Stream Buffers
A booming economy and low interest rates have provided the impetus for rapid land development in the Southeast with buildings, roads, and parking lots being built at a rapid pace. This growth comes with a price. One such price is the impact on our creeks and streams. Drainage and storm water runoff from impervious surfaces is sending mud, trash, oil, and other pollutants into streams. Many communities are beginning to adopt stream buffer requirements as an attempt to clean up and preserve our streams.
Stream buffers are designed to improve the health of our streams, provide recreational opportunities, preserve fish and other wildlife, and help make our communities more pleasant places to live.
A stream buffer is the land that is preserved along the border of a stream. There is streamside plantings of trees, shrubs, and grasses that can intercept contaminants from both surface water and ground water before they reach a stream.
The width of the buffer varies according to the size of the watershed. Stream buffer ordinances and laws may divide the total buffer width into three lateral zones – stream side zone – middle or managed use zone – and outer or upland zone.
Stream Side Zone: Protects the physical and ecological integrity of the stream ecosystem. Clearing and cutting of vegetation is not allowed. Land use is highly restricted, limited to flood control structures, bank stabilization, utility/road crossings.
Middle – Managed Use Zone: Key function is to protect key components of the stream and provide further distance between upland development and the stream.
Limited clearing is allowed but existing tree density must be retained. More activities are allowed, recreation, bike paths and greenway trails.
Outer – Upland Zone: The vegetative target for this zone is grass. In most instances, it is a residential backyard. Gardens, gazebos, decks, and storage buildings may be allowed.
Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte recently passed a stream buffer ordinance. More communities will likely follow suit in the near future.
Claimed Benefits of Urban Stream Buffers
1. Reduces watershed imperviousness by 5%.
2. Distances areas of impervious cover from the stream.
3. Reduces small drainage problems and complaints.
4. Stream "right of way" allows for lateral movement.
5. More Effective flood control.
6. Protection from stream bank erosion.
7. Increases property values.
8. Increased pollutant removal.
9. Foundation for present or future greenways.
10. Provides food and habitat for wildlife.
11. Mitigates stream warming.
12. Protection of associated wetlands.
13. Prevent disturbance to steep slopes.
14. Preserves important terrestrial habitat.
15. Corridors for conservation.
16. Essential habitat for amphibians.
17. Fewer barriers to fish migration.
18. Discourages excessive storm drainage enclosures/channel hardening.
19. Provides space for storm water ponds.
20. Allowance for future restoration.
Three Zoned Urban Stream Buffer Mecklenburg County Ordinance
| Drainage Area |
Stream Side Zone |
Managed Use Zone |
Upland Zone |
Total Width of Buffer on each side of stream |
| >100 acres |
20 feet |
None |
15 feet |
35 feet |
| > 300 acres |
20 feet |
20 feet |
10 feet |
50 feet |
| > 640 acres |
30 feet |
45 feet |
25 feet + 50% of the area of the
FEMA fringe beyond 100 feet |
100 feet + 50% of the area of the
FEMA fringe beyond 100 feet |
Buffer widths are measured horizontally on a line perpendicular to the surface water, landward from the top of the bank on each side of the stream.
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