Abstract
Individual states develop guidelines to protect and manage forest riparian resources. A review of 49 states' forest riparian guidelines revealed the primary focus is to protect the quality of water adjacent to perennial and intermittent streams and lakes. A commonly recommended riparian management zone is 50 feet wide with 50 to 75 percent crown closure (or 50-75 square feet per acre of residual basal area); however, the specific guidelines in each state vary tremendously. Although science cannot specify the management prescriptions needed to protect all riparian functions across all sites, understanding site-specific conditions is critical to effective guideline implementation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 11-17 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Forestry |
Volume | 99 |
Issue number | 8 |
State | Published - Aug 2001 |
Keywords
- Best management practices
- Water quality