cover photo credit: Joshua Mayer

Thank you for helping “Renew the Rock” by restoring your riparian buffer.

This message brought to you by the Rock River

Stormwater Group.

City of Beaver DamCity of Beloit

City of Fort AtkinsonCity of JanesvilleCity of JeffersonCity of Milton

City of WhitewaterCity of WaupunTown of Beloit

University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWDNR

Making stormwater cleaner and waterways healthier across south central Wisconsin.

www.renewtherock.comphoto credit: Joshua Mayer

RIPARIAN BUFFERS

PROTECTING YOUR PROPERTY AND OUR WATER RESOURCES

A riparian buffer is a zone of native vegetation between development and water resources. Buffers provide habitat, filter runoff before it enters a body of water, and add natural beauty.

WHAT IS A RIPARIAN BUFFER?

Riparian buffers are important for water quality and are CRUCIAL for renewing the Rock River. The Rock River is listed as “impaired” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) due to existing sediment concentrations.

Photo Credit: U.S. EPA

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A RIPARIAN

BUFFER?

HOW CAN I CREATE ONE?

Less maintenance

Enhanced privacy

Less shoreline erosion

More wildlife

Cleaner water

Easy Method

STOP MOWING!

Create a strip of tall grass between your yard and the lake, river or stream.

another Method

PLANT NATIVE VEGETATION ALONG THE SHORELINE.

This can include trees, shrubs and ground cover.

Photo Credit: Joshua Mayer