Low Impact Development Manual for Michigan - OSEH - University ...

BMP Fact Sheet
Protect Riparian Buffer Areas
Riparian buffer areas are important elements of local communities’ green
infrastructure and/or LID tool box. These areas are critical to the biological,
chemical, and physical integrity of our waterways. Riparian buffer areas
protect water quality by coolong water, stabilizing banks, mitigating flow
rates, and providing for pollution and sediment removal by filtering overland
sheet runoff before it enters the water. The Environmental Protection
Agency defines buffer areas as, “areas of planted or preserved vegetation
between developed land and surface water, [which] are effective at reducing
sediment and nutrient loads.”
Physical restoration of riparian buffer areas is located in Chapter 7 as a
structural BMP. A detailed description of the characteristics of riparian
buffer areas is combined with a discussion of their stormwater functions in
the restoration BMP.
Maintaining a riparian buffer
Source: JFNew
Applications Stormwater Quantity Functions
Residential Yes Volume Low/Med
Commercial Yes
Groundwater
Recharge
Low/Med
Ultra Urban Limited Peak Rate Low/Med
Industrial Yes Stormwater Quality Functions
Retrofit Yes TSS High
Highway/Road Limited TP High
Recreational Yes
NO3 Temperature
Medium
High
Additional Considerations
Cost Low/Med
Maintenance Low
Winter Performance High
Key Design
Features
• Physical protection
• Protection through planning
tools
Benefits
• Improves water quality
• Reduces runoff velocities
• Reduces flow
• Enhances site aesthetics,
habitat
• Reduces shoreline and bank
erosion
• Improves flood control
• Reduces water temperature
Limitations
• Limited in reducing total runoff
volumes
• Size of lot and/or development
site may reduce ability to
protect riparian buffers
LID Manual for Michigan – Chapter 6 Page 89