Riparian Buffer

An outline of general guidelines for the design & implemetnation of a riparian buffer. Produced for municipalities in Marquette County, Michigan.

Over 140 articles and books were reviewed to establish a legally-defensible basis for determining riparian buffer width, extent and vegetation. This document presents the results of this review and proposes several simple formulae for buffer delineation that can be applied on a municipal or country-wide scale.

(print edition of ConservationTools.org guide) Extensive scientific research documents that vegetated strips of land along water bodies provide extensive water quality and other environmental benefits. The science shows that development should be kept away from the water's edge, wider protected strips provide greater benefits, forested buffers are more effective than grassy ones, and forested buffers in headwaters provide the greatest benefits of all.

The purpose of this handbook is to provide professional land managers and planners with the latest information on the functions, design, establishment, and management of riparian forest buffers. This handbook is intended for use by: agencies and private concerns that provide technical assistance in the field, local governments who want to use the handbook as a technical basis for decision making, policy makers, public/consulting or service/private foresters and professional land managers, both industrial and public.

This is a stream restoration case study that discusses re-grading the steep eroding stream banks, planting a native riparian buffer and establishing fish habitat improvement structures.

This publication provides an overview of the benefits of buffer areas and then continues with a practical step-by-step planning guide. It also includes several case studies of successful streamside buffer projects

The creation of riparian buffers in agricultural landscapes can improve water quality, but also take land out of productive agricultural use. However, planting and harvesting of non-timber products (fruits, nuts and ornamentals) can create both environmental and economic benefits, including a gross income of $60,934/hectare per year.

This publication is a guide to aid large property owners with innovative green projects to reduce stormwater pollution. It contains stormwater management practices and site examples.

This guide is intended to encourage partnerships between park agencies and stormwater agencies aimed at promoting the use of green infrastructure on park lands. The guide offers information on why partnerships between stormwater managers and parks managers can be beneficial and how you can create such partnerships. The guide presents an overview of green infrastructure and describes practices that can be used to manage stormwater in parks. In addition, you will find information on factors that influence the selection of appropriate green infrastructure practices, such as maintenance requirements.

Report on Pennsylvania's first statewide comprehensive streamside planting opportunity spatial dataset, published by the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association, which is designed to help planners and conservationists find ideal streamside forest planting sites. The report describes this analysis in detail.

<p>This model was crafted for the specific purpose of permanently protecting riparian buffers along waterways. The model is based on the 7th edition of the Model Grant of Conservation Easement and Declaration of Covenants, also published by the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association.</p>

Over 100 individuals and representatives of groups from throughout Pennsylvania contribute their experiences, ideas and advice for this comprehensive plan on restoring riparian buffers throughout the state. Includes a wealth of restoration information for novices as well as experts.

A variety of preservation tools are available to interested communities and landowners to guide and limit development along stream corridors. These tools can be designed to fit local conditions.

A riparian buffer protection agreement limits activities on all or a portion of a property to advance conservation purposes while keeping the property in the control of the landowner.

A Review of Current Science and Regulations -- The goal of this report is to synthesize the existing scientific literature on the effectiveness of riparian buffers to improve water quality through their inherent ability to process and remove excess anthropogenic nitrogen from surface and ground waters. Due to this ability, riparian buffers often are employed as an environmental management tool by resource management agencies. Despite significant research effort toward understanding the ecological functions of riparian buffers, there remains no consensus for what constitutes optimal riparian buffer design or proper buffer width to achieve maximum nitrogen removal effectiveness.

An article studying the increased rate of forest restoration by reducing plant competition.

This booklet reviews simple stream stewardship tips that can help you reduce threats to water quality and fish and wildlife habitat, while protecting and enhancing your property.

Handbook contains: Information on establishing riparian buffers in a range of urban settings; a step-by-step guide on how to plan, conduct, and evaluate a volunteer riparian planting; a set of handouts that can be used when preparing volunteers and community partners for the coordination and implementation of riparian plantings; a regionalized riparian buffer plant list.

Extensive scientific research documents that vegetated strips of land along waterways provide extensive water quality and other environmental and economic benefits.

This website is a step-by-step example of a demonstration project rebuilding a riparian buffer on a conserved farm, beginning in 1992 to the present. It offers an example of the necessary resources and planning that are needed in building a riparian buffer.

List of best practices to ensure that parks and recreation sites and environmentally sustainable.