Why Our Rivers and Lakes Need Protection: Simple Policy for Clean Water
I spend a lot of time thinking about how to sustainably grow our community while keeping what makes it special. One thing that doesn't get enough attention is how building affects our local rivers and lakes. That's why I support a riparian buffer ordinance – and I want to explain why this matters for all of us.
What Is a Riparian Buffer?
Let me start with the basics. A riparian buffer is a strip of plants – trees, bushes, and grass – that sits between our waterways and buildings. Think of it as nature's own cleaning system.
Picture a river running through your neighborhood. Instead of houses or parking lots going right up to the water's edge, a riparian buffer creates a natural border. This might be 25, 50, or even 100 feet of native plants and trees that protect the water.
These buffers aren't just pretty to look at. They're working all the time to keep our water clean and our community safe.
How Riparian Buffers Keep Our Water Clean
When rain falls on roofs, driveways, and streets, it picks up everything in its path. Oil from cars, fertilizer from lawns, salt from winter roads, and dirt from construction sites. Without something to slow it down, all this pollution rushes straight into our rivers and lakes.
Here's where riparian buffers become heroes. As stormwater flows through these natural areas, amazing things happen:
Plant roots act like sponges, soaking up extra water and stopping floods. The soil filters out pollution before it reaches our drinking water. Dirt gets trapped by plants instead of making our waterways muddy. Even chemicals like nitrogen and phosphorus get absorbed by hungry plants.
I've seen what happens when we don't protect these areas. Rivers become muddy and polluted. Fish die off. Swimming and boating become less fun. Property values near waterways can actually drop when water quality gets bad.
Why We Need Policy
Right now, there are some restrictions on building near water. But we need stronger, better protections that go beyond what exists today.
Take our own community. Traverse City has been working on a riparian buffer ordinance since 2019. The Planning Commission has made it a top priority for 2025. The city has also been working to improve areas where past development came too close to waterways – like turning riverfront parking areas into places for people to walk and enjoy.
This shows we can have both smart development AND better protection for the environment. The goal isn't to stop growth. It's to make sure that future development includes proper protection for rivers and lakes from the start. We also want to improve areas where past development came too close to our waterways.
Some people worry that buffer policy will hurt business development. I disagree. Clean water and healthy nature actually boost property values and attract the kind of neighbors and businesses we want. Research backs this up. A study for Greenville County found that riparian buffer ordinances save more money than they cost. Property values near clean waterways stay higher than those near polluted streams.
What Science Tells Us: Policies That Work
The research on riparian buffers is clear. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, well-designed buffers can remove 85-97% of dirt and 40-91% of phosphorus from stormwater runoff. But not all buffers work the same.
The best buffers follow what experts call a "three-zone system." The inner zone protects the stream by stopping erosion and providing homes for wildlife. It's usually about 25 feet wide. The middle zone provides distance between buildings and the protected area. It's typically 50 to 100 feet wide. The outer zone acts as the first line of defense, filtering stormwater before it reaches the protected areas.
Science is also clear on how wide buffers should be. Planning experts who have studied successful ordinances say buffers should be at least 100 feet wide. The EPA notes that "buffer widths greater than 25 feet" work much better. Research shows that 100-foot buffers provide the best protection for water quality and wildlife.
Why 100 feet? This width allows the full three-zone system to work well. It provides enough space for trees with deep root systems. It makes sure stormwater has enough time to get cleaned. And it handles the natural changes in stream size during floods. Studies show that buffers less than 75 feet wide just can't provide all the benefits we need.
Learning from Other Communities
Several communities in the Midwest have put riparian buffer protections in place. Minnesota leads with a statewide Buffer Law that requires plant buffers of up to 50 feet along lakes, rivers, and streams. Individual cities can require even wider buffers. This shows how state-level standards can provide a foundation that local communities can build on.
In Illinois, Lake County has adopted a Watershed Development Ordinance that includes buffer requirements for building near waterways. Highland Park, Illinois (population around 30,000) works under this framework. This shows how medium-sized communities can put water protection measures in place.
Even in Pennsylvania, examples like Bushkill Township (population around 8,500) provide models for communities our size. Bushkill Township doesn't allow any development that needs a zoning permit within its stream protection area. The township knew that the Bushkill Creek (classified as a High Quality-Cold Water Fishery) and Sobers Run (an Exceptional Value stream) needed special protection.
The key lessons from successful ordinances include being flexible for reasonable uses while keeping core protections, requiring developers to follow rules during the approval process, and making sure this policy can be enforced.
Beyond Buffers: Natural Stormwater Solutions
Riparian buffers are just one piece of the puzzle. I'm equally excited about promoting natural stormwater solutions throughout our community. Instead of just building bigger pipes and holding ponds, we can use green infrastructure that works with nature.
This approach includes several proven techniques that can change how we handle stormwater. Rain gardens capture runoff from parking lots and rooftops, using specially selected plants to filter pollution while creating beautiful landscaping. Permeable pavement allows water to soak directly into the ground instead of rushing off into storm drains. This reduces both flooding and the need for costly drainage systems.
Bioswales represent one of the most effective and attractive solutions. These shallow, planted channels are designed to slow, filter, and soak up stormwater runoff. Unlike traditional concrete channels that rush water away as quickly as possible, bioswales work like natural stream beds. They slow water down, let dirt settle, and let plants filter out pollution. They can be built into streetscapes, parking lot islands, and development projects, providing both function and beauty.
The economics make sense too. Traditional "gray" infrastructure like storm drains and holding ponds can cost $15-40 per square foot to install. Green infrastructure typically costs $10-25 per square foot and provides extra benefits beyond stormwater management. Green infrastructure also requires less energy to operate and maintain over time.
These solutions often cost less than traditional infrastructure while providing multiple benefits – cleaner water, reduced flooding, wildlife habitat, beautiful green spaces, improved air quality, and even increased property values. Communities that have embraced green infrastructure report savings of 20-50% compared to traditional approaches while creating more livable neighborhoods.
Innovation and Working Together
What really excites me is the potential for innovation in water management. I'm particularly interested in exploring partnerships with the "Discover Blue" freshwater innovation consortium – a regional effort to develop cutting-edge solutions for protecting our freshwater resources.
Imagine our community becoming a testing ground for new technologies that help manage stormwater naturally. We could attract research funding, create jobs in the green technology sector, and become a model for other communities facing similar challenges.
This kind of working together between local government, businesses, and research institutions is exactly what we need to tackle complex environmental challenges while building a stronger economy.
Making It Happen
Supporting a riparian buffer ordinance isn't just about passing a law – it's about changing how we think about development. We need to involve developers early in the process, showing them how buffer requirements can actually make their projects better. We need to educate neighbors about why these protections matter. And we need to make sure our ordinance is practical and can be enforced.
I'm committed to working with all stakeholders to create policy that protects our water while supporting responsible development. This means listening to concerns, finding creative solutions, and building agreement around our shared goal of a thriving, sustainable community.
The Bottom Line
Clean water isn't a luxury – it's essential for public health, economic success, and quality of life. Riparian buffers and natural stormwater solutions give us proven tools to protect this precious resource while allowing growth.
As your city commissioner, I'll fight for ordinances and policies that protect our waterways for future generations. Because when we protect our rivers and lakes, we're really protecting our community's future.
The choice is ours: we can continue business as usual and watch our water quality decline, or we can be proactive and create a community that's both prosperous and environmentally responsible. I know which path I'm choosing – and I hope you'll join me.
Sources and Further Reading
Scientific Research:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2021). "Stormwater Best Management Practice: Riparian/Forested Buffer." EPA-832-F-21-031X.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. "Riparian Buffers: Functions and Design Guidelines."
Pennsylvania State University Extension. "Riparian Buffers: Pennsylvania's Best Solution for Protecting Its Waters."
Municipal Examples and Best Practices:
Chester County Planning Commission. "eTools: Riparian Buffers - Municipal Implementation Guide."
WeConservePA Library. "Riparian Buffer Protection via Local Government Regulation."
Lancaster County Model Stormwater Management Ordinance, Section 306: Riparian Corridors.
Bushkill Township Stream Protection Overlay District Ordinance.
Legal and Planning Framework:
Pennsylvania Code Title 25, Chapter 102: "Erosion and Sediment Control" - Riparian Buffer Requirements.
Brandywine Conservancy. "Model Riparian Buffer Protection Overlay District."
Guardians of the Brandywine. "Protecting Your Water Resources - A Glimpse of a Model Municipal Ordinance."
Economic Analysis:
Earth Economics Study for Greenville County: "Economic Impact Analysis of Proposed Riparian Buffer Ordinance."
Reedy River Water Quality Group: "Riparian Buffer Zoning Economic Benefits Analysis."
