Riparian
Buffer
Systems
Heather Mead
Colleen O’Dell
Amy Scheller
LA 5204
April 28, 2009
Riparian Buffer Zone
Cropland Riparian Buffer
What is a Riparian Buffer?
•Riparian – refers to being
adjacent to the banks of
river, stream, lake, or other
body of water
•Buffer – refers to
reduction of impact of the
adjacent land use
Source: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/n_resource/riparianforests/
Riparian Buffer Zone
Pastureland Riparian Buffer
Leading experts (Lowrance,
Leonard, and Sherida, 1985) on
riparian buffers define as follows:
“A complex assemblage of plants
and other organisms in an
environment adjacent to water.
Without definitive boundaries, it
may include stream banks,
floodplain, and wetlands, as well
as sub-irrigated sites forming a
transitional zone between upland
and aquatic habitat. Mainly
linear in shape and extent, they
are characterized by laterally
flowing water that rises and falls
at least once within a growing
season.”
Source: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/n_resource/riparianforests/
Riparian Buffer Zone
Urban Riparian Buffer
Other Types of Riparian Buffers
•Costal Riparian Buffers
•?
Source: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/n_resource/riparianforests/
Benefits of Riparian Buffers
(“ECOLOGICAL FUNCTION”,
“ECOSYSTEM SERVICES” AND
OTHER FUNCTIONS) (AMY)
Still need to go through Hellmund
and make sure I’ve incorporated
all critical ecological and
ecosystem services.
Source: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/n_resource/riparianforests/
Ecological Functions
•The problem: Urbanization and agricultural land use disrupt natural functions of
riparian areas. Goal has typically been to get the water away as quickly as possible.
Riparian buffers can help return the stream to its natural characteristics.
•Non point source pollution reduction (NPS)
•Achieved through filtration, uptake, Riparian buffer acts as a “sink” for
pollution
•Common pollutants are nitrate, phosphorus, and pesticides
•Example: Denitrification – riparian buffer traps nitrogen (from fertilizer?) in
the soil; microbes in soil convert nitrate into nitrogen gas. Excess nitrogen and
phosphorous lead to algal growth, deplete oxygen and kill fish. Excess
nitrogen in drinking water is also problematic.
Ecological Functions
Ecological Functions
•Hydrology
•Slow overland flow of water by creating physical obstacles in the form of
vegetation. Fallen trees and branches also slows flow of water in stream.
•Reduces the volume and flow rate in river/stream
•Filtering of soil particles from water before entering water
•Store storm water through infiltration
•Root system provides structure to soil which reduces erosion which protects
land and prevents from adding of sediment into stream. Roots also keep soil
porus which increases absorption.
•Holding of water eventually increases percolation into aquifers.
•Reduction of downstream flooding
•Foreman’s other functions are (habitat, source, conduit, filter, but I think I’ll discus
these under Ecosystem Services
Additional Ecosystem Services
•Water Quality
•Through the reduction of NPSP and filtration of sediment
•Shading from trees reduces water temperature, moderates temperature
fluctuation which allows the water to hold oxygen
•Aquatic wildlife & habitat
•Shade from trees reduces water temperature and moderates temperature
fluctuation – good for cold water fisheries. This also allows water to hold
oxygen. Both of these functions help provide better habitat for fish, frogs,
salamanders, and various reptiles.
•Habitat is created by downed trees and branchs – pools and rifles in water
•Detritus (define) serves as a food source for important members of the
aquatic food chain.
Additional Ecosystem Services
•Terrestrial wildlife & habitat
•Cover is provided for birds and mammals for cover and nesting
•Vegetation provides food and material sources
•Increased insect population also provides food
•Increased connectivity in riparian corridor allows increased movement
•Human perceptual experience: aesthetic, recreation opportunities Etc ( be sure to
cover all areas: “ecological, aesthetic, cultural, and economic”)
•For riparian buffers to be socially accepted, especially in urban areas, they
must be understood as they are not overly goomed and seem overgrown to
some.
•Provide opportunities for recreation and aesthetic enjoyment.
•Harvesting of forest products can provide additional income to farmers
•Add more here…
•Pull more from http://www.riparianbuffers.umd.edu/fact/FS774.html
Structure of Riparian Buffers
•It is important for a riparian buffer to be designed to meet the needs of the site
•Often described as a 3 zone system or 2 zone system (stream side zone and outer
zone) ( PATTERN) –
•Example of 3 zone system (put this in a graphic)
•Streambed
•Contains woody debris for habitat and flow disturbance
•Debris is held and processed by aquatic fauna
•Shade provides water cooling
•Zone 1: Undisturbed Forest (Closest to water)
•Mixture of fast growing and slow growing native trees
•Generally no tree removal there for provides woody debris for stream
•Provides shade to stream. In small streams, canopy may closed over
stream, connecting the zone 1s on either side of river.
Structure of Riparian Buffers
•Zone 2: Managed Forest
•Filtration, denitrification, Soil traps phosphorus; Prevents these from
entering stream
•Tree growth uses excess nutrients
•Requires occasional harvesting to remove nutrients stored in plant
growth, therefore species choice can be selected for timber harvest.
•Can be designed for various uses such as recreation and alternative
forestry products
•
•Zone 3: Runoff Control
•Grasses and forbes
•Disperses the flow of water
•Increased infiltration and water storage
•Requires some management to prevent concentrated water flow
•Developed Upland (urban, cropland, pastureland)
•People practice conservation measures
•Farmers utilize Best Management Practices for agriculture production
and livestock management: Sediments and pesticides are managed
Plant Species Composition
Pull specific plant
recommendations from
here:
http://www.sustland.umn
.edu/design/water4.html
WHAT IS THE “VERTICAL
AND HORIZONTAL
STRATIFICATION”?
Source: Adapted from Agroforestry Notes. AF Note-4, Jan 1997. U.S. Department of Agriculture
Forest Service/NRCS. (Amy pulled from http://www.riparianbuffers.umd.edu/fact/FS733.html
How To Design – Not One Size Fits All
(Amy has some stuff for this,
not sure how extensive this
needs to be)
•“At least 50 ft in width with
dense deep-rooting perennial
vegetation with upright
growth patterns (USDA 2000
from Wagner article).
However, features will require
additional width: include
steep slope, proximity to
water pollution hazard,
adjacent wetland
Barriers, Important Considerations
(…and other things to find a home for in presentation)
•Human acceptance
•Land acquisition (availability and cost)
•Landowner needs must be taken into consideration as they will provide
maintenance
•If your forested area is not as wide as it needs to be, try to compensate by
providing denser vegetation.
•In urban areas, human activity can trample and damage vegetation. Planning for
human use is important, and monitoring for and mitigating damage critical.
•In urban areas, sediment that washes off streets and other paved areas is likely to
have adsorbed (attracted) heavy metals and hydrocarbon pollutants
•Runoff from urban areas also typically carries significant amounts of nutrientsphosphorous and nitrogen from lawn application of fertilizer and from pet and
other animal waste
•Riparian buffers should be used in conjunction with sound land management
systems away from the riparian zone. Riparian buffer cannot do it all.
Legislation
Text, image to go here
Research
Text, image to go here (Colleen)
Examples of Riparian Buffers
Project goals of Lake Nokomis
restoration & clean-up in South
Minneapolis, MN:
•Stop excessive algae
growth in Lake Nokomis
(which is caused by the
phosphorus)
•Educate the public on the
effects of high-phosphorus
lawn fertilizer, pet waste
and other runoff hazards
that affect water quality
Example 1: Lake Nokomis Savannah Restoration,
Creation of Wetland Settling Ponds (1998-2001)
Examples of Riparian Buffers
What did they do?
•Created a wider riparian buffer / wetland
area in three areas around Lake Nokomis to
increase the filtration of the water and slow
the velocity of the incoming water in an
effort to capture contaminated runoff
before it enters into Lake Nokomis
•This will allow phosphorus to settle to the
bottom of the wetland ponds to become
nutrients for wetland vegetation instead of
creating excessive algae growth in Lake
Nokomis
•Established a vegetated buffer around the
shoreline of Lake Nokomis
•Put up signs to educate park visitors about
hazardous runoff
Example 1: Lake Nokomis Savannah
Examples of Riparian Buffers
What plants were used?
•Natural, carefully designed landscaping
and pondscaping with 55,000 handplanted native plants and plants started
from seed.
•Three types of plantings including:
aquatic plants, prairie plants and emergent
plants. (Highlights include Blue-eyed Grass,
Yellow Star Grass, Prairie Dropseed,
Cardinal Flower, Bottle Gentian, Marsh
Milkweed, Yellow Coneflower, Joe Pye
Weed , Meadow Blazing Star, Prairie Lily,
Showy Goldenrod, Sky Blue Aster and
Black-Eyed Susan)
Example 1: Lake Nokomis Savannah
Examples of Riparian Buffers
What ecosystem services were important to
protect in this area:
•Water quality improvement (for swimming and
non-motorized recreational activities)
•Decreased shoreline erosion
•Increased habitat (for butterflies, birds)
Measurements of buffer widths – average buffer
width of 60 ft.
Follow up evaluation/analysis on the project
•Trophic State Index (TSI) of Lake Nokomis initially
dropped after the creation of the wetland pond
in 2000, but there is still work to be done!
(measurement is largely based on water
transparency)
•Successful implementation of wetland ponds &
savannah restoration that enhanced the natural
beauty of the park area
•Encourages public to connect with nature
Example 1: Lake Nokomis Savannah
Examples of Riparian Buffers
Project goals of Sugar River Crossing Conservation Development in Albany, WI:
Preserve natural resources while permitting the need for development
Recreate habitat (within prairie, woodland and wetland areas)
Encourage lot-owners to use native landscaping and environmentally friendly practices
Provide recreational opportunities for lot-owners
Example 2: Sugar River Crossing Conservation Development
Examples of Riparian Buffers
What did they do?
•Created two common conservancy areas that
all of the private lot-owners share (there are
41 lots within the development)
•Created five wildlife water scrapes (shallow
ponds) to re-establish the natural habitat for
wildlife in the former cornfields
•Put in canoe slips so that lot-owners have an
access points to put canoes in the river
•Established unobtrusive picnic areas and
nature trails
•Replanted natural vegetation near the river
and around the development
What plants were used?
•Upland prairie seed mixes
Example 2: Sugar River Crossing
Other Points
Riparian buffers come in many forms and these examples demonstrate two
alternative landscape possibilities.
•The first example (Lake Nokomis) is considered an alternative landscape because
they incorporated native vegetation as well as wetland ponds in an urban park
setting. This necessitated educational signs for the public so that they could
understand and see the benefits of this new landscape. It also incorporated this
new version of aesthetic beauty while also providing ecological services in terms of
addressing water quality concerns.
•The second example (Sugar River Crossing) is considered an alternative landscape
because it is based on a new development model that emphasizes sustainability
and conservation in a residential area. The riparian buffer has been deemed
ecologically significant to the people who live in the nearby lots and they have
chosen to preserve the natural habitats that exist there while also retaining the
sense of place that this landscape exhibits.
Other examples of alternative landscapes that may include riparian buffer areas
are greenways, conservation reserve and wetland reserve plantings, wetland
restorations, wildlife corridors and constructed wetlands.
Conclusion, Application for Designers & Planners
Text to go here
Additional Resources
Text, image to go here
Things To Make Sure We Hit
(not sure where it best fits at this point (specific statements out of the assignment
sheet)
•Address how landscape structure, function and change can enhance ecological
integrity and landscape diversity, and watershed health of metropolitan landscapes
•Why is this alternative landscape better than a conventional landscape?
•Ecological and planning opportunities that can be created with the alternative
landscape patterns
•The current opportunities, benefits, challenges, and ethical issues when using this
alternative landscape pattern in the metro landscape (public education, health,
safety, and welfare) versus a conventional landscape
References
Wagner, M. (2008). Acceptance by Knowing? The Social Context of Urban Riparian Buffers as a Stormwater Best Management Practice.
Society and Natural Resources, 21(10), 908-920.
Riparian Buffer Systems- Wye Research and Education Center-- University of Maryland. (n.d.). . Retrieved April 20, 2009, from
http://www.riparianbuffers.umd.edu/.
A MODEL RIPARIAN BUFFER IMPLEMENTATION PLAN: Developed for local units of government in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with
an emphasis on protecting water quality and quality of life. (n.d.). . Retrieved April 20, 2009, from
http://www.riparianbuffers.org/dl_implementation_guide.pdf.
Hellmund, P. C., & Smith, D. S. (2006). Designing greenways: sustainable landscapes for nature and people. Island Press.
http://www.minnehahacreek.org/lake_nokomis_ponds.php
http://www.minnehahacreek.org/lake_nokomis_faq.php
http://www.nokomiseast.org/association/BWA/bwa-report-2002.html
http://minneapolisparks.org/documents/design/LakeNokomisLandscape.pdf
http://www.appliedeco.com/Projects/sugarxing.pdf
http://www.sugarrivercrossing.com/CONSERVANCY%20SRC.html
http://www.sugarrivercrossing.com/Text/SRC%20WSJ%20Article.pdf