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You might have heard the term “riparian buffer” in conversations about conservation or land development. But what exactly is a riparian buffer, and why is it important? Simply put, a riparian buffer is a strip of land next to a body of water, like a stream or river, that is kept forested to protect the water. These buffers are often required to be a certain size because research shows they help keep harmful substances out of our water.
Why Riparian Buffers Matter
Riparian buffers are great at filtering water that runs off developed land, removing pollutants before they reach our streams, rivers, or lakes. This is important because that water eventually becomes our drinking water. For example, in the Central Basin of the Catawba River system, over 2 million people rely on this water every day.
The Problem of Water Pollution
In the Catawba River watershed, the biggest source of water pollution is from non-point sources, according to the 2025 State of the River report from our partners at Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation. This means pollution that washes into our waterways when it rains, not from a specific discharge point. Sediment, or soil particles, is the most significant pollutant from these sources and is often overlooked. With heavy development in the Catawba watershed, sediment runoff into creeks and streams is a huge problem. But riparian buffers can trap and catch that sediment before it reaches the water. Plants and trees in these buffers slow down rainwater, allowing sediment to stay on land and not clog up our drinking water sources or harm aquatic life.
How Land Conservation Helps
Land conservation can increase the amount of riparian buffers. When we consider conservation projects, we always look at whether there’s a body of water on the property because by permanently protecting forestland around a creek or stream, we also protect the quality of water in that creek or stream.
By understanding and supporting riparian buffers, we can help ensure clean water for everyone and protect our natural environment.
Want to know more about water quality? Check out these related articles.
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