The Catskill Streams Buffer Initiative (CSBI) is a partnership program between New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and county Soil & Water Conservation Districts within the NYC Catskill/Delaware Water Supply watershed. Established in 2009, this no-cost assistance program seeks to maximize the ecological benefits of riparian areas by encouraging the stewardship and protection of existing natural areas, as well as the restoration of degraded habitat.
The CSBI program cultivates strong and resilient riparian buffers using vegetation native to the Catskill region. If your streamside area is lacking adequate vegetation, the CSBI program is available to help you transition your streamside area into a healthy, forested, riparian buffer. When you restore or enlarge your forested riparian buffer, water quality improves and local communities benefit.
What is a riparian buffer?
Riparian areas are the buffers (or transitional zones) between the stream and upland areas. They may be periodically covered by water or adjacent to wetted areas. Planting and maintaining a healthy riparian buffer of native trees and shrubs is one of the most cost-effective and self sustaining methods for landowners to protect their streamside property.
Roots of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous groundcover grow deep into the soil, creating an intricate matrix that not only anchors the plants, but also locks materials together below the surface and provides resistance to the erosive power of flowing water. Additionally, riparian buffers increase habitat diversity, filter pollutants, reduce water temperatures, and trap fine sediment. Overall, CSBI projects aim to make the most of the ecological services provided by plants to achieve desired water quality standards.
Ecological Services of Riparian Buffers
- Improved water quality: Riparian buffers serve as natural biofilters, protecting aquatic environments from polluted surface runoff. They can reduce nutrients (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorous), pesticides, and other chemicals from entering the stream by decreasing the flow of runoff and allowing water to soak into the ground (infiltration) or be absorbed by the plants, which are able to naturally break down some of these pollutants.
- Stabilized streambanks: Native plants form extensive root systems that help hold the soil in place, reinforce the strength of your streambank, and slow the process of erosion.
- Increased wildlife habitat: Riparian buffers help provide food and shelter for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife living in and around streams.
- Water temperature control: As the trees and shrubs mature and grow taller, they are able to provide shade over the nearby stream, which helps to regulate the water temperature. Riparian buffers can even have a significant impact on moderating the effects of climate change on aquatic ecosystems, particularly in our headwater streams.
- Groundwater storage and reduced flooding: Forested riparian buffers absorb rainwater and encourage infiltration of stormwater by slowing the speed of the water running off the land and increasing the amount of water that is absorbed into the ground. Groundwater enters the stream at a much slower rate than surface water, which helps control flooding and maintain stream flow throughout the year.
What does CSBI at Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District do for landowners?
The CSBI at Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District (GCSWCD) provides the following at no cost to eligible landowners within the Schoharie Reservoir watershed:
- Technical expertise
- Educational materials
- Site-specific planting plans and designs
- Installation of locally-sourced native plant materials
- Five years of follow-up monitoring on all planting projects to track and ensure their success
How do I apply for a CSBI project?
Private and public landowners within the Schoharie Reservoir watershed who are interested in improving or restoring their streamside property are encouraged to fully complete the CSBI Application (click here for the application) and submit it to the Catskill Streams Buffer Initiative Coordinator, Amanda Cabanillas:
(518) 622-3620 ext. 104
Resources:
- View the CSBI program brochure (leaves GCSWCD website) on the Catskill Streams website.
- For more information about the CSBI program and to view CSBI contact information for other locations within the NYC Catskill/Delaware Water Supply Watershed, visit the CSBI webpage (leaves GCSWCD website) on the Catskill Streams website.