Top illustration by Nick Garnhart.
Have you seen the ribbon of green growing along a stream, edging fields and mountains with vibrant life? What you are looking at is a riparian buffer, an essential part of our ecosystem in Virginia’s Piedmont.
Riparian buffers are the vegetated areas along rivers, streams, creeks, and other waterways. These areas are the single most effective means of protecting water quality throughout the Chesapeake Bay. With healthy riparian buffers, we can ensure the water we drink throughout the watershed is clean and can be a sustainable resource for future generations.
Numerous programs across our nine-county region provide free technical assistance, project design, materials, and labor for the planting of native trees and shrubs in riparian zones on qualifying properties.
Volunteers Plant Close to 300 Trees in Berryville
Hundreds of Trees Planted at Lane Property
Planting Trees at Long Branch
Bonny Brook Tree Planting
Volunteers needed to help plant native trees in Sperryville for a cleaner Rappahannock River watershed
Calling Volunteers: White Post, Berryville tree plantings help make water cleaner in the Potomac watershed
Fall tree plantings + Orvis Giveback days
Fall 2022 Tree Planting Opportunities
Earth Day Tree Planting at the Volgenau Property
Planting Trees at Thunder Lane Farm for Earth Month
PEC’s work on riparian buffers is supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund, which promotes community-based efforts to develop conservation strategies to protect and restore the diverse natural resources of the Chesapeake Bay.