What is a riparian forest buffer?

A riparian forest buffer is a streamside forest composed of native trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants.

Three hundred years ago this region was entirely forested. The streams were shaded and all the organisms that lived in them were adapted to woodland conditions. As the land was settled, the forests were cut down and replaced with agricultural fields to provide food for the growing population. Today, urban sprawl threatens many existing riparian forests, almost all of which are secondary growth.

Why are riparian forest buffers important?

Riparian Forests are essential to the health of our streams and rivers in a number of ways.

• They are natural filters. Leaf litter on the forest floor traps sediments before they can enter the stream. In addition, the presence of trees and shrubs along a stream's banks minimizes erosion and the effects of flooding.
• They encourage groundwater infiltration. Trees convert the excess nutrients in stormwater runoff into a form that actually sustains the growth of the forest.
• They provide shade necessary to maintain cool water temperatures and rich oxygen levels. Native brook trout, for example, require water temperatures below 68 degrees to survive, and forested streams are as much as 10 degrees cooler than streams that flow through meadows. In addition, insects, the primary food for trout, are abundant both above and in wooded streams.
• They enable the stream to grow forms of algae (i.e. diatoms) that are preferred by stream herbivores.
• They provide food, in the form of leaf litter, for the critters that live in the stream, thus ensuring a rich diversity of organisms. The more diversity of life in the stream, the healthier the stream and the better it is able to process pollutants.
• They provide habitat and cover for spawning fish. Fallen trees and limbs create plunge pools, riffles and gravel beds that enable fish to rest and stave off predators.
• They are home to a variety of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles. The forested edge between land and water is prime habitat for many creatures – berries, buds, fruits and nuts offer a varied menu and there are plentiful places for nesting. The Riparian Forest offers a continuous transportation corridor for the migration of plant and animal species.

In general, unforested streams tend to be overly narrow with unstable banks; they have less diversity and less habitat than forested streams; and the quality of their habitat (temperature, light, velocity) is less optimal than their forested counterparts.

Additional riparian forest buffer information

The Stroud Preserve Reforested Riparian Buffer Project

Benefits of Streamside Forests

Streamside Forests & Water Quality

Become Part of the Solution

Resources: references and links