 Current Issues
Buffers 100
Beside every good stream is a good forest.
The best way to protect our communities and streams from:
- Erosion
- Pollution
- Flooding
- Drought
The best way to grace our communities with:
- Clean drinking water
- Higher property values
- Good fishing
- Growing ecotourism
- Healthy economies
Is to Protect and Create healthy buffers along our streams, creeks, wetlands and rivers.
A healthy buffer is filled with native trees, shrubs, and ground covering plants and is wide enough to filter pollution, hold and absorb flood waters and to create healthy habitat.
Pennsylvania Streams and Pennsylvania Communities Need:
Buffers of at least 100 feet on either side of every stream:
- to ensure the ability of the plants and soils to filter out pollution;
- to ensure healthy habitat;
- to ensure we have the plants and roots needed to prevent unnatural erosion; and
- to absorb floodwaters and reduce flood damages.
An additional 50 feet on either side of our sensitive headwater streams:
to ensure the extra level of protection needed by these more vulnerable and endangered ecosystems.
An additional 200 feet on either side of our best quality streams:
to ensure the additional protection our best streams need.
YOU CAN HELP ENSURE THAT OUR STREAMS AND COMMUNITIES GET THE BUFFERS THEY NEED!
- Learn more about how buffers protect our streams by reading our Fact Sheet and Platform.
- Educate your group about the importance of buffers. Download and distribute our Fact Sheet to your members. If you’d like a speaker to give a presentation to your group, email bwendelgass@cleanwater.org.
- Support our Buffers 100 campaign by filling out and returning our Endorsement Form. To see who else supports the campaign, review our List of Endorsers.
- Contact your state Senator and state Representative and urge them to support at least 100 foot buffers on all rivers and streams in the state. Tell them how buffers would improve your stream and your community.
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Pennsylvania Campaign for Clean Water
100 N. 17th Street, #900, Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-640-8800 (phone) * 215-640-0930 (fax)
Questions? Comments? bwendelgass@cleanwater.org |
