If you live next to a river, lake, stream, brook, or ditch, your help is needed. Planting native vegetation along these waterways will help protect property values and protect the environment too. If you live adjacent to one of these waterways, your property is the last line of defense from various environmental insults. What you do on your land can help protect water quality and enhance the regions natural habitats.
Streamside areas, referred to as riparian areas, provide critical filtration functions that protect water quality, prevent flooding, and provide cover for wildlife. Riparian areas, covered with natural vegetation, are capable of protecting water quality, habitat, and public safety by removing harmful nutrients, controlling erosion and flooding, and providing vital wildlife corridors. Riparian areas typically include floodplains and wetlands and serve as transition zones between aquatic and upland habitat. Natural riparian buffers are composed of native grasses, flowers, shrubs, and trees that form distinct habitat zones.
Riparian buffers function as natural filtration systems capable of absorbing high volumes of water as well as contaminants. They are effective at controlling nonpoint source pollution by removing nutrients, especially nitrogen, and sediment. Sediment and sediment-associated pollutants, such as pesticides and phosphorus, move to surface waters almost exclusively through surface runoff. As surface runoff moves through the buffer, sediment and pollutants are intercepted by plant material and porous soils. Removal of contaminants occurs when surface runoff slows sufficiently to allow the sediment to settle out. If the buffer is too narrow, the runoff water does not spread throughout the buffer and will move through the buffer in channels.
Width is considered the most important factor in determining the effectiveness of buffers in reducing pollutants and protecting stream health. Buffers that are too narrow may not be effective at controlling pollutants or protecting stream banks. Site characteristics, such as soil type, slope steepness, microbial populations, and vegetation, determine the amount of pollutants that are filtered out of the water before it enters the waterway. For optimal performance, riparian forest buffer systems must be designed and maintained to maximize sheet flow and infiltration and impede channelized concentrated flow.
The life cycle for native wildlife begins with a sustainable stream environment. The vegetation of the riparian buffer affects the type and amount of organic food matter available for stream organisms. Roots of riparian vegetation stabilize the stream bank and prevent stream bank erosion and sedimentation. Riparian buffers generally support larger populations of wildlife because the buffer provides many habitat requirements. Included with the leaf litter and rotting logs at the soil-water interface are insects, isopods, spiders, and mites. These organisms are a food source for reptiles, chipmunks, and birds. The herbs and shrubs provide habitat for insects, birds, and mammals. The internal zone and the canopy serve as habitat for birds, bats, squirrels, opossums, and raccoons.
Unfortunately, many of our streams are devoid of vegetation and have become barren and raw from erosion. As communities grow and expand, the trend is to create larger lawns that eventually encroach streams, which results in the cutting down of native vegetation and planting grass. While this may expand the yard, and appear to be more attractive, it can be devastating downstream. These modified areas are not capable of absorbing pollutants, capturing excessive water, or providing wildlife value. Over time, waterways downstream will experience extreme streambed scour, stream bank erosion, and in some cases severe flooding and property damage.
With the amount of precipitation we've been getting, municipal officials are quickly recognizing the importance of riparian areas and are now crafting new laws to help protect these unique and sensitive areas. However, these laws will only apply to new development and not existing properties. As well all know too well, many of our communities are nearly built-out, so these new laws will have little effect on streams and waterbodies already impacted. Therefore, it is up to you as waterway landowners to voluntarily agree to take steps necessary to protect these sensitive transition zones. Please help protect these important areas by planting native vegetation along waterways. Ask your local nursery about trees, plants, and grasses native to New Jersey. Future generations will thank you for it.