About Buffer the Banks

Buffer the Banks is a community campaign dedicated to preserving and restoring riparian zones - those vital areas along stream banks that serve as natural buffers between land and water. Riparian zones are crucial for maintaining clean water, preventing erosion, and providing habitat for local wildlife. For homeowners, restoring these areas can enhance property values, reduce flood risk during heavy rain events, and contribute to a healthier environment. By working together to protect and restore our riparian zones, we can create more sustainable and resilient communities.

What is a Riparian Zone?

A riparian zone is the transition zone between uplands and streams, rivers, and lakes. These include stream banks and floodplains. A healthy riparian zone consists of vegetation like grasses, shrubs, and trees.

Why Restore Riparian Zones?

Healthy riparian zones provide many benefits, including:
· Stabilizing river and stream banks and preventing erosion
· Improving water quality by filtering pollutants and capturing nutrients/sediments
· Mitigating flood impacts
· Providing habitat for diverse aquatic and terrestrial wildlife
· Creating aesthetically pleasing views for recreational opportunities

Do I Live Near a Riparian Zone?

Healthy vs Unhealthy Riparian Zones

Healthy

​Unhealthy riparian zones look like:

• Lack vegetation
• Eroding banks and exposed, undercut soils
• Murky water due to increased pollution and sediments
• Less wildlife due to the lack of cover or food

Healthy riparian zones look like: 

• Diverse vegetation that helps protect and stabilizes banks adjacent to waterways
• Clear water
• Thriving, active, and full of life. Think of the streams you likely played in as a kid full of frogs, salamanders, insects, and birds enjoying a drink or bath. The footprints of deer and raccoons are seen in the mud.

Unhealthy

Will you protect water quality and buffer the banks?

How To Buffer Your Banks

Let it Grow
Mowing vegetation to the edge of streambanks may look well-manicured and tidy, but most people don’t know that mowing causes more harm than good in streams. Grass and other non-native plants have shallow, weak roots that don’t stabilize streambank soils or mitigate flooding. Not mowing streambanks costs you less time, money, and hassle! Let nature reclaim the streambanks by not mowing to the edge.

Plant Native Species
​Take your riparian restoration to the next level by planting native species along streambanks! Water-loving, native plants are well adapted to our region’s climate and soil types and can withstand fast moving water in streams. Native plants have deep roots to help soak up water and stabilize streambank soils far better than grass lawns. See a list of suggested native plant species here!

Dispose of Lawn Debris Properly
​While it may seem like common sense to throw leaves and grass clippings into streams, most people know that they can clog up streams impacting water flow and wildlife as much as litter. You have a few options when it comes to disposing of lawn debris: compost your yard waste or put it on your curb for lawn waste pickup. 

Remove Invasive Species 
As you plant native species along your streambanks, try removing invasive species too! Invasive species are non-native plants that are aggressive in spread, and out-compete native plants for resources. Invasive species that grow along streambanks can spread even more when their seeds are washed further downstream.

See a complete list of Ohio's invasive species here and explore replacements for the invasive species you remove. 

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