AMERICA'S GROWTH CORRIDORS: America's Growth Corridors: The Key to National Revival
Stream Corridors Christine Hall Natural Resources Conservation Service North Jersey RC&D Slides...
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Transcript of Stream Corridors Christine Hall Natural Resources Conservation Service North Jersey RC&D Slides...
Stream Corridors
Christine Hall
Natural Resources Conservation Service
North Jersey RC&D
Slides 1-12
What I’ll Cover
What are Riparian Corridors Why should we protect these areas Ways to protect them Determining buffer width Land use limitations
What are Riparian Areas?
Natural riparian areas are areas of trees, shrubs or grasses located adjacent to streams, lakes, ponds and wetlands
Riparian Areas in
Hunterdon County
Results of the Riparian Health
Assessment Model
Benefits and Functions
Intercepts sediment, nutrients, pesticides and other materials in surface runoff
Reduces nutrients and other pollutants in shallow sub-surface water flow
Provides food and cover for wildlife Lowers water temperatures by shading Slows out-of-bank flood flows
Benefits and Functions – con’t…
Provides leaf litter and large woody debris needed by aquatic organisms
Trees and shrub roots increase bank and shoreline stability
Why should we protect these areas Protect Drinking Water
– Water Supply Intakes in Raritan and Delaware River
Economics– Recreational $ spent in county (boating,
fishing, etc) Quality of life for residents Control runoff and flooding
Ways to Protect Stream Corridors
Regulatory Voluntary
Regulatory Approaches
Proposed Stormwater Regulations– 300 foot buffer on C1 waterways– 100% infiltration requirement on new
construction Stream Encroachment
– 50 foot buffer on trout associated waters– 25 foot buffer on nontrout waters
Regulatory Approaches
Freshwater Wetlands Act– 150 foot buffer on Exceptional Resource
Value Wetlands– 50 foot buffer on Intermediate Resource
Value Wetlands Municipal Ordinance
– Stream Corridor, Impervious Cover, Steep Slope, Tree Protection
Voluntary Approaches
Federal Programs– Agricultural Land:
• EQIP – Environmental Quality Incentives Program
• CRP – Conservation Reserve Program
• CREP - Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
– Other Private Land (Non-Federal ownership)• Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
Voluntary Approaches
State Programs– 319h Nonpoint Source Pollution grants– Green Acres
Local & Nonprofit Programs– North Jersey RC&D – Local Land Trusts
Grant and Foundation Funding
Voluntary Approaches
Groups who can provide assistance– Trout Unlimited– Youth Corps– Watershed Associations– Boy Scouts– State Tree Nursery
Regulatory VS. Voluntary
Regulatory Generally Rigid More limited funding
for restoration Adversarial Compliance across
board Financial burden
Voluntary More flexible Wide array of
funding sources Builds partnerships
Determining Buffer Width
Value ofthe
Resource
Value ofthe
Resource
Site, Buffer& Watershed
Traits
Site, Buffer& Watershed
Traits
IntensityOf
AdjacentLand Use
IntensityOf
AdjacentLand Use
DesiredBuffer
Functions
DesiredBuffer
Functions
Landowner Objectives/ConstraintsLandowner Objectives/Constraints
RecommendedBuffer Width
RecommendedBuffer Width
Standards Available
US Forest Service 3 Zone Buffer NRCS Technical Standard Chesapeake Bay Riparian Handbook
US Forest Service
NRCS Technical Standard
Width of forested buffer based on width of floodplain
Width of grassed buffer based on steepness of slope
Chesapeake Bay – Buffer Width
Chesapeake Bay – Buffer Value
Land Use Limitations
Limited land area to work with in developed areas
Easier to restore buffers in undeveloped areas. However removing land from agricultural productions costs $$– Need to have financial incentives– Raritan Watershed Agricultural Committee
position paper
Final Thoughts…
Riparian Buffers provide a multitude of benefits
Need to be protected and restored One size does not fit all Upland land uses and necessary BMPs
must be considered Must consider economic impacts of
management recommendations