Slide 40 of 87
Notes:
The basic structure of a stream buffer in an urban setting is broken up into three zones: streamside, middle, and outer. The streamside zone should be maintained as mature forest, with strict limitations on all other uses. It also produces the shade and woody debris that is so important to stream quality and biota. The middle zone is typically 50 to 100 feet usually targeted toward a managed forest with some allowable clearing. The outer zone, usually about 25 feet encourages forest, but also can include turf. The three-zone buffer is variable in width and should be increased to allow for protection of special areas such as wetlands and the floodplain. Once established, the boundaries of buffers need to be clearly marked and enforced.