What’s a Buffer and How Will They Help This River?
Riverside buffers protect the rivers and streams by filtering stormwater, absorbing and trapping pollutants, providing shade to keep waters cool and provide habitat for wildlife.
By
Jessie Thomas-Blate |
August 11, 2016
Guest post by Merrimack River Watershed Council is a part of our America’s Most Endangered Rivers® series spotlighting the Merrimack River.
The Merrimack River Watershed Council, along with the Nashua River Watershed Association and the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, has embarked on a three year grant funded project to protect water quality by restoring and protecting riverside buffers.
The Riparian Restoration project is a three year project funded with grants from the U.S. Forest Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation that focuses on select sub-watersheds throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire to combat stormwater pollution and water quality. These vital vegetative buffers protect the rivers and streams by filtering stormwater, absorbing and trapping pollutants, provide shade to keep waters cool, and provide important habitat for wildlife throughout the ecosystem.
Check out the video
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Partnerships like these can go a long way toward protecting and restoring watersheds, especially if they are well coordinated and funded. We need to build upon this good work in the Merrimack by urging the EPA to create a regional watershed partnership to prioritize smart land-use planning, green infrastructure and accelerate land protection now in order to protect the Merrimack River’s water for people and wildlife!
The Merrimack River Watershed Council was formed in 1976 to protect, improve and conserve the Merrimack River watershed for people and wildlife through education, recreation, advocacy and science
3 responses to “What’s a Buffer and How Will They Help This River?”
Hi Ella,
When we say buffers, we are referring to riparian buffers, which are vegetated areas along a stream, usually forested, which serves as a buffer to pollutants entering a stream from runoff, controls erosion, and provides habitat and nutrient input into the stream. You can find more information at http://www.stormwater.allianceforthebay.org/take-action/installations/riparian-buffers
Hello! I am still confused. I know what a buffer does. I just do not know what it is. Is it chemicals, hills? What is it?
Everyone knows how essential these buffers are. But watch out for your own state legislators.
Some are in the pockets of don’t give a damn, anti EPA groups, greed before healthy streams & rivers.