Riparian Setbacks

Before we explore riparian setbacks, lets first review what a riparian area is and why it is so important.

What are riparian areas?

The word riparian means “stream-side” and refers to the land that runs adjacent to streams and rivers. A riparian area is the naturally vegetated land along the banks of a stream or river which floods periodically. They stretch from the headwaters, or origin of a river, to the mouth, or where the river enters another larger body of water.

Why do we need riparian areas?

Because healthy riparian areas equal healthy streams!

During storm events, the water surface in the stream will rise and eventually overtop the banks and spread out across the landscape (flooding along the floodplain within the riparian area). This out of bank occurrence becomes problematic for many people, as the common misperception is that the stream should remain confined within the channel. To convey the additional quantity of water associated with a storm, the stream must either flow faster (increasing erosive energies), or increase the channel width and depth dimensions to accommodate the flow.

Permitting the stream to overtop the banks provides several benefits;

	Sediment is removed from the stream channel and deposited outside the stream,
	Water velocities, energy, and erosive forces are dissipated as the water spreads out across the floodplain (shallow and slow moving),
	Stream erosion decreases and the stream retains its’ natural shape, form, and function.

How can we protect our riparian areas?

If you have a stream in your backyard, there are a seven easy things you can do to help protect the riparian area: refrain from mowing in the buffer zone (the natural strip of vegetation along the stream bank) to help prevent stream bank erosion, plant cuttings in the buffer zone to help stabilize banks, do not dump garbage or yard waste into the stream, pick up trash in the stream when it is present, do not change the path of your stream or remove rocks that provide valuable habitat for wildlife, maintain your septic system, and support riparian setback legislation or zoning in your community.

What are riparian setbacks?

Riparian setbacks are a zoning or planning tool that communities may use to maintain flood and erosion control, in addition to protecting water quality and property. They are similar to side and front yard setbacks as they control the location of construction and related soil disturbing activities. Contrary to popular belief and many misconceptions, riparian setbacks do not make lots unbuildable and are only applied when a zoning certificate or permit is necessary. In Geauga County, Bainbridge, Russell and Auburn Townships have already adopted riparian setbacks into their zoning resolutions.

Why do we need riparian setbacks?

The need for riparian setbacks arose from the natural tendency of stream channels to meander, or change shape and location over time. These dynamic processes are accelerated through the development of urban and suburban watersheds (drainage areas) where the volume and velocity of storm water runoff increases because impervious surfaces, such as concrete and roof tops, prevent it from soaking into the ground.

How are riparian setback widths determined?

Riparian setbacks afford protection to riparian areas that return benefits to all community residents. The benefits of improved riparian areas and water quality within a community include, but are not limited to:

	Physical Improvements - Increase protection of the health, safety, and general welfare of the residents by restoring and maintaining the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the water resources they protect by reducing flooding, erosion and property loss.
	Economic Improvements - Preserve land characteristics (lot size, shape, and integrity), sustain or increase property values because of aesthetic enhancements, help to keep community costs low, reduce infrastructure costs and decrease reliance on engineered solutions. The overall costs associated with protection of riparian areas are typically less expensive than restoration projects needed to repair damage from flooding.
	Recognition of Good Stewardship - Communities choosing to incorporate Best Management Practices into law are being acknowledged for their efforts, especially by neighboring communities downstream.
	Clean Water Act Amendments - Riparian setbacks are tools that will help satisfy upcoming requirements for municipalities and townships to improve the quality of storm water entering our waterways.