Summary Notes on

The Riparian Buffer Restoration guidelines from

The North Carolina Wetlands Restoration Program

(Please see above link for full guidelines)

 

 

1)      Priority Criteria -- Adkin is mostly likely to apply to the nitrogen run-off criterion

 

2)      Site assessment (GIS potential, some field work)

i)        Soil moisture

ii)       Soil pH

iii)     Soil texture

iv)     Seasonal high water table depth

v)      Flooding potential

vi)     Aspect, topography, and microtopographic relief

 

3)      Site Preparation

i)        Plowing or ripping (reduce channelized flow and loosen compacted soil)

ii)       Control sod-forming grasses

iii)     Control invasive, exotic plants

iv)     Stabilize bare soil

 

4)      Other guidelines

 

i)        Make site inventory of plants

ii)       Choose 10-12 species of native trees and/or shrubs           

iii)     Plant shrubs more densely at edge of riparian buffer

to prevent colonization of exotic species

iv)     Refer to the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program's

Classification of the Natural Communities of North Carolina:

Third Approximation (Shafele, Michael P. and Alan S Weakley, 1990).

v)      Three to four understory trees for every canopy tree.

vi)     Plant density and spacing (ie 436 tree/ acre; 1200 shrubs/ acre)

vii)   Control weeds for three years with hardwood mulch (4-6 in),

weed control fabrics, or pre-emergent herbicide           

viii)  Monitor/reduce concentrated flow for five years

 

5)      Suppliers

i)        Grass seed

ii)       Native plants

iii)     Tree shelters

 

6)      Tables

i)        Grasses/sedges for soil stabilization

ii)       Exotic Plants in NC

iii)     Native Plants of NC

(Categorized by region as well as moisture and light tolerance)

iv)     Native Grasses of NC