Establishment Guidelines
Simple removal of nonpoint pollutants is
not enough to improve the quality of water resources. A balanced, integrated,
adaptive community of riparian and aquatic organisms comparable to the natural
systems of the region with stability and capacity for self repair must be
reestablished. The restoration of a healthy aquatic ecosystems from the
headwaters to the estuaries to the oceans requires the reestablishment of
significant amounts of riparian forests.
Control of point source pollutants was a start; control of nonpoint pollutants and repair of the aquatic ecosystem through reestablishment of the streamside forest is a logical next step in improving the quality of our water resources.
Photo right: Remaining riparian forest buffers must be preserved and extended.
Specifications for such a streamside forest should consider the following:
- Streamside forests should be used in conjunction with sound land
management systems that include nutrient management and sediment and erosion
control.
- Sediment removal - The streamside forest must be wide enough to
filter sediment from surface runoff. Maximal effectiveness depends on uniform
shallow overland flow. Percent removal of Total Suspended Solids is a good
indicator of effectiveness.
- Nutrient removal - Periodic flooding and the presence of forest
litter contribute to conversion of nitrate to gaseous nitrogen by
denitrification. Plant uptake also accounts for significant removal of
nitrogen. Trees must be removed periodically to remove nutrient sequestered in
woody biomass and to maintain system efficiency.
- Periodic minor ground shaping may be necessary to encourage
dispersed flow and prevent concentrated flow.
- A portion of the riparian forest immediately adjacent to the
stream should be managed to maintain a stable streamside ecosystem and to
provide detritus and large stable debris to the stream.
- Crown cover should be managed to minimize fluctuations in stream
temperatures within the range necessary for instream aquatic habitat.
- Instream slash and debris removal practices should be revised to conserve existing large stable debris by retaining useful stable portions of jams whenever possible. Unstable tops and smaller debris with potential to form problem jams should be removed a sufficient distance to prevent re-entry during storm events.
The attached specification is an example of an effort by several
state, federal and private resource management and research organizations to
develop criteria for the establishment of effective forest buffers based on
current research findings.
Photo right: Riparian forest buffers are most effective when used in conjunction with sound land management systems that include nutrient management and sediment control systems.
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