Riparian Restoration
Much of our work focuses on riparian areas (the area between the land and water) and waterways. 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!
Eligible Programs for Water Quality
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.
Common Restoration Practices for Water Quality
Planting Projects
Please note: These practices may require site preparation activities to manage weeds, pests, diseases, soil conditions, and water availability prior to planting.
Riparian Forest Buffers: A riparian forest buffer is an area adjacent to a waterway that is planted with native trees and shrubs. Eligible waterways include permanent or intermittent streams, lakes, ponds, and wetlands. Planting these buffers can accomplish the following conservation purposes:
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Create shade to lower or maintain water temperatures to improve habitat for aquatic organisms
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Create or improve riparian habitat and provide a source of large woody debris for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife
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Reduce excess amounts of sediment, organic material, nutrients, and pesticides in surface runoff or shallow groundwater flow
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Reduce pesticide drift entering the water body
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Restore riparian plant communities
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Increase carbon storage in plant biomass and soils
Tree and Shrub Establishment: Establishing woody plants by planting seedlings, direct seeding, or supporting natural regeneration. This practice can be applied on any site capable of growing woody plants. Establishing woody plants can accomplish the following conservation purposes:
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Maintain or improve desirable plant diversity, productivity, and health by establishing woody plants
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Create or improve habitat for wildlife, including pollinators
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Control erosion
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Reduce excess nutrients and other pollutants in surface runoff and groundwater
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Sequester and store carbon
Hedgerow: Establishing dense vegetation in a linear design to accomplish the following conservation purposes:
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Provide food, cover, and/or corridors for terrestrial or aquatic wildlife.
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Improve water quality and aquatic habitat in certain ditches and channels modified for agricultural uses
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Create living fences
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Intercept airborne particulate matter or screen noise and dust
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Reduce chemical drift and odor movement
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Increase carbon storage in biomass and soils
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Delineate boundaries or contour guidelines
Filter Strip: A strip or area of vegetation that removes contaminants from overland flow. This practice is applied in environmentally sensitive areas to reduce contaminants and sediment in surface runoff or irrigation tailwater before it enters surface waters.
Common Restoration Practices for Water Quality
In-Stream Restoration
Beaver Dam Analogs (BDAs) and Post-Assisted Log Structures (PALS): These temporary structures are constructed by pounding untreated wooden posts into the streambed and weaving plant debris into the structure. BDAs are designed to mimic natural beaver dams. BDAs and PALS can slow fast-moving waters, increase summer flows, promote floodplain connection, collect sediment, and decrease streambank erosion. They can improve biodiversity by providing and maintaining habitat for fish and wildlife species.
Streambank and Shoreline Protection: Treatments used to stabilize and protect streambanks, shorelines, and constructed channels. Projects typically utilize bioengineered wooden posts and plant debris or rock (rip rap). These practices maintain flow capacity of streams, reduce sediment erosion along the bank, and prevent the loss of land or damage to land uses and adjacent facilities. Streambank and shoreline protection can also improve fish and wildlife habitat, aesthetics, and recreation within a stream.
Common Restoration Practices for Water Quality
Livestock Management
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 while supplying daily water requirements and improving animal distribution.
Livestock Pipeline: Conveys water for livestock and wildlife. May also reduce energy use and develop renewable energy systems.
Heavy Use Protection Area: Stabilizes a ground surface that is frequently and intensively used by people, animals, or vehicles in order to provide a stable, non-eroding surface and to protect adjacent water quality.
Fencing: Constructing a barrier to animals or people.
Stream Crossing: A stabilized area or structure constructed across a stream to provide controlled access for people, livestock, equipment, or vehicles. Stream crossings can improve water quality by reducing erosion and nutrients entering the stream.
For more information on our riparian restoration program, please contact:
Drew Schuldt | DrewS@PalouseCD.org | (509) 553-1853