Understanding the Science Behind Riparian Forest Buffers: Planning, Establishment, and Maintenance

Author: Julia C. Klapproth, Faculty Assistant-Natural Resources, Maryland Cooperative Extension; James E. Johnson, Extension Forestry Specialist, College of Natural Resources, Virginia Tech

Publication Number 420-155, Posted October 2001

Table of Contents

IntroductionMaintenance
ObjectivesHow Long to Recovery?
Site Assessment List of Common and Scientific Names
Design Additional Resources
RestorationBibliography
Site Preparation Other Publications in this series

Riparian forest buffers can enhance water quality, provide wildlife habitat, and benefit individuals and communities. However, to achieve these benefits, careful planning is essential. Prior to establishment, it is critical to clearly define what the buffer is intended to accomplish. Observations on the stream's condition and on the adjoining watershed will help determine how wide the buffer should be, what types of vegetation should be restored, and how the site should be prepared before planting. Once a buffer is established, a long-term maintenance plan is also required to assure the project's success.

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Objectives

The first step in designing the buffer is to clearly define what the buffer is expected to accomplish (Figure 1). Consider these questions: Are there water quality problems that need to be addressed? Is wildlife a primary objective, and if so, what are the species of interest? Are aesthetic and recreational benefits important? Are there any financial, personal, or time constraints that will interfere with buffer establishment or future maintenance? How will placement of the buffer affect the management of the land? Remember, the restoration of riparian forest buffers is a long-term process requiring the ongoing commitment and involvement of the landowner.

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Site Assessment

Next, evaluate the area and determine if site conditions can reasonably be expected to produce the desired benefits. The evaluation should take a look at stream conditions upstream and down, as well as in the immediate area (Table 1).

Watershed

To understand the forces affecting a particular stream segment, it is important to look at the entire watershed (Figure 2). A stream is influenced by many factors, including the area's geology, hydrology, soils, and vegetation. However, one of the most important influences on the stream is adjoining land uses. For example, streams which flow through urban areas are subject to higher pollution loads and warmer temperatures. In rural areas, agricultural activities can contribute sediment and nutrients and damage streambanks from livestock grazing. Other activities, such as industry, mining, dams, and wastewater treatment facilities can also influence the character of streams, including water chemistry, stream temperatures, and flow rates. When stream systems are severely degraded or unstable as a result of watershed uses, riparian restoration is likely to be unsuccessful until the source of the problem is addressed.

Aerial photographs, soil survey maps, topographic maps, geological maps, and land use maps provide useful information on a watershed level (Figure 3). Attempt to identify:

  1. Where is the stream located in the watershed? Is it a headwater stream, a mid-order stream, or a major stream artery?
  2. How is the riparian area linked hydrologically with the uplands and with the stream?
  3. What is the most important water quality problem in the watershed? Where and when does the maximum discharge of pollutants occur?
  4. What fish and wildlife species are found in the area and how might they be influenced by the buffer?
  5. What will be the impact of placing a buffer at this particular location? Will watershed land uses override the ability of the buffer to produce the expected benefits? (Schnabel and others 1994, King and others 1997).

Riparian Area

The condition of the riparian area, including hydrology, soils, and vegetation, should be the next focus of the evaluation (Figure 4).

Hydrology

Riparian area hydrology can be difficult to evaluate; however, the lay of the land, the steepness of slopes, and observations of soil conditions during the wet season can provide valuable clues. If soils are saturated, this is a good indicator that groundwater flows close to the surface. Well-drained soils indicate deeper groundwater flows. The absence or presence of wetlands and observations of sediment deposits and erosion patterns also provide useful information (Palone and Todd 1997). The width of the floodplain and flood frequency, duration, and season are other important hydrological features.

Soils

Soil survey maps describe and characterize the types of soils found in the riparian area. However, riparian area soils can be highly variable, even within short distances (Myers 1989). Therefore, soils should be sampled at intervals to determine soil type, texture, pH, presence of mottling, a clay layer, and other attributes.

Vegetation

Existing riparian vegetation can be a good indicator of which species will grow well on the site. Vegetation can also provide valuable clues to the area's soils and hydrology. Species, age, and density of the vegetation as well as presence of exotic invasive species should be noted. The presence of wildlife and wildlife habitat, cultural resources, and human disturbance should also be recorded.

Stream

Before the riparian forest is re-established, it is important to evaluate the condition of the stream and its channel (Figure 5). Although it is natural for streams to shift their courses through time, land activities can dramatically accelerate the process. When this occurs, it is necessary to stabilize the channel before attempting to restore riparian vegetation. If the erosion is especially severe, the source of the problem must first be addressed or the restoration is likely to be unsuccessful.

To determine whether the stream is stable or undergoing rapid change, some basic observations are needed. First, observe the shape of the stream channel. Straight streams are rare in nature (except on steep slopes), and are usually an indication that the stream has been channelized. Through time, channelized streams will move about as they try to regain their natural course. Stable streams, on the other hand, are sinuous, or "S"-shaped. Channel width, depth, and slope should also be noted. In areas where the land has been cleared or paved, streams often become entrenched with steep vertical banks, due to the increased volume and velocity of storm runoff. Streams with high sediment loads from eroding land will develop sediment deposits within the streambed and become more shallow and wider. Besides the stream channel, observe the streambank. Streambanks that are well vegetated and show little erosion usually are stable. Steep banks, frequent treefall, poor bank vegetation, and widening of the stream channel are indicators of unstable conditions.

Next, look within the stream. Healthy streams usually have a combination of pools (deep sections outside of bends and below large rocks and woody debris), riffles (shallow areas where water bubbles over rocks), and runs (straight sections). Usually, there are two to three pools and two to three riffles between each bend in the stream, with each pool and riffle spaced at distances 2.5 times the stream width. Streams also have a characteristic "bedload" (a combination of sand, silt, gravel, and large rocks), which is related to the geology of the area and waterflow. In eroding streams, sandbars and sediment deposits are often found. The presence of overhanging trees, large woody debris within the stream, and aquatic vegetation are important features of healthy streams. Finally, make observations on water quality (color, odor, presence of algae, etc.) and the composition of invertebrate and fish communities (Myers 1989, Hoffman and others 1998).

Rosgen Stream Classification System

A commonly used system for evaluating stream stability was developed by David Rosgen (1994). The Rosgen classification system is based on the principal that the shape of the stream channel is directly influenced by stream velocity and discharge, sediment load and size, channel width, depth and slope, and type of bed material. A change in one of these variables results in a series of adjustments in all of the others, and ultimately a change in the pattern of the stream. For example, in response to increased bank erosion, the stream may become wider and more shallow, become less sinuous, increase the slope of the river bed downstream, or form sandbars. If these factors are measured and understood, they can be used to predict the stream's response to changes in the adjoining watershed, the stream's potential for recovery, and to select the best design for long-term stability.

For more information see:

  1. Rosgen, D.L. 1994. A classification of natural rivers. Catena. Volume 22 pages 169-199.
  2. Austin, S.H. 1999. Riparian forest handbook 1 - Appreciating and evaluating stream side forests. Virginia Department of Forestry. Charlottesville, VA. 48 pages.

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Design

Three-Zone Riparian Forest Buffer System

In 1991, the U.S. Department of Agriculture developed guidelines for restoring riparian forest buffers (Welsch 1991). These guidelines are based on a "three-zone approach" to restoring forest buffers, with each zone providing a specific function (Figure 6). Zone 1 is nearest to the stream and is an area of undisturbed forest that stabilizes streambanks, provides shade, moderates stream temperatures, and provides large woody debris to the stream. Zone 2 is an area of managed forest adjacent to Zone 1. The purpose of Zone 2 is to improve water quality through vegetative uptake (of nutrients and toxins) and biogeochemical processes in the soil. Native deciduous trees are recommended for planting in Zones 1 and 2 to maximize habitat value for fish and wildlife and water quality benefits. As the trees in Zone 2 mature, selective timber harvesting and timber stand improvements are necessary to promote vigorous growth of the remaining trees. Zone 3 is an area of dense grass that lies between the forest buffer and adjoining land uses. The purpose of Zone 3 is to slow and spread concentrated flows of water coming from the land, which will promote the release of suspended sediments and the infiltration of surface runoff into the ground. Native warm-season grasses are recommended for planting in Zone 3 because of their tall, stiff stems and their deep root systems (Schultz and others 1995).

Width

One of the first questions most landowners ask is: How wide does the riparian buffer need to be? Unfortunately, there is no one single "ideal" buffer width. The proper buffer width depends on site characteristics and the benefits expected from the buffer. In the Chesapeake Bay region, a buffer of 35 feet on each side of the stream is generally suggested to benefit the aquatic community, with the buffer expanding to 75 to 100 feet per side to produce water quality and wildlife benefits (Palone and Todd 1997). Other researchers have suggested different "rules of thumb" for determining the proper buffer width. Verry (1996), a hydrologist with the U.S. Forest Service in Minnesota, suggests that a proper width for riparian management is "the active 50-year floodplain plus the terrace slopes," or approximately 10 times the stream "bankfull" width plus 50 feet on either side (Verry 1996). In the Pacific Northwest, a team of scientists known as the Federal Ecosystem Management Assessment Team (FEMAT) recommends buffer widths (per side) equal to the height of a "site-potential tree," or the average maximum possible tree height for that site (the average "site-potential tree" in the eastern U.S. is 110 ft.) (O'Laughlin and Belt 1995). They suggest that many buffer functions (for example, providing shade, leaf litter, large woody debris, and stabilizing streambanks) are met with a buffer width of one site-potential tree height. However, others suggest that wildlife and water quality benefits require a wider buffer.

Stream size and stream order can also influence the size of the buffer needed. Headwater streams, for example, may not require the same degree of buffering as larger streams to provide the same benefit (Palone and Todd 1997). Buffer widths should also account for the goals of the landowner and the desired functions (Table 2).

Water Quality

Designing riparian forest buffers to improve water quality is complicated by the need to control three different types of pollutants at the same time: sediment-adsorbed pollutants in surface runoff, dissolved pollutants in surface runoff, and dissolved pollutants in groundwater (Palone and Todd 1997). The design must also take into account the area's hydrology, soils, and pollutant loads.

Buffers of 50 to 100 feet are generally recommended to trap sediment, although wider buffers are required where there are high sediment loads or steep slopes (as a rule of thumb, the buffer should expand about 5 feet for every 1% increase in slope) (Palone and Todd 1997). On flat sandy soils where sediment loads are low, narrower buffers may be as effective (Magette and others 1989). However, only very wide buffers will be effective in trapping small clay particles. For example, researchers in Arizona found that grass buffers trap most sand from shallow surface runoff within about 10 feet and trap most silt within 50 feet, but found that 300 to 400 feet of buffer was required to trap small clay particles (Wilson 1967). Similar observations were made in a riparian forest in North Carolina (Cooper and others 1987).

The ability of the buffer to remove dissolved pollutants like nitrate is variable and tied to the site's soils and hydrology. For example, when Phillips (1989) examined the buffering capacity of various riparian soils in North Carolina, he found that a buffer width of anywhere from 16 to 300 feet would be required to remove nitrates from field drainage. Widths of 35 to 125 feet are usually recommended to remove dissolved pollutants, depending on loads and site conditions (Palone and Todd 1997).

To restore riparian buffers to meet water quality functions, David Welsch of the U.S. Forest Service Northeast Area recommends a width of 75 feet per side based on the "three-zone system" (Zone 1 - 15 feet, Zone 2 - 60 feet, and Zone 3 - 20 feet) (Welsch 1991). However, he suggests that the buffer should be expanded where frequent flooding occurs (soils of Hydrologic Groups C and D), where certain soil types are present (Soil Capability Class IIIe/s, IVe/s, Vie/s, VIIe/s or VIII) and on steep slopes. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service recommends a minimum buffer width of at least 30% of the geomorphic floodplain, or at least 15 feet for Zone 1 and 20 feet for Zone 2 on all streams.

Dillaha and Hayes (1991) of Virginia Tech recommend delineating "subwatersheds" (drainage areas) within the area to be protected and designing buffers to fit each.

Bank Stabilization

Where bank erosion is moderate, widths of 25 feet to 55 feet are recommended to stabilize and maintain streambanks (O'Laughlin and Belt 1995, Palone and Todd 1997). Along unstable streams, buffer width may be expanded to allow for future stream channel adjustments. If erosion is excessive, efforts should first be made to correct or moderate the source of the problem.

Flood Control

Along small streams, a narrow band of trees may be enough to moderate flood waters. On large streams, wide buffers of sturdy flood-tolerant trees extending throughout the floodplain are recommended (Dosskey and others 1997).

Wildlife

The choice of a buffer width for wildlife depends on the species of interest. Some animals, particularly "edge species," may require only narrow buffers (25 feet or less) for their needs, while others such as large mammals and certain birds may require a buffer of 100 to 300 feet (Croonquist and Brooks 1991, Keller and others 1993). Forested areas as wide as 600 feet have been recommended where there are heron rookeries, bald eagles, or cavity-nesting birds (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service 1996c). When managing for wildlife, the need for food, shelter and certain environmental conditions (for example, cool moist environments for certain amphibians) are as important as a creating a particular buffer width. Features such as snags, trees with large cavities, and mast-producing trees should be incorporated into the buffer plan.

Aquatics

Important considerations for aquatic communities include inputs of food and structural elements (limbs, logs, overhanging roots) to provide shade and cover. A buffer of 60 to 110 feet will provide these benefits, although along small streams, a buffer of only 50 feet may be adequate (Dosskey and others 1997, O'Laughlin and Belt 1995, Palone and Todd 1997). Stream protection will be influenced by vegetation height, density, crown size, as well as stream size and aspect (Quigley 1981). Native tree species are recommended, because the life cycles of many aquatic organisms are linked to seasonal inputs of particular trees and shrubs.

Recreation and Aesthetics

Buffer width may be expanded to accommodate recreational activities. In these areas, the choice of aesthetically pleasing trees, such as those with showy flowers, fruit, color, or interesting texture and form may be appropriate.

Marketable Products

Landowners who wish to harvest a marketable product from the buffer must choose the appropriate species for planting. Depending on the product, the buffer width may need to be increased for the operation to be productive and economically viable.

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Restoration

Restoration of the riparian forest buffer includes stabilizing the stream channel, preparing the site, planting the vegetation, and regular maintenance.

Streambank Stabilization

Streambank stabilization may include a combination of vegetative and structural engineering techniques (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service 1992). Vegetative techniques such as live stakes, tree revetments, live fascines, and brush mattresses are often the best choice, due to their low expense, their more natural appearance, and the additional benefits provided to fish and wildlife (Firehock and Doherty 1995). Boulders, logs, sandbags, or gabions (rock-filled wire cages) can be used with the vegetation to provide additional stability. Structural techniques such as riprap and concrete box structures may be required in some situations; for example, to protect important resources such as roads and buildings.

Local, state, and federal permits are required for work in and along all surface waters (including lakes, streams, springs, and wetlands) and within the 100-year floodplain. This includes construction of stream crossings and impoundments, installation of riprap and other materials, and any activities which will modify the stream channel. Therefore, it is important to contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District office for assistance in planning the project and securing necessary permits before the work begins.

Riprap

Rock riprap is a method of placing stones along the streambank to stabilize the soil (Figure 7). Riprap is sometimes used to secure the base of the streambank while vegetative cuttings become established. One disadvantage to using riprap is its unnatural appearance. Riprap can also raise the temperature of the stream as the rock absorbs solar radiation. Habitat benefits can be increased by planting vegetation between the rocks.

Gabions

Gabions are rock-filled wire cages buried into the streambank to stabilize erosion (Figure 8). Gabions are especially useful for protecting banks that have been scoured or undercut. Vegetation can be planted into the bank around the gabion to increase the effectiveness and improve the appearance of the structure.

Live Cribwall

A live cribwall is a rectangular structure of logs, rocks, and woody cuttings, and filled with soil and layers of live branch cuttings (Figure 9). The cribwall is built into the streambank to protect eroding banks and is very effective on fast flowing streams. The cribwall provides long-term bank stability once the woody cuttings take root and grow. Cribwalls are not recommended where the bed is severely undercut, in rocky terrain, or on narrow reaches where banks are high on both sides.

Bank Revetments

Bank revetments are used to protect streambanks from erosion and provide overhead cover and shade for fish (Figure 10). A tree revetment is one type of bank revetment. Tree revetments are simple to construct and are made by anchoring cut trees along a streambank with wire cable. Eastern redcedar trees are commonly used and work very well because of their dense branches. Tree revetments are appropriate on small to medium banks (less than 12 feet high) that are experiencing moderate erosion. Other types of revetments may be created using boulders, root wads, and logs.

Live Stakes

Live stakes are woody plant cuttings that root quickly when placed in soil (Figure 11). Once established, they provide vegetative cover and a very effective barrier to erosion. Live stakes are economical and require minimum labor to install. Alone, they are most effective as a preventive measure before severe erosion problems develop. Live stakes may also be used to stabilize areas between other bioengineering techniques. Willow is the most commonly used material for live stakes. Table 3 lists other trees and shrubs which are suitable for use as live stakes.

Live Fascines (wattling bundles)

Live fascines are long (15 to 20 feet) bundles of live branch cuttings bound with baling twine (Figure 12). Fascines are placed in trenches along the streambank, secured with stakes, and partially covered with soil. Fascines may be constructed from cuttings of materials that are on site, such as willow, shrub dogwoods, or other species which readily sprout. Once the cuttings take root, fascines offer protection for the bank and additional stability. Fascines are particularly useful on steep, rocky slopes where digging is difficult.

Branchpacking

Branchpacking involves placing alternating layers of live branches and soil into a washed-out streambank (Figure 13). Branchpacks may be used both underwater and above fast-moving water. Branchpacks form an effective barrier that redirects water away from banks, and are often used for revegetating holes scoured in streambanks.

Brush Mattress

A brush mattress is a blanket of long branch cuttings wired together and secured to the streambank with stakes (Figure 14) (Hoffman and others 1998). The brush mattress covers the bank and provides protection immediately after it is established. Brush mattresses are very effective at capturing sediment and rebuilding an eroding bank. Once the plants take root, they provide long-term erosion control and dense plant growth. Brush mattresses, however, require a great deal of live material and are time-consuming to install.

Lunker Structure

Lunker structures are crib-like structures of wood planks and blocks held in place with reinforcing rods (Figure 15). Lunker structures are commonly used in trout streams and small warm-water streams to provide bank stabilization and in-stream cover for fish.

Log-spur Bank Feature

A log spur bank feature is constructed by partially burying the top of a large cut tree in the stream channel with the lower branches pointing into the current. The lower half of the tree lies on the bottom of the stream and is anchored by boulders along the stream bottom. Log-spur bank features are designed to stabilize the stream channel and provide in-stream habitat for aquatic organisms.

Deflectors

Deflectors are triangular, rock-filled structures used to divert the flow of water in the stream channel (Figure 16). They are used to narrow a stream channel, increase flow velocity, divert water from a bank, or to create pools. Deflectors are commonly made of a log triangle that is secured to the stream bottom with steel pins. Deflectors are best suited for low-gradient streams where water levels are stable.

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Site Preparation

After the streambank has been stabilized, vegetation can be planted in the riparian area. However, site preparation is usually required before planting begins (Figure 17). The degree of site preparation needed will depend on the type of vegetation found on the site and the presence of invasive exotic weeds. If livestock have access to the riparian zone, they should be fenced out before the area is revegetated. Fencing livestock from the stream will help stabilize streambanks, reduce bank erosion, and eliminate grazing on newly established vegetation. Where livestock watering or crossing sites are needed, select locations where there are smooth, low slopes and hard bottoms. Stone can be spread on entrance ramps to the stream to minimize streambank damage, and swinging flood gates or polywire can be erected across the stream to restrict livestock movement upstream and downstream.

If invasive weeds are a problem, it is important to control them before the vegetation is planted (Palone and Todd 1997). Where the problem is severe, this can require as much as a year of successive treatments (Figure 18). Weeds of particular concern in riparian areas are phragmites (common reed), oriental bittersweet, Japanese honeysuckle, kudzu, porcelain berry, mile-a-minute vine, trumpet creeper vine, Japanese bamboo, privet, multiflora rose, tree-of-heaven, and Norway maple. Invasive weeds can be controlled by either mechanical or chemical means. Examples of mechanical control are mowing multiple times over the growing season to exhaust root systems, ripping them out with a tractor, or girdling the plants. However, these weeds are persistent and can be difficult to control with mechanical methods. Chemical control with herbicides are recommended in areas where they can be safely applied. Herbicides may pose a danger to aquatic life, therefore, it is important to follow the label carefully. Herbicides labeled for use in riparian areas are listed in Table 4; contact the Virginia Department of Forestry for additional recommendations.

After weeds are controlled, the ground should be prepared for tree planting. If the ground is in pasture, the area should be plowed, disked (up to three feet from the stream), and sprayed with an herbicide to control weeds. A cover crop (such as annual rye, field bromegrass, or a mixture of switchgrass, deertongue, eastern gamagrass, and smartweed in wet areas) should be planted to stabilize the soil. If vines are a problem in the area, legumes such as lespedeza and birdsfoot trefoil should be planted as a cover crop.

On certain sites where erosion is likely, it is better to leave the sod in place and spray a small area (about a four-foot-diameter circle) with an herbicide where the seedling will be planted (Palone and Todd 1997). Weeding and mowing will be necessary the first three years or until the trees are established.

In some cases, the riparian area may already have established shrubs and trees of desirable species. In this case, a timber stand improvement may be needed to release the trees from competition and to remove less desirable vegetation. A timber stand improvement can be accomplished by cutting, girdling, or injecting the undesirable plants with a herbicide. The best time to treat the site is just after the plant has leafed out in the spring (usually around late May). At this time, root reserves are low, which reduces the plant's ability to resprout (Palone and Todd 1997).

Establish Vegetation

Naturally vegetated riparian areas are among the most productive and diverse plant communities. However lush, this vegetation has adapted to wide fluctuations in water levels and regular disturbances (Figure 19). Therefore, it is important to select the proper plant species when revegetating riparian areas. An important factor to consider is the riparian area hydrology, particularly the depth to the water table and the frequency, season and duration of flooding (McKevlin 1992). Soil characteristics such as soil type, texture, structure, and pH are all important considerations. Keep in mind that soils and hydrology can be highly variable within the same floodplain.

Trees planted on the streambank should be selected for their ability to withstand frequent disturbance and flooded conditions. These trees must also provide bank stability, a dense canopy for shade, and food for aquatic organisms. Native species that are fast-growing and easily established are good choices here. Examples include river birch, black willow, red maple, eastern cottonwood, green ash, and sycamore (Hupp 1992, Palone and Todd 1997). Further back from the streambank, a wider variety of trees is recommended. Sweetgum, hackberry, water-tolerant oaks, hickories, and clumps of pine or other evergreen trees are suitable here. Pines will grow quickly and help break the wind, providing some protection for the hardwoods and cover for wildlife until the hardwood stand is established. Suitable shrubs can be placed among the trees or along the forest edge.

Table 5 lists trees and shrubs appropriate for planting in riparian areas. They may be purchased from the Virginia Department of Forestry, mail-order nurseries, and local sources (Figure 20).

Planting bare-root tree seedlings usually provides the best result for most species (McKevlin 1992). Trees should be planted at about 110 trees per acre, or about 20 feet apart. Understory shrubs can be planted 5 to 8 feet apart between the trees. Trees and shrubs should be planted in late fall or spring, while they are dormant. Take care to prevent the trees from drying out and store away from direct sunlight. Deciduous trees should be placed in a hole two to three times wider than their roots and no deeper than their roots. The roots should be spread out in the hole and soil firmly packed around to eliminate air pockets. Water trees as necessary.

Direct seeding of species with large seeds (such as black walnut, hickory, and oak) is an option, but is rarely used. Seeds should be planted 2" deep at a rate of 1500 per acre (approximately 3' x 10' spacing) (McKevlin 1992). Trees or seeds that are protected by tree shelters may regenerate more successfully (Figure 21). However, tree shelters can be knocked down during floods or high winds, and must be straightened. Tree shelters are also expensive, at a cost of $2-$3 each. In urban environments, the use of larger balled and burlap trees or containerized stock is appropriate. Recommended spacing for these trees is 16' apart, or 200 trees per acre (Palone and Todd 1997).

Native warm-season grasses, such as switchgrass and eastern gamagrass, are often recommended for the portion of the buffer planted to grass (Zone 3) (Figure 22). Warm-season grasses are preferred due to their large root systems, high above-ground productivity, value to wildlife, and low maintenance (Schultz and others 1995). Table 6 lists warm-season grasses appropriate for Zone 3. Where sediment loads are low (less than 1000 lb/ac/yr), herbaceous forbs and shrubs may be included in Zone 3 (Palone and Todd 1997).

Warm-season grasses are established by plowing, disking, and cultipacking the area to create a firm seedbed (Capel 1992). Seed is drilled into the soil (1/4" deep) with a small grain drill (using the alfalfa seed box) or broadcast with a cyclone spreader, and cultipacked to tamp down the seed. Chaffy seeds or seeds with wings (for example, Bluestem and Indiangrass) are usually broadcast because they clog the drill. Warm-season grasses should be planted when the soil is >60°F (April to June in the Coastal Plain and May to early July in other parts of the state), and if possible, just prior to a good rain (Wolf and Fiske 1995). Nitrogen fertilizer is not recommended at seeding; phosphorus, potassium, and lime should be applied if recommended according to soil test recommendations. Grass seed should be purchased on a Pure Live Seed (PLS) basis rather than by bulk weight (Pure Live Seed accounts for debris and germination efficiency). A high Pure Live Seed is a good indication of overall seed quality.

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Maintenance

Riparian buffers require ongoing maintenance to remain effective. The landowner should walk the area on a regular basis, watching for damage to fences, the formation of gullies, weed problems, wildlife damage, insect and disease problems, bank erosion and wash-outs in the stream. Some seedling mortality is expected; however, if stand density falls below 80 trees per acre, reinforcement plantings will be needed (Figure 23).

During buffer establishment, competition for light and nutrients from weeds can cause mortality and substantially reduce seedling growth. Weeds should be controlled by mowing, mulching, or herbicides (Figure 24). Mowing may effectively control weeds on some sites, particularly if mowed on a regular basis. However, mowing can damage tree seedlings and where weeds are thick, does not eliminate the competition for moisture. Mowing also requires that trees are planted on a more regular spacing. Mulches or weed control fabrics can be an alternative to mowing, and provide the additional benefit of protecting trees from moisture stress in drought-prone areas. Herbicides probably offer the best control for competition and result in more rapid establishment of the forest buffer. Tree shelters can increase survival of tree seedlings and protect seedlings during mowing or spraying.

After the trees are established, the trees should be periodically thinned to maintain vigorous growth and maximize nutrient uptake (Palone and Todd 1997). Selective harvest of mature trees is recommended to sustain adequate growth and remove nutrients sequestered in tree stems and branches. During harvest, care should be taken to protect the forest floor from disturbance and compaction and to preserve surface and subsurface water flows (Nutter and Gaskin 1988).

Following forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) during harvest accomplishes these objectives. BMPs for logging in riparian areas are described in the "Forestry Best Management Practices Guide for Virginia," issued by the Virginia Department of Forestry (1997). Best Management Practices that apply in streamside areas include:

To plan a successful tree harvest, first consult the Virginia Department of Forestry. By law, they must be notified that a harvest will occur three days before logging begins. Be aware that additional federal, state, and/or local regulations may apply to activities in wetland areas; therefore, the local office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers should be contacted before any activity occurs in a wetland area.

Warm-season grasses that are incorporated into the buffer plan will also require regular maintenance (Dillaha and Hayes 1991, Capel 1992). These grasses are slow to establish and spend the first two years developing their deep root systems. During this time, the grass stand will require regular mowing or herbicide application to control broadleaf weeds. Once established, periodic controlled burns (about every 3 to 4 years) can help warm-season grasses recycle nutrients, stimulate new growth, and kill back woody plants and other species. Warm-season grasses have few insect or disease problems and do not normally require fertilizer.

As sediments accumulate in the buffer, they may create a small berm between the buffer and the field edge. The berm will eventually prevent field runoff from flowing through the buffer and cause runoff to flow parallel to the buffer instead. Where this occurs, accumulated sediments should be removed and the area regraded and reseeded. In areas of moderate erosion, this will occur about every 10 years, or when more than 6" of sediments have accumulated.

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How Long to Recovery?

Once a forested riparian buffer is established, it begins to provide some important functions after only a few years (Figure 25). For example, in Iowa researchers found that a newly established buffer trapped 80-90% of sediments and up to 90% of nitrates and atrazine from field runoff by the fourth growing season (Schultz and others 1995). In the southeastern Coastal Plain, researchers observed that in high organic matter soils and where anoxic sediments are present, buffers begin to have a major impact on nitrate in five to ten years (Lowrance and others 1997). However, in other areas, 15 to 20 years may be required before buffers begin to control nitrate loads.

Wildlife use of the area will change throughout the life of the buffer. In Virginia, wildlife biologists observed significant use of streamside areas by birds within five to nine years after they had been cleared and allowed to revegetate naturally (Ferguson et al 1975). They expected that bird species diversity would continue to increase as the stand matured and became more structurally complex. The aquatic community will benefit immediately from improved water quality. However, benefits such as stream cooling and inputs of large woody debris will occur only slowly, over many years.

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List of Common and Scientific Names

American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana
Annual rye Secale cereale
Arrowwood viburnum Viburnum dentatum
Atlantic white cedar Chamaecyparis thyoides
Baldcypress Taxodium distichum
Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Bayberry (wax myrtle) Myrica cerifera
Big bluestem Andropogon gerardi
Birdsfoot trefoil Lotus corniculatus
Bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis
Black walnut Juglans nigra
Black willow Salix nigra
Blackberry Rubus spp.
Blackgum Nyssa sylvatica
Bluestem Andropogon spp.
Bromegrass Bromus spp.
Broomsedge Andropogon virginicus
Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
Coastal panicgrass Panicum amarulum
Common (smooth) alder Alnus serrulata
Deertongue Panicum clandestinum
Dogwood Cornus spp.
Downy serviceberry (shadblow) Amelanchier arborea
Eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides
Eastern gamma grass Tripsacum dactyloides
Eastern hemlock Tsuga canadensis
Eastern hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana
Eastern red cedar Juniperus virginiana
Elderberry Sambucus canadensis
Elm Ulmus spp.
Grape Vitus spp.
Gray dogwood Cornus racemosa
Green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Greenbriar Smilax rotundifolia
Hackberry Celtis occidentalis
Hickory Carya spp.
Highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum
Holly Ilex spp.
Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans
Japanese bamboo Phyllostachys species
Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japenica
Kudzu Pueraria montana var. lobata
Lespedeza Lespedeza spp.
Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
Loblolly pine Pinus taeda
Locust Robinia spp.
Maple Acer spp.
Mile-a-minute Polygonum perfoliatum
Multiflora rose Rosa multiflora
Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
Norway maple Acer platanoides
Oak Quercus spp.
Oriental bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus
Overcup oak Quercus lyrata
Pawpaw Asimina triloba
Persimmon Diospyros virginiana
Phragmites Phragmites communis
Pin oak Quercus palustris
Pine Pinus spp.
Poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
Porcelain berry Ampelopsis brevipendunculata
Privet Ligustrum spp.
Red chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia
Red maple Acer rubrum
Red mulberry Morus rubra
Redbud Cercis canadensis
River (black) birch Betula nigra
Silky (swamp dogwood) Cornus amomum
Smartweed Polygonum spp.
Spicebush Lindera benzoin
Swamp azalea Rhododendron viscosum
Swamp chestnut oak Quercus michauxii
Swamp white oak Quercus bicolor
Sweet pepperbush Clethera alnifolia
Sweetbay Magnolia virginiana
Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua
Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
Sycamore Platanus occidentalis
Tree-of-heaven Ailanthus altissima
Trumpet creeper vine Campsis radicans
Virginia willow (sweetspire) Itea virginica
Water oak Quercus aquatica
Willow Salix spp.
Willow oak Quercus phellos
Winterberry Ilex verticillata
Wiregrass Juncus spp.
Witch hazel Hamamelis virginiana
Yellow (tulip poplar) Liriodendron tulipifera

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Additional Resources

General References

Firehock, K. and J. Doherty. 1995. A citizen's streambank restoration handbook. Izaak Walton League of America, Inc., 707 Conservation Lane, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. Phone: 1-800-284-4952. 60 pages.

Helfrich, L.A., D.L. Weigmann, R.J. Neves, P.T. Bromley. 1998. Landowner's guide to managing streams in the Eastern United States. Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication 420-141. (Available online at: www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/forestry/420-141/420-141.html).

Site Assessment

Platts, W.S., W.F. Megahan, G.W. Minshall. 1983. Methods for evaluating streams, riparian areas, and biotic conditions. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report INT-138. Intermountain Forest & Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT 84401. 70 pages.

Austin, S.H. 1999. Riparian forest handbook 1 - Appreciating and evaluating streamside forests. Virginia Department of Forestry, Charlottesville, VA. 48 pages.

Stream Restoration

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. 1996. Engineering Field Handbook (part 650). Chapter 16: Streambank and shoreline protection, and Chapter 18: Soil bioengineering for upland slope protection and erosion reduction. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC.

Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. 1994. Guidelines for streambank restoration. Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission, Atlanta, GA. Phone: 706-542-3065. 52 pages.

Seehorn, M.E. 1992. Stream habitat improvement handbook. USDA Forest Service Southern Region Technical Publication R8-TP-16. USDA Forest Service Southern Region. 1720 Peachtree Rd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30367-9102. 30 pages.

Vetrano, D.M. 1988. Unit construction of trout habitat improvement structures for Wisconsin coulee streams. Wisconsin Bureau of Fisheries Management Administrative Report No. 27. Madison, WI. 35 pages.

Vegetation

McKevlin, M.R. 1992. Guide to regeneration of bottomland hardwoods. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report SE-76. Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, NC. 35 pages.

Capel, S. 1992. Warm-season grasses for Virginia and North Carolina - benefits for livestock and wildlife. Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. 10 pages.

Wolf, W.D., and D.A. Fiske. 1996. Planting and managing switchgrass for forage, wildlife, and conservation. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Cooperative Extension. Publication No. 418-013. 4 pages.

Permits

Virginia Marine Resources Commission Habitat Management Division. Local, state, federal joint permit application. Published jointly by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Virginia Marine Resources Commission, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and local wetlands boards. P.O. Box 756, Newport News, VA 23607. Phone 804-247-2255.

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Bibliography

Austin, S.H. 1999. Riparian forest handbook 1 - Appreciating and evaluating streamside forests. Virginia Department of Forestry, Charlottesville. 48 p.

Capel, S. 1992. Warm-season grasses for Virginia and North Carolina - benefits for livestock and wildlife. Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. 10 p.

Cooper, J.R., J.W. Gilliam, R.B. Daniels, and W.P. Robarge. 1987. Riparian areas as filters for agricultural sediment. Soil Science Society of America Journal 51:416-420.

Croonquist, M.J., and R.P. Brooks. 1991. Use of avian and mammalian guilds as indicators of cumulative impacts in riparian-wetland areas. Environmental Management 15:701-714.

Dillaha, T.A., and J.C. Hayes. 1991. A procedure for the design of vegetative filter strips. Final report to USDA Soil Conservation Service. Sept. 30, 1991. 48 p.

Dosskey, M.G., R.C. Schultz, and T.M. Isenhart. 1997. How to design a riparian buffer for agricultural land. National Agroforestry Center. Agroforestry Notes AF Note - 4. USDA Forest Service/ Natural Resources Conservation Service. Lincoln, NE. 4 p.

Elias, T.S. 1980. The complete trees of North America. Outdoor Life/Nature Books. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., NY. 948 p.

Ferguson, H.L., R.W. Ellis, and J.B. Whelan. 1975. Effects of stream channelization on avian diversity and density in Piedmont Virginia. Proceedings, Annual Conference of the Southeast Association of Game and Fish Commissions. 29:540-548.

Firehock, K. and J. Doherty. 1995. A citizen's streambank restoration handbook. Izaak Walton League of America, Inc., Gaithersburg, MD. 60 p.

Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. 1994. Guidelines for streambank restoration. Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission, Atlanta. 52 p.

Helfrich, L.A., D.L. Weigmann, R.J. Neves, and P.T. Bromley. 1998. Landowner's guide to managing streams in the Eastern United States. Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication 420-141.

Hoffman, J.T., D.L. Green, and D. Eager. 1998. Riparian restoration and streamside erosion control handbook. State of Tennessee Nonpoint Source Water Pollution Management Program. Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Nashville. 78 p.

Hupp, C.R. 1992. Riparian vegetation recovery patterns following stream channelization: a geomorphic perspective. Ecology 73:1209-1226.

Keller, C.M.E., C.S. Robbins, and J.S. Hatfield. 1993. Avian communities in riparian forests of different widths in Maryland and Delaware. Wetlands 13(2):137-144.

King, D.M., P.T. Hagan, and C.C. Bohlen. 1997. Setting priorities for riparian buffers. University of Maryland. Center for Environmental and Estuarine Studies. Technical Contribution UMCEES-CBL-96-160.

Lowrance, R., L.S. Altier, J.D. Newbold, R.R. Schnabel, P.M. Groffman, J.M. Denver, D.L. Correll, J.W. Gilliam, J.L. Robinson, R.B. Brinsfield, K.W. Staver, W. Lucas, and A.H. Todd. 1997. Water quality functions of riparian forest buffers in Chesapeake Bay watersheds. Environmental Management 21:687-712.

Magette, W.L., R.B. Brinsfield, R.E. Palmer, and J.D. Wood. 1989. Nutrient and sediment removal by vegetated filter strips. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers 32:663-667.

McKevlin, M.R. 1992. Guide to regeneration of bottomland hardwoods. USDA Forest Service Publication GTR-SE-76. Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, NC. 35 p.

Myers, L.H. 1989. Riparian area management - inventory and monitoring riparian areas. U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Technical Reference 1737-3. Denver, CO. 79 p.

Nutter, W.L. and J.W. Gaskin. 1988. Role of streamside management zones in controlling discharges to wetlands. Pages 81-84. In: The Forested Wetlands of the Southern U.S., Proceedings of the Symposium, July 12-14, 1988. Orlando, FL. USDA Forest Service Publication GTR-SE-50. 168 p.

O'Laughlin, J., and G.H. Belt. 1995. Functional approaches to riparian buffer strip design. Journal of Forestry 93(2):29-32.

Palone, R.S., and A.H. Todd (editors). 1997. Chesapeake Bay riparian handbook: a guide for establishing and maintaining riparian forest buffers. USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry. Publication NA-TP-02-97. Radnor, PA.

Phillips, J.D. 1989. Nonpoint source pollution control effectiveness of riparian forests along a Coastal Plain river. Journal of Hydrology 110:221-237.

Platts, W.S., W.F. Megahan, G.W. Minshall. 1983. Methods for evaluating streams, riparian areas, and biotic conditions. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report INT-138. Intermountain Forest & Range Experiment Station. Ogden, UT. 70 p.

Quigley, T.M. 1981. Estimating contribution of overstory vegetation to stream surface shade. Wildlife Society Bulletin 9:22-26.

Rosgen, D.L. 1994. A classification of natural rivers. Catena. 22:169-199.

Schnabel, R.R., W.J. Gburek, and W.L. Stout. 1994. Evaluating riparian zone control on nitrogen entry into Northeast streams. p. 432-445. In: Riparian Ecosystems in the Humid U.S.: Functions, Values and Management. Proceedings of a Conference, March 15-18, 1993. Atlanta, GA. National Association of Conservation Districts. 445 p.

Schultz, R.C., T.M. Isenhart, and J. P. Colletti 1995. Riparian buffer systems in crop and rangelands. p. 13-26. In: Rietveld, W.J. (editor) Agroforestry and Sustainable Systems: Symposium Proceedings. USDA Forest Service Publication RM-GTR-261. 276 p.

Seehorn, M.E. 1992. Stream habitat improvement handbook. USDA Forest Service Southern Region Technical Publication R8-TP-16. 30 p.

Tjaden, R.L., and G.M. Weber. 1997. Trees for riparian forest buffers. Maryland Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheet 726. College Park, MD. 4 p.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. 1997. Grasses that can be used for planting in riparian forest buffers and herbaceous buffers. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Annapolis, MD. 46 p.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. 1992. National engineering handbook, Part 650 - Engineering field handbook. Chapter 18 - Soil bioengineering for upland slope protection and erosion reduction. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Washington, DC.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. 1996a. National engineering handbook, Part 650 - Engineering field handbook. Chapter 16 - streambank and shoreline protection. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Washington, DC.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. 1996b. Maryland conservation practice standard: riparian forest buffer. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - Maryland. Riparian Forest Buffer 391-1. Annapolis, MD. 18 p.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. 1996c. Virginia conservation practice standard: riparian forest buffer. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - VA. Riparian Forest Buffer 391-1. Richmond, VA.

Verry, E.S. 1996. Riparian structure and function: physical and chemical components. p. 47-53. In: Laursen, S.B. (ed.). At the Wateržs Edge: the Science of Riparian Forestry. Proceedings of a Conference, June 19-20, 1995. Duluth, MN. University of Minnesota. Publication BU-6637-S. St. Paul, MN. 160 p.

Vetrano, D.M. 1988. Unit construction of trout habitat improvement structures for Wisconsin coulee streams. Wisconsin Bureau of Fisheries Management. Administrative Report No. 27. Madison, WI. 35 p.

Virginia Department of Forestry. 1997. Forestry best management practices for water quality in Virginia technical guide. Virginia Department of Forestry, Charlottesville. 47 p.

Virginia Department of Forestry. 1999. Herbicide use sheets - program year 1999. http://state.vipnet.org/dof/herbuse.htm.

Welsch, D.J. 1991. Riparian forest buffers - function and design for protection and enhancement of water resources. USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area State & Private Forestry. NA-PR-07-91. Radnor, PA. 20 p.

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Wolf, W.D., and D.A. Fiske. 1995. Planting and managing switchgrass for forage, wildlife, and conservation. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Virginia Cooperative Extension. Publication No. 418-013. Blacksburg, VA. 4 p.

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Other Publications in this series:

Riparian forests are forests which occur adjacent to streams, lakes, and other surface waters. Through the interaction of their soils, hydrology, and biotic communities, riparian forests protect and improve water quality, provide habitat for plants and animals, support aquatic communities, and provide many benefits to humans. Virginia, along with other states in the Chesapeake Bay region, has recognized the importance of riparian forests by implementing a plan to restore forested buffers along streams, rivers, and lakes. This series of publications by Virginia Cooperative Extension reviews selected literature on riparian forest buffers, including water quality functions, benefits to fish and wildlife, and human benefits. The review also discusses riparian buffer restoration and some of the costs and barriers associated with riparian forest buffer establishment. Information on financial and technical assistance programs available to Virginia landowners is included.

Other Publications in this series:

Understanding the Science Behind Riparian Forest Buffers: an Overview (VCE Pub. 420-150)

Understanding the Science Behind Riparian Forest Buffers: Effects on Water Quality (VCE Pub. 420-151)

Understanding the Science Behind Riparian Forest Buffers: Effects on Plant and Animal Communities (VCE Pub. 420-152)

Understanding the Science Behind Riparian Forest Buffers: Benefits to Communities and Landowners (VCE Pub. 420-153)

Understanding the Science Behind Riparian Forest Buffers: Factors Influencing Adoption (VCE Pub. 420-154)

Understanding the Science Behind Riparian Forest Buffers: Resources for Virginia Landowners (VCE Pub. 420-156)

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