Challenges Impacts of Development Climate Change
Strategies Land Conservation Buffers Low Impact Development Stormwater Utilities Land Use Regulations

Buffers

A buffer is a naturally vegetated area along a shoreline, wetland, or stream where development is restricted or prohibited. Its primary function is to physically protect the water body from future disturbance or encroachment. Benefits of buffers are plentiful and include protection of municipal infrastructure and private property from floods and erosion; recharge of aquifers and groundwater resources; prevention of erosion; and water quality protection for surface waters including lakes, streams, and wetlands.

Resources

• Aquatic Buffers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Nonpoint Source Pollution: provides technical guidance to create stream buffer for the protection of water quality, streams, wetlands, and floodplains: www.epa.gov/owow/nps/ordinance/buffers.htm
• Stream Buffer Characterization Data and Maps: town-specific maps that assess 150 and 300 foot buffer areas: www.nhep.unh.edu/resources/actions.htm
• Buffer Data Mapper: http://mapper.granit.unh.edu/viewer.htm
• Buffers for Wetlands & Surface Waters: Guide for N.H. Municipalities: http://extension.unh.edu/CommDev/Buffers.pdf
• New Hampshire Buffer Outreach Program and Community Technical Assistance Program: provides buffer workshops and professional consultants on buffer protection: www.nhep.unh.edu/resources/actions.htm