Riparian Restoration
Much of our work focuses on riparian areas (the area between the land and water) and wetlands. These areas are vital to overall water quality and the well-being of wildlife. Healthy riparian areas can filter fertilizers, pesticides, animal waste, and sediment from runoff before they enter the waterway. They reduce erosion by stabilizing the streambank. Healthy riparian areas also provide shelter, food, and natural corridors for wildlife.
Fill out our Request for Assistance form if you're interested in implementing these restoration practices on your property. And be sure to check out our Landowner Guide to Buffer Maintenance and Success!
Common Practices
Riparian Forest Buffers: A riparian forest buffer is an area adjacent to a waterway that is planted with native trees and shrubs.
Commodity Buffers: A commodity buffer is a strip of perennial vegetation established at the edge of a waterway. The land manager must install and maintain the required buffer according to the type of waterway, tillage practice, and associated Soil Tillage Intensity Rating. Compensation rates are valued at or above adjacent crop rotations. Click here to learn more about commodity buffers.
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP): This program compensates farmers for planting native trees, shrubs, or grasses in streamside areas of their property to improve salmon habitat.
Click here to learn more about CREP.
Offsite Watering Facility: Provides designated access to drinking water for livestock or wildlife. Watering facilities can improve water quality by keeping livestock out of streams and rivers.
Streambank Stabilization and Shoreline Protection: Treatments used to stabilize and protect streambanks or constructed channels. These practices can reduce sediment erosion along the bank, keeping soil where you want it on your property and protecting local water quality. Streambank stabilization and shoreline protection treatments may also improve habitat for fish and wildlife.
Tree/Shrub Site Preparation: Treatment of areas to improve site conditions for establishing desired trees and/or shrubs.
Other practices: Fencing, mulching, riparian herbaceous cover, conservation cover, sediment basin, beaver dam establishment, and wetland restoration.
For more information on our riparian restoration program, please contact:
Drew Schuldt | DrewS@PalouseCD.org | (509) 553-1853