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Riparian Buffers
How it works
All waterways have a riparian zone, commonly known as the floodplain. The riparian zone stretches along each waterway and is as wide as where annual or periodic flooding occurs. The riparian zone is the waterway's buffer. Under normal conditions, this land and the "natural" vegetation growing on it traps sediments from upslope erosion, and filters out fertilizers and pesticides used on adjacent farmland.
Within the last 50 years, natural vegetation of most Midwestern riparian zones has been cleared and replaced for row crops and converted to grazed pastures.
Restoring the riparian zones in these areas involves the planting of various tree and shrub species. Riparian buffers are very flexible and should be designed for each specific site.
How it helps
- These areas act as "living filters" for both surface and subsurface water trapping soil sediment and agricultural chemicals, including nitrates, phosphates, herbicides, and pesticides before these pollutants can enter streams. Riparian buffers have the capability to reduce 95% sediment in surface water and reduce nutrient runoff by up to 60%.
- They stabilize streambanks by reducing bank erosion and by slowing stream meandering across pasture and row crop fields.
- They increase the water holding capacity of soil, which moderates flooding and recharges groundwater supplies.
- They are important terrestrial wildlife habitat and control the aquatic ecosystem of small-to mid-sized streams.
Link to NRCS Standards & Specifications
ISU Agroecology Issues Team
ISU Extension publication on buffers
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