Programs < Alcovy Greenway Program < The Key To Clean Water is Closer Than You Think

The Key To Clean Water Is Closer Than You Think
Courtesy of Newton County

We rely on clean, clear water for everyday living and recreation. However, with constant increases in population and expanding development of urban areas, our waterways are very vulnerable to damage and destruction.

How can we protect our water resources?

Healthy forested buffers, called riparian buffers, are a key resource for maintaining good water quality in lakes and streams. Buffers help water quality, and you, in many ways:

Filter and clean dirt and toxins from stormwater runoff

Roots and natural leaf mulch stabilize stream banks

Roots and leaf mulch also reduce erosion

Provide wildlife habitat

Keep water cool by providing shade: improves fishing

Branches and leaves intercept raindrops, reducing speed

Reduce algae growth by removing excess fertilizer

Increase your property value

Provide places for children to learn about nature

Protect recreation opportunities such as swimming, fishing and boating

Your Very Own Watershed

Every large river is the center of a watershed and each stream that flows into it is a minature watershed. Even small backyard watersheds need vegetated buffers to protect them!

What Your Stream Needs From You:

Protect the existing vegetation, especially trees

Don't mow the buffer area

Don't clear or disturb the dirt in the buffer (this is also law)

Plant additional streamside plants if the buffer is not well-vegetated, especially if the banks are eroding

Keep trash, debris and lawn clippings out of the stream and buffer

Fertilize lawns carefully -- excess fertilizer washes away and into streams.

Where is the Buffer?

A riparian buffer is a strip of forested area along the streambank or lakeshore. Many Federal, State and County laws protect buffers. In Newton County, some streams and lakes require a 35' undisturbed beffer from each bank. Some streams and lakes require a 100' undisturbed buffer. A stream buffer is measured from the edge of the bank, not the center of the channel. Even streams that only have water part of the year are protected by law. "Undisturbed" means that no digging, grubbing or grading may take place in the buffer except for planting new plants with a shovel. No debris or dirt may be dumped in the buffer.

To find out if you have a protected stream or lake, please call one of the following for a State Waters determination:

Debbie Bell, RLA

County Arborist

678-625-1651

 

Ray Spencer, Environmental Specialist

Water Resources Department

678-625-1682

Plants for Stream Buffers

It is best to use native plants for buffer areas. Some non-native plants, like privet, can become invasive and be a nuisance and upset nature's balance. The following list contains native plants that are suitable for stream buffers.

Canopy Trees

Fraxinus pennsylvanica Green Ash

Magnolia virginica Sweetbay Magnolia

Nyssa sylvatica Black Tupelo/Black Gum

Quercus alba White Oak

Quercus lyrata Overcup Oak

Quercus nuttalli Nuttall Oak

Quercus pagodifolia Cherrybark Oak

Quercus phellos Willow Oak

Quercus rubra Northern Red Oak

Taxodium distichum Bald Cypress

Understory Trees

Amelanchier spp. Serviceberry

Carpinus caroliniana American Hornbeam/Blue Beech

Cercis canadensis Eastern Redbud

Ostrya virginiana Eastern Hophornbeam

Viburnum dentatum Arrowwood Viburnum

Viburnum prunifolium Blackhaw Viburnum

Shrubs/Woody Groundcover

Callicarpa americana Beautyberry

Fothergilla gardenii Dwarf Fothergilla

Ilex decidua Winterberry

Ilex glabra Inkberry

Itea virginica Virginia Sweetspire

Rhododendron canescens Native Azalea

Perennial Groundcover

Athyrium flix-femina Southern Lady Fern

Onoclea sensibilis Sensitive Fern (close to stream)

Panicum virgatum Switchgrass

Polystichum acrostichoides Christmas Fern (furthest from stream)