PRINCIPLE NO. 18 Maintain Buffer Over Time
Riparian stream buffers should be preserved or restored with native vegetation that can be maintained through the delineation, plan review, construction, and occupancy stages of development.
Notes:
While the establishment of a buffer is paramount to better site design, assuring that the buffer is safeguarded from clear cutting and maintained is just as essential. Many communities have stream buffer ordinances, but a line drawn on a map or plan is virtually invisible to contractors and landowners. Few communities require that buffer lines be marked in the field. A strong buffer ordinance should outline the legal rights and responsibilities for management and maintenance during construction and for the long-term. An effective buffer program should also address who is responsible for these issues and how to reestablish buffers.