They prevent erosion, reduce flooding, provide habitat for wildlife in and near the water, create recreational opportunities, and filter pollutants.
They deserve to be celebrated!
Penn State Extension, the Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center, and other organizations in the region partner with the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council to celebrate October as Riparian Buffer Month.
This is an opportunity for individuals and organizations to build awareness and familiarity with forested riparian buffers while sharing the applicability of this sustainable practice in various settings.
If you care about our streams, native plants, pollinators, the Chesapeake Bay, or love taking a walk in the woods, you are encouraged to participate in this month-long, focused effort to spread the word about the importance of trees planted along streams.
Upcoming Events
Check out these upcoming riparian buffer-focused events, resources, and opportunities.
-- September 24, 12:00 PM: Water Cooler Talk- Riparian Buffers to Improve Trout Habitat (Webinar)
In central Pennsylvania, researchers are studying how brown trout (Salmo trutta) respond to different levels of riparian vegetation across eleven stream sites, from sparsely vegetated to fully forested.
By monitoring trout health and habitat conditions, the study aims to uncover the physiological benefits riparian buffers provide, offering valuable insights into how these practices improve stream ecosystems year-round.
-- October 24, 3:30 PM in Bellefonte, PA: Twilight Pond Walk
If you are a private pond owner or a member of a lake-based community organization, joining this workshop will teach you everything you need to know about basic pond ecology, water testing, water quality, and more. Riparian buffers are important for ponds too!
-- October 24 (online), 28 and 29 (Cumberland County, PA): Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional- Buffers Training
This training certificate (CBLP-Buffers) is a comprehensive program that prepares professionals to plan, implement, and manage riparian buffers—vegetated areas planted along waterways to reduce runoff, restore habitat, improve water quality, and reduce flooding risk.
-- TBD: Greening the Lower Susquehanna volunteer events
Volunteers are needed to help plant trees and care for existing projects. These events are great opportunities to learn, volunteer, meet others, and spend time outside.
Other Ways To Help
If you can't attend one of the above events, there are lots of other ways you can help celebrate Riparian Buffer Month:
-- Look for #BufferBanter and #RiparianBufferMonth posts from your favorite conservation organizations on social media. Like, Share, Comment, etc.
-- Create your own social media posts by taking photos of public riparian buffers near you or of your own streamside plantings. Use #RiparianBufferMonth.
-- Donate to organizations that are planting and maintaining riparian buffers in your area, like your local watershed association
-- Attend a buffer-focused volunteer planting, maintenance day, or educational event
-- If you have a stream, think about planting or improving the buffer on your property.
Riparian Buffer Resources
Check out these great resources from Penn State on riparian buffers and learn all you can. Share what you learn with family and friends!
-- Roadside Guide to Clean Water: Riparian Buffers
A riparian buffer involves planting or retaining trees, shrubs, or tall grasses along the banks of rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds. Learn how to identify them with this factsheet.
-- Riparian Buffers: Pennsylvania's Best Solution for Protecting Its Waters
This article explains the benefits of using riparian buffers to protect the health of waterways, livestock, adjacent property, and all who drink and use water downstream.
-- The Role of Trees and Forests in Healthy Watersheds
Trees and forests are important for managing stormwater, reducing flooding, and improving water quality.
-- Riparian Buffers for Wildlife
Riparian buffers have lots of benefits and can be designed to benefit many types of wildlife.
-- Multifunctional Riparian Forest Buffers – More than Just Trees
Thoughtful selection of streamside trees and shrubs can have the added bonus of producing fruit, nuts, berries, or woody florals for profit or personal enjoyment.
-- Riparian Stabilization on an Acre or Less
This article discusses controlling water's edge erosion problems on small riparian sites.
-- Public Demand for Forest Conservation and Water Protection in PA
This article presents estimated economic values for forest/water protection programs in Pennsylvania using meta-analysis and benefit transfer techniques.
Growing Great Buffers is a series of short, helpful videos that describe step-by-step maintenance tasks needed for newly planted riparian buffers.
This article links to lots of additional resources on how to manage and restore the stream in your backyard- including resources on how to plant a riparian buffer.
Click Here for the Penn State Extension article.
(Reprinted from the latest Penn State Extension Watershed Winds newsletter. Click Here to sign up for your own copy (bottom of page).)
Related Articles This Week:
-- Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition Celebrates 30th Anniversary Oct. 4 At Jennings Environmental Center In Butler County [PaEN]
-- Allegheny Conservation District, State, Federal Partners Invest $1.4 Million In Clean Water, Healthy Soil Farming Projects [PaEN]
-- Restoring Centre County Stream Health Will Be On Display At Halfmoon Creek Field & Stream Day Sept. 28 [PaEN]
-- Penn State Extension: Celebrate Streamside Trees This October During Riparian Buffer Month! [PaEN]
-- Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay, DCNR PA Woodland Resilience Enhancement Program Cost-Shares Forest Practice Plan Writing, Implementation [PaEN]
-- Chesapeake Bay Monitoring Cooperative Involving Over 100 Organizations Celebrates 10 Years Collecting Data To Support Restoration Efforts [PaEN]
-- Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards Accepting Orders For Kits To Turn Plastic Barrels Into Rain Barrels To Capture Stormwater [PaEN]
-- Lancaster Farming: 70 Years Of Conservation - From Soil Health To The Chesapeake Bay
NewsClips:
-- TribLive: Why A Turtle Creek Watershed Stream Near Monroeville Mall Is Glowing Bright Blue [Spoiler: Abandoned Mine Drainage Pollution]
-- The News-Item: PSU Professor Proposed Kulpmont As Potential Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Plant Location In Shamokin Creek Watershed
-- The News-Item: Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance Awarded Grant To Study How Acid Mine Drainage Impacts The Watershed
-- Forests For The Chesapeake Bay News: Find Tree Planting Volunteer Opportunities Near You This Fall
-- WHYY: Brandywine River Restoration Trust Removes 2nd Dam As Part Of Its Restoration Project
-- WESA: From A Flush To A River: Behind The Scenes At ALCOSAN’s Wastewater Treatment Plant
-- Brodhead Watershed Association Annual Members & Friends Celebration Oct. 9 In Monroe County
-- TribLive: ‘Trash Wheel’ Could Soon Be Working To Remove Litter From Monongahela River
-- Penn State Research: Freshwater Tidal Marshes Like The One At The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge In Philadelphia Trap Microplastics, Raising Risks For Ecosystems And People
-- Altoona Mirror Letter: Old Crow Wetlands Being Degraded By Convenience Store Construction - By Michael Kensinger, Juniata Valley Audubon Society [PDF of Article]
-- PennLive Letter: Gov. Shapiro - Protect Big Spring Creek In Cumberland County By Compelling DEP To Enforce Its Rules - By Big Spring Watershed Association
[Posted: September 19, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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