In North Georgia, the health of our  aquatic ecosystems are of extreme importance to us. Our beautiful streams and rivers provide habitat for a diverse community of aquatic and terrestrial organisms, and deliver a clean, fresh supply of drinking water to the human population. Nine members of the fish community that inhabit our waterways are imperiled. In order to protect these organisms from environmental perturbations, and to keep our water supply clean, it is necessary to maintain healthy riparian buffers. Riparian buffers are the areas of land alongside of our streams and rivers that are periodically scoured by flooding events. When left undisturbed, these areas 1) help to attenuate the harsh effects of flooding, 2) filter out the water as it returns to the waterway, and 3) maintain environment conditions conducive to a healthy aquatic ecosystems. Scientists believe that these riparian buffers are essential to protecting our aquatic ecosystems. For current scientific research on the link between intact riparian buffers and healthy aquatic ecosystems, please click on the links below!

Etowah Habitat Conservation Plan

Hilti, J. and A. Merelender. 2004. Use of riparian corridors and vineyards by mammalian predators in Northern California. Conservation Biology 18(1):126-135.

Jones, D., Helfman, G., Harper, J and P. Bolstad. 1999. Effects of riparian forest removal on fish assemblages in Southern Appalachian streams. Conservation Biology 13(6):1454-1465.

Leavitt, J. 1998. The functions of riparian buffers in urban watersheds. University of Washington, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Mayfield, J and S. Udvardy. 2006. The importance of surface water buffers. Georgia Land Conservancy.

Semlitsch, R and J. Bodie. 2003. Biological criteria for buffer zones around wetlands and riparian habitats for amphibians and reptiles. Conservation Biology 17(5):1219-1228.

Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association. 2002. Stream corridor ordinance implementation package. 19pp.