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Riparian Buffers: Function, Management and
Economic Implications for Agriculture
Several Pacific Northwest (PNW) salmonid runs are currently
listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This listing
has already had dramatic effects throughout the PNW with the potential for
more in the future. Much concern and scientific research has focused on the
impacts of commercial forestry in upland, mountainous areas on river health
and salmon survival. However, research is lacking on how to manage
floodplain riparian areas, where agriculture is practiced in the PNW.
Because of this lack of data, and the immediacy of action required by the
ESA listing, regulatory agencies are considering the use of upland riparian
data to guide rule-making decisions for downstream agricultural riparian
areas. If wide buffers currently being discussed are applied to all
fish-bearing or potentially fish-bearing streams and ditches, the economic
viability of PNW agriculture could be at risk. Much of the productive land
could be lost to the buffer outright or impacted by field fragmentation,
shading and biotic influences (e.g., harboring insect pests/disease).
In response to these issues, we are examining the
environmental and economic implications of establishing and managing
riparian buffers on agricultural lands. Riparian buffers are considered to
be good land stewardship because they conserve soil, provide fish and
wildlife habitat, and improve surface and ground water quality. However,
scientific literature on riparian buffer function and design is limited for
low gradient streams, rivers and associated floodplains and non-existent
for western Washington soils and climate.
Project Goals
The overall goal of
the project is to identify what constitutes a functional riparian buffer to
protect water quality and improve salmon habitat, and to determine the
economic impact of such buffers on farm enterprises.
Specific objectives:
1.
To
determine the effects of buffer width, species composition and management
on buffer function including nutrient removal, sediment reduction, shade,
and bank stabilization.
2.
To
conduct economic impact analysis of different riparian buffer designs on
individual farm enterprises.
3.
To
develop and disseminate buffer recommendations and decision-making tools to
owners of farmland along watercourses in western Washington.
Partial funding for these projects has been provided by grants
from the Rural Technology Initiative, the USDA Sustainable Agriculture
Research and Education (SARE) program, the WSU Safe Food Initiative and the
Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) Direct Implementation Fund.
Download
this poster to read a more detailed overview of the project.
(212kb PDF file).
Project Reports and Results
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