S441 • S855 SAKE Project ANC93-17 ur Guide on How to Make a Strip

Iowa State Research Team - IStART Leopold Center for Sustainable ISU Extension and Department of , Iowa State University 1994

a stream, delineated from the What is a riparian buffer zone? water's edge to a distance away How do I know if a riparian from the watercourse where the buffer zone is right for me? A riparian buffer zone is an asso­ stream normally floods. Riparian ciation of , , shrubs, buffer zones are found along any Any watercourse or pond that forbs, and grasses, that grow along creek or stream that flows most of does not have a continuous the banks of our waterways and the year or at least during wet mixture of trees, shrubs, and-a lakes. These stream and lake seasons such as spring and early grass buffer that together associations are part of hun­ summer. Riparian buffer zones comprise a band of 66 dreds of miles of natural riparian are associated with waterways feet or more in width, may call buffer zones. Well known that may range from a tiny creek for the establishment of a species such as willows, silver to a major river such as the Mis­ constructed riparian buffer maple and green ash are common. sissippi. strip. Basically if you feel that Shrubs, including ninebark, dog­ there is need to improve the soil , chokecherry, and grasses and water conservation activi­ like reed canarygrass and switch- ties on land adjacent to your grass are part of an important soil stream and are willing to invest stabilization and filter mechanism How is a riparian buffer zone some time and money, then a of the . important to me? riparian buffer strip is right for you. People use the riparian buffer zones in many ways for pleasure and profit. A riparian buffer zone is nature's way of stopping ­ land soil from entering directly into the stream, and by improving by filtering out ex­ cess or from the upslope cultivated lands. The riparian buffer zones provide food, cover, homes, and movement cor­ ridors for our , and for fisheries as well. Without ri­ parian buffer zones our floods would be worse, our water quality Where do I find a riparian poorer, our diversity and num­ buffer zone, and how do we bers of wildlife and fish more use them? sparse, our landscape visually dull, and our homes and health at The riparian buffer zone is prima­ greater risk. rily thought of as the land next to JPC/RCS/RRF August 1994 Planning a riparian buffer strip

There are certainly streams wher­ What is the existing condition of on the land along your stream to ever you go that would benefit by the stream, soil , water qual­ provide soil and water conserva­ the installation of a riparian buffer ity, or wildlife? Are cattle grazing tion benefits and other benefits strip. Perhaps you own or rent to the stream edge and getting water desired such as wildlife? Remem­ property, or are the manager of directly from the stream? Are ber it is important to keep in mind land that would benefit from RBS grown right to the stream edge? the value of the structured buffer planning: strip. A proper sequence of trees, 3. Assess site resources shrubs, and grasses is critical to the proper function of the filtering What plants already exist within 1 system. to 100 feet of the stream? What is the condition of the vegetation? 6. Evaluate alternatives What impact has grazing and/or a crop tillage had on the soil, vegeta- Consider different ways of using .tion and streambank? How many trees, shrubs, and permanent field tiles enter the stream? Are grasses in creating a riparian buffer there natural wet areas, seeps, or strip. Consider plant types, costs, springs? special actions to stabilize the streambank, who to contact for 4. Determine the potential technical advice, when to install a natural condition (PNC)? buffer strip, and exactly how to design it. In other words, what could the 7. Iinplreinent your tree-shrub- 1. Determine your objectives riparian zone look like , if nature had its way? Consider what the grass riparian buffer strip Do you want to reduce soil and riparian buffer zone might look agrichemicals from entering the like ifnatural processes dominated, Follow the design recommenda­ stream? Do you want to provide and human actions helped the eco­ tions provided by IStART in this wildlife and fish with habitat? Do system. The PNC sets the ideal guide, or adapt them to fit your you want annual and periodic grass riparian buffer zone target which situation. and tree products from the buffer is useful in planning for the re- strip? Do you want to provide a establishment of a properly func­ 8. Monitor the results pleasing environment of clean tioning riparian zone buffer zone water and wooded greenscapes for of permanent trees, shrubs, and How does the environment family and friends to enjoy? Do grasses. change? Is ttie buffer strip trap­ you want to improve your quality ping soil? Is the water quality in of life, and the quality of life for 5. Assess the actions required the stream improving? Are wild­ friends and neighbors that are part to restore proper functioning life using the buffer strip? Are of the stream's watershed? conditions (PFC) you obtaining the desired grass and wood products such as biom- 2. Consider the problem(s) What do you feel needs to be done ass for on-farm energy use? KEY FACTORS CHECKLIST

The following checklist has been • Size of watershed? • What actions are needed to developed to assist you in assessing • Order of the stream? improve in-stream conditions? theneed for, planning, and designing • Existing vegetation? (trees, • What actions are needed to a constructed riparian buffer strip. grasses, shrubs, crops) improve wildlife habitat? • Bank stability? (angle of the bank, height of bank to normal 1. Identity landowner water level) 5. Evaluate Alternatives objectives • Topography within 300 ft of stream? (% slope, aspect) • Grazing? (frequency, number • Plant selection to fit site filter­ • Major interest is improved soil & of head, access to water) ing and/or stabilization functio? water quality? • Field tiles present? (trees, shrubs, • Wildlife habitat is important? •Wildlife habitat? grasses, forbs) • Enhanced quality of life? • Fisheries? • Tile wetland options? • Annual or periodic cash flow is • Willow post - soil bioengineer- needed (perennial grass or ing options? trees)? 4. Determine "potential • Sources of plant material? natural condition" (PNC) • Rotational grazing options? 2. Identify riparian buffer • Timetable of development? of the stream segment zone problems (phase-in, quick) • Equipment? • Land & labor? • Condition of land along stream? • What was past land use? How • Capital? ($) • Presence of grazing? long? • Cost-share programs? (Gov't & • Row cropping to the stream • Past vegetation cover? (before NGO's) edge? settlement, 20-50 years ago) • Condition of streambank? • What would the site become if • Condition of stream channel 6. Implement Best left alone? Alternative and Monitor bottom? • What upslope conservation • Condition of water quality? practices are needed? • Presence of field drain tiles? • What minimum acceptable • Follow the 'Designing a Multi- width (MAW) (50-150 ft) is species Riparian Buffer Strip' needed to produce the 'living fil­ guide from ISU. 3. Assess site resources ter'? • Set up an informal or formal • What actions are needed in the monitoring plan to evaluate the 50-100 foot zone along the expected functioning of the • Soils? (erosion hazard, drain­ stream to produce the 'living riparian buffer strip. age class, land capability class) filter'? • Depth to water table? (normal • What actions are needed to stream level) stabilize banks? • Flooding potential? (frequency, • What actions are needed to duration, & magnitude) handle drainage tile water?