Riparian Forest Buffer
Best Management Practices

Best Management Practices (BMPs)are tools that can be used to maintain the integrity of the site and help people to be good stewards of the land. BMPs describe how to carry out a practice in a way that will best benefit the landowner and the landscape. The following BMPs for riparian forest buffers explain a variety of methods to establish, manage and harvest woodlands along rivers, streams, and lakes in Kansas.

Riparian Forest Buffers

An effective riparian forest buffer should consist of a well developed organic litter layer, a well developed understory, a diverse tree and shrub community, stable bank vegetation, be of adequate width and have runoff that moves through the buffer as sheet flow rather than concentrated flow. The species present should be those that are adapted to the site.

The minimum suggested width for a riparian buffer is 66 feet and is composed of three zones. Zone one provides streambank stability and contributes organic matter and large woody debris to the stream. The trees also provide shade to the stream and provide wildlife habitat. Trees and shrubs in zone two are important for filtration of sediment and pollutants from the runoff as well as for widlife habitat and wood production. Zone three is made up of dense grasses and forbes and is the initial filtration zone where concentrated flow is converted.

Timber Stand Improvement

Timber Stand Improvement is an excellent tool to use to help maintain the health of the riparian forest buffer.  Timber stand improvement includes pruning, killing vines, and selection and release of crop trees for future harvest, wildlife or aesthetics.

When performing timber stand improvement, it is important to keep a few rules in mind.

• Minimize disturbances of forest floor to keep the organic layer intact.
• Keep machinery out of the stream by using properly constructed stream crossings.
• Remove trees and large branches that fall into the stream.
• Properly dispose of woody debris by removing it for other use, creating brush piles for wildlife habitat or burning it.
• Do not remove more than 25 percent of the trees in the riparian area.
  

Tree and Shrub Planting

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Planting trees and shrubs helps reestablish native riparian forests that have been converted to other land uses such as agriculture.Re-establishment helps stabilize streambanks, reduce effects of flooding, filters runoff, and provides habitat for fish and wildlife. Trees and shrubs planted should be suitable to the site conditions such as soils and frequency of flooding. A variety of species should be planted for benefits including streambank protection/stabilization, food and habitat for wildlife, protection against disease and insect problems and future timber production.

The minimum recommended planting width is 66 feet from the streambank on either side of the stream. For successful tree and shrub establishment, it is essential to have adequate site preparation and proper weed control.Site preparation should occur the year before planting weed control should continue for the first 3 years.

Timber Harvest

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Timber harvest is a way to manage your riparian forest and make some money in the process.  When planning a harvest there are many things to consider in order to maintain the integrity of the area.

• Plan roads well.

• Minimize number of crossings and cross at a 90 degree angle to the streambed.

• Harvest when soils are dry or frozen.  Do not cure more than 25% of the trees in the riparian area.

• Remove tops and branches from stream if they fall in.

• Do not skid trees across streams.

• Stabilize disturbed and bare soil to reduce erosion.

• Restore stream channels to their approximate natural condition.

• Reseed and replant areas when needed to assure a healthy valuable forest in the future.

Willow Cuttings

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Willow cuttings are an excellent and cost-efficient way to revegetate a streambank.When established correctly they can withstand high water flows and quickly revegetate the area closest to the water.It is best to combine these with a riparian forest buffer to maximize the benefits.

In Kansas, cuttings should be harvested in the dormant season (November to March) and kept hydrated until installed.  They should be placed in the soil staggered at 3 to 4 feet spacing.  It is important to plant stakes at a depth that hits the top of the water table.

Tree Revetments

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Tree revetments help stabilize streambanks of smaller streams.Revetments should start and end on points of the streambank that are not eroding.  The trees that are cut are anchored to the bottom of smaller streams in an unstable area using anchors and cable.  Once the trees are installed, they then slow the currents and allow sediment to be deposited along the eroded streambank.  The sediment then builds back up the streambank and allows the slope to revegetate.  The best species to use in Kansas is eastern redcedar although hardwood species can be used.

Fencing

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Fencing is a good tool to use to help protect riparian areas from livestock damage.Unrestricted access has the potential to harm seedlings, retard reestablishment and growth, compact the soil making it poorer for vegetation growth, and can accelerate strambank erosion.Fences can be used to completely exclude livestock from the riparian area or be part of an overall management system to restrict the livestock's access to times of the year they are less likely to graze and rub on the trees. Fences can also be used in conjunction with other methods restricting livestock access such as hard water crossings and alternative water sources.