This presentation was developed by the USDA National Agroforestry Center Define riparian forest buffer Describe the benefits and uses Recognize basic design considerations Identify potential riparian buffer crops ID: 1020340
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1. Riparian Forest BufferAn agroforestry practiceThis presentation was developed by the USDA National Agroforestry Center
2. Define riparian forest bufferDescribe the benefits and usesRecognize basic design considerationsIdentify potential riparian buffer crops Presentation Objectives2Riparian forest buffer
3. What is Agroforestry?…the intentional combining of agriculture and working trees to create sustainable farming systems.SilvopastureAlley croppingWindbreaksForest farmingRiparian buffer3Riparian forest buffer
4. What: An area of predominantly trees and/or shrubs located adjacent to and up-gradient from watercourses or water bodiesWhere: On areas adjacent to permanent or intermittent streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands and areas with ground water recharge that are capable of supporting woody vegetation.Riparian Forest Buffer4Riparian forest buffer
5. Why use Riparian Forest Buffers?5Riparian forest buffer
6. Create shade to lower water temperatures to improve habitat for cold water aquatic organismsProvide a source of detritus and large woody debris for aquatic and terrestrial organismsCreate wildlife habitat and establish wildlife corridorsRestore natural riparian plant communitiesReduce excess amounts of sediment, organic material, nutrients and pesticides in surface runoff and reduce excess nutrients and other chemicals in shallow ground water flowProvide a harvestable crop of timber, fiber, forage, fruit, or other crops consistent with other intended purposes.Provide floodplain protection Increase carbon storageUse Riparian Forest Buffers to:6*Source: NRCS National Standard 391Riparian forest buffer
7. Riparian Forest Buffer Canopy cover and vertical vegetative structure from established plantsWood fiber in established plants Woody plant root systems of established plants(+) Trapping of sediment and sediment-attached pollutants (+) Uptake of soil nutrients during growing season (+) Infiltration of precipitation and soil storage (-) Streambank erosion and sedimentation (+) Denitrification of soil nitrates (+) Carbon storage (-) Crop production (non-woody) (-) Crop business and support infrastructure (+) Quality of receiving waters(+) Income and income stability (individuals and community) (-) Atmospheric CO2 and greenhouse effect(+) Wood-forest business and support infrastructure (+) Shade (+) Arboreal and understory habitat (+) Aesthetics (-) Stream water temperatureI (+) Forest and forest edge wildlife (+) Recreation opportunities(+) Stream fauna, e.g., fish, invertebrates (+) Recreation business and support infrastructure (-) Income and income stability (individuals and community)(-) Non-woody agricultural landStartInitial Setting: Former riparian forests and habitat used for forage, cropland, speculation property, or other non-forest use. Includes cutover riparian zones within forested areas. (+) Aquatic health for humans, domestic and wild animals; reduced costs (+) Wood fiber growth rate (-) Later wood fiber growth ratePeriodic tree removal Harvested wood fiber (manufactured wood products) and other tree/understory-related products (+) Landowner income; contractor incomeLEGEND Created by practice Direct effect Indirect effect Cumulative effectpathway(+) increase; (-) decreaseAssociated treatment (+) Detritus and large woody debris in streams (+) Leaf/debris fall and woody plant mortalityWhat are the Effects of Riparian Forest Buffers?7Riparian forest buffer
8. Design Considerations8Three-zone buffer systemBuffer widths and zones influence use and functionalityMinimum zone widths will vary by regionRiparian forest buffer
9. LocationSpeciesHeightDensityLengthManagement and useOperation and maintenanceOther Design Considerations9Riparian forest buffer
10. Table. Proportion of National Stream and River Mileage in Headwater Streams (Leopold, Wolman, Miller, 1964)Stream Order*Number of StreamsTotal Length of Streams (miles)Mean Drainage Area (square miles)**11,570,0001,570,0001.02350,000810,0004.7380,000420,00023418,000220,00010954,200116,000518695061,0002,460720030,00011,70084114,00055,600986,200264,0001011,8001,250,000Total2,023,4003,250,000N/A*stream order based on Strahler (1957) method, analyzing maps at a scale of 1:24,000**cumulative drainage area, including tributaries10Riparian forest buffer
11. Sun angle will vary by season, latitude and, of course, by time of day.Understand what is happening at the site and plan accordingly. In mountainous terrain, elevation and topographic shading can influence layout.Create Shade11Riparian forest buffer
12. Detritus and large debris are particularly important for lower order stream/riparian food chains and downstream effects on higher order streams.Placement in close proximity to the stream or water body insures that some leaf drop, twigs, and other detritus (and eventually large woody debris) enters the aquatic system.Provide detritus and woody debris12Riparian forest buffer
13. Create wildlife habitat13Riparian forest bufferUse widths to match desired conditionsThe value of riparian habitat is greatly increased if adjacent upland habitat is created and complementaryNatural mortality can increase habitat diversity and mimic natural developmentFull site functionality takes time
14. Wildlife usually benefit most from a mosaic of natural plant communities Connect fragmented riparian forests. Isolated patches or short strips may be poorly utilized or act as a magnet for predatorsUse native species where ever possible Restore natural plant communities14Riparian forest buffer
15. Understand the origin and boundaries of the source contaminants and locate the buffer down-gradient from them.Contaminants (sediment, chemicals, etc.) may be transported by surface sheet or concentrated flows or by subsurface flows.Subsurface flows in many settings bypass riparian buffer root systemsReduce excess contaminants15Riparian forest buffer
16. Provide harvestable crops Marketable products depend on current and future demand. Potential products:wood (sawlogs, post, poles, veneer)fiber (pulp, firewood, energy biomass)forage (livestock)fruit (nuts, berries)other crops (ginseng, mushrooms, herbs and floral greenery, etc.)16Riparian forest buffer
17. Riparian buffers reduce floodwater velocity and erosive powerStream debris is blocked from entering cropland, grassland, and urban landsRoots hold stream banks and keep the soil in placePeak storm flows may be reduced, lowering flooding levelsProvide floodplain protection17Riparian forest buffer
18. Riparian buffers are effective at storing carbonTrees grow rapidly in riparian zones due to favorable moisture and nutrient conditions Net carbon benefits are realized if the wood fiber is used for solid wood products or fuel Increase carbon storage18Riparian forest buffer
19. Riparian forest buffers provide many benefits and their effects are far reachingDetermine the desired purposes and design to optimize those purposesMany purposes are partly achieved just by virtue of installing the buffer (carbon storage, contaminant reduction, wildlife habitat, detritus)Use native species where ever possible unless product-required species are needed to achieve a specific purpose…or if adequate native stock is not availableSummary19Riparian forest buffer
20. For Additional InformationA number of web sites are available to provide more detailed information on riparian forest buffers. Here are a few:USDA National Agroforestry Center https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/practices/riparianforestbuffers.php The Center for Agroforestry http://www.centerforagroforestry.org/practices/rb.php Association for Temperate Agroforestry http://www.aftaweb.org/USDA Natural Resources Conservation Servicehttp://www.nrcs.usda.gov/20Riparian forest buffer
21. AcknowledgementsThis presentation was developed by the USDA National Agroforestry Center (NAC), Lincoln NE. NAC is a USDA partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service."The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer."NationalAgroforestryCenterA partnership of:21