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Land Planning Program

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Natural Buffer Zones

What is a Natural Buffer Zone?

Natural Buffer Zones are protected areas adjacent to streams and other water bodies that are left in a natural vegetated state. They aid in reducing water pollution from adjacent land uses. Minimum buffer regulations are mandatory in protected water supply watersheds throughout North Carolina. Local governments may adopt more stringent standards for buffers and many governments require buffers outside of protected water supply watersheds that lie within their jurisdiction, through their zoning and subdivision regulations.



( taken from the Minnesota Management Shoreline Guide)

What are the Benefits?

Economic:

  1. Property values increase for properties adjacent to natural buffer zones.
  2. Reduced cost of water clean-up.

Environmental:

  1. Improves water quality through filtration of nitrates and phosphorus pollutants by preventing rapid storm water runoff carrying sediment and pollutants.
  2. Allows rainwater to be absorbed into underground aquifers.
  3. Protects stream banks from erosion.
  4. Provides additional areas for flood control.
  5. Serves as wildlife corridors.
  6. Protects local ecology.

Social

  1. Enhances the character of the area.
  2. Preserves natural areas for passive recreation pursuits (e.g., parks, walking trails) and greenway networks.
  3. Enhances experience of waterway users (i.e. canoeists, fisherman, etc.)

What is the Impact?

Reduction in development potential along water bodies (i.e., buyer wants a view of the river; potential for increase in lot sizes due to required buffer depth)

Tracking Progress

All eight counties within the Sustainable Sandhills region contain State mandated protected water supply watershed areas. Properties developed under the “low-density development option” are required to provide 30-foot wide buffers adjacent to perennial streams. Properties developed under the “high-density development option” are required to provide 100-foot wide buffers.

Montgomery County has implemented a 35-foot buffer requirement in one of the protected watersheds within their jurisdiction. While Richmond County has adopted a county-wide 35-foot stream buffer requirement for perennial streams throughout the County’s planning jurisdiction. (we should add links to requirements web-site if they exist)


Specific water quality projects in the Sandhills region include the Drowning Creek Watershed with over 2,000 acres permanently protected.

Photo of Drowing Creek in Moore County taken by SALT

Drowning Creek, Moore County

Photo of Horse Creek in Moore County taken by SALT.

Horse Creek, Moore County

Rockfish Creek, in Moore County is another example of a local water quality project. With grants from the N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund, the Sandhills Area Land Trust developed the Rockfish Creek Riparian Conservation Plan which focuses on protecting Rockfish Creek's water quality by preserving the vegetative buffers along its banks. These areas of vegetation along the creek trap sediment that could cloud the creek, help to absorb flood waters, and also improve habitat quality for fish and wildlife.

Photo of Rockfish Creek taken by SALT.

Rockfish Creek

Action Steps

Public
Educate local officials of the need to protect local and regional water supplies as well as the health of all streams within the region.

Support adoption of regulations requiring protection and/or establishment of stream buffers in local development ordinances.


Elected officials

Adopt regulations requiring protection and/or establishment of stream buffers in local development ordinances.

Sources of Assistance and Ideas