Directive No. 94-1: Riparian Forest Buffers

Description

Directive No. 94-1 recognizes that forests along waterways, also known as "riparian forests," are an important resource that protects water quality and provides habitat and food necessary to support fish survival and reproduction. It commits the Chesapeake Bay Program to: (1) Recognize the value of riparian areas in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and commit to develop a policy which will enhance the maintenance, restoration and stewardship of this valuable resource. (2) Convene a panel or task force to recommend a Chesapeake Bay Program policy on riparian forest buffers. (3) Request the panel to consider and make recommendations, where appropriate, for accepted definitions of forest buffers; a quantifiable goal or goals, measured in acres, stream miles or other appropriate terms, to serve as a longterm target for the maintenance and restoration of riparian forests, as well as a timetable for achieving this goal; ways to strengthen communication and partnerships to better coordinate policy and program actions regarding riparian forest buffers; and ways to support other stream protection efforts where landowners or land managers are unable to implement riparian forest buffers.