Watershed Forestry Resource Library

Welcome to the searchable resource library for the Watershed Forestry Partnership! Here you can find outreach materials that have been created by other organizations working on riparian forest restoration, academic papers, and other resources. If you have something to add to the library, or have a request for what you would like to see here, please contact Shawn White at shawn.white [at] uvm.edu.

Key Resources:

  • Restoration Roundup Podcast Series - Through these 19 episodes, Restoration Roundup invites guests from local government and nonprofit organizations to discuss the work they are doing in riparian forest restoration around the Lake Champlain basin. Guests on the podcast have discussed many topics including invasive species, how riparian buffers support pollinators, the shortage of native trees and shrubs for restoration, and much more. 
  • Vermont Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Riparian Forest Buffer Specification Guide Sheet - Technical but brief guide from NRCS describing the agency's specifications for riparian forest buffers, including zones, widths, vegetation, fish and wildlife habitat specifications, planting plan specs, and both natural regeneration and direct seeding guidelines.
  • Vermont Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Tree and Shrub Establishment Guide - NRCS technical guide to tree and shrub establishment, including information about site prep and weed control; planting timing; storage and handling of plant material; planting techniques; protection from browse; natural regeneration; and direct seeding.
  • Vermont Trees for Streams Resource Guide - This guide includes information about types of buffers; considering pollution source, land use history, and goals of the restoration project; site selection; planting plans; vegetation types; planting procedures; and sources of support and assistance.
  • Northwestern Vermont Riparian Planting Guide - This relatively brief guide outlines information on partner organizations in NW Vermont; funding opportunities; outreach to landowners; project design and implementation; and maintenance and monitoring. Although the guide is designed to be locally-specific to Northwestern Vermont, much of the information is applicable in the broader New England region.

Tree and Shrub Establishment Guide

Published 2009
Author(s): Vermont Natural Resources Conservation Service
NRCS technical guide to tree and shrub establishment, including information about site prep and weed control; planting timing; storage and handling of plant material; planting techniques; protection from browse; natural regeneration; and direct seeding.

Riparian Buffers and Corridors

Published 2005
Author(s): Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
VT ANR technical paper describing the ecosystem functions and services that riparian buffers support, including water quality, water temperature, aquatic habitat, terrestrial habitat connectivity, and channel stability. Also includes a table of buffer widths for various riparian functions.

Riparian Forest Buffer Design and Maintenance

Published 2005
Author(s): Anne Hairston-Strange, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service
This guide has been prepared as a resource for those who wish to establish a forest buffer efficiently, effectively, and with a minimum of maintenance. This guide is meant to help match the specific circumstances of a planting project and site with suitable techniques designed to avoid or minimize some common problems.

Federal Stream Corridor Restoration Handbook

Published 2001
Author(s): The Federal Interagency Stream Restoration Working Group
Old but extensive handbook on stream corridor restoration, covering topics including but not limited to physical structure, hydrology and geomorphology, biological communities, disturbance, developing a restoration plan, monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive management.

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