South Carolina Scenic Rivers Program

Recommended Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Riparian Lands

Recognizing that activities occurring on the land, especially those adjacent to rivers, can have direct and immediate impacts on water quality, aquatic resources, and recreational uses of the state’s rivers, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) Scenic Rivers Program encourages riparian landowners to practice wise land and water management to conserve the natural and scenic qualities of the rivers for themselves and their community. Riparian landowners can practice good stewardship by adopting best management practices (BMPs) suited to their particular land uses. The Scenic Rivers Program - Guide to Best Management Practices for Riparian Lands recommends actions that will protect or enhance water quality, wildlife habitats, and the scenic character of state-designated scenic river corridors.

The single-most important BMP for protection of river resources is to provide and protect riparian buffers. A riparian buffer is the land area adjoining a stream, lake or wetland characterized by a cover of naturally occurring vegetation consisting of trees, shrubs, grasses, and forbs. Buffers provide a continuous band of vegetated land along the water’s edge. The recommended width of the buffer depends on the management goal, but larger buffers are always better at providing the functions that are valued by people.

For protection of water quality, a minimum riparian buffer width of 50 to 100 feet (dependent on slope) on both sides of the stream is recommended. The greater the slope, the larger the riparian buffer needs to be to provide water quality protection.

To protect aesthetic/scenic values, it is recommended that the riparian buffer be extended to a minimum of 100 feet on both sides of the stream with the first 50 feet remaining undisturbed.

To conserve and enhance wildlife diversity, a riparian buffer measuring at least 100 to 300 feet on both sides of the stream is recommended. The wider the buffer, the greater the benefits will be for wildlife. Ideally, the riparian buffer will include the natural floodplain and adjacent bluff.

The SCDNR Scenic Rivers Program advocates a minimum riparian buffer of at least 100 feet on both sides of the stream to protect water quality, scenic values, and wildlife habitat.