WHAT ARE RIPARIAN BUFFERS?
The word riparian means next to the banks of streams, rivers, lakes, estuaries or other waters. A riparian buffer is a strip of forested or vegetated land bordering a body of water and is importnt in protecting water quality. A buffer may be any combination of shrubs, herbs and native grasses, but the best vegetation for stabilizing streambanks and removing nutrients is deep-rooted, woody vegetation.
Riparian buffers in Neuse River Basin (in which Pamlico County is located) encompass 50' and are managed as two zones: Zone 1, the first 30 feet starting at the landward edge of all areas of environment concern, provides streambank and shoreline protection; and Zone 2, the remaining 20 feet, slows and spreads out the flow of water coming from the land, trapping sediment and other pollutants.
BENEFITS OF RIPARIAN BUFFERS
- They protect property from eroding away
- They provide flood control
- They absorb noise from waterfront activities
- The provide privacy
- They take up nutrients
- They filter sediment from runoff
- They control water temperature
- They provide wildlife food and habitat
- They provide recreational value such as fishing & bird watching
RIPARIAN BUFFER PROTECTION
The Division of Water Quality's (DWQ) Buffer Protection Rule is a part of the state's nutrient reduction strategy for the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico River Basins. The rule requires protection of existing vegetation in the first 50 feet of riparian area within these basin.
The first 30 feet from the landward edge of all areas of environmental concern should be essentially undisturbed. The next 20 feet should be vegetated, however certain uses are allowed. Under certain, limited circumstances a variance may be obtained to construct within Zone 2.
IS YOUR PROPERTY INCLUDED?
Intermittent and perennial streams, lakes, ponds and estuarine waters are protected by these rules. If you are unsure whether this includes your property, you can obtain a copy of the county soil survey produced by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and a 1:24,000 scale topographic map prepared by the US Geologic Survey. If the surfact water is indicated on one or the other source, then the buffer rules apply. DWQ will make the final determinations. Contact your local soil and water conservation district for map assistance.
WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE ALLOWED?
You will want to read and understand the rule prior to beginning any activity within the 50-foot buffer. The following are a few of the allowed activities in the rule:
- Fences if no woody vegetation is removed
- One-time fertilizer application to establish replanted vegetation (ongoing fertilization is not allowed)
- Removal of poison ivy, poison oak, vines and honeysuckle
- Planting of vegetation to enhance the buffer
- Removal of trees that are dead, dying or diseased (verified by a registered forester)
- Removal of trees that are in danger of causing damage to human life or existing structures
- Limited pruning of forest vegetation as long as it doesn't compromise the health of the tree
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information on the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico Buffer Rules, please contact the Department of Water Quality at these locations:
DENR Washington Regional Office: 943 Washington SquareMall, Washington, NC, 252-946-6481
DENR Wilmington Regional Office: 127 N. Cardinal Drive Extension, Wilmington, NC, 910-796-7215
DENR Raleigh Regional Office: 3800 Barrett Drive, Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27699, 919-571-4700
The rules can be viewed or downloaded from the DWQ website at http://h20.enr.nc.us/nps/tarp.htm.
The Neuse and Tar-Pamlico Buffer Rules may not be the only regulations that apply to your property. For more information you can contact the following agencies at the DENR Regional Offices:
- Division of Water Quality
- Division of Coastal Management
- US Army Corp of Engineers
Judi Heit, Broker/GRI/ABR
Mariner Realty, Inc.
PO Box 750, Oriental, NC 28571
800-347-8246
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