Maintain Vegetation! Plant Trees & Buffers!
Plants Can Help!
Plants serve humans in many ways, not the least of which is protecting water quality. The ability of plants to prevent pollutants from entering freshwater ecosystems is unmatched by any method or material humans have contrived. Plant communities have the ability to adapt to changing environmental stresses and overcome negative impacts while beautifying the landscape. Vegetated buffers are so helpful for protecting water quality that many coastal communities are now requiring them through buffer ordinances. In spite of the vast services and benefits that plants provide to us, we have a tendency to view naturally vegetated areas as “weedy” or “unkempt”, which contrasts with our tendency towards well-manicured landscaping. The result is often grass that is planted, fertilized and mowed right to the edge of ponds, streams and rivers. The lack of vegetation along the edges of these waterways allows pollutants to be easily transported into the waters.
Planting a vegetative buffer around the edges of waterways can have a dramatic impact on water quality by filtering out pollutants and slowing runoff.
What is a Buffer?
A buffer is something that reduces the impact an object has when it comes into contact with another object. When pertaining to stormwater, a buffer is a structure that reduces the impact that pollutants coming from the land have on freshwater ecosystems. Buffers do so by moderating the amount of material that is washed from the land into ponds,
lakes, streams, and rivers during a storm event.
Artificial Buffers.
Manmade structures such as silt fences, hay bales, mulches, and rock dams are often employed to prevent pollutants from washing off theland and entering surface waters. These materials, while somewhat effective at hindering pollutant transport, are expensive, static, and unsightly. They require regular maintenance and often need repair after major storm events.
Vegetated Buffers.
Vegetated buffers present several advantages over artificial buffers. A well established vegetated buffer:
- is effective at preventing erosion and removing most types of water-born pollutants,
- can withstand major storm events and overcome catastrophes, and
- improves land values by improving the landscape’s appearance.
How do Vegetated Buffers Work?
Vegetated buffers preserve water quality in many ways, but their main function is to slow stormwater runoff and encourage the water to infiltrate the ground. In this way, vegetated buffers are able to:
- Remove excess nutrients from lawn fertilizers and animal wastes,
- Prevent erosion and filter sediments,
- Reduce harmful pathogens, and
- Trap harmful chemicals and litter on land.
Other benefits that accompany vegetated buffers are:
- Flood control,
- Reduced aquatic weeds and water temperatures due to shading,
- Improved wildlife habitat,
- Saved money in reduced maintenance expenses,
- Beauty and a sense of privacy, and
- Increased land values.
Designing a Vegetated Buffer.
When planning a buffer, remember “wider is better.” Increasing the width of a buffer increases the distance a pollutant must travel to reach the water.
The Simplest Buffer: One of the easiest and least expensive ways of growing a buffer is to leave a shoreline uncut or unmanicured. Allowing grass or other native vegetation to grow tall will provide some protection against land-born pollutants.
More Complex Buffers: The most efficient and sustainable buffers are composed of a diversity of native plants, including trees, shrubs, perennials and grasses. Native vegetation requires less watering, fertilization, and other maintenance, and plant diversity helps uptake a variety of pollutants before they can reach the adjacent waters.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For a list of plants that are suitable for use in buffers, follow this link to SC Dept. of Health and Environmental
Control.
“Document about Backyard Buffers”
For more information about vegetated buffer ordinances, follow this link to the SC Dept. of Health and
Environmental Control.
“Document about Buffer Ordinances“