RIPARIAN FOREST BUFFERS

Attainment Strategy Update 2006-2010

Judith A. OkayRiparian Specialist – CBP

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2003 EXPANDED RFB GOALS

► Restore at least 10,000 miles of RFB by 2010

► Ensure that at least 70% of stream banks and shorelines in the Bay watershed are buffered.

►Advance efforts to conserve existing forest buffers.

Achievements - 2005

Jurisdiction 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Total

Federal (total) 0.3 5.1 10 14.2 1.6 1.9 0.3 33.4

Maryland 8.5 47.3 90.1 114.8 145.1 257.8 251.9 160.9 76.7 30 1183

Pennsylvania 436 336 525 656 1953

Virginia 1.9 15.7 54.7 94.5 65.3 260.3 434 229.5 151.9 129 1436.8

TOTAL 10.7 68.1 154.8 223.5 212 520 1122.2 726.4 753.6 815 4606.3

MD PA VA

Identified Barriers( Stakeholder Meetings 2002)

• Technical Assistance Crisis• Need for new incentives – new approaches for landowner interest• High Cost of planting buffers• Easements don’t appeal to landowners• Not enough resources – money and staff• Non- favorable tax policies• Lack of monitoring existing projects• Better education and outreach needed• Need for assessing returns received from forest buffers• Need to integrate forest buffer efforts with other efforts• We don’t know rate of buffer loss• We need more buffer conservation• Total nutrient reduction benefits of forest buffers are not known

FORESTRY WORKGROUP ACTIONS To Reduce Barriers 2004-2006

Support- Technical Exchange Meetings for TSPs – MD and PA (VA 2006-07)

Forester field trips to Smith Island for meaningful Bay experience – Bring Bay message to landowners

Support- “Riparian Forest Buffer Design and Maintenance Guide” – MD publication

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Grants for RFB work Grants to assess VA and MD shoreline buffers ( GMU and

USGS/CBP/USFS grants) Support – Survey of PA landowners re: CREP on their land. Support - MD and VA grants to assess CREP sites (survival &

management) Promoting CBP riparian forest buffer tracking website.

HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE BUFFER ZONE ?

WHERE IN THE BAY IS YOUR BUFFER ZONE?

LET IT COUNT !

www.chesapeakebay.net/rfb

OTHER INFLUENCES ON BARRIERS

2007 Farm Bill VA Riparian Tax Credit VA Land Conservation Commitment Three Chesapeake Bay Coordinators for

MD,PA and VA A Riparian Specialist

2006-2010 RIPARIAN FOREST BUFFER FRAMEWORK

• Purpose – To move riparian forest buffer initiative closer to goals• Address barriers not fully addressed• Enhance existing efforts• Improve tracking efforts

PROPOSED ACTIONS

• FUNDING – Focus on getting urban buffers funded through grants

- Support innovative planting techniques and new supplies**

-Return ecosystem service costs to landowners with buffers **

(money does grow on trees!-Focus attention on property values of forest buffered

shorelines.

• TECHNICAL SERVICE PROVIDER SHORTAGES

-Include industry consultants and Master Gardeners in training opportunities**

-Reward TSPs for quality and quantity of RFB projects (Awards program)**

-Provide lists of source materials for projects to make planning easier **

• CONSERVATION- Promote programs that reward stewardship

without easements - Investigate possible land exchange opportunities

to conserve existing forest buffers- Promote the use of existing forest buffer

ecological services for nutrient trading (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment)**

- Encourage conservation targeting for continuous lengths and extensive widths of forest buffers.

• OUTREACH- Enlist syndicated garden columnists to write a series of

RFB articles for shoreline owners- Communicate with agricultural community through

established newsletters. Market landowner information sheets in this forum. **

- Expand awards programs in MD<PA<VA to reward localities, schools, civic groups for forest buffer plantings.

- Develop forest buffer photo/poster contest similar to Duck Stamp posters.

• SCIENCE- Develop a topical annotated portfolio of riparian

research applicable to Bay goals-Compile list of critical research needs **- Reward scientific community for outstanding

riparian forest buffer research

• ACCOUNTABILITY- Track acres of private riparian forests conserved

or protected in the Bay watershed- Track stream restoration miles in the

Chesapeake Bay watershed.- Build capacity and synergy with other CBP

groups to best utilize funds, technology and personnel.**