06/11/2026
Have you ever seen a stream that looked like this? Notice that there is no vegetation next to the stream bank. The grass has been mowed right up to the edge of the bank. Without the root systems of trees, shrubs, and grasses to anchor the soil, erosion accelerates rapidly. Why does that matter?
Increased Flood Risks: Bare stream banks cannot slow down floodwaters. Stormwater rushes unimpeded through the channel and the risk of flooding increases.
Stream Bank Collapse: Rapidly moving water scours the bank, causing large chunks of land to collapse directly into the water.
Stream Channel Widening and Deepening: As banks collapse and loose soil is carried away, the stream channel becomes unnaturally wide, shallow, and unstable.
Pollution and Sedimentation: Tons of sediment wash downstream, covering up gravel beds that fish rely on for spawning. This dirt chokes out aquatic insects and severely degrades water quality.
The best way to prevent this and stabilize an exposed stream bank is to establish a riparian buffer—a dedicated area of native trees, shrubs, and grasses.
The EAC and Warminster Municipal Authority are having a workshop on riparian buffers on Monday, June 22 at 7 pm in the Township Building, 401 Gibson Avenue.
Come join us as we work towards improving riparian buffers on private and public property in Warminster.
