General-Buffer-Rules-Brochure-4-19

Riparian
Buffer Rules
NORTH CAROLINA
Division of Water Resources Buffer Permitting Branch
1617 Mail Service Center | Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
[phone]
PROVIDE PROTECTION
•Remove nutrients
•Filter sediment
•Trap pollutants
•Reduce erosion
•Slow velocity of runoff, allow infiltration
•Reduce economic loss from floods
Benefits of Riparian Buffers
PROVIDE HABITAT
•Home to plant & animal species
•Shade-thermal protection of stream
•Provide large woody and leaf debris
(instream habitat and food)
PROVIDE AESTHETIC VALUE
•Absorb noise from waterfront activities
•Provide privacy
•Provide recreational value such as
fishing and birdwatching
Understanding Buffer Rules
on Your Property
What Are Riparian Buffers?
The word riparian refers to the banks of
streams, rivers, lakes, estuaries or other
waters. A healthy riparian buffer has a
combination of woody vegetation, shrubs,
herbs, and native grasses growing on it to
keep streambanks in place, remove
unwanted pollutants, create healthy critter
habitat, and reduce flooding.
Riparian buffers are managed as one or more
zones. The zone closest to the water protects
the streambank and shoreline from erosion.
The outer zone slows and spreads out the
flow of stormwater, and traps pollutants
before they enter the body of water.
Do You Have Buffers on
Your Property?
If you are unsure if you have protected buffers
on your property, check the Applicability
section of the specific Rule. List of the buffer
rules:
deq.nc.gov/ncbufferrules
See the mapping resources on the DWR main
Buffer Rules page:
deq.nc.gov/ncbufferrulesprogram
Contact your Local Government or
the NC Division of Water Resources:
deq.nc.gov/ncbufferrulescontacts
Washington, Raleigh, Winston-Salem,
Morresville, Asheville, Wilmington and
Fayetteville
To learn more about buffers,
and for additional educational
and training resources, visit:
deq.nc.gov/bufferrules
Riparian Buffer Protection Programs
Where do the buffer rules
apply and why?
•Neuse, Tar-Pamlico, Jordan, Randleman
o Nutrient or pollutant removal to
protect lakes and coastal waters
o Use Natural Resource Conservation
Service or a 1:24,000 scale USGS
topographic map or the most recent
NRCS Soil Survey manuscript
•Randleman
o Protect water supply
o On above maps and where site
specific evidence indicates the
presence of waters
•Catawba
o Mainstem Catawba River and lakes
including Lake James
o Nutrient or pollutant removal to
protect lakes
•Goose Creek
o Sustain and recover federally
endangered carolina heelsplitter
o Use above USGS or NRCS maps
For map guidance contact your local
government or visit:
deq.nc.gov/ncbufferrules
How wide is the buffer?
Regulated activities in the Buffers are listed in the Table
of Uses for Each Rule: deq.nc.gov/ncbufferrules
Please read and understand the rule including the table of
uses prior to beginning any activity within the buffer. Activities
may be deemed allowable, require written approval, or
prohibited.