How can I protect my stream?
Rivers, Streams, and in between
Healthy rivers and streams are vital to ecosystems and communities alike. They provide habitat for diverse aquatic life, provide freshwater resources, and are sought after for recreational pursuits. In the Adirondacks there are over 30,000 miles of rivers and streams, which is longer than the circumference of the Earth. Many of these rivers and streams are surrounded by forest preserve lands that are forever protected by New York State to retain their wild character and preserve the ecological communities dependent on them. Although, in addition to the nearly 3 million acres of forest preserve lands, there is another 3 million acres privately owned by homeowners, landowners, municipalities, and businesses. How we protect these waterbodies impacts the natural plant and animal communities, the larger watershed, and our neighbors. Follow along as we discuss some steps you can take to protect our waters and surrounding land.
Building better buffers
Understanding streams and rivers can be complicated, but protecting them doesn’t have to be. For starters, widening your vegetated buffer can be the first step to a healthier stream. Ideally all layers of vegetation would be present, including organic material such as decomposing sticks and leaves on the forest floor, a shrub and understory layer that shows healthy succession, and a canopy of mature, healthy trees. Increasing the amount of vegetation in your buffer can minimize the ability of pollutants such as road salt, fertilizers, or herbicides from directly entering the waterbody through channelized runoff. The root systems of native plants also assist with stabilizing the soil, protecting against erosion and flooding impacts during severe weather events. These plants also provide shading, which is vital for keeping stream water cold, protecting habitat for brook trout and other species.
How wide should my buffer be?
The wider the buffer, the better your stream, and your property, are protected from the impacts of severe weather events. For larger properties over one acre in size, it’s recommended that you have a 50’ buffer along your stream or river. For smaller properties, it is acceptable to have a 30’ buffer, given the constraints. In addition to adding vegetation to the buffer, it’s also recommended that you minimize impervious surfaces within the streamside zone. Impervious surfaces such as paved pedestrian paths, driveways, or residential structures can increase the likelihood of erosion, and decrease your property’s ability to retain groundwater. If you trim or cut for a view, try to limit this in the first 15’ from the stream. Instead of cutting entire trees, consider trimming the bottom 1/3 branches. Simply put, protect your buffer as the natural plant community that once existed, or has always existed at that location.
Do terrestrial invasive species impact water quality?
Invasive plant species such as knotweed (Fallopia japonica syn. Polygonum cuspidatum) are well equipped to spread quickly, and create challenges for native plant species. Knotweed create interconnected, unground root systems that can create new plant colonies through fragmentation. Unfortunately, this plant doesn’t have the same ability to retain soil as native plants. As it crowds out native plants, it increases the likelihood of erosion, which ultimately would help disperse more seeds from the knotweed. If you have invasive species in your buffer, these shallower root systems could be detrimental to your streambank. It’s recommended that you learn to identify your streamside plant communities so if you have an invasive species present, you can work to manage and remove it from your buffer. Additionally, maintaining native plant diversity in your buffer can promote heathier plant communities. The more tiers of native plant communities you have, the more resilient your buffer vegetation will be against flood risks, invasive pests, and will offer a range of habitat for wildlife.
By increasing vegetation and minimizing impervious surfaces, you are decreasing the risk of channelized runoff. By dispersing the flow of water over your buffer you limit the likelihood of pollutants that could directly enter the stream. Adding vegetation not only assists with this process but also creates habitat for wildlife, and keeps stream waters cool. To learn more about your streamside habitat and recommendations to protect your property from erosion, increase habitat and improve water quality, sign up for our Stream Wise Program today.