Riparian buffers 301: (Rain Garden Help Wanted)

The following appeared in 1993, published under the title “The Role of Riparian Corridors In Maintaining Regional Biodiversity”.this study was published by The Ecological Society of America and was written by: Robert J Naiman, Henri Decamps and Michael Pollock:




Pretty straight forward right?

It becomes increasingly obvious when a little research is done that the benefits of riparian restoration is without limit.  Such restoration provides educational opportunities, increased wildlife habitat, increased biomass, creek temperature control, runoff mitigation, scenic vistas, etc etc etc etc, trust me the list could go on and on and on and on.

So, is there a  genuine concern for the preservation and restoration of said vegetative corridors hiding behind the vitriol of the last few weeks worth of comments on here?  I hope so.  This is after all, the real issue.  Yes, aesthetics are important.  Yes, the appearance of the parks is important.  Yes, the history of the parks is important and is something to be preserved.

None of these issues however is as important as the restoration of the riparian corridors in our parks.  (And, for the record, riparian is defined as “ related to or living or located on the bank of a natural watercourse.)

I’m not talking about the skinny excuses of buffer zones made up of weeds and invasive plants (Multiflora Rose being the most rampant) in parts of the Parkway nor am I referring to the unmanaged buffer on Cedar Creek behind the mirror ponds that has developed over the last few years or the horrible knotweed dominated creek banks in Trout Creek Parkway.

I am referring to something we have yet seen in our park system although parts of Trexler Park come close.

I want to see some real riparian restoration in the parks with managed buffers that stretch to the maximum amount of feet possible given the location where planting takes place. 

I want to see wading birds in Cedar Creek, in the Little Lehigh, in Trout Creek.  I want to see fish swimming. I want to see butterflies, bees, snakes, songbirds, hawks; I want to see Nature when I go someplace to see Nature.  I don’t want to see grass mowed to the edges of creek edges with eroded edges, little plant life, loosestrife, multiflora rose, Japanese knotweed, I don’t want to see sucker fish dominating sediment filled water dotted with the algae of excessive nitrogen and phosphorus run off.

Do you want to see what I want to see?  Why wouldn’t you?  I mean honestly, at this point that crucial balance of nature that is preserved by real riparian vegetation and restoration should be the best experience that is possible to be felt in our creek based parks. 
 
Last summer I told a reader to visit a fountain in the mall if they want to experience a controlled, neutered, empty body of water.  Such places have no place in our parks. 

So, what can we do to change it?  It isn’t like any us can magically transform not only the parks themselves but the hearts and minds of stolid Allentonians and city officials. We don’t have any money. To think that this would be easy, would be a happy-ass delusion and would serve to change nothing.  This is going to be hard work readers and there is a lot of drudgery to go through before any small success is possible.  Here, at step one, a small success is the best we can hope for.

Step One is education readers and as such, I am actively working on a plant list for the first (of what I am hoping are many) rain gardens in our parks.  (Here, is the help wanted)  If you know anyone who wants to work on setting this first example with me, if they know plants, if they know rain gardens, if they just want to help and learn, if they are in fact you, help me find plant donations, simply, please help.  

Leave a comment, leave your name. 

Here is Site Zero.  This is where the first Remember Rain garden will be.

As details develop, as plans are made, I will share everything with you right here on Remember. 

Don’t forget, this isn’t something new folks.  The establishment and maintenance of riparian buffer corridors has been recommend guidelines in the state of Pennsylvania since the 1970’s (at least).  As much as renovations in the parks are decried by many, the real issue remains that the ecological health of our parks is in a timeless limbo of poor care, study and development.  The real issue has to be addressed.  Build this rain garden with me. 

See Also:
If you click the Riparian Buffer tag under here, there are many posts that document the buffers in our parks, the issues within and many other journeys in vegetation.