Riparian Buffer

Visitors to the park’s Off-leash dog area will notice a dramatic change to our fencing and additional plantings along the Browns River. What is that all about and WHY?

According to the conservation easement that permanently protects this extraordinary land, a 50-foot vegetated area must be maintained along the riverbank. This is called a “riparian buffer.” As river erosion reduces the 50-foot buffer, the Park District must adjust the riparian boundary and reestablish it. Grant funding from the Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District provided the financial support necessary to purchase over 150 tree saplings and shrubs, along with new fencing. The Vermont Land Trust assisted with technical support. Volunteer labor with over 30 students from the Mt. Mansfield High School brought the energy necessary to plant during their Community Service Day. The expanded lawn, which was created last year, allows park visitors to access “Doggie beach” via a new route, as the original trail was closed with the fencing change.

The importance of a Riparian Buffer cannot be overestimated. Besides reducing erosion along the riverbank, it acts as a giant sponge and filtration system. Pollutants from rain, such as sediment and excess nutrients, get trapped before entering the river network. This improves water quality and reduces any algae blooms. Dense vegetation also aids in flood control by slowing water and keeping riverbanks intact.

The mix of trees and shrubs creates some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on land. A multitude of bird species, along with mammals and insects, find food, shelter, and nesting sites within this terrestrial area. The riparian buffer also acts as a safe travel corridor, allowing wildlife to move through fragmented landscapes. Woody debris within the Browns River creates excellent fish and insect habitat for hiding and spawning. Overhanging trees and branches provide shade that modifies water temperatures, which especially benefits cold-water fish, such as trout.

For these many reasons, it is important to maintain the riparian buffer at the park and elsewhere. The variety of saplings and shrubs planted at the park includes Sandbar willow, silky dogwood, red-osier dogwood, Pagoda dogwood, serviceberry, silver and red maple, staghorn sumac, sweetgale, buttonbush, chokecherry, speckled alder, red oak, and gray birch. At the park, orange ribbons identify the newly planted. Jericho’s The Farm Upstream was the source for these native trees and shrubs. Young leaves are sprouting now as roots penetrate the soil. Fence signs about our erosion control efforts were produced by a group of students from the University of Vermont who conducted a capstone senior project to study this eroded area and ways to minimize the soil loss. Their management plan helped to enable the subsequent grant funding. Mills Riverside Park depends on community involvement and collaboration, and this riparian buffer enhancement project is one excellent example.