Riparian forest restoration started in earnest in the Chesapeake watershed about 1996. On this page, we have begun to weave together the stories of how partners have restored over 9,500 miles of riparian forest since that time.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), and Trout Unlimited (TU) collaborated to implement conservation practices that would improve water quality and brook trout habitat within the Chesapeake Bay watershed in Pennsylvania.
The Upper Potomac Riparian Buffer project applied hydrologic-based targeting for restoration, evaluated high priority locations, and planted forests and trees to reduce pollutants and enhance coldwater fisheries habitat in priority areas of the Upper Potomac.
Through the Comprehensive Agricultural Stewardship project, Stroud Water Research Center was able to accelerate implementation of agricultural BMPs in in the Valley Creek area by providing technical assistance to farmers and advancing nutrient credit trading opportunities.
The Carla Hardy West Virginia Project CommuniTree (CTree) is a program engaged in tree planting on public lands throughout the Potomac River Watershed in West Virginia.
In 2003, Cliff Miller put 604 acres of the farm into permanent easement with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation and started working with USDA’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and other programs to transition to a new way of farming.
Once a quagmire of cattle manure, human sewage and sediment – Poague Run is now clean and cold enough to stock with the Chesapeake Bay’s native, pollution sensitive, top predator freshwater fish – Brook Trout.
Critical to the success of ClearWater’s Riparian Conservation Program is their commitment to provide ongoing assistance to landowners with buffer maintenance. They do this through their Riparian Buffer Site Steward Program.
