Forests are highly important and effective at keeping Virginia’s waters clean. Trees and forests near streams and waterways are even more important. Tree roots hold tightly to soil, keeping it in place and preventing soil movement or erosion. The tree canopies and the leaves on the ground intercept rainfall and slow it down allowing the excess nutrients or other pollutants to be filtered out of the water. Streamside forests provide shade that keeps water temperatures lower and more suitable for aquatic life in the stream. Leaves that fall in the water provide food for small insects and other organisms that in turn are food for fish and other stream life. Trees along streams and adjacent areas allow a place for floodwaters to dissipate, slow, and drop sediment. Finally, streamside forests provide excellent habitat – food, cover, nesting, and travel corridors – for wildlife.
Two types of streamside forests are of particular importance: streamside management zones and riparian forest buffers.
Streamside Management Zones
Timber harvesting is an important part of Virginia’s economy, providing income to landowners, employment for loggers, and wood to support a vibrant forest industry. Best Management Practices (BMPs) are activities utilized by loggers that reduce the chance of soil erosion that may enter waterways. Streamside Management Zones (SMZs) are areas adjacent to streams where all, or a portion of the trees are retained when the surrounding timber is harvested. These uncut or partially-harvested areas provide the benefits of stabilizing soil, capturing sediment, and furnishing shade and cover.
Riparian Forest Buffers
Establishing new riparian forest buffers on open land where they don’t currently exist, or expanding existing buffers provide many of these benefits. Examples are streams that flow through farm or pasture land, lawns, or commercial or industrial areas. Converting these open lands to new forests by tree planting or natural seeding will check erosion, soil movement, provide shade and habitat, and slow floodwaters.
Read more about planting riparian forest buffers.
Your local VDOF forester can help guide you through the timber sale process and assist you with incorporating proper BMPs to protect water quality during the implementation of a forestry practice on your property, as well as provide guidance about planting riparian forest buffers.
Additional Resources
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Your local VDOF forester can help guide you through the timber sale process and assist you with incorporating proper BMPs to protect water quality during the implementation of a forestry practice on your property, as well as provide guidance about planting riparian forest buffers. Contact your local VDOF forester.
For more information or questions, e-mail us or use our contact form.