What is a Riparian Buffer?

A Riparian Buffer is a Best Management Practice (BMP) that consists of permanent vegetation; trees, shrubs, and grasses, alongside perennial or intermittent waterways and bodies of water. It is left undisturbed to allow the process of Natural Succession of the Native Vegetation to occur.

What does a Riparian Buffer do?

A Riparian Buffer filters water to reduce pollutants and sediment from reaching the water. It provides food, shelter, and a travel corridor for wildlife. It also stabilizes the banks of the waterways and lowers the rate of erosion.

Links for additional information on Riparian Buffers:

https://extension.psu.edu/riparian-buffers-for-wildlife

https://www.brandywine.org/sites/default/files/media/BrandywineConservancy-RiparianBufferGuide.pdf

https://www.ecologycenter.us/population-dynamics-2/functions-of-riparian-buffer-zones.html