Restoring River Buffer Zones

For the past several weeks staff and volunteers for our Conservation Service program have labored through some extremely fickle weather conditions to re-establish protective tree buffer zones along several Northeast Kingdom rivers. The largest project was completed on the Chaput Farm in North Troy along Mud Creek, a tributary of the Mississquoi River. Smaller sites were at the Maxwell Farm in Island Pond (Pherrins River), the Black Farm in Lunenburg (Connecticut River) and the Lamothe Farm in Passumpsic (Passumpsic River). Overall, nearly 21 acres were planted with 4,410 trees and 3,800 live willow stakes.

Creating forested buffer zones along these streams will have several important benefits. First, the tree roots will help to stabilize the soils - slowing erosion. The trees will also help to intercept and filter pollutants- such as manure, pesticides, and herbicides- before they reach the streams. Finally, as the trees mature they will provide increasing shade and wildlife habitat for a large number of terrestrial and aquatic species.

This work was funded by the USDA’s CREP program and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife's "Partners for Wildlife" program, both of which provide financial incentives for farmers to establish streamside buffers. Many thanks to everyone who made this project successful, including the farmers who gave up farmland for these important buffer zones.

Photo: Live willow stakes ready for planting along Mud Creek in North Troy.