Vegetation along streams (riparian buffers) helps slow the movement of water on the landscape, allowing recharge of groundwater that supplies both wells and reservoirs. Riparian buffers help stabilize streambanks, minimize erosion, and intercept pollutants from stormwater runoff, protecting our drinking water supplies. Learn more about management and monitoring of our drinking water from the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority.

Riparian buffers function as a natural flood management system by providing an area to safely store and convey flood water, resulting in a decrease of damage to property and infrastructure. By absorbing rainwater, buffers slow the movement of stormwater runoff and allow for recharge of groundwater supplies. This reduces the frequency and intensity of flooding, while allowing for more water flow in streams during dry periods.

In addition to mitigating the impacts of heavy rain events and flood damage, buffers provide economic benefits to residents and the community by improving the aesthetic quality of waterways for recreation and tourism; protecting loss of personal property by minimizing erosion; and minimizing stormwater treatment and drinking water filtration costs. Additional benefits for farm owners include improved herd health, reduction of soil loss, and opportunities for cost share assistance for fencing and alternative water sources.

_{Photo: David Hannah}

Healthy streams and riparian buffers can provide provide economic benefits to residents and the community by mitigating the impacts of heavy rain events and flood damage to property and infrastructure; by improving the aesthetic quality of waterways for recreation and tourism; by protecting loss of personal property by minimizing erosion; and by minimizing stormwater treatment.

_{Photo: David Hannah}

Additional benefits for farm owners include improved herd health, reduction of soil loss, and opportunities for cost share assistance for fencing and alternative water sources.

_{Photo: Chesapeake Bay Program}

Healthy streams and riparian corridors protect the quality and quantity of our drinking water and provide us with opportunities to recreate and exercise. Buffers also improve air quality by trapping and filtering atmospheric pollution and increasing available oxygen through photosynthesis.

Healthy streams and riparian corridors provide critical habitat and connectivity for terrestrial and aquatic life to thrive and move across the landscape. Forested stream buffers also moderate the water temperature, which is critically important for fish populations and the overall health of aquatic ecosystems.

_{Photo: Chesapeake Bay Program}

Water-based recreational activities, such as swimming, fishing, and boating, as well as the scenic beauty of our waterways, are enjoyed by the county’s residents and support the local tourist economy. The Rivanna River was the state’s first designated Scenic River.

_{Photo: David Hannah}

Riparian buffers play an important role in climate change adaptation, by storing carbon in vegetation and soils, reducing fluctuations in water temperature, and minimizing erosion in flood events. 

_{Photo: Scott Clark}