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. A planning guide for protecting Montana's wetlands and riparian areas . Wetlands; Wetland management; Riparian areas; Riparian areas. Determine the Appropriate Buffer Width The size of buffer strips depends on what the buffer is expected to do. There isn't one generic buffer width that will keep the water clean, prevent flood damage, protect fish and wildlife, and satisfy demands on the land. The minimum acceptable width is one that provides acceptable levels of all needed benefits at an acceptable cost (Connecticut River Joint Commission (CRJC), 1998). The following items should be consider
. A planning guide for protecting Montana's wetlands and riparian areas . Wetlands; Wetland management; Riparian areas; Riparian areas. Determine the Appropriate Buffer Width The size of buffer strips depends on what the buffer is expected to do. There isn't one generic buffer width that will keep the water clean, prevent flood damage, protect fish and wildlife, and satisfy demands on the land. The minimum acceptable width is one that provides acceptable levels of all needed benefits at an acceptable cost (Connecticut River Joint Commission (CRJC), 1998). The following items should be considered in determining the size of any buffer width: • Define the Purpose of the Buffer • Choose a Buffer Type • Consider Site Specific Factors—how slopes, floodplains, vegetation, and similar conditions should be factored into decisions about the activities allowed in buffers and buffer size. Define the Purpose of the Buffer An important step in developing conservation buffers is to determine what benefits they are expected to provide. For instance, is the goal to protect water quality, address flood control, preserve wildlife habitat, or some combination of these? Choosing different priorities may shape a regulatory program—and why several communities have chosen the priorities that they have is discussed in this I^W^^I*^ \^jit/Hi 'W| To the 100 year floodplain 0' 50' 100' 150' 200' 250' 300' Bank Stabilization Flood Control Water Quality Fisheries ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Figure 4. Buffer strip recommendations based on resource protection goals (CRJC, 1998). Water Quality for wetland protection (Castelle et. al., 1994). In this A recent review of the scientific literature on riparian review, buffers less than 30 feet were determined to buffer strips concluded that for water quality protection, be inadequate under most conditions. Instead, buffers buffer strips should be a minimum of 100 feet wide were recommended to be a
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