Why is a buffer of natural vegetation recommended?
Natural vegetation is not “groomed” or disturbed. This allows leaf litter and deadfall to remain in place to rot naturally as well as for roots to grow without disturbance. These buffers are more effective at slowing the flow of water, trapping sediment and removing pollutants. In addition, natural vegetation contains a wide variety of plants which perform different water cleaning functions. All Buffers Are Not Equal – What Works Best? Worst Of All: NO PLANTS – Such a buffer, perhaps an area of crushed rock, is preferable to an area disturbed by building or paving, but little protection to the adjacent wetlands occurs. Soil is eroded, water is not pretreated, and wetlands become choked with algae. The result is increased siltation and disruption of life cycles of both wetland plants and animals so that eventually the wetlands can no longer function to purify the water. Somewhat More Effective: GROUNDCOVER BUFFERS – Groundcover includes grasses, ferns and many other low growing plants.
