Restore and Protect: The Casefor Riparian Forest Buffers

Diane WilsonPennsylvania Department of Environmental

Protection (DEP)Bureau of Conservation and Restoration

Overview

• Why Riparian Forest Buffers?

• Riparian Forest Buffer Guidance

• Riparian Buffer Requirements inChapter 102 – Erosion andSedimentation Control and StormwaterManagement Regulations

• Case Studies

Functions and Benefits ofRiparian Forest Buffers (RFBs)

• Protection and Enhancement of WaterQuality

• Protection and Enhancement of AquaticHabitat

• Moderation of the Effects of Climate Change

• Protection of Channel and Lake ShorelineStability

• Protection and Enhancement of TerrestrialHabitat

• Social and Economic Benefits

Protection and Enhancement ofWater Quality by RFBs

• Filtration ofPollutants inRunoff

• TemperatureModeration

• PollutantProcessing

Filtration of Pollutants in Runoff

• 71 % nitrate removal by buffers 85-164feet wide (Mayer et al. 2007)

• > 50% phosphorus removal by buffers(Dorioz et al. 2006)

• 92% sediment removal (Peterjohn andCorrell 1984)

Pollutant Processing

• RFB ecosystemprocessespollutants.

• Leaves of nativetrees in RFB washinto stream to feedMacroinvertebratesthat processpollutants.

Weekly Maximum Temperature for Farmand Forest Streams

Trout prefer 55º F (13º C) to 65ºF (18ºC)

http://www.alliancechesbay.org/pubs/projects/deliverables-145-7-2004.pdf

http://www.alliancechesbay.org/pubs/projects/deliverables-145-7-2004.pdf

Buffers and Trout

• 2005 study in Georgia-If RFB widths declinefrom 100 to 50 ft :

– Stream temperaturesincrease by 2.9°F to4.2°F.

– Fine sediments inriffles increase by11%.

– Biomass of youngtrout reduced byover 80%.

Reduced Cost of Water Treatment(Trust for Public Land and American Water Works Association, Protecting

the Source, (2004). )

DEP’s Riparian Forest BufferGuidance

Assist DEP in makingRiparian ForestBufferrecommendationsin:

– Regulatoryprograms

– Voluntaryprograms

– Grant programs

Purpose of Guidance - continued

Assist outsideentities indevelopingscience-basedguidelines orpolicies regardingRiparian ForestBuffers.

Purpose of Guidance - continued

Tool for

regulated entities

in meeting

regulatory

requirements.

Definitions - Riparian Buffer

– Permanentvegetation alongsurface waters.

– Any combinationof vegetationtypes (grasses,forbs, shrubs,trees).

Definitions - Riparian ForestBuffer

– Type of riparianbuffer

– Permanentvegetation that ispredominantly nativetrees and shrubsalong surface waters

– Maintained in naturalstate or sustainablymanaged

Composition of Newly EstablishedRiparian Forest Buffer

• Zone 1 –UndisturbedForest (NativeTrees)

• Zone 2 –Managed Forest(Native Trees andShrubs)

Composition of Existing RiparianForest Buffer

• Predominantly native trees andshrubs.

• Provides at least 60 % uniform canopycover.

• Noxious weeds and invasive speciesremoved or controlled to extentpossible.

Average Minimum Width

Special Protection (High Quality andExceptional Value) waters

–Total of 150 feet.

– 50 feet Zone 1 and 100 feet Zone 2 innewly planted RFBs.

Non Special Protection waters–Total of 100 feet.

– 50 feet Zone 1 and 50 feet zone 2 innewly planted RFBs.

Riparian Forest BufferManagement Plan Overview

1. Planting plan .

2. MaintenanceSchedule .

3. InspectionSchedule.

Sample Planting RecommendationsAccording to Moisture Conditions

• Very wet

– Silver Maple

– Red Osier Dogwood

• In Between

– Pin Oak

– Gray dogwood

• Dry

– Sassafras

– Staghorn sumac

Chapter 102 – Erosion and SedimentationControl and Stormwater Management

Regulations

• Updated in 2010

• Apply to earthdisturbanceactivities

• 1 acre and aboveneed permit

• Below 1 acre –erosion andsedimentation plan

Riparian Forest Buffer = GoldStandard of Best Management

Practices

1. Antidegradationpresumption.

2. Trading oroffsettingcredits.

3. VoluntaryRiparian ForestBuffer.

Chapter 102 Riparian BufferRequirements

Project site located in Special

Protection (EV or HQ) watershed

attaining designated use at the time ofapplication:

– No earth disturbance within 150 ofperennial or intermittent river, stream,creek, lake, pond or reservoir.

– Protect any existing riparian buffer.

Chapter 102 Riparian Forest BufferRequirements

Project site located along Special Protectionwaters failing to attain designated use(Category 4 or 5 of Integrated Water QualityReport) at time of application:

• Protect an existing Riparian Forest Buffer – 150feet wide.

• Convert an existing Riparian Buffer to aRiparian Forest Buffer - 150 feet wide.

• Establish a new Riparian Forest Buffer - 150feet wide..

Chapter 102 Mandatory Requirements -All Riparian Buffers

1. Ensure thatstormwater entersthe buffer as sheetflow.

2. Protect inperpetuity.

3. Clearly mark theboundary.

Chapter 102 BufferRequirements

Designated Use of WaterBody

Special Protection WaterMandatory requirement

Non Special Protection WatersNot a mandatory requirement

Impaired or TMDL Not Impaired, no TMDL Voluntary Buffer No buffer requirements

100 feetRequires RFB Management Plan

Antidegradation presumptionTrading or offsetting credits

150 feetEither

a) Establish new RFBb) Modify existing RFBc) Protect existing RFB

Requires RFB management planAntidegradation presumption

150 feetSetback buffer

No management plan neededDoes not have to be forested

Pierceville Run – York County6.7 square mile agricultural watershed

• Problem - 2002Impaired List ofstreams for :

– Unstablestreambanks

– Severe erosion

– Excessive nutrients

– Suspended solids

• Solution:

– Stream restoration(Natural StreamDesign)

– Riparian ForestBuffer

Mill Creek – Bradford County11 square mile agricultural watershed

• Problem - StephenFoster (75 acre)Lake impaired :

– Excesssedimentation

– Algal blooms

– High TotalSuspended Solids

– High Phosphorus

• Solution – BestManagementPractices inwatershed:

– Exclusion fencing

– Natural streamchannel design

– Riparian ForestBuffers

Growing Season TSS Load entering Stepehen Foster Lake from Mill Creek

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

800,000

1994-95 2004 2005 2006 2008-09

YEAR

LB

S Targeted TSS load for S.Foster Lake (TMDL)

Contact Information

Diane Wilson

Pennsylvania Department ofEnvironmental Protection

Email: diawilson@pa.gov

Phone: 717 787 3730

Restore and Protect: The Case for Riparian Forest BuffersOverviewFunctions and Benefits of Riparian Forest Buffers (RFBs)Protection and Enhancement of Water Quality by RFBsFiltration of Pollutants in Runoff�Pollutant ProcessingSlide Number 7Slide Number 8Slide Number 9��Weekly Maximum Temperature for Farm and Forest Streams�Trout prefer 55º F (13º C) to 65ºF (18ºC)��http://www.alliancechesbay.org/pubs/projects/deliverables-145-7-2004.pdf�Slide Number 11Buffers and TroutSlide Number 13Reduced Cost of Water Treatment�(Trust for Public Land and American Water Works Association, Protecting the Source, (2004). )Slide Number 15DEP’s Riparian Forest Buffer GuidancePurpose of Guidance - continuedPurpose of Guidance - continuedDefinitions - Riparian BufferDefinitions - Riparian Forest BufferComposition of Newly Established Riparian Forest BufferComposition of Existing Riparian Forest BufferSlide Number 23Average Minimum WidthRiparian Forest Buffer Management Plan Overview�Sample Planting Recommendations According to Moisture Conditions��Chapter 102 – Erosion and Sedimentation Control and Stormwater Management Regulations��Riparian Forest Buffer = Gold Standard of Best Management Practices �Chapter 102 Riparian Buffer RequirementsChapter 102 Riparian Forest Buffer RequirementsChapter 102 Mandatory Requirements -�All Riparian BuffersChapter 102 Buffer RequirementsPierceville Run – York County�6.7 square mile agricultural watershedSlide Number 34Slide Number 35Slide Number 36Slide Number 37Slide Number 38Mill Creek – Bradford County�11 square mile agricultural watershedSlide Number 40Slide Number 41Slide Number 42Slide Number 43Slide Number 44Slide Number 45Slide Number 46Slide Number 47Contact Information