Technical Bulletin No. 0799: Riparian Vegetative Effectiveness

Vegetated buffers are often used to reduce or eliminate impacts to streams from nearby land uses. This study examines the ecological functions of riparian vegetation and graphically summarizes relationships between buffer width and effectiveness. Ecological functions considered are streambank stabilization, sediment reduction, chemical removal, production of large organic debris, production of particulate organic matter, and shade production for stream temperature moderation.