Riparian Zone (Streamside/Shoreland),
Forested Buffer, and Stream-Friendly Landscaping Information
Background
Naturally-vegetated areas alongside our waterways (shorelands, riparian zones, buffers) provide many benefits to aquatic ecosystems. These areas help filter out stormwater pollutants (e.g., eroded soil, fertilizer, pesticides, etc.) before they reach waterways. Additionally, when trees and shrubs are present, riparian zones/buffers
provide:
- shade with their leaves (to help help keep waters cool);
- streambank stability with their complex root systems;
- food for aquatic organisms such as insects and molluscs (in the form of decaying leaves and twigs);
- diverse habitat structures and cover for aquatic organisms such as insects and fish (in the form of fallen tree trunks and branches);
- and, when wide enough, important habitats and travel corridors for many species of amphibians, birds, and mammals.
By preserving or enhancing these stream/river-side lands, landowners can help conserve these precious aquatic and terrestrial natural resources.
Contents
1) Stream & River Forested/Vegetated Buffers
2) Large Woody Debris in Streams/Rivers
3) Erosion Control and Streambank Stabilization
4) Landscaping/Yardscaping/Plant Selection
5) Lakes
6) Shoreland Zoning
Stream & River Forested/Vegetated Buffers
Riparian Buffers
-- Connecticut River Joint Commissions (NH and VT)
-- Tons of useful resources for homeowners and stream teams!
Riparian Forest Buffer Widths - Overview
-- Chesapeake Bay Watershed Forestry Program
Riparian Forest Buffers - Function and Design for Protection and Enhancement of Water Resources
-- U.S. Forest Service
"Working Trees" Series
-- USDA National Agroforestry Center
-- Includes excellent, citizen-friendly, riparian resources such as "Working Trees For Water Quality," "Working Trees For Wildlife," and "Working Trees For Carbon Cycle Balance." Additionally, the Technical Notes and Newsletter sections of the website have useful riparian resources.
Riparian Buffer Resources
-- Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment
Biodiversity in the Forests of Maine
(see "Riparian and Stream Ecosystems" starting on page 47)
-- University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Best Management Practices for Forestry: Protecting Maine's Water Quality
-- Maine Forest Service
Riverside Lands - Maintaining Riparian Buffer Lands
-- Maine Rivers
Streamside Sentinel
-- Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
-- An excellent summary on the benefits of streamside forests and also a primer on the basics of stream morphology and response to changes in land use.
-- To find the document, scroll down to "Educational Materials and Links" on the website.
A Review of the Scientific Literature on Riparian Buffer Width, Extent, and Vegetation
-- Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia, 1999
Riparian Wetland & Native Plant Nursery (in Maine)
-- A Joint Project of the Dennys and East Machias River Watershed Councils
Riparian Areas: Functions and Strategies for Management
-- Water Science and Technology Board, National Research Council, 2002
Buffer Strips: Common Sense Conservation
-- U.S. Dept. of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service
The Long Island Sound Riparian Toolbox
-- A multi-partner information clearinghouse.
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Large Woody Debris (LWD) in Streams/Rivers
"Strainers", Large Woody Debris, Removal, and Ecology
-- American Whitewater Journal
Large Woody Debris Fact Sheet
-- Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Large Woody Debris in Streams
-- Ohio Department of Natural Resources
The Importance of Large Wood in Streams and Problems of Depletion
-- KRIS Web
Annotated Bibliography on the Ecology, Management, and Physical Effects of Large Woody Debris in Stream Ecosystems
-- University of California - Center for Forestry
Maintaining Wood in Streams: A Vital Action for Fish Conservation
-- University of California - Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
>>> Also see the resources listed under the "Streams and Rivers" section above.
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Erosion Control and Streambank Stabilization
BMP Guidelines for Roads in Atlantic Salmon Watersheds
-- Project SHARE
-- (See Volume III - Implementation for guidelines on streambank plantings.)
Erosion and Sedimentation Control Best Management Practices
-- Maine DEP
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Landscaping/Yardscaping/Plant Selection
Yardscaping in Maine
-- Maine Board of Pesticide Control
Gardening to Conserve Maine's Landscape: Plants to Use and Plants to Avoid
-- University of Maine Cooperative Extension
-- Contains information about Native vs. Non-Native Plants in Maine and recommended plant selection for various soil moisture conditions (e.g., wetland-tolerant vs. dry upland species, etc.). A free ".pdf" Adobe Acrobat version is available for good print quality.
A Field Guide to Common Riparian Plants of New Hampshire
-- New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services - Volunteer River Assessment Program
-- A full-color field guide that was created to assist volunteers in identifying common native and non-native riparian plant species.
The Buffer Handbook
-- Androscogggin Valley SWCD; Lake & Watershed Resource Management Assoc.; Maine DEP; & USEPA
-- Geared towards lakes, but lots of useful resources, including plant selection tips.
Eco-Friendly Yard Care
-- U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Urban Watershed Forestry
-- Center for Watershed Protection
Plants Database
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
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Lakes
LakeSmart
-- Maine DEP
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Shoreland Zoning
Shoreland Zoning Page
-- Maine DEP
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