The purpose of this website is to promote the preservation and reestablishment of Riparian Forest Buffers along the rivers and streams of New Jersey, and to inform citizens about the benefits of promoting and preserving these areas. Riparian Forest Buffers are an essential part of healthy aquatic ecosystems and have been shown to significantly reduce contamination of surface water bodies.

In conjunction with North Jersey Resource Conservation & Development this website is intended to serve as a resource for watershed organizations, community planning and zoning officials, environmental commissions and other concerned citizens.

North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council's main mission is to facilitate the wise use and protection of the regions human and natural resources. This is accomplished by working with communities and regional partnerships to: address issues related to water quality and water resource protection, sustainable farming and farm communities, building local community capacity and managing natural hazards that impact community planning are among some of our council's focus areas.

Currently, North Jersey RC&D is involved with the following riparian restoration projects:

A Watershed Approach to Riparian Restoration:  Musconetcong and Pohatcong Watershed Riparian Forest Buffer Project
Identifying. preserving and enhancing streamside buffers is an important water quality priority along the cold water trout streams in Northern New Jersey. This project is a partnership between NRCS, North Jersey Resource Conservation & Development Council, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife and NJDEP Division of Watershed Management to undertake an education and outreach program to communities in the Musconetcong and Pohatcong Watersheds. The project will be developing a GIS based methodology to evaluate the adequacy of streamside buffers, install buffer plantings and hold workshops for local communities on the value of buffers. Two communities will receive technical assistance and a mini-grant to help them evaluate their land development regulations for their stream buffer friendliness.

Watershed Restoration Strategy:  Protecting and Improving Water Quality Through Riparian Restoration & Regional Open Space Programs
Utilizing GIS models and water quality monitoring data, priority sites for riparian restoration will be identified.  This project will install a minimum of 8 riparian restoration projects representing the diversity of landuse in Northern New Jersey.  Buffer sites will be selected on highly visible sites with strong support and commitment from the landowner.  Up to $20,000 per site is available from 2003-2006.  Funding for this project has been provided by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.

Stream Restoration Workshop for Citizen Conservationists
As part of an ongoing education initiative, North Jersey RC&D Council partners with NJ Council of Trout Unlimited, NRCS, NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife, Upper Raritan Watershed Association and South Branch Watershed Association to hold annual workshops for citizen conservationists on stream restoration. Each year about sixty people attended the workshop and gain information and practical experience on how to implement habitat improvement projects on local streams. Using both classroom and hands-on learning experiences, participants learn about stream restoration techniques that involve stabilizing the stream banks and corridors by planting trees and shrubs. Vegetation is important to streams because it reduces erosion, enhances fish habitat by shading water and filters out chemicals, sediments and animal waste pollutants. During the afternoon session, participants go out into the field and apply the techniques learned in the morning session. The State Council of Trout Unlimited is so pleased with these workshops they have committed to funding these workshops on an annual basis