wildlife habitat
- Enhanced in-stream habitat for aquatic species
- Reduced water temperatures
Native species that grow well or are typically found in local riparian areas include:
| Trees | Shrubs | Wildflowers |
|---|---|---|
| Bur oak | Red-osier dogwood | New England aster |
| Silver maple | Sandbar willow | Green-headed coneflower |
| Red maple | Speckled alder | Wild bergamot |
| Black willow | Highbush cranberry | Suntooth sunflower |
| Peachleaf willow | Elderberry | Cup plant |
How to create or improve riparian buffer zones:
- Maintain existing trees, shrubs, and vegetation
- Plant additional trees and shrubs and introduce native wildflowers
- Refrain from mowing or dumping yard waste and lawn clippings
- Plant only native species and avoid planting exotics
- Where possible, leave any woody debris for fish habitat