Riparian buffers located along shorelines and stream banks can prevent soil erosion, improve water quality by removing sediments, fertilizers, pesticides, and other pollutants from runoff; and enhance fish and wildlife habitat. A riparian buffer is a strip of undisturbed vegetation from 20 to 120 feet wide located between a water body and either cropland or pasture. On pastureland, riparian buffers will be fenced to exclude livestock from the adjacent waterbody. Cost share is available to provide alternate sources of water for livestock.
Financial incentives for protecting riparian buffers can be obtained though USDA's Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP). This program will pay the producer an annual rental rate based on the number of acres enrolled for either a ten or fifteen year contract, a one-time signing incentive payment, yearly maintenance payment, and cost share for installing conservation practices including water development and fencing. The Northeast Glacial Lakes Watershed Improvement and Protection Project's Riparian Area Management program can pay for additional acres of buffers or enroll acres ineligible for CCRP.
For more information on riparian areas download the Riparian Systems factsheet.
