Riparian Buffers and Water Quality

North Carolina is a state with abundant water resources. There are over 35,000 miles of streams and rivers in North Carolina as well as several of the largest estuaries in the United States and 320 miles of coastal waters. The water resources in North Carolina most affected by pollution are streams and rivers. Soil scientists have demonstrated the importance of riparian buffers in protecting our water resources. In general, riparian buffer systems:

• Protect water resources from nonpoint source pollutants, such as sediment and nutrients.
• Moderate fluctuations in stream temperature.
• Control light quantity and quality in the stream.
• Enhance habitat diversity.
• Stabilize stream banks and modify channel morphology.
• Enhance food webs and species richness.