Chesapeake Bay Sees Record Forest Buffer Restoration in 2023

David M. Higgins II, Publisher/Editor

June 14

Annapolis, MD—In 2023, the Chesapeake Bay watershed achieved a significant milestone by restoring 640.5 miles of forest buffers, the highest number recorded since 2016. This progress is attributed to increased state and federal investments in landowner programs, including funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Forest buffers, also known as riparian or streamside buffers, are vital for maintaining clean water and healthy fish habitats. They absorb nutrient and sediment runoff, protect against erosion, reduce flood impact, and cool water temperatures. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement of 2014 set a goal to restore 900 miles of forest buffers annually. Despite previous years falling short, recent efforts have shown promising results.

Jurisdiction	Riparian Land Area	Forest Cover Acres, 2013/2014	Forest Cover %, 2013/2014	Forest Cover Acres, 2017/2018	Forest Cover %, 2017/2018	Net Change in Acres	Net Change in %
Delaware	55,140	30,806	55.9%	30591	55.5%	-214	-.39%
District of Columbia	1,737	920	53.0%	909	52.3%	-11	-.62%
Maryland	689,035	407,298	59.1%	405852	58.9%	-1445	-.21%
New York	331,622	209,272	63.1%	209420	63.2%	148	.04%
Pennsylvania	1,422,902	984,794	69.2%	981475	69.0%	-3319	-.23%
Virginia	1,879,844	1,386,640	73.8%	1370811	72.9%	-15829	-.84%
West Virginia	269,915	203,816	75.5%	202743	75.1%	-1073	-.40%
Total Watershed	4,650,195	3,223,546	69.3%	3,201,802	68.9%	-21743	-.47%

Increased Funding and Flexible Programs Drive Progress

The uptick in forest buffer restoration is partly due to enhanced funding opportunities for landowners. Programs now offer financial compensation for planting and maintaining forest buffers, making the process more appealing. These programs, including the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), have adapted to provide funds on a rolling basis, ensuring quick availability and reducing out-of-pocket expenses for landowners.

These improvements have allowed for more widespread participation. As Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in Pennsylvania, stated, "Pennsylvania has been hard at work increasing funding and technical assistance with new staff and partner investments in planting streamside forest buffers. Cooler waters, improving habitat, and decreasing flood risk in our creeks, streams, and rivers help all who live and recreate in the Commonwealth and the Chesapeake Bay."

Record-Breaking Restoration Numbers

In 2022, 457 miles of forest buffers were restored, with 340 miles in Pennsylvania, 50 miles in Virginia, 34 miles in New York, 31 miles in Maryland, two miles in West Virginia, and less than one mile in Delaware. The following year saw a remarkable increase, with Virginia restoring 298 miles, Pennsylvania 268 miles, Maryland 40 miles, New York 21 miles, West Virginia 13 miles, and less than one mile in Delaware.

The coordinated efforts of federal, state, and local agencies, along with landowners and conservation groups, have been crucial in achieving these numbers. Katherine Brownson, U.S. Forest Service liaison to the Chesapeake Bay Program, highlighted the significance of these efforts: "Forest buffers are foundational for meeting many of the partnership's goals for water quality, habitat, climate resilience, and people. The big increase in planting numbers over the last few years shows that state and federal investments in riparian forest buffer restoration are paying off."

Challenges and Future Goals

Despite the recent successes, the Chesapeake Bay watershed continues to face challenges. There remains a net loss of forest buffers due to ongoing deforestation. The Chesapeake Bay Program's Land Use/Land Cover Data revealed that from 2013/14 to 2017/18, the percentage of forested riparian areas decreased from 69.3% to 68.85%, resulting in a loss of 21,743 acres.

Efforts to mitigate these losses include not only planting new buffers but also conserving existing ones. The updated Land Use/Land Cover data, expected later this year, will provide more insight into recent changes. Additionally, substantial gains have been made in urban and suburban areas, known as "community trees." In 2023, 2,577.4 acres of community trees were planted, the highest since 2014. However, these gains are offset by the loss of over 25,000 acres of community trees between 2013/14 and 2017/18.

Importance of Collaboration and Continued Efforts

The Chesapeake Bay Program emphasizes the importance of pairing planting and maintenance programs with conservation efforts. Lydia Brinkley, Buffer Coordinator for the Upper Susquehanna Coalition, noted, "Conservation district staff have been and continue to be best equipped to meet our landowners' needs. Working as a partnership, we're able to leverage federal, state, and local funding to sustain a comprehensive riparian forest buffer program."

Moving forward, the focus will remain on maintaining and expanding these restoration efforts. The collective goal is to ensure at least 70% of riparian areas throughout the watershed are forested, a target set by the Watershed Agreement.