Abstract

Riparian Buffer Assessment of South East Pennsylvania
Track: Conservation
Authors: Tony Yates

Riparian forest buffers provide several important functions in the Southeastern PA region, and as such, need to be monitored to assure they are not being destroyed as the region develops. Riparian forest buffers have been identified as one of the most effective controls for preventing non-point source pollution from agriculture, urban and suburban lands, and also riparian forest buffers increase wildlife habitat. To assure the buffers are maintained, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Heritage Conservancy, and Montgomery County Planning Commission are using ArcGIS to monitor nearly 3,000 miles of streams within five major watersheds in Southeastern Pennsylvania to determine if the tree canopy has decreased significantly within the riparian buffers. This presentation will detail how ArcGIS is used to monitor these riparian buffers and will illustrate how these buffers have changed in the past ten years.