What is a riparian buffer?
When you see a stream bank full of grasses, shrubs and trees, you are looking at a healthy riparian buffer.
Why are buffers important?
Maintaining a riparian zone is one of the most effective ways of protecting water quality. Buffers filter out pollutants like fertilizer, dog waste, and oil. Buffers also stabilize stream banks, preventing sediment from entering our waterways.
A well designed buffer can. . .
- remove up to 50% or more of nutrients and pesticides.
- remove up to 60% or more of certain pathogens?
- remove up to 75% or more of sediment?
What’s the benefit?
A well established buffer has economic, social and environmental benefits. Not only can buffers add beauty and value to your land, they provide a natural habitat for fish and wildlife, reduce flooding, protect drinking water supplies and help maintain the true value of your property by reducing property loss from erosion. A riparian buffer is the most cost effective way to improve the quality of our water.
Tips for getting started:
• |
Establish a "no mow" area along your stream bank |
• |
Plant trees, shrubs and long stem grasses in your buffer zone. Shrubs grow fast and can help create the buffer zone more quickly |
• |
Native grasses, such as Tufted Hairgrass or Switchgrass, help maintain views |
• |
Periodically pick up litter and eliminate the use of insecticides, herbicides and fertilizers |
• |
Combine a buffer with rain gardens, rain barrels and other practices to reduce stormwater runoff! |
·
·
·
·
·
·
Jordan Lake Rules
High levels of nitrogen and phosphorous are picked up by stormwater and carried down the Haw River into Jordan Lake. High levels of these nutrients resulted in the Jordan Lake Rules in 2009. Because riparian buffers are very efficient at reducing nutrient levels, the rules mandate 50 foot buffers in most Jordan Lake communities. Existing development is exempt from these rules.
Buffers are split into two zones:
• |
Zone One is 30 feet from the top of the stream bank. Within this zone, vegetation must not be disturbed. |
• |
Zone Two is an additional 20 feet outside the undisturbed zone. Limited disturbance (i.e. pruning) is allowed. |
For a full description of activities that are exempt or are allowable under this rule, please visit: www.jordanlakerules.org
For more information on using native plants when establishing your buffer, check out this website from the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.
For more information and additional resources, check out the United States Department of Agriculture website.
