Protecting Riparian Areas With Vegetated Buffers
Zoning Practice — September 2016
By Suzanne Rhees, AICP
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Lakes, streams, rivers, and wetlands are not uniform in character; they differ in function, water quality, and activities they support. However, there is no question that all water bodies can benefit from a border of natural vegetation along their shorelines, known as a riparian or shoreland buffer. Many states and local jurisdictions require or encourage such buffers along watercourses and waterbodies to improve water quality and provide habitat.
This issue of Zoning Practice reviews a selection of state programs, model codes, and local ordinances in an attempt to identify effective regulatory approaches to protecting riparian areas with vegetated buffers. While it primarily focuses on the more comprehensive statewide programs and the local ordinances that fall within their purview, it also highlights a number of innovative ordinances that local governments have adopted on their own.
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About the Author
Suzanne Rhees, AICP