-Site Nomination Form

-Project Plant Chart

PROJECTS
Mount Holly
Vincentown
Pohatcong
Hackettstown

RESOURCES
Restoring Riparian
  Forest Buffers
Step by Step
  Restoration
Native Plants
Riparian Buffer Links

Riparian Forest Buffer Restoration
Site Criteria

It is important to clearly define the criteria for a riparian forest buffer project. In searching for potential project sites, or assessing a specific site for restoration, the following parameters for riparian forest buffer site criteria and the model site nomination form may readily be adapted to guide the selection process.

Site Criteria Guidelines

• Geographic area - watershed and waterway
• Riparian area
• Absence/presence of existing forest buffer
• Type of property ownership
• Accessibility requirements
• Land use type
• Size
  

Model: site nomination form

Riparian Forest Buffer Site Nomination Please provide the following information: Name of Organization/Municipality: _________________ Contact Person(s): _____________________________ Street:  _______________  Town: _________________ Zip Code: _____________ Phone:  _______________ Watershed: ___________________________________ Name of Waterway(s): __________________________ Location:  ____________________________________   Site Description:     Why does this location qualify as a suitable riparian forest restorian site?     Please describe the potential for local community or organization(s) to provide volunteers for the project and a long-term commitment for maintaining the project:

Project Plant Chart

A plant chart categorizes species by certain plant requirements and characteristics to assist in planting the right species in the right place. It is an organizational tool to optimize species selection according to project objective, site conditions, and landowner preferences. As such, a plant chart of species rankings can be a valuable design reference tool.

A vegetation survey of the native plants in relatively-undisturbed riparian areas near the project site is helpful to determine what to plant and how many of each species to include in the project. Ranking plant species by frequency of occurrence and incorporating a similar scheme into the project is one way to design by imitating how the species naturally occur.

Regardless of the methodology or approach, a plant chart can be helpful for designing and planting riparian forest buffers. The sample plant chart below provides examples of characteristics for ranking potential species. A blank Project Plant Chart in Microsoft Word format is available here.

Project Plant Chart Example

¹ Frequency of occurrence/planted. 1 = Highest frequency, 2 = Secondary frequency, 3 = Intermediate frequency,
   4 = Occasional frequency
² Characteristics can include traits such as shade tolerant, flood tolerant, deer resistant, wet locations, dry locations,
   evergreen, streambank species, attracts wildlife, balled-and-burlapped, fruit-producing, thin/dry soils, attractive fall    
   colors, ornamental qualities, and others as needed.