RIPARIAN FOREST BUFFERS Attainment Strategy Update 2006-2010

1. RIPARIAN FOREST BUFFERSAttainment Strategy Update 2006-2010 Judith A. Okay Riparian Specialist – CBP

2. 2003 EXPANDED RFB GOALS ► Restore at least 10,000 miles of RFB by 2010 ► Ensure that at least 70% of stream banks and shorelines in the Bay watershed are buffered. ►Advance efforts to conserve existing forest buffers.

3. Achievements - 2005

4. MD PA VA

5. Identified Barriers( Stakeholder Meetings 2002) • Technical Assistance Crisis • Need for new incentives – new approaches for landowner interest • High Cost of planting buffers • Easements don’t appeal to landowners • Not enough resources – money and staff • Non- favorable tax policies • Lack of monitoring existing projects • Better education and outreach needed • Need for assessing returns received from forest buffers • Need to integrate forest buffer efforts with other efforts • We don’t know rate of buffer loss • We need more buffer conservation • Total nutrient reduction benefits of forest buffers are not known

6. FORESTRY WORKGROUP ACTIONS To Reduce Barriers 2004-2006 • Support- Technical Exchange Meetings for TSPs – MD and PA (VA 2006-07) • Forester field trips to Smith Island for meaningful Bay experience – Bring Bay message to landowners • Support- “Riparian Forest Buffer Design and Maintenance Guide” – MD publication • National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Grants for RFB work • Grants to assess VA and MD shoreline buffers ( GMU and USGS/CBP/USFS grants) • Support – Survey of PA landowners re: CREP on their land. • Support - MD and VA grants to assess CREP sites (survival & management) • Promoting CBP riparian forest buffer tracking website.

7. HAVE YOU BEEN IN THEBUFFERZONE ? WHERE IN THE BAY IS YOUR BUFFER ZONE? LET IT COUNT ! www.chesapeakebay.net/rfb

8. OTHER INFLUENCES ON BARRIERS • 2007 Farm Bill • VA Riparian Tax Credit • VA Land Conservation Commitment • Three Chesapeake Bay Coordinators for MD,PA and VA • A Riparian Specialist

9. 2006-2010 RIPARIAN FOREST BUFFER FRAMEWORK • Purpose – To move riparian forest buffer initiative closer to goals • Address barriers not fully addressed • Enhance existing efforts • Improve tracking efforts

10. PROPOSED ACTIONS • FUNDING – Focus on getting urban buffers funded through grants - Support innovative planting techniques and new supplies** -Return ecosystem service costs to landowners with buffers ** (money does grow on trees! -Focus attention on property values of forest bufferedshorelines.

11. TECHNICAL SERVICE PROVIDER SHORTAGES -Include industry consultants and Master Gardeners in training opportunities** -Reward TSPs for quality and quantity of RFB projects (Awards program)** -Provide lists of source materials for projects to make planning easier **

12. CONSERVATION • Promote programs that reward stewardship without easements • Investigate possible land exchange opportunities to conserve existing forest buffers • Promote the use of existing forest buffer ecological services for nutrient trading (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment)** • Encourage conservation targeting for continuous lengths and extensive widths of forest buffers.

13. OUTREACH • Enlist syndicated garden columnists to write a series of RFB articles for shoreline owners • Communicate with agricultural community through established newsletters. Market landowner information sheets in this forum. ** • Expand awards programs in MD<PA<VA to reward localities, schools, civic groups for forest buffer plantings. • Develop forest buffer photo/poster contest similar to Duck Stamp posters.

14. SCIENCE - Develop a topical annotated portfolio of riparian research applicable to Bay goals -Compile list of critical research needs ** - Reward scientific community for outstanding riparian forest buffer research

15. ACCOUNTABILITY • Track acres of private riparian forests conserved or protected in the Bay watershed • Track stream restoration miles in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. • Build capacity and synergy with other CBP groups to best utilize funds, technology and personnel.**