Broken Riparian Corridors

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Riparian corridor = vegetative buffers directly adjacent to stream, a stream's only defense!

This is an example of a very poor riparian buffer along Huff Run. Erosion is evident. Grass does not have a deep enough root system to work as a buffer alone. Trees and brush (with deeper, stronger roots) are also nessesary.

Huff Run's Buffer Report Card: Huff Run is 9.9 miles long Poor buffers: about 3.0 miles Good buffers: about 6.0 miles Unknown: about 0.9 miles

Why Riparian Corridors are so Important:        A strong riparian buffer provides an important transition zone between the water and adjacent uplands. These zones  should have a diverse population of plant species. They are very important to stream ecosystems.      Riparian buffers serve as a food source for stream life by dropping leaf litter, humus and woody debris (sticks, branches). Macroinvertebrates use the litter for food and housing as well. Branches make hiding places for fish.      The shade that a strong forested corridor provides is also extremely important. It lowers the water temperature of the stream which gives the water a higher capacity to carry oxygen. Not only do fish appreciate the added oxygen, but they also are intolerant to certain warmer temperatures.        The strong, deep roots in trees and brush stabilize stream banks against erosion much better than grasses. Erosion from stream banks not only silts up the stream (depleting the homes of macroinvertebrates which live between and under rocks) but also unnaturally changes the stream channel, harming the entire ecosystem.        Riparian zones are called buffers for a reason. They work as buffers against surface run off that can carry non point source pollution (AMD, road run off, pesticides, animal waste etc). The vegetation in the buffer zone slows the flow of surface runoff and allows it to percolate through the soil. Surface runoff is inversely proportional to the density of vegetation present. Leaf litter and humus dropped on the ground add to the ability of other vegetation to slow runoff. This results in a more gradual release of water from the watershed and stabilizes the watercourses and the ecosystem. When warm water from roads or surface water enters a cool water stream, this changes the equilibrium in the stream and can have a detrimental affect on aquatic life.      The buffers also serve many functions critical to  wildlife habitat by providing food, cover, travel, escape routes, roosting sites, nesting areas and den areas for land dwelling wildlife.     In addition to helping wildlife and stream quality, buffers along your streamside lot can benefit you as well. While the vegetation is buffering the stream against pollutants, it soaks up water reducing flooding events. Also, you can plant whatever vegetation you desire. A fruit tree can be fragrant in the spring and produce fruit in the summer. Certain brush or trees will produce berries for wildlife such as deer. You can even plant butterfly bushes. Think of buffers as gardens that you don't have to maintain.

Buffer factsheets from another watershed group NRCS buffer programs and info Information about buffers from the Center for Watershed Protection with other links Agricultural effects on riparian buffers

To Help: Planting trees, brush or anything with a deep root system along the stream banks will help our cause. We are now contacting streamside landowners to ask them to plant trees and enroll in programs to obtain free trees. How large should a buffer be? There is no answer to how deep a riparian buffer should be. Anything is better than nothing but studies show that at least 50 feet of buffer zone (depending on the slope) will be adequet while 100 feet is ideal. Use the links above to learn more!