Code F01 Year of Issue none Sector Forest The complete description of the NWRM f1_-_forest_riparian_buffers.pdf Summary Riparian buffers are treed areas alongside streams and other water bodies. While most commonly associated with set asides following forest harvest, riparian buffers can also be found in urban, agricultural and wetland areas. By preserving a relatively undisturbed area adjacent to open water, riparian buffers can serve a number of functions related to water quality and flow moderation. The trees in riparian areas can efficiently take up excess nutrients and may also serve to increase infiltration. Riparian buffers serve to slow water as it moves off the land. This can decrease sediment inputs to surface waters. Illustration(s) Riparian bufferSource: http://www.flatheadwatershed.org/watershed/floodplains.shtmlRiparian bufferSource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riparian_buffer Possible benefits with level Benefits Level BP1 - Store runoff Medium BP2 - Slow runoff Medium BP4 - Slow river water Low BP5 - Increase evapotranspiration Low BP6 - Increase infiltration and/or groundwater recharge Low BP7 - Increase soil water retention Low BP8 - Reduce pollutant sources Medium BP9 - Intercept pollution pathways Medium BP10 - Reduce erosion and/or sediment delivery High BP11 - Improve soils Low BP12 - Create aquatic habitat Medium BP13 - Create riparian habitat High BP14 - Create terrestrial habitats Low BP16 - Reduce peak temperature Medium BP17 - Absorb and/or retain CO2 Low ES1 - Water storage Low ES2 - Fish stocks and recruiting Medium ES3 - Natural biomass production Low ES4 - Biodiversity preservation High ES6 - Groundwater/aquifer recharge Low ES7 - Flood risk reduction Low ES8 - Erosion/sediment control High ES9 - Filtration of pollutants Medium ES10 - Recreational opportunities Low ES11 - Aesthetic/cultural value Low ES12 - Navigation Low PO1 - Improving status of biology quality elements Medium PO2 - Improving status of physico-chemical quality elements Medium PO3 - Improving status of hydromorphology quality elements Medium PO4 - Improving chemical status and priority substances Low PO6 - Improving chemical status Low PO7 - Prevent surface water status deterioration Medium PO8 - Prevent groundwater status deterioration Low PO9 - Take adequate and co-ordinated measures to reduce flood risks Low PO10 - Protection of important habitats Medium PO11 - Better protection for ecosystems and more use of Green Infrastructure High PO12 - More sustainable agriculture and forestry Medium PO13 - Better management of fish stocks Medium PO14 - Prevention of biodiversity loss Medium Case study(ies) Natural bank stabilization and riparian buffer galleries along the Odelouca River, Portugal Órbigo River ecological status improvement, Spain Dyke relocation on the river Elbe near Lenzen, Germany Fluvial and ecosystem restoration of the Arga-Aragon Rivers, Spain Slowing the Flow at Pickering, UK River basin management of the Ill, France Polder management near Altenheim, Germany Revitalisation of the Borova stream, Czech Republic Preservation of floodplain forests, Slovakia Wetland restoration and remeandering in SPA Dunajské luhy (Slovakia) and SPA Szigetkoz (Hungary) Riparian forests along the Maritsa river, Bulgaria Restoration of riparian forests in Bulgaria Wetland biodiversity protection in Kamanos Strict Nature Reserve, Lithuania