What Are Riparian Buffers?

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- [Jodi] There are more than 86,000 miles of streams and rivers in Pennsylvania.

Approximately 30% of these streams do not meet water quality standards for one or more pollutants.

Establishing riparian forest buffers on agricultural land and in urban and suburban areas would help improve the health of these streams.

Riparian buffers are the vegetated areas next to streams, rivers, lakes, and other water bodies.

These buffers protect water quality by intercepting sediment and other pollutants before they enter the water.

Good quality buffers include grasses, perennials, shrubs, and trees rather than just cool season turf grass.

Forested buffers provide the maximum benefits.

Trapping and removing pollutants and excess nutrients are significant functions of riparian buffers.

Storm water runoff from agricultural lands, construction sites, lawns, roadways, and other surfaces, carries pollutants such as sediment, fertilizers, pesticides, road salts, and animal waste to waterways.

These pollutants can greatly alter aquatic ecosystems.

The vegetation in a riparian buffer intercepts the surface runoff and filters pollutants before they enter streams or rivers.

A good quality well-designed riparian buffer can remove up to 80% of excess nutrients from entering waterways.

The recommended buffer width is 30 to 100 feet on both sides of the waterway.

Riparian buffers also provide natural flood protection.

Here, you see new plantings to increase the size of the buffer.

Vegetation slows the velocity of water moving across the land, absorbing water flows and energy.

Water can infiltrate the soil and recharge groundwater rather than overflowing stream banks resulting in flooding.

Another benefit of riparian buffers is erosion control.

Notice how a mowed grass buffer does not prevent erosion.

Without a good quality buffer along the waterway, the stream banks erode during big storm events.

Excess sediment degrades stream habitat and is detrimental to stream health.

Here, again, a grass buffer does not prevent erosion into this stream.

Aquatic food chains are damaged when bottom dwelling plants and aquatic insects are buried under excess sediment.

Excess sediment can clog fish gills, smother eggs, and make it difficult for aquatic animals to find food and shelter.

Plant roots stabilize stream banks and protect the soil.

Leaves, stems, and trunks of vegetation intercept rainwater, reducing the amount of water and sediment entering stream channels.

Riparian buffers provide tremendous wildlife value.

Trees and shrubs provide shade and cover for fish and other wildlife in the stream.

Shade cools water temperatures which support desirable species such as native trout.

Woody debris is important in stream ecosystems as well, creating habitat for fish and other aquatic animals.

Fallen leaves provide a critical food source for aquatic insects and those insects are important parts of the aquatic food chain.

Riparian buffers improve habitat for other wildlife and provide important corridors for wildlife movement.

Wide buffers provide better wildlife habitat by providing food, shelter, water, and breeding sites for insects, birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.

Buffers with native plants provide important habitat for pollinators too.

The more diverse the vegetation and the wider the buffer, the greater the benefit to both wildlife and water quality.

Establishing riparian forest buffers on agricultural land and in urban and suburban areas provides outstanding benefits.

Here, tree tubes protect the planted seedlings until they are established.

Trees are the last line of defense for streams.

Landowners can let vegetation naturally grow along a stream or plant trees and shrubs along the streamed corridor as you see here.

Preparing, planting, and maintaining a site takes time and effort, but can create a good buffer in a shorter amount of time.

There are many organizations that assist landowners interested in planting native trees and shrubs.

Landowners can contact their local Penn State Extension office to be connected to partnering agencies that provide resources to landowners interested in establishing riparian buffers.

If you have additional questions about storm water or are interested in learning more, you can find a full series of videos and fact sheets on the Penn State Extension website.

Just search for storm water basics or growing great buffers.