Riparian Forest Buffer (NRCS #391)

Applicable Systems

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About

Riparian forest buffers are an edge of field agroforestry practice, in which trees and grasses are planted alongside waterways, and serve to increase infiltration and reduce runoff, sediment, and nutrients from cropland to nearby waterways¹ ². Site conditions and land manager goals will help determine the most effective buffer location, size, and design.

Key aspects and considerations:

Riparian forest buffers are often planted in zones. For best management, each zone should follow appropriate guidelines in terms of width, species planted, depth to water table, and desired goals.
Zone 1: In the area closest to the body of water, plant native perennial species and limit disturbance.
Zone 2: If desired, integrate tree production in this zone, ensure selected trees and grasses are flood tolerant.
Zone 3: In the zone closest to cropland, plant grasses or forbs to increase infiltration and trap sediment.

Benefits and Limitations

ACRE Category	Benefits	Limitations
Soil Health	Reduces soil erosion and stabilizes stream banks by increasing groundcover and through perennial root systems. Supports soil health by decreasing sediment loss.	N/A
Water Management	Tree buffers increase transpiration and infiltration³, which reduces discharge and aids in flood management. Protects water quality by reducing nutrient, herbicide, and pesticide loss.	N/A
Nutrient Management	Reduces nutrient loss by reducing soil erosion and runoff⁴. By trapping nutrients, reduces the need for further nutrient inputs. Reduces nitrate leaching by increasing plant nitrogen uptake.	Less effective under extremely high nutrient loading.
Agricultural Production	Diversifies income through fruit, nut, or timber production in an area that may be less suited for annual crops. Protects adjacent fields from streambank erosion and flood damage⁵.	May require complex management. Depending on management and goals, may increase labor during already busy harvest season. Limited access to technical service. Creates logistical challenges, such as tile drainage, which roots could interfere with.
Biodiversity and Wildlife	Creates shade and reduces stream temperatures, which improves aquatic habitat. Improves wildlife habitat and creates habitat corridors. Increases terrestrial biodiversity⁶ ⁷. Protects pollinators from pesticide risk. Enhances recreational activities, such as fishing and hunting.	Removing fallen trees, a component of buffer management, may reduce aquatic habitat. Wildlife may damage trees. Requires further investigation of the tradeoffs of removing fallen trees¹⁰.
GHG Emission	Increases carbon sequestration in biomass and soil by adding trees to the landscape. Requires fewer N inputs and releases less N₂O to the environment relative to conventional crop fields.	When flooded, riparian forest buffers may be a source of methane emissions⁸ ⁹.
Economics	Provides both short- and long-term income, such as nuts, berries, and high-value hardwoods. 1 in 4 U.S. farmers report generating income from their riparian forest buffer¹⁰. Cost-share programs such as CRP, CREP, and EQIP provide cost assistance.	Economic costs include the land taken out of production, site preparation, planting, and management. Based on 2016 prices, the establishment and management costs for a 66-foot wide riparian forest buffer are estimated at $330 per acre. Certain cost-share programs may restrict buffer use, including prohibiting income generating activities and tree harvesting. Delayed financial returns.

Impact on Agricultural Resilience

Riparian forest buffers improve infiltration and reduce discharge to groundwater, mitigating the impacts of extreme rainfall and reducing the risk of flooding¹¹. Rainfall intensity is projected to increase across Wisconsin, as well as much of the Midwest. Riparian forest buffers offer a strategy to adapt to changing rainfall patterns and prevent further soil loss.
By providing shade, riparian forest buffers moderate the impact of increased air temperatures on stream temperature, which benefits aquatic life.

Regional Applicability

Riparian forest buffers are applicable across the United States, but only on land that is adjacent to a river, stream, or water body. Depending on the region, riparian forest buffers can take on various characteristics.
In the Midwest, riparian forest buffers often must be reestablished on cropland, while in the eastern region of the U.S., riparian forest buffers may exist as remnant forests¹². In the Corn Belt, riparian forest buffers typically cover 16 acres per farm, for those who report using agroforestry practices¹⁰.
Based on environmental suitability mapping, priority areas for riparian buffer establishment include Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and central Illinois¹³.
In the Midwest and beyond, planting riparian forest buffers can help landowners meet laws and regulations. Specifically, the Minnesota buffer law requires perennial buffers adjacent to public streams, lakes, and rivers. Demonstration farms featuring riparian forest buffers are found at Riveredge Nature Center and the South Farm at Savanna Institute's Spring Green Campus, both located in Wisconsin.

Case Studies

In Pennsylvania, Deanne Boyer, the farmer and owner of Willow Run Farmstead LLC, describes their motivation for planting a riparian forest buffer: "...over the summer months, what we're seeing is instead of steady rainfalls over a longer period of time, we get downpours... It's hard on the soil because it's either dry or it's getting pummeled. So I feel like it's important for me to start thinking about shifting to a way that does protect the soil more."

Resources

Video. USDA-NRCS: Riparian Forest Buffer
Video. USDA Northeast Climate Hub: Riparian Buffers
Video. Savanna Institute: Riparian Forest Buffers | 5 Agroforestry Practices Explained
Podcast. Savanna Institute Perennial AF: The Pros and Cons of Windbreaks and Riparian Buffers
USDA-FS: Riparian Buffer Design Guidelines Case Study
University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry: Establishing and Managing Riparian Forest Buffers
Clean Water Iowa: Stream Buffers
University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension: Riparian Buffers - Agroforestry for Any Property
USDA-FS National Agroforestry Center and Savanna Institute: Multifunctional Buffers: Design Guidelines for Buffers, Corridors, and Greenways
USDA-FS National Agroforestry Center: Conservation Buffers: Design Guidelines for Buffers, Corridors, and Greenways
USDA-FS National Agroforestry Center: What is a Riparian Forest Buffer?
USDA-FS National Agroforestry Center: Buffer$ A Conservation Buffer Economic Analysis Tool
USDA-FS National Agroforestry Center: Non-timber Forest Product Calculator (NTFP)
USDA-FS National Agroforestry Center: Riparian Forest Buffers: An Agroforestry Practice
USDA-NRCS: Riparian Forest Buffer Wisconsin Guidance Document
USDA-NRCS: Riparian Forest Buffer (Ac.) (391) Conservation Practice Standard

References

USDA-NRCS (2020). Conservation Practice Standard Document, Riparian Forest Buffer, Code 391. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-09/Riparian_Forest_Buffer_391_CPS_10_2020.pdf
USDA-NRCS (2020). Conservation Practice Overview, Riparian Forest Buffer, Code 391. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-09/Riparian_Forest_Buffer_391_Overview_10_2020.pdf
Hernandez-Santana, V., Asbjornsen, H., Sauer, T., Isenhart, T., Schilling, K., & Schultz, R. (2011). Enhanced transpiration by riparian buffer trees in response to advection in a humid temperate agricultural landscape. Forest Ecology and Management, 261(8), 1415-1427.
Zhu, X., Liu, W., Chen, J., et al. (2020). Reductions in water, soil and nutrient losses and pesticide pollution in agroforestry practices: a review of evidence and processes. Plant and Soil, 453, 45-86. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-019-04377-3
Zaimes, G. N., Schultz, R. C., & Isenhart, T. M. (2004). Stream bank erosion adjacent to riparian forest buffers, row-crop fields, and continuously-grazed pastures along Bear Creek in central Iowa. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 59(1), 19-27.
Dala-Corte, R. B., Giam, X., & Wilcove, D. S. (2026). Assessing the effectiveness of riparian buffers in protecting biodiversity: a meta-analysis. Nature Communications, 17(1), 4155.
Reves, O. P., Davis, M. A., Iacaruso, N. J., & Larson, E. R. (2025). Environmental DNA quantifies the terrestrial biodiversity co-benefit of forested riparian buffers in agricultural landscapes. Journal of Applied Ecology, 62(12), 3469-3479.
Kim, D. G., & Isaac, M. E. (2022). Nitrogen dynamics in agroforestry systems: a review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 42, 60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-022-00791-7
Lawrence, N., Ahamed, A., Conway, A., Covey, K., Chenyang, L., Machado, S., Wardropper, C., Stutzman, E., & Mize, C. (2025). Agroforestry and Climate Outcomes: Literature Review and Technical Guidance. Technical Advisory Network for Climate Smart Agricultural Practices. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15776654
Smith, M. M., Floress, K., Bentrup, G., et al. (2026). Riparian forest buffers in the United States: Results from the National Agroforestry Producer Survey. Agroforestry Systems, 100, 183. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-026-01537-0
Schoeneberger, M. M., & Bentrup, G. (2017). Agroforestry: enhancing resiliency in US agricultural landscapes under changing conditions. Gen. Tech. Report WO-96. Washington, DC: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 96.
Schultz, R. C., Isenhart, T. M., Simpkins, W. W., & Colletti, J. P. (2004). Riparian forest buffers in agroecosystems -- lessons learned from the Bear Creek Watershed, central Iowa, USA. Agroforestry Systems, 61, 35-50. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:AGFO.0000028988.67721.4d
Castle, S. E., Miller, D. C., & Wardropper, C. B. (2025). Mapping the social-ecological suitability of agroforestry in the US Midwest. Environmental Research Letters, 20(2), 024041.

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Riparian Forest Buffer photo 1 — Photo 1: A four-years old riparian forest buffer in a southwestern Iowa farm.

Iowa NRCS photo by Jason Johnson.

Riparian Forest Buffer photo 2 — Photo 2: Aerial view of a riparian forest buffer at the end-of-field in Story County, Iowa.

Photo courtesy of the USDA-FS National Agroforestry Center.