News from the Noteworthy by Sustainable Otsego

Life of the Land: Trout Do Grow on Trees

Readers of this column may have noticed in local fields and pastures a new crop of light green plastic tubes about three feet tall. This non-native “invasive species” is called a tree tube, or tree shelter, and is an important tool in the creation of riparian buffers.

Riparian buffers are among the best management practices we mentioned in our October column about regenerative agriculture. The word “riparian” refers to areas alongside streams, rivers or other bodies of water. The “buffer” is a planting of trees, shrubs or other perennial vegetation. The purpose of this practice is to protect and enhance the waterway, and improve the land by reducing erosion and run-off. Unlike manmade counterparts, riparian buffers work in tandem with their natural environment, eventually blending in with their local ecosystem without the long-term maintenance and reconstruction required by artificial counterparts.

For moving water, a riparian buffer, preferably with trees and shrubs, slows the velocity of flow and holds the various soil particulates, reducing flooding and erosion, and stabilizing banks. When the planting is mature, its shade cools the water which helps indigenous creatures. Less visible but equally important, the roots of a riparian buffer act as filters which uptake nutrients, sequester carbon, and remove soil-bound pollutants via mechanical and metabolic processes. Herbaceous buffers can also provide most of these benefits, with less investment but to a lesser extent.

Establishing a riparian buffer often requires technical assistance, particularly in areas eroded or damaged by livestock traffic, or populated by invasive species such as Japanese knotweed. As with most best management practices in New York, a patchwork of agencies with overlapping histories, mandates and capacities is available to assist the land owner. Federal or state permits may be required for occasional situations. In our area, the non-profit Upper Susquehanna Coalition helps with close to 100 percent funding. Otsego County Soil and Water Conservation District staff will procure, advise, and plant the appropriate materials, which vary depending on soil and geography. Once established, the buffer’s maintenance is the responsibility of the landowner.

We love the idea that “Trout Grow on Trees.” This clever turn of phrase immediately calls up a mental image of a crystal-clear brook quietly meandering under a canopy of trees providing shade and a seasonal carpet of leaf litter and other nutrients vital to a trout’s ecosystem. A riparian buffer can achieve this, without seriously impacting adjacent agricultural work, since riparian areas are intrinsically flood prone and non-productive. The riparian buffer seems like a no-brainer to us, especially since there is so much help available to get it done.

Authored by Sustainable Otsego. Since 2007, we have promoted ecologically sound practices—locally, regionally and nationally. We advocate sustainable living, economic independence, and home rule. Visit sustainableotsego.net or facebook.com/SustainableOtsego.