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Riparian Restoration

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Many of our streams in Yamhill County are water quality limited by a least one of the following parameters: temperature, bacteria, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, etc.  90% of Yamhill County is privately owned which provides private landowners a unique opportunity to actively restore and enhance our streams for current and future generations.

One of the most efficient ways to help improve water quality in our streams is to plant riparian buffers. A riparian buffer is an area of grass, shrubs, and/or trees adjacent to a stream, lake, or wetland area.  Riparian buffers are extremely important for the protection and enhancement of our water resources. They are complex ecosystems that provide habitat for stream communities and mitigate and control non-source point pollution.

 

Figure 1. Unhealthy Riparian zone. A lack of woody vegetation and root structure does not provide any resistance to scour erosion caused by high flows. There is also an absence of trees to provide shade which will lead to increased stream temperatures and lower dissolved oxygen levels that can be harmful to fish.

Figure 2. Young healthy Riparian buffer. These trees are stabilizing the stream bank, reducing erosion, and intercepting sediment and nutrients before it enters the stream. Once larger they will provide shade to the stream and provide diverse wildlife habitat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Riparian buffers intercept sediment and filter nutrients, pesticides, and other materials in surface runoff and shallow subsurface water flow before they enter the stream. Native trees and shrubs in buffers provide food and habitat for wildlife, shade to the stream to lower water temperatures and slow out-of-bank flows.  In addition, the vegetation closest to the stream provides litter and large woody debris that is important for aquatic organisms. Also, woody roots increase resistance of stream banks to erosion caused by high flows.

Benefits buffers provide:

• Appearance, beauty, anesthetics.

• Shading of streams to provide optimized water temperature and light conditions for aquatic plants and organisms.

• Cooler stream temperatures and higher dissolved oxygen levels for fish.

• Diverse habitat for multiple wildlife species.

• Protection and stabilization of stream banks to reduce excess erosion.

• Serves as a filter for runoff of excess pesticides, nutrients, sediment, and other pollutants.

If you have a stream running through your property that is being overtaken by invasive weeds (Himalayan Blackberry, Reed canary grass, Scotch broom, etc.) and/or has excessive soil erosion, and want help there is assistance available.  The Conservation Reserve and Enhancement Program (CREP) helps landowners restore and enhance streamside areas by providing technical and financial support.  CREP will provide cost-share and annual rental payments for landowners willing to plant riparian buffers, enhance wildlife habitat (bird boxes, raptor perches), remove invasive weeds, and fence off livestock from their stream.  For more information please view the links below and/or contact our Riparian Planner – Josh Togstad at (503)472-1474 ext 104 or by email at josh@yamhillswcd.org.

 

CREP Flyer
CREP Key Dates
Establishing Riparian Buffers - PDF
What participating landowners have said about the CREP program: Quotes

For a no obligation site visit to determine eligibility Click Here